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the good life
March
3rd 2009
Miss Ladybug turns 2! How can it be that two years have passed already since Alexa came into this world? Our life before her is such a very distant memory.....We look at her and can harldy believe she is so grown up! Our baby is turning into a little girl before our very eyes, growing taller and more self-sufficient, stringing more and more words together confirming a sweet yet strong disposition. Happy Birthday to our angel! The theme for her birthday party was inspired by one of her favorite books "Belle La Coccinelle" (Belle the Ladybug), a gift from Tonton Bruno. Flowers and butterflies, two of her earlier words which she loves to say, were a natural addition. You can only imagine the hours I spent baking, icing, sprinkling and creating the whole mise-en-scène!!! We were thrilled that her godparents Pierre and Laure, made the trip to celebrate with us. Thanks for being there and thanks for all the pictures. Thanks also to all her little friends and their parents for joining us as well as her two "nounous". Children and adults had fun. Enjoy the pictures.
January
27th 2009
Portland, Christmas on the Cape, New York City Happy New Year to all! We hope your holidays were spent eating, drinking and merrying with family and friends and that 2009 began under propitious stars. Ours certainly did! Our month in the States (or should I say mine and Alexa's as Rick joined us for only the last 2 1/2 weeks) went "cheetah fast", especially the first week in Portland, Oregon visiting with my sisters Cathy and Sonia and Alexa's cousins Nico and Alexandre. Aunt Sonia had never met Alexa and, of course, little Alex, born last October, was an absolutely adorable surprise. He is a very sweet baby with a good disposition and his mommy and daddy seem to have taken to parenthood with innate ease. Alexa and Nico were ecstatic to be reunited! The two share an obvious bond (Cathy says it's because they chose to come into this world together!) and it made for beautiful harmonious moments between them, whether while playing or just eating or sitting together. Us sisters shared some special moments as well and it made me realize that much more deeply how much I wish we all lived closer......Thanks Sissies for the Barefoot Sage - that was awesome! Then it was off to the Cape where Nancy was waiting for us, only 6 weeks after her hip replacement surgery, and already off and running. Well, maybe not running but certainly a miracle of recovery! Nothing could have stopped her, not even major surgery, from decking the house with its usual elaborate Christmas regalia for her granddaughter's first Christmas on the Cape. We spent a quiet but wonderful Christmas and New Year's in Sandwich, ventured into Boston for a matinée at the Boston Pops, and did some major shopping (as always!). A highlight of our visit to the States was a 3-day visit to New York City to visit my great aunt Rita (a.k.a Tata Rita) and her son Vlad. Unfortunately Tata (now 86) was not feeling at her best but we enjoyed the time we spent with both of them nonetheless. New York was picture-perfect for the season with crisp blue skies and just-cold temperatures. The illuminations and shop windows dazzled the young and not so young....A memorable trip although a little overwhelming for us country folks (that's me and Alexa) !!! That concludes our North American adventure. I will sign off by doing a little bragging about my daughter who is, I swear, a champion traveler! She adapted to time changes with incredible ease, back on schedule within a day; ate unfamiliar foods with gusto; slept in different beds peacefully. I know some adults who wouldn't have fared so well............
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