gabriella & jd (and alex! and vincent!)

Pictures. Pictures from our last two weeks in the US. Alex had a good time, playing in the snow that just wouldn't melt, helping to cook, eating, helping Grannie in the yard, and playing and reading with Aunt Andrea. Then it was time to leave and Alex was very sad, he especially wanted Grannie's new radio. But then he recovered and was happy to run around Dulles and fall asleep on the plane.

Pictures. Alex's pictures from the museum. Last week we went to the Air & Space Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport. We saw tons of cool airplanes and space stuff including a Space Shuttle. We also rode in a simulator which Alex liked for a few minutes, then decided he really didn't like it!

Pictures. We made a quick trip to Frederick on Saturday to visit Ilana & Craig & Brian & Lindsey, and Toots drove down also. Natalie's 6th Birthday party. After Frederick, Alex and I zipped down to Carrie's for Natalie's 6th Birthday party! Movie - Happy Birthday Natalie. Movie - Cahoon Dance Party.

Pictures. Bath time (since we don't have a bath tub in Paris, Alex must take a bath every day at Grannie's). Using the cool vacuum at Pottery Barn Kids, snacks at the Cahoon's, a planning session at Kensington Kabob, and the car wash. Pictures. Saving food for the rabbits, Alex and Grannie at dinner, exercises (Alex likes to do Grannie's exercises), riding the tricycle on the snow piles that have yet to melt, more bathing, helping Andrea make a pizza, more snow, getting our fast food fix at Popeye's, and a trip to the craft store.

Pictures. We've been here long enough to experience our second snow fall in DC, this time only a few inches. But Alex loves the snow and had to get right out there and ride his tricycle in it and help clean off the cars. Movies: Alex cleans Papa's car Alex tricycle in the snow Alex shovels snow

Alex and Eddy, show us your muscles! Pictures. We had a three day whirlwind visit to Lynchburg, VA to see relatives who live there (Jackie and Jud and Aunt Trina) but also some that drove from Maryland (Mace Jr, Suzanne and Eddy) and Charlotte, NC (Aunt Beaty and Evie and Angie - who really came from Sonora, CA). A great time was had at the Best Western, including New Year's Eve across the parking lot from the motel at the Texas Steakhouse & Saloon. Movies: Movie of Alex & his Dad doing Hungry Like the Wolf at The Drowsy Poet Cafe. Eddy plays the drums. Eddy and his Grandmother (my Aunt Beaty) sing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". Bed jumping. More bed jumping.

Poppie and Alex Wilmington pictures. Toots' camera. We had a nice visit to Toots and Poppie's house. Shana was there, Diane and Murray came over for dinner, Coco the new kitty entertained us, and one day we went to the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia where Alicia joined us. Then there was a good meal at Sabrina's Cafe .

Pictures. Christmas in Kensington, a nice lamb dinner, and then a visit to the Kurtz/Cahoon's and Mrs. Mudd and Kathleen. Andrea came over after work and Alex loved his digital camera she gave him - see the first pictures here.

Pictures. Last few days of our visit to the US - Alex got a badly needed haircut, JD made a fantastic prime rib, Alicia stopped by since she was in town for work, then we went to National Harbor on Christmas Eve to see the water-skiing Santa . There was also a cool train exhibit at the Gaylord Hotel and the new Peeps store .

Pictures. Who would have thought we'd make the Dec 20th flight to Dulles with the 20 inches of snow in DC and the fact that it was snowing in Paris when we left? The 8 hour flight turned into 12 hours on the plane (4 on the runway due to delays and de-icing in addition to the 8 hour flight) but we made it! Luckily Carrie and David live near Dulles so they came and picked us up and we spent the night at their house and had a great time. Alex enjoyed his first big snow by shoveling, throwing snowballs, and walking all the way around Grannie's house. Other highlights have included getting our fill of some US food we haven't had in awhile - wings, burgers, and Vietnamese noodle soup. Movies: short Alex and snow. snowballs. walking around Grannie's house and making paw prints.

Pictures. Last week it snowed in Paris! Everyone told us this was "very rare" for December. We enjoyed a few snow days and got ready for our trip to the US.

Pictures. Pictures from Lennen photographer. Holiday show at Alex's school. Alex's All Day Nursery Class sang "Les Musiciens" and "Hurry, Hurry Drive the Fire Truck". Movie.

December 15th pictures. Friends, Marché de Noël on the Champs Elysees, etc.

End of November pictures. Alex got to take Coco the Monkey home from school for a weekend. We had our "Thanskgiving" and JD made delicious sausage and fennel stuffing.

Pictures past few weeks. Champ de Mars, hanging at the apartment, playground, Guitar Hero, meeting up with my friend Stan while he was in Paris for work, reading, baking (!) from Duncan Hines mixes. Cost: 5 euros, or $7.50 US each box. Seriously! More school pictures, the American Church, Champs Elysees Marche Noel, and Alex got to take Coco the Monkey home for the weekend.

Pictures . Alex's school provided a Thanksgiving meal today, including turkey, mashed sweet potatoes, and corn on the cob! A good time was had by all, as you can see from the pictures.

Pictures up to November 17, 2009. Pictures. Pictures from October, and also some from my camera from Andrea's visit. -Alex and I met JD at La Defense one day for lunch, for sandwiches from Paul and strawberry ice cream. I also found a cute toy called "Paris in a bag" at a store called Muji. -That weekend was warm and we went for a walk on an old railway bridge that has been converted into a green walkway. -Then there was some relaxing time, which Lincoln enjoyed. By the way, the vet demanded I put Lincoln on a diet as he is overweight and risks "cardiac problems". No more bread and cheese for him. -On the last day before Toussaint vacation was over, we met a few of Alex's friends from school at Jardin du Luxembourg for some fun. -When Andrea came to visit, we went to a great restaurant called "Boeuf sur le Toit" that has great food and an Art Deco interior.

Pictures. Second half of Andrea's visit - more walking around, grocery store, cooking, eating, and a playground.

Pictures . Andrea came to visit for a few days. We've been walking around in typical November weather in Paris - cool, damp, rainy. On Saturday we went to the Latin Quarter to wander down Rue Mouffetard and see the area we stayed in when Andrea was here last in 1998. Today, Sunday, we walked around Trocadero, Eiffel Tower, Champs de Mars, the American Church, etc. Andrea wanted to make a special pilgrimage to 81 Rue de l'Universite (Rue de Loo) where Julia Child lived. And of course there was food, cheese, bread, wine, naps (Alex), and Lincoln!

We just returned from a week in Provence staying in a 200 year old " burgher home ". Kathleen and John McArdle joined us and we had quite an adventure. We (actually JD) drove all over the South of France and saw a lot, including a quick jaunt to Italy. Lots of good scenery, eating, and drinking. More stories and pictures to come. Monfort sur Argens. Aix en Provence Marseilles Cannes Inland Var villages more Aix en Provence Nice to Italy Nice one last time and for another perspective on the trip: Kathleen's Provence pictures John's Provence pictures John's Paris pictures