gabriella & jd (and alex! and vincent!)

The weather has been wacky - snow, freezing rain, and 70 degrees in less than a week.  JD returned from all his travels so there was some eating and cocktails.  Vincent has lots and lots of words (Grannie, up, Thomas, Cookie Monster, mine, more please, broke, fix it, all gone, clock, etc) and now runs instead of walks. pictures - outside, weighing Vincent pictures - outside, sticks, soccer, first snow pictures - Chevy's, hurricane simulator, 2nd snow, sushi, crib, La Fourchette pictures - hats pictures - desk, outside, snow

Le Parc des Buttes Chaumont de Paris A trip to Romania via Paris for JD for work.  As you can see from the pictures, a good trip, good food, and snow in Paris. Bucharest Paris

pictures Time for some pictures from Alex's camera.  Vincent got a hold of the camera so the last few were taken by him - mostly of the floor and his shoes.

We are having a mild winter so far and have been able to enjoy some time outside.  Vincent likes to run around the parked cars then hurl himself on the grass.  Last Sunday we went to the College Park Aviation Museum .  Alex and Vincent enjoyed the climb aboard airplane, watching the small planes land and takeoff at the airport, and the wooden airplanes outside. pictures more airplanes catching up from December in the basement

Two weeks of holiday and vacation with lots of visiting and eating and drinking of course! pictures Some trains at Colvin Run with David and Mitchell, a visit with Toots and Poppie at Shana's, and some holiday lights. pictures A lovely Christmas with Grannie's lights and tree and a meal of lamb and champagne and a visit with Kathleen and the Cahoon's.  A trip into DC for some tapas at Jaleo. pictures Shopping in the police grocery cart - fun fun.  New Year's Day open house at Rose and Beth's. reading trains lights champagne lamb and brussel sprouts

On Sunday we had some Holiday time with the Cahoon's and then went ZooLights at the National Zoo.  Tuesday night was Alex's Holiday Choral Concert for his chorus group at school.  Other activites included Vincent's second haircut and dinner at Buca di Beppo. pictures more pictures Alex chorale video Alex singing "The rattlin'bog" "Feed the Birds"

pictures Saturday was the Winter Fair at Alex's school, then a trip to Brookside Gardens to see the annual train exhibit.  Vincent loves the "choo choos" as much as Alex.  Alex also took some very nice pictures.

  Madame CURIONI classe CP (First grade) click for larger picture It's been cold then hot then cold, so we've spent some time outdoors.  Vincent likes to walk around the block with Grannie. outside basement antics

We journeyed to Carlisle, PA for Thanksgiving with Marjorie, Bruce, and family.  We had a great meal at The Hotel Hershey which included an all you can eat gourmet buffet with seafood and raw bar.  Yum!  Then there was a midnight excursion to Walmart for some of us to experience the madness of pre-Black Friday.  You will also notice from the pictures that Alex lost his second front tooth. pictures more pictures outside

This past weekend was cousin Daniel's Bar Mitzvah in Carlisle, PA.  We all had a great time seeing the whole family and celebrating.  Alex thought the party was "awesome". pictures more pictures

Alex's class After Alex had an entire week off of school for Toussaint, he got an additional two days off for Hurricane Sandy.  We had to amuse ourselves in the basement with snacks and car ramps.  We also had a nice play date last weekend with Alex's friend Frank-Eli. Vincent is walking all over the place and eating with utensils and having a grand ole time. Alex had a sortie (field trip) to a spectacle de danse "The Creation of the World" presented by a Lithuanian dance troupe at the Kids Euro Festival in DC.  It was also his first time on a school bus which he thought was exciting. Lots of eating per usual, including a fantastic meal at Full Key in Wheaton with roast duck. sortie pictures more pictures 

Vincent was the Cookie Monster and Alex was Darth Vader, although Alex was also a ninja on Sunday for Rose and Beth's party and a pirate at at school.  Alex loved his first trick or treating experience in the US, and Vincent enjoyed walking everywhere. Halloween more Halloween Point of Rocks, Ferry, and leaves Earlier in the week we drive to Point of Rocks and over to Virginia and took the ferry back.

