MM Huit: Feeling Settled

It's now March (where did February go??), and we're starting to really feel like Paris is home.  We got some the last big things marked off our "list" (which seems as if it's been never ending since October) this week.

First off, we sold our house!!! WOOOOO!!!!  It seemed like a long process, but really we were lucky to sell it so quickly!  It was more stressful than we anticipated it being--from managing 2 offers at once, to dealing with bogus inspection items, and paperwork frustrations--but it's done and a huge relief!  Although, looking at this picture now it's a little sad to think that we'll never go back to that house.  It was a great first house and one we'll always remember!




We also got both of our cars here this week!  They're both used, and if you know anything about Europe, you know small cars are a necessity.  You don't want to be parallel parking a boat or an SUV in tiny spaces!  Our "big" car is Toyota Yaris.  Yes, in the States, this is one of the smallest possible cars you can buy, but here this is actually a fairly big car.  Our other one is a tiny death trap on wheels, a Smart fortwo car, but we don't really plan on driving that one much, so hopefully it'll just be a box on wheels instead.

Unfortunately for me, the Yaris is a stick which I have absolutely no idea how to drive.  So, Nick took me out west of town this weekend to teach me in a parking lot.  I was very excited to learn and after some tears and frustration (hence the mascara marks on the cheek in the center picture), I finally kinda got the hang of it!  Let's be clear that I practiced in an empty parking lot and freaked out when another car came into the lot to practice driving.  I don't think I'll be driving on Paris streets anytime soon, where it's completely normal for motorcycles to go wherever they feel like, including the center line, and where when you reach a round a bout (which are HUGE, by the way), it's a complete free for all about where people drive!  Good thing I have a hubby who knows how to drive stick!

Excited!!

Intent on driving

Nick was obviously scared!