Tales From the 10th: Joyeux Anniversaire à Moi!

And what a GREAT birthday it was! I seriously could not have pictured a better way to spend my special day than with this amazing family and my great new friends (OK, having my real family and best friends from home would have made it the best EVER, but considering the circumstances, I'm quite happy with my day). Unfortunately, my birthday fell on a Wednesday this year, which meant work alllll day for me! Luckily, my day didn't start till 11 when I had to pick up Alice from dance. As soon as I walk in the room, she comes running into my arms screaming Happy Birthday!! It was so cute :) All the kids talked about all day was what present they were going to get me and how they "have to be good today because it's Cory's birthday"...and good they definitely were. After lunch, Lu Lu went to soccer, so Alice and I snuggled up to watch a movie (A Goofy Movie, for the 3rd time in 2 weeks). We then set out to pick up the weekly fruit and veggie basket from Bob's Juice Bar. Every Wednesday we go to pick this up before picking up Lucien from soccer, and every week it is the same English guy working, so he knows us and has befriended Alice by giving her a glass of water every week, oh the little things! As soon as we walk in the door, Alice again announces "it's Cory's birthday!" (to which he responded "who's Cory?", which is when we realized that we never ACTUALLY introduced ourselves...his name is JP, fyi). After picking up the basket, having her glass of water, and writing her name on the chalkboard, we set off to pick up Lucien. Alice proceeded to dance her way there, casually singing "Happy Birthday nou nou", instead of "Happy Birthday to you"...clearly they were excited, which made me excited! One our way home from soccer, we passed a bookshop right around the corner from our house. Lucien asked to go in, but when I followed, I was denied entrance by the kids, apparently they were looking for my birthday present. Lucien reappeared and said he needed some money, so he wanted to go home and get his wallet. I offered to give him money out of our "house money purse", but he wanted it to be HIS money so that only HE could give it to me. How cute! So we went home, he ran up, got his money, went back to the bookstore, was .09 cents short, came home, grabbed .10 cents, and ran back to buy me my present. Oh what he went through for me! Upon returning home, it was bath time, then dinner time for them (I made another quiche, this time with spinach, feta, and Lardons...mom, I know what you're thinking, I thought the same *gag* but it was quite delicious!) Val came home early to relieve me so that I could relax/she could cook before my big party that night!

I got to go de-kid myself and become a real adult again just before my friends began showing up! We were beckoned back downstairs so the festivities could begin, and I was blown away at the lengths they had gone to. The table was set like the queen was joining us, it was beautiful! All of the nice dishes and real silverware were pulled out, and even candles were lit! Nico popped an amazing bottle of champagne and we sat down to socialize and have our aperitifs (pre-dinner drink and snacks: olives and these butter cracker things). Then the family left the room to prepare my "surprise". When they came back in, they turned out the lights, and brought in my amazing birthday cake covered in candles, singing Happy Birthday! Alice helped me blow out the candles/spit all over the cake. Immediately after, my final dinner guest, Ellie, showed up, so they all left the room and re-did it! Re-lit the cake, sang to me again, and had me blow them out again! Then it was present time, my favorite part! Alice gave me her present first, a beautiful picture of a mermaid, very elaborately colored. Lucien was next, he presented my with a card saying "Happy Birthday Corry" (he never remembers how to spell my name, so cute) and a wrapped little gift. All that work he went through earlier was to buy me a pen. However, pen's are a special thing to kids here in France, so while some of you may be thinking "a pen? really?" for him, he was very proud of his gift and thought it was the greatest. Which, I must admit, is pretty cool. It's purple, my favorite, AND erasable! So nifty! Then I opened my card from Val and Nico, which was so sweet in itself, but it was also filled with stamps (so I can write to you all some more!) as well as a certificate. The certificate was in French, so I couldn't really understand what it was fully saying, but Val explained it to me. They have paid for me to take a cooking class at one of the best cooking schools in Paris (second to Le Courdon Bleu!) I immediately started crying, because this is the most thoughtful gift I ever could have imagined! I have been telling them both how much I enjoy cooking and how much I have wanted to take a cooking class here, but they're all so expensive! This just proved to me that they really do see me as a member of their family and I cherish them even more for that. After my tears and hugs all around, I was ready to eat, and eat we did!

For our entree (which of course means appetizer in French, different from aperitif), we had sort of like gourmet scrambled eggs, with smoked salmon on top and a little olive oil and lemon juice mixture, eaten on a baguette. So amazingly delicious! This was accompanied by a great bottle of white wine. Next up was the plat (or main course, as Americans know it), which was canard flambé, or duck...lit on fire! Nico is an amazing chef and really put on a show with his cooking. I think we were all in awe when he poured the cognac over the duck and lit it up! Not to mention sinking our teeth into it for the first time, there was a brief moment there where I just zoned out from the world around me while I savored the amazing-ness happening in my mouth. Pure. Bliss. The duck was accompanied by some delicious green beans and mushrooms and of course some red wine now. It really is a whole new experience eating a 4 course meal in France, because there is generally a different wine for each course. Being able to eat like this in the comfort of home (for free) and with some amazing people was just a dream. Of course, following dinner was the cheese portion of the meal, where they made sure to buy my favorite cheese: Camembert! It was finally the time to devour the chocolate cake, and devour we did! Next thing we know it's nearly midnight and time to wrap up our wonderful evening. After lots of hugs (and pictures) the girls and I retreated to my room to finish our bottle of pink champagne and decided where and if we should go out next. We decided it was best to call it a night, realizing it's a Wednesday and the metro stops at 12:30. So, after opening my presents from them (a great book on Paris AND food from Ally, and a gorgeous scarf, warm mittens, champagne, and chocolate from Amanda, Ellie, and Lauren) we parted ways. Unfortunately today I am regretting those last couple glasses of champagne, but it was well worth the fun last night!

After waking up at 8 am today to come down to work while Val and Nico golf, I am quite tired now. So, after this is posted, a movie will be played for the kiddos, and I will have myself a little nap!