Last week was Alex's Toussaint vacation at his French School.  Just one week off instead of two in France, oh well.  We spent the week exploring the countryside of Maryland and Virginia.  We also went to the Air and Space Museum near Dulles airport.  Alex loved the Blackbird , the Space Shuttle Discovery, and the Concorde of course.  Vincent also loved all the "air-mains" and watching from the Observation Tower. museum more museum Vincent tries on hats and Alex loses his 3rd tooth Alex's camera Alex got a new Fisher-Price digital camera since his old one broke.  He loves taking pictures, and it is a really interesting perspective on his life. Take a look.

We've hit up a couple of orchards and farms in the Maryland area for some pumpkins, apples, farm animals, and beautiful scenery. Vincent continues to practice walking and point at "air-means" (airplanes). walking Butlers Orchard and Homestead Farm Corn mazes! Children of the Corn!  Alex enjoyed the tractors and pump the water duck game.  Vincent also liked the tractors. Butlers Orchard Homestead Farm

The weather has been absolutely perfect this October in the DC area so we've been taking advantage of it, trying to eat and play outside.  We met Z & GG for lunch on Thursday at Eastern Market at Boxcar Tavern .  On the way back to our car we accidentally ran into our good friend John McArdle which led to a great afternoon of catching up over beers and fries.  Then we headed to the State Street Theater in Falls Church to see JD's friend Des who was participating in the 48 hour music project awards and his band was also playing. Then it was a busy birthday weekend - football game at Spencer's school where he is in Marching Band (1st down Cougars, RAWRR), dinner and cake, fun on Saturday with lunch at Los Toltecos, putt putt, and then a big fondue dinner followed by steaks as Spencer was off to the Homecoming Dance. Boxcar Tavern and State Street Theater, lots of Des and his band pho and Eastern Market marching band Homecoming and dinners more weekend and ...

pictures hospital more pictures Finally catching up on some pictures.  We've had some great weather so we spent more time outdoors and on the porch.  We can't seem to get away from the wine and cheese.  Vincent had to have another operation on his hydrocele, hopefully the last one.  He's doing fine.  Alex had his first book report on his favorite book, "Volcanoes".  We've also had fun watching the scary spider that is living on Grannie's front porch.  Vincent walks 

pictures more pictures Not once but twice this week we found ourselves on the DC Waterfront, eating lunch at Cantina Marina , which has great views of the water, and many airplane and helicopter flybys - an yes, that's Marine whatever (probably not One or Two, but still, pretty cool). pictures more pictures Z and GG are docked at the Capital Yacht Club so we had a nice visit when them on Saturday.  The Pride of Baltimore II was in town also.  Alex again got a chance to drive the dinghy, and see a water cannon off the DC Fireboat.  Did we mention the weather has been phenomenal?

Alex's desk and homework.   Alex is enjoying learning to read and his homework.  We've set up Papa's old work desk for his homework(devoir) station - note the soldering iron and old morse code machines among other things. Week at school, playgrounds, the zoo. We have been exploring all the local playgrounds after school, and went to the zoo since it is so close to Alex's school.  Vincent also had his 15 month check-up and four shots.  Ouch.  We had some more great food, Los Toltecos for Mexican, and Mykonos for Greek. Weekend, tricycle, playground, pho, Rosh Hashanah. Fantastic weather, and another playground. even more pictures

pictures Finally the weather turned nice and cool.  We had lunch last Saturday at Chevy's where Vincent enjoyed the chips and had his first ice cream cone.  Alex devoured his lunch of tacos.  We then headed over to Carrie's to meet their new dog Axle.  He is a very sweet dog and we're glad he's part of their family. more pictures

Alex's classroom pictures - Wednesday was back to school night. more pictures snacks and standing We've spent a lot of time on the back porch having snacks this summer.  Vincent took his first steps (2 or 3) on Saturday and will walk holding on to our hands.  He is close to being mobile.  Watch out!