Day 3- Shopping Party 2 and Dinner Party 1

Today was definitely Shopping Party II. But instead of a clothing we stocked up on fabulous French groceries. Since we wont have a car when the Delattes leave for Mariselle they suggested we stock up on groceries. It was fun to watch Allison get excited about her favorite food from before. I was overwhelmed by the choices and varitity of new foods. I probably would still be there trying to figure out what to buy. I'm really excited to try the yogurt. Somehow I haven't had any yet, but people look like they will melt just thinking about it. I think we got six different types of cheese and at least a dozen different favorite snacks of the Baddley girls from times past. Turns out the little girls LOVE Les Madelines the best! They ate almost an entire sack this afternoon.

Sandra whiped up another great meal in a matter of minutes this afternoon. Afterward we hung around the kitchen and help her prepare for dinner. She prepared a Maroccan meal with cocous, eggplant, lemon, squash, prunces, onion and chicken. She added several different spices and didn't even think about the quanity. In my opinion is a sign of a great cook. Then she showed us an easy way to make a pear and apple tart. It was So fun!

We decided the girls needed a little change of pace, so we walked into town to go to a bank. The girls walked a lot of the way and played at the Hotel DeVille. We grabbed a baguette on the way home to hold us over until dinner.

Tonight the Delattes entertained us and and three of their neighbors. I experienced my first French dinner party. I'd heard that it's not a good party in France if it doesn't end at 2 am. If the dinner is set to begin at 8:30 it is very fashionable and exceptable to show up a couple of hours later. We fed the children then had them watch a movie and hopefully fall asleep, however they were going strong at 11:30. Aghhhh! I think we put the girls to bed at least five to six times before the evening is though. Im afraid we will pay for it tomorrow!Anyhow rest assured it was a good party, I guess it's easy to make it last until 2 am if you don't sit down to dinner until 11:30 p.m. However, I do have to say the French have the art of conversation mastered. They talk about everything from the neighbors' dogs to how they love Prresident Obama! They are quite intellectuals, yet don't take themselves too seriously. They question us again about how we never drink wine.... "Never? ...Never ever?? The husbands will nevery know they smile. " Anyway, their neighbors are very kind. Everyone speaks enough English that I never felt left out of the consersation for long. I attribute some of it to French's Latin base, being some what similar to Spanish.