More Wild Boar Please...

I know, I've been kinda MIA, but there just hasn't been much going on lately...we've been busy as usual, but with all the normal stuff so not much to write about just yet! Things are about to start getting VERY busy though...we head to Barcelona next week for my birthday then a few weeks later we're off to the Netherlands to visit Amsterdam and to see the beautiful tulips at Keukenhof. Then my sister Erin and her husband Andy come in town. Then Jacob's parents are in town. Then we're taking a 12 day vacation somewhere...we're still thinking Turkey and Greece, but for some reason I can't seem to get it booked. We are close, but I'm still stressing over if it's really what I want to do during that time. Part of me is thinking maybe we'd be better off just hopping in the car and driving to Italy via Switzerland. We shall see...we need to decide soon! Our airfare has already doubled in price since I started planning :o( I'll try to keep the blog posts coming wherever we end up though so you can all travel along with us!

And our fun adventure last week was an invitation to dinner at Mr. & Mrs. Cousin's house. They own our building and we've only ever had short conversations while passing in the hall...so they invited the three of us to join them for dinner. We took the two flights of stairs down to their apartment and were greeted with kisses at the door...I'm still getting used to this European greeting...it's so hard to know how many kisses to give, etc, but we managed...and it's actually kind of fun...makes me feel like I fit in here. Mr. & Mrs. Cousin were joined by there grandson Thomas who they informed us is learning English...so he was here to practice. He didn't say much all night so I'm guessing his English lessons are going about as well as my French...ha! Their apartment is similar to ours except VERY fancy. The floors were covered with oriental rugs...one overlapping the other...pretty much covering every inch of parquet. They had little trinkets and items everywhere that I assume they've collected with years and years of traveling. Jacob and I were concerned about Autumn getting in to all their lovely possessions, but luckily they had a dog so she was so preoccupied with him and the pretzels they offered us to get in to too much trouble.

We all sat down at the table for dinner and our first course was some type of pureed vegetable soup. I really don't know what it was, but it was delicious! Autumn took the opportunity to create a sculpture out of her soup bowl and silverware. Seriously I wish I had a camera because it was quite a sight...forks standing straight up out of the bowl as their tines were wedged on the rim, spoons all around the outside...ha...it was really pretty clever. Luckily they have many grandkids...and even some great grandkids so they didn't mind the mess she left behind. Our second course was wild boar with baked pears...we think they even shot the animal themselves...we saw pictures later :o) Again, it was scrumptious and we gobbled it all up! (Ok Autumn didn't...she had a few noodles we had brought for her and then was down chasing the dog around again...oh well). For dessert we had some type of jello-ish custardy thing. Ha...I know there is a better word for it, but you get the picture. Not my favorite, but not bad. After dinner we chatted a bit more...they are quite fascinating people and have lived a wonderful life from the sound of it! Jacob and I especially liked the story Mr. Cousin told about how he was forced to quit skiing at 81 or face having to use a walker for the rest of his life. Haha...I sure hope I'm still that active at 81! We think that probably puts them in there late 80's or so. Anyway...we all enjoyed ourselves immensely, but it was time to head home and get Autumn to bed. Hopefully we can return the gesture some day and have them to our house for dinner. I am quite certain though it will not be as nice or as delicious at the one they prepared for us!