Quick update

Full disclosure: no pictures to share today.

The big news is that France just beat Spain 3-1 in the World Cup round of 16, earning the chance to play Brazil on Saturday at 9pm (3pm on the East Coast). People are literally screaming out their windows, honking horns, singing, and (seriously) blowing trumpets and such, and that's just in outside my window. We'd be out in it, but the boys are long since asleep. Betsy's away this week, so the boys and I are on our own.

She left Saturday very early, while my friend Dennis from Arlington was here visiting from Thursday to Sunday. Saturday we enjoyed the end-of-the-year fête at Calvin's school, a little carnival and art show where we got to hang out with his friends and their parents. In the evening we had a picnic on the Champ de Mars with Dennis.

Sunday was dreary and rainy - though nothing like the disaster that hit DC starting that day - so we aborted our market trip and went to the movies instead. Most english-language movies here show in both vf (version française, dubbed) and vo (version originale, subtitled), but almost all of the vo's are evening and later showings when the serious movien fans go out - they're the ones who want to see the uncorrupted versions. But we found a theater right in the center of town, at the Les Halles underground shopping center, and went to see Cars (here, "Cars, quatre roues" for some reason). We definitely recommend it, six thumbs up, and stay through the end of the credits too. We treated ourselves to Starbucks just outside the theater - can't get iced coffee and chococcino in a café! - before heading to run some errands on the way home.

Monday it was back to school for all three of us. Carter's last day is Thursday, and they seem to have been coasting for a while, just playing around mostly at school. Calvin's school is open through July 5th or 7th. My last class is Friday, at least until August and maybe September. Today was the same routine as yesterday, soccer after picking the boys up, both playing in the sunshine and watching in the evening. Tonight we completed our "wish we were in the US with Betsy" tour, by visiting our local McDo on the way home, for the very first time.

Our friend Kevin returned from the US today, Carter's friend Griffin and family arrive Saturday, and Betsy returns Monday morning. We have plans for soccer practice tomorrow afternoon, a picnic with friends on Thursday evening, and I have my second french exam Thursday and Friday.

Can't think of too much else to update on. Any questions?

Oh, they're still yelling and honking outside on the street. Allex les bleus!