US trip Dec 17 - January 2

This will go down as the warmest December visit to Washington DC ever.  Some years we were delayed by snow in Paris and arrived to two feet of snow and freezing cold.  Not this year!  "D.C. area forecast: Record-crushing warmth and humid; Wacky weather lasts through weekend".

Dec 17-18
Leaving Paris Thursday on Boeing 777.  Air France lounge for some food first.  8 1/2 hours and 4 movies each later, arriving Dulles.  No delays and we were the only plane in customs.  Rental car, quick visit to the Cahoon's, onward to Grannie's.

Weekend with Toots and Poppie
Trip to Delaware to visit Toots and Poppie.  Aunt Shana came too.  First we stopped at Fado to watch the Manchester United game.  Presents, making gingersnap cookies with Aunt Shana, toys and coloring in the basement, and a nice dinner.

Longwood Gardens
We only made it through the Conservatory the place is so big, but the decorations and flowers and plantings were beautiful and amazing.  Lunch at Harvest Seasonal, a drive by JD's old house and high school.  Pho for dinner.

pictures JD camera Toots & Poppie visit

Leaving Wilmington to Philadelphia
Charcoal Pit for lunch before quick visit to Philadelphia staying at the Warwick.  Dinner at Osteria with David and April.  Italian hoagies on the way out.  Back to Grannie's.

up to Christmas Eve
We went back to Grannie's house and enjoyed waffles for breakfast and lots of HGTV (Fixer Upper) and Food TV in the basement.  There was a fabulous, much needed haircut for me at Salon Cielo with Jamie who has been cutting my hair for 15 years.  Then, of course, we could not pass up mussels (moules) at Bistrot du Coin.  Alex ate 2 portions, Vincent 1.  It was still so warm out, 72 degrees.  The demolition picture is of White Flint Mall.  Only thing left standing is the elevator shaft and Lord and Taylor.  Tricycles in the basement, wrapping gifts, sink time for Vincent, gifts from Z and GG,

Christmas
A warm, rainy and windy day.  Rib roast and gifts at Grannie's,  Help from Alex (he is wearing the apron I made in 7th grade).  Gifts.  For some reason I don't have any pictures from part 2 at Greg and Vicky's - fun with the Kurtz's and Cahoon's, Kathleen and Marek stopped by, and we had a cheese tasting instructed by JD.

up to December 30
Basement art, more waffles, pho, (no pictures of Cica's dental surgery), more cheese, a visit to Lynn and John's (no pictures), Chuck E Cheese, fun with 40+ year old tricycles, Black Market Bistro, Jaleo, a visit to Mabel's, tacos with Shana in DC.

New Year's Eve, New Year's, and return to France
We joined the Cahoon's for their tradition of going into Washington, DC, on New Year's Eve.  The weather was so nice, we ate lunch at Cap City, then walked to see the Willard and the National Christmas tree.  A stop by Krispy Kreme in Dupont Circle, then on to the Cahoon's.  A quick trip to Costco, snacks and finishing off the liquor cabinet (not quite), champagne, pancakes by David and Alex the next day, Spencer's new truck, open house at Rose and Beth's, Moby Dick for sushi, packing, Vincent taking care of Grannie, snacks in the Air France lounge at Dulles, back to Paris.

Spencer's new (vintage) truck - pretty cool, eh?