Christmas Cookies

 Believe it or not, it has actually been a while since we have had a blowout… but there I was running around the grocery store with poop smudges on my coat, frantically trying to find cocoa powder to no avail…just another dreamy day enjoying Christmas in Paris. Haha!

Here is the back story: This week I have been struggling to figure out what holiday goody I could deliver to the neighbors that I 1. had the pan for (no muffin or cake pan), 2. could fit in my tiny oven and 3. could find all the ingredients for. Turns out it is tough/impossible to find candy canes, peppermint flavoring, peanut butter, baking powder, marshmallows, and apparently cocoa powder. My sister finally sent me a recipe that we both thought would work but required cocoa powder. I looked all over the store for cocoa but could not find it. However, I refused to believe that a land that puts chocolate in EVERYTHING, where it is tough to find a chocolate-free cereal, wouldn’t have cocoa powder! As I was frantically looking, Pierce decided to worm his way out of the stroller straps and leap from the stroller. Luckily, I caught him just in time and decided I would just carry him for the last leg of our hunt. Unfortunately, holding him on my hip, my nose was met with a FOUL smell. I looked down only to realize that Pierce had blown out his diaper. Poop was all over him and now, me. Since we had raced out the door early in the morning to try and get Gideon to school, I had not brought the diaper bag… There was nothing to do but strap the poor poopy boy back in the stroller, promise I would clean everything up when we got home and march my now poopy self over to a store attendant to ask in broken French where I could find cocoa powder. He kindly informed me that there was no cocoa powder in this otherwise chocolate laden store, and I left for home emptyhanded to clean up my boy, my coat and my stroller.

Apart from frustrating grocery store visits, we had a great week full of Christmas cheer. We have been LOVING the Christmas markets/villages! During the month of December all the little towns around Paris set up their own small Christmas village next to their Mari (townhall). They light a gigantic Christmas tree, construct a little log cabin for Santa, set up games/activities for the kids and invite bands/performers to entertain. In Saint Mande our town square has been equipped with a small petting zoo of bunnies, goats, cows, and pigs. We have an inflatable sledding hill and various rotating events. It has been so fun to be able to pop over in the evenings after school and see our friends and neighbors and all enjoy the Christmasy vibes together while the Chestnut man roasts his chestnuts in hygee booth number 1.

On Thursday night Benjin was kind enough to watch the kids while I got to explore solo for a bit! It was such a treat. I went by a little shop and got some delicious quiche Lorraine. Then I rode the subway to Hotel de Ville where I found a big Christmas village with free Carousel rides, rock climbing and a huge sledding hill right in the shadow of Notre Dame! So, did I go ride the Carousel and sledding hill all by myself? Of course!! It was a blast, and I came home telling my family, “guess where we are going tomorrow?!” So, naturally, the next day we all marched down to Hotel de Ville and had a grand old time riding the rides, looking all the sparkling trees and just being together. Unfortunately, just before heading home, I dropped my metro pass while we were riding the teacup component of the carousel. I hoped off and found it, but realized I couldn’t find Gideon’s! Panicking we all ran around to try and find it. I was starting to wonder if this delightful evening was even worth it. Finally, we said a prayer and I decided to go see if it was at the sledding hill. Sure enough, it must have fallen out of my pocket as Gideon was climbing on to my lap at the top of the hill. I ran back to show Gideon, Benjin and Pierce the miracle!

On Wednesday we felt the spirit of Christmas by heading over to the Madeline (a big old Cathedral) to see their creche. It was smaller than I expected, but still lovely. My favorite thing about it was that Gideon noticed, “Mommy, why is there no baby in the manger?” In France, they often don’t put the baby in the nativity scene until Christmas eve. I think this better emulates the feeling of anticipation and wonder that must have been there that first Christmas night. After the Madeline we went with our friend Roselyn to check out a perfume shop on the Champs-Élysées. It was fun to go with a real French person and have her tell me what to try and watch her interact with the shop workers. In the end I didn’t buy anything, but I learned a lot!  

Saturday, we went to an incredible ward Christmas party. They had a 6-course dinner with incredible French food and amazing entertainment provided by the various ward groups. We got to watch our boys run around like wild hooligans with the other kids and see Pierce’s attempts to talk the older kids into sneaking him more juice. It was so fun, inspiring and community building. We brought a giant mint-m&m cookie for the cake competition and even though we definitely didn’t win, it was fun to feel part of something. It is amazing how Christmas is something that can overcome barriers and unite people.  

Since moving to France the question, “is it worth it?” pops into my mind a lot. Is it worth it to try and speak when I know I can only carry a 30 second conversation? Is it worth it to try and drag my kids on the bus for an hour to get to church if we don’t understand anything or are just wresting Pierce the whole time? Is it worth it to make Gideon go to school or make Pierce wear his gloves? Is it worth it to take the boys to the art museum or explore another chateau? Is it worth it to try and write a Christmas card or make some Christmas cookies for our neighbors?

When I am standing in the grocery store smeared with poop and unable to find cocoa power, the answer seems to be a resounding, “NO!” But, eventually we were able to make some orange shortbread cookies that we dipped in melted chocolate bars (rather than mess around with the powder stuff.) They were delicious because (let’s be honest anything made with lots of French butter is delicious!!) We dropped them off at our neighbors’ doors and have really appreciated their grateful responses. Someone came by and in nervous English thanked us profusely for our kind gesture. Another family made us a batch of gingerbread men in return and still another secretly tucked some fresh loaves of French bread in our stroller at the bottom of the stairs. It’s amazing how with just a few reciprocal gestures the Christmas spirit blossomed in our apartment building. So, is it worth the hassle? I think so!

Bisous, 

La Famille Facer