Sous le ciel de Paris...

Troels and I left the girls with my mom for a mini-vacation to Paris to visit Soaz. We hadn't escaped just the two of us since our trip to Bali, and it was good to escape without having to worry about having enough diapers for the trip or about how we could find ways to avoid stairs because of the stroller.

Among other things, I finally got to meet the gorgeous Noura (another of the "Soazquetaires", as Troels calls us) and her adorable baby Romeo.

We walked around the smallest streets of Paris, shopped in Le Marais, and stopped for a break in a small park - for once avoiding all of the tourist traps that we usually go to. It was enchanting, the Paris I always dreamed about but never really got to experience. So enchanting that our walk turned into a mini photo session of Noura and her little boy.

How could I not. That baby is so stinking cute :)

 We managed to squeeze in some culture, believe it or not! It is not really our strongest side, I guess life gets in the way of us spending time at the museum. But I am so glad we went to the Monumenta exhibit - I simply loved it! The shapes, the use of the light...I was transported back to the time when I as an art student and worked on crazy projects.

And of course, we went out for good food and drinks many times - Paris is like New York in that way, too many good restaurants to try, too little time. We laughed with each other. We laughed at each other. We talked until the end of the night. Really, I love hanging out with Troels and Soaz - they are, after all, my favorite persons in the whole wide world. Maybe because they are a little crazy like me :)

In the garden

A weekend filled with surprises and lovely visits, spent making big decision and catching up with old friends.

The red and white party

a.k.a Matthieu and Pamela's 30th birdthay bash. They had said the theme to be red and white, and everybody had to come dressed in these colors.

Madeline's white pants lasted a whole 30 seconds before she decided that she needed to sit in a puddle :) Ha yes, the beauty of white pants for a one year old - I wonder why they even bother to make them!
 The party was a blast. Great food. The loveliest of people - we played games and sang very loud, and danced. Oh yes we dance. We danced all night. And we laughed. Oh yes, on est tous fous du Gambadou!

Olivia was so surprised that it was getting night outside and that she was still up. She kept saying "C'est la fete!!" - but I could tell how at times she was a bit scared of how loud French people can get when they party :) The big kids were running around playing games and she tried to catch up with them, a big grin on her face, until she couldn't no more. We stepped away from the party and looked at the stars and the moon, and we just stayed there and hugged in silence, both enjoying the moment. That moment made the evening even more beautiful.

Olive & Maddie in France

A quick post to share some of my favorite pics of the girls from the couple of weeks...just little snippets of our life so that daddy knows what's going on with his little girls, even if he is stuck in NYC right now :)

Love when my little Olive steals my hat.

The girls' favorite game: fill up their bucket with leaves and flowers. My mom used to have flowers in the garden before we arrived...

  We've been eating our afternoon snacks outside on the terrace almost every day. 

You can never have too many cups. No you can't.

Who cares about toys. Give her a laundry basket and she'll be fine.

Those blue eyes still amaze me every time.

Going to the market with mamie.

She found a peach in mamie's basket and stole it :)

She sure knows how to steal my heart away.

So many treasures to discover...

Here comes trouble!