Back in France

I am sorry that I am so far behind on my blogging and I don't even have any pictures to show for it today. I promise to add some tomorrow. We flew to France on Monday evening and we have been on the go ever since. It is WONDERFUL! We all feel so comfortable here, it is like we never left and just beautiful and wonderful!  Although people don't speak English as well or so easily as they do in Sweden... So, we flew into Paris where we spent the night on Monday. On Tuesday, bright and early, we took off by car for the city of Reims which is just 90 minutes north and east of Paris. Sciences Po in Reims is the university where Tabitha has been accepted for the dual degree program with Columbia. She wanted to see the campus and get a feel for what two years in Reims would be like. We were all impressed with the city, the students, and the program but a little underwhelmed with the campus because it is so French and so not American. The philosophy being much more about just school and much less about the life and activities beyond the classroom. That being said, they do offer sports, clubs, student government, etc. Anyway, we spent a nice day in Reims and even had the opportunity for a quick look at the very old and very beautiful cathedral before we headed out of town for the long drive to Vannes.  More than 5 hours later, we arrived in what was our beautiful home town during the French part of our lives. We immediately went to our FAVORITE restaurant and immediately remembered why it was our favorite! So yummy and so much fun! It all seemed cheap now too since we have spent so much time in über expensive Sweden! After dinner, we went to my very good friend, Sabine's, house where we will stay for the rest of the week.  This morning, Josh headed to work at his old office in Pluvigner when Sabine's kids headed to school. My kids and Sabine and I had a wonderful morning of roaming the city and exploring the huge Wednesday morning open air market that was so much a part of our routine when we lived here. After lunch, the kids were all off of school (because it is Wednesday and that is how things are done in France) so my kids all took off with old friends while I walked and talked with Sabine! Perfect and exactly like the way things used to be! Our French came back to us amazingly well! The kids could speak and participate like natives while I was even able to follow a whole French discussion while Sabine and I had coffee with the mother of Calvin's friend. The weather was PERFECT with sunshine, perfectly blue skies and a temperature of almost 75 degrees! After Sabine and I made a big dinner of crepes, the kids played a raucous game of Monopoly in French before all going to bed. Ah... It feels so good to be in yet another of our "homes".