mmmm push-ups

In a moment of weakness and nostalgia, I tossed a box of push-ups into the cart over the weekend, knowing some nice warm days were coming this week where we could enjoy them outside. Indeed they were messy...

I pulled that shirt out of the dryer only to notice orange stains all down the front, GAH!!! Oh well.  Love me some rainbow sherbet in tube form.  Josie did too!

Crawfish Cookout

My aunt and uncle host a crawfish boil at their house every Spring, and every year we look forward to the first cookout of the year at their house.  Although we are definitely not crawfish people, there's always plenty of corn, burgers and desserts to keep us more than happy.  The weather is always hit or miss, and it was looking bleak early in the day, only to make the sunny afternoon all the more appreciated! The crawfish are flown in from somewhere down south that day and here they "chill" before heading into the steamer.  The kids find it quite fun, although I could pass on the whole thing....

And although it isn't like we live exceptionally far from family, we still don't see them as often as we used to... so it's always a happy day when JJ and her cousin's get to romp around and have a good time. 

Good Friends

Seriously, how lucky for J to have a friend right across the street.  It could only be better if our houses were sandwiched together so she could do the telephone on a wire, or flashlight signals at night with her bestie as she grows up, but this is pretty good as it is.  Last Summer was still just a little too small to have the independance to run about with A (a year older), but this Summer, most definitely our days will be filled with these two little girls.  

The best part is hearing Aud across the street ask to come over to our house to play. And those two finding their own entertainment where ever they go.

It's good to be home...

Being gone for a week makes it ever so sweet to be home.  Espeically with Spring blooming around the house and the promise of 70's coming this weekend.  My body is still on Paris time, wanting to sleep by 8 pm and up around 5am has been an improvement back towards normal. Although not ideally warm, we spent the day running around outside, working in the garden and planting our seeds. 

And I'm so happy my mad french braid skills stuck with me all these years (I was known to do a pretty mean french braid in my day), they look pretty cute on a 2yr old, even after napping and playing all day.

Beautiful Paris

Paris. Ah. Paris. No where else like you.  A lifelong love affair has bloomed :)

Shutterfly: K&E Paris 2011

Every street corner was filled with little markets filled with incredibly fresh fruits and veggies, with a flower shop next door, next to a bakery next to a bistro, next to a cafe!  Oh, heaven... I love thee!

As if all of that wasn't reason enough to visit and love Paris, we of course hit all the major attractions...  Eiffel Tower, Napoleons Tomb, Army Museum, Notre Dame, the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa, Arc, Les Catacombs, and on and on...

Gelato in Montmartre

Napoleon's Tomb

The Notre Dame Bell tower

The Louvre ahead

And even took 3 day trips, Versailles, Normandy and London... all with more amazing sights and experiences.

 

The American Cemetary in Normandy

Point Du Hoc, only remaining site of WWII bomb craters

Chateau Versailles Gardens

Everything was more beautiful than I imagined, far less people spoke English than I imagined, and everything more expensive than I imagined.  And even though I really could picture a long and happy life in Paris, nothing was sweeter than coming home to Josie, running and yelling "MOM!!!"  It was a tearful moment and I'm so lucky to have had such an amazing week and an amazing homecoming!