Bastille Festival: Celebrating France in Oregon

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Even though I've lived in Aix-en-Provence and Lyon, I've never been in France for la Fête Nationale on July 14th. I'm especially grateful, then, that my hometown of Portland, Oregon, is the site of the largest Bastille Day Festival on the West Coast. Organized by the Alliance Française de Portland, this family-friendly festival draws thousands of visitors over six hours of events. This year marked the tenth annual celebration. Here's what I continue to love about it:

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Unexpected Weaning: Ending My Toddler Son's Breastfeeding

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Remember when I went to the Alt Summit Conference last month? I was away from my children for three days and nights, and I knew it might be an opportunity to wean my two-and-a-half-year-old son. I've never intentionally weaned a child before--I'm a strong believer in child-led nursing and my daughter slowly weaned herself at four-and-a-half. But this time was different: I've been breastfeeding children for five years straight, I'm pregnant, and I was ready for a few months' break from breastfeeding before our third child is born. I also knew my son was old enough that he could be weaned without much guilt on my part.

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Daily Audio Bible: French, Spanish, & Other Languages

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Mes amis, I'm excited to tell you about the Daily Audio Bible and how you can hear the Bible read aloud in French (or Spanish, English, Japanese, Arabic, Portuguese, or Mandarin). I've tried French audio Bible apps in the past, but the apps themselves weren't very user-friendly. Here's what's different about the Daily Audio Bible and five reasons why I appreciate it:

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A New Heartbeat in Our Home (cue the fireworks!)

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Bonjour, les amis! If you are American, happy Fourth of July! This has always been one of my favorite holidays. I am glad to be American, but what I enjoy most about this holiday is the chance to enjoy time outdoors with friends and family. When I was a child, my parents always organized a parade and games for the neighborhood, and the day always ended with a fireworks show put on by neighbors or the city. My parents still plan neighborhood events every Fourth of July, so my husband and I will take our children there to participate today before heading to a friend's home with an amazing view of a fireworks show in the Columbia Gorge.

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Three Podcasts Worth Listening to This Summer: Family, Travel, & Culture

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July is here! Does your family's summer rhythm (or lack thereof) feel comfortable yet? Summer in my household means that dishes and laundry pile up, but in contrast, we have a lot of fun as a family and I'm able to finish long-awaited projects like completing my son's baby album and planning next summer's trips. Hopefully you, too, have more time on your hands--time to read, play, and listen. Here are five intriguing podcasts that I've been enjoying while driving or tackling those dishes this summer:

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Swim Lessons: Reflecting on a Childhood Rite of Passage

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Growing up in Southern California, swimming was as integral to my summers as the guarantee of scalding my feet on hot sidewalks. My mama enrolled me in swim lessons at age four, but I clung to her leg with ferocity when I saw that lessons meant joining dozens of unfamiliar kids in the shallow end of an Olympic-sized pool. A male lifeguard tried to cajole me into joining them, but when it became apparent that I wouldn't budge, my mama gave him permission to pry me off her leg and toss me in. By the end of the summer I advanced enough to manage a mean bellyflop off the high dive.

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Joy Cho & Martha Stewart on Work/Life Balance & Raising Creative Children

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Reflecting on Keynote Speeches at Altitude Summit 2014

Bonjour, les amis! I returned Friday morning from the Altitude Summit conference in Salt Lake City, and it was just as inspiring and informative as I'd hoped it would be. My highlights were dining with Gabrielle Blair of Design Mom (did you catch us on Instagram?), gaining practical insights about blogging, and hearing keynote speakers Joy Cho (of Oh Joy!) and Martha Stewart of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

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Daddy Doesn't Speak French: How He (Still) Supports Our Bilingual Children

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My husband grew up speaking Thai at home, but he's most comfortable speaking English because he was raised in the U.S. (This comfort factor is why he chose to speak English to our children.) His French knowledge is limited to what he's learned in hearing me speak it with our kids, and yet he still manages to support our children's French acquisition in ways I truly appreciate. Here are five awesome ways he supports our children's bilingual development:

 

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