gabriella & jd (and alex! and vincent!)

Strasbourg. We spent the long holiday weekend in Strasbourg, France, in the Alsace region. We took the fast train from Gare de l'Est and it only took a little over 2 hours. We stayed near the pedestrian area and cathedral, and did lots of walking and eating. The first day was rainy, then it cleared up and was hot by the time we left. Alex liked watching the boats go through the canal locks and under the covered bridges that turned to let the boats pass through. We also toured the Kronenbourg brewery right outside of town. Beer is no longer brewed there since 2000, but it is still the headquarters and labs. Week before. Alex was in desperate need of a haircut, so JD decided to do it on his own! Not bad for the first home haircut.

This week. On Sunday we went to Montmartre but it was really crowded, so we left and ate lunch. Alex discovered the window makes a great train track. Alex likes to get the ladder out and play in the closet. Last night he enjoyed chewing on the broccoli stalk. Then it was time to make some phone calls home. Alex Dancing movie

Amsterdam. We just returned from four days in Amsterdam. JD had a meeting, so Alex and I tagged along. We took the fast train and enjoyed the ride in first class with wifi and meal service. Amsterdam was nice, we walked all over the city and had good meals including an Indonesian rice table. We didn't see too much sun and it was fairly chilly, but we managed to cover a lot of the city. The amount of bicycles in the city was truly amazing, and the canals and canal houses were really cool.

Rest of the weekend. Alex needed new shoes. We discovered pletzyl's (onion poppy seed rolls) used for pastrami sandwiches in the Marais. We walked through the Latin Quarter and down Rue Moufftard, and discovered the hotel I stayed at in the 90's is still there, Hotel de France. We then walked through the Jardin du Luxembourg and back up St. Germain. Yesterday, Alex helped take Lincoln to the vet for a check-up with the use of his stroller. I walked around Invalides and the Eiffel Tower on Monday. I'll have to go back to the Musee Rodin since it is closed on Mondays. Alex loves the Pompiers (firemen) of Paris, especially the ladder trucks we see.

Giverny. On May 1 we took our first train ride adventure outside of Paris to Giverny to see Monet's gardens. The weather was great and we walked and walked and walked! Rest of Week. We finally had sun on Wednesday after a few days of rain. Alex went to his preschool for the full afternoon on Thursday, and was so tired he fell asleep on the metro before we got home! I finally got a chance to go to the Warhol exhibit at the Grand Palais.

Weekend. We had a cool, gray weekend (we hear it's been nice and warm at home!). On Saturday we walked from our neighborhood to the Eiffel Tower and had lunch nearby. On Sunday, we walked around St. Germain, Notre Dame, and Le Marais.

This week. Walking in Neuilly. More parks and playgrounds. More food. We also found the Whole Foods of Levallois, "La Ferme" (the farm). Opening birthday cards. Walking on L'île de la Jatte where we found a beehive of honey bees.

Weekend. Alex opening his birthday gifts early from Toots and Poppie. The weather on Saturday was cold and rainy, Sunday a little better. We walked all around Paris on Sunday, through the 17th and down Boulevard Haussman and Rue de Montorgueil.

Rest of the week. Eating, cooking, setting the table, sitting outside our apartment, Alex's new stroller, flowers in Levallois, some football in the park, Lincoln's new litter box, more walking in Levallois, and the big playground we found. Alex really liked the frog.

More food pictures. Testing out the frozen fare - the first two are frozen meals! The one on the left had 3 types of mushrooms and foie gras in the sauce. Passover chocolate desserts from the local Kosher grocery store. Alex after he the chocolate desserts. Refrigerator shot! Levallois, and the firehouse near us (les pompiers). Weird wall thing. Metro. Quickburger for lunch in La Defense. Franklin is JD's office building, but it was closed on Easter Monday. Carousel in La Defense. Alex chose the safe ride of the trolley car. Stickers. Helping set the table. Watching the garbage trucks, which happen every night between garbage and the recycling trucks. Alex loves it. A snail we tried to save. Truck and train extravaganza on the coffee table. I got my teddy bear cookies! Nap time. Alex makes himself at home with another little boy's Noddy toy.

Rest of the week. Alex taking his soccer ball to the playground. Lincoln finds a new nap spot. Alex meets a boy at the playground who happens to be his upstairs neighbor. More food pictures - Alex loved the smoked salmon we found at our locat grocery store. A good Vietnamese spot right around the corner. Chasing pigeons! Saturday in Levallois - a great lunch at a "Turques et Greques" place in our neighborhood we found. But of course they have the Simpsons in France. Alex talking to Toots. L'Arc de Triompe and Champs Elysees on Easter Sunday - it was mobbed. Carousel in the Tuileries - Alex had an accident and fell off, but recovered quickly and got back on!

Alex took his first official ride on the carousel in our neighborhood Levallois on Sunday. Movie of Alex on the Carousel Sunday April 5th. We walked around our neighborhood Levallois, and found the end of an Easter festival in the town square complete with a carousel and rabbits on display. Then we went to Trocadero so Alex could see his "new" tower, the Eiffel Tower. Monday and Tuesday. More walking and exploring, shops are typically closed in the morning on Mondays. We found some cheese puffs, went to the playground again, and had a good dinner at home. On Tuesday we visited Alex's preschool, The Lennen Bilingual School , located in the same building as the American Church in Paris . Alex will start on April 27th after the two week Spring break.

Saturday April 4th. More Alex and the apartment pictures. On Saturday we went to the Jardin d'Acclimatation in the Bois de Bologne. There was a small train Alex loved, and rides including an airplane and motorcycle and pirate ship. Then we went shopping in La Defense, where JD's office is. Then it was back to the apartment for a chill night at home.

Another update from Paris. For the events of our first 3 days, click here . For pictures, use the links below: First set of pictures for this post Second set of pictures for this post

Hi everyone. We have some pictures from the last days of our move as well as the flight over. For more details, check out: http://ungrandsejour.blogspot.com/2009/04/our-last-day-and-flight-to-paris.html There are pictures at: http://gabandjd.com/pictures/20090401_move/index.html pre-Paris move pictures Last days in Alexandria pictures

Pictures. We just returned from cousin Doug Spivak's Bar Mitzvah weekend in Harrisburg, PA. We had a wonderful time celebrating and visiting with family.

Airport field trip. Aunt Andrea arranged a very special day for Alex, a visit to the VIP Lounge at the airport where he could watch the airplanes.

Friday March 13th. Kathleen's birthday slumber party, including Continental Pizza! The last few pictures are Alex's new favorite toy - the upside down laundry basket. Bon voyage! JD, Alex and I were treated to a very special going away party with family and friends. A selection of the gifts we received!

Toots & Poppie visit. Toots and Poppie came to visit, and Shana came over for dinner and some Guitar Hero. Zoo pictures. On Wednesday we went to the zoo, and got to see all the animals, including the oragutans outside on the wires, and the new baby gorilla!

La Grande Arche de la Défense Paris and Nuremberg. Including our apartment, and the school Alex may attend. Alex pictures from the past week.