gabriella & jd (and alex! and vincent!)

I haven't posted pictures in awhile, the weather has been so fantastic (no rain in almost 2 months) that we've spent a lot of time outside and in the park.  We also met cousin Debbie for dinner while she was in Paris, and visited JD at his office. p.s. the baby is a comin' - most likely June 14th   June 15th!  We'll keep you posted. pictures

Last weekend we went to the Museum of Air and Space.  It was really cool, we were able to go inside a 747, and two Concords.  There were a lot of airplanes and rockets and video games which Alex loved.  Otherwise, we've been enjoying the great weather with lots of trips to the park. pictures

ecole maternelle Jean-Jaures, Classe 7 click on picture to enlarge

The rest of Alex's birthday - his favorite Chinese food, mango ice cream with a candle (since it was still Passover), and presents.  On Monday, a holiday, the weather was really warm so we walked around and ended up having lunch at La Maison du Couscous, a kosher Tunisian restaurant.  Alex then chose a strawberry cake from our bakery for his second birthday cake. pictures

We took Alex to Disneyland Paris to celebrate his 5th birthday.  We spent 2 days and 1 night so we would have enough time to explore.  The weather was great, which explains why the entire world was there, that and it is also Spring Vacation.  It only took 1 hr 15 mins from our apartment via Metro and RER.  Of course we had a great time! Alex liked meeting all the characters, especially Tigger and Mickey and Buzz Lightyear.  He liked the Lightening McQueen ride, Slinky Dog Roller Coaster, and It's a Small World.  Highlights of the hotel included the bunk beds in the room and the pool. On Saturday we went to Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show. day 1 day 2 movies Cars Quatre Roues Rallye Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin On the Disneyland Railroad

For the first Seder we attended a pot luck dinner with the liberal congregation across town ( CJL ), where the female Rabbi is the wife of the Rabbi at our synagogue ( Kehilat Gesher ).  We made deviled eggs, and the rest of the food was very good.  On the second night we went back to CJL for the community Seder with over 300 people. pictures

We just returned from five days in Bordeaux for vacation and had a great time - good food, wine, scenery, and weather. April 13.   TGV to Bordeaux from Paris, 3 1/2 hours, rental car in Bordeaux.  Fantastic lunch in Bordeaux.  Drove up the D2 (the wine road) to our hotel "Chateau Beau Jardin", complete with pond, ducks, goat, and glass of wine to greet us.  Delicious dinner at Chateau. April 14.   We drove all over the Medoc region today.  Up to Soulac-sur-Mer, a quaint seaside town on the Atlantic Ocean, to touch the Atlantic from the other side.  Then over to the other side of the Gironde estuary, to see a lighthouse and the fishing cottages.  Then back down the Chateau and wine road to Pauillac for lunch at Lynch-Bages and a tour and tasting at the vineyard. Then over to the Lake, and back to our Chateau.  The proprietors of the Chateau had two children who Alex made friends with, and helped water their garden (I made him get out of th...

Spring has officially arrived with some lovely weather and flowers.  Finally! Sunday Funday Passover food flowers playground carousel cafe Sunday in Paris

JD had a business trip to Moscow in March. pictures

Alex's drawing of the "TGV" ( Train à Grande Vitesse) Batman for Mardi Gras and cheese Sunday Funday:  Purim The park and more food

Alex, Abel, and their teacher, Nathalie Today is Mardi Gras, which the French children celebrate at school with costumes and waffles (gaufres) and candy!  Alex wanted to be Batman.  We've had some nice sunny days and Spring is in the air.  Lincoln also had to go for his rabies shot.  He gets to ride in the stroller now (poussette) with Alex pushing. Mardi Gras flowers etc

confiteria La Campana We spent our last day in Sevilla walking around town some more and enjoying the great weather before we had to return to Paris.  We finally ate at the tapas place Bar Estrella we had been trying to get to all week. pictures The night before, for dinner, Alex had croquetas de cola de toro (croquettes with bull's tail), and later ate most of my cola de toro dinner (yes, more bull's tail). Alex eats bull's tail

the Mezquita in Cordoba On Friday we took a day trip to Cordoba, Spain. It was only 45 minutes on the high speed train (AVE) which Alex loved.  We arrived just in time for some more delicious tapas. Then we walked around the old city, went to the Sephardic museum and synagogue, built in 1315.  Then it was on to the Mezquita, the Cathedral-Mosque of Cordoba, originially a mosque which later had a cathedral built inside and around it. pictures from Cordoba

We are on a quick vacation to Seville, Spain during Alex's winter vacation.  The weather is beautiful, clear and blue and sunny (70 degrees).  We've spent day one walking around the town and eating some great food and taking in the cathedral and architecture. pictures day one On day two, we toured the bullfighting arena and took a bus tour to see more of Seville.  Then we walked through the shopping district, and ate some more tapas (calamari and octopus and smoked salmon and cheese).   In the evening it was time for more tapas in the Santa Cruz neighborhood (more calamari and some shrimp).  Alex got into the dining hours in Spain, eating dinner at 10:30 pm. pictures day two

back in Paris from US early January trip to US late January - February  a few more here

haircut! The past few days have been filled with guitar playing and a dinner party Carrie and David had for us and a haircut and more yummy food of course. pictures

We've been getting our Holiday on in the US!  Lots of good food and fun and visiting with family and friends.  Christmas dinner was a standing rib roast and among other yummy side dishes some phenomenal stuffing. pictures more pictures

We made it out of Paris on Friday December 17 before the snow chaos hit, we were very lucky.  We did have a 3 1/2 hour mechanical delay, oh well.  Carrie picked us up at Dulles and we spent the night at her house and had a great visit.  The next morning we went to see the model trains at Colvin Run Mill where Mitchell and David were setting up.  Then it was on around to Kensington and of course, lunch at Continental Pizza!  There is sewer construction on Grannie's street and a little bit of snow. Lots of excitement. On Sunday Z and GG drove up from Wilmington, NC and we had a nice visit.  On Monday night we all met Shana for dinner.  pictures

  Alex and his teacher, Nathalie The last week before Alex's two week winter vacation, there was a party at his school complete with a chorale show. Holiday party at Alex's school

Alex and his challah We had snow in Paris last week, 5 inches, and the city came to a halt (except for the metro).  Alex has been enjoying the Winter Carnival in our town, riding the train, driving the cars, and the trampoline.  He also made challah at Sunday Funday which was pretty good. snow Sunday Funday challah trampoline Maxime's birthday party Alex went to Dec 5