What an incredible week. It started off with my niece being born on November 24th in the United States- November 25th at 5 in the morning France time. Charlotte June Rodney put my sister through 19 hours of labor, and then a c-section. She was born 6 pounds, 15 ounces, and with a full head of black hair. I absolutely cannot wait to be home and hold her! It was torture being here and not being able to share in her birth, but I know she won't remember that, and in a few weeks I'll get to hold her all I want :) The hardest part was wanting to be there for my sister, and being so far away from everything. But, the week got better with a fantastic Thanksgiving celebration on Friday night, after a very long day at school.

Thank you soo much to Evan, Steve, Henry and all the others who live at Georges de la Tour on the Mountain for having Thanksgiving!! So many people were there- British, American, French- it was the absolute best Thanksgiving I could have asked for away from home. We ate way too much, and were incredibly loud and probably annoying, in true American fashion. Janie brought little pieces of paper for everyone to write what they were thankful for, and we taped them up on the wall. There were 30 people there! I started the chain, and read what someone was thankful for, and then that person came up and read the next one, and so on...until mine at the end. It was perfect! Then, we caught the last bus home and fell into food-induced comas.

This morning, I ran the St. Nicolas 10k in downtown Nancy- two loops through Parc Pepiniere, Place Stanislas, and downtown streets. Great weather, I ran in leggings, shorts, and a short-sleeved t-shirt! Incredible. I wasn't registered because you have to have a "certificat medical", which I was too lazy to try and get- and my hip has been hurting. Last minute, I decided to try it and am so glad I did. Sore now, but it was a great experience! There was a band playing and so many supporters out, and they handed out St. Nicolas cookies at the end of the race! Souvenir :) Can't wait to see the picture Sophie took of Henry, Evan, me and Steve. Now on to lesson planning, and hotel booking for Lyon this Tuesday!