When you're in Flagstaff...

3 years. It had been too long since my last trip to Arizona. Way too long, to be honest. Because, as much as I was ready to move away right after college, the truth is, part of me is still there. Oh I don't want to move back by any means. But there are so many things and people that mean a lot to me there, and I've been so busy the past 3 years (getting married and having two babies and movies across the ocean twice will do that to you) that I didn't even have much time to think about that part of my life - let alone going back and visit.

 So it was time. Troels had to go to Arizona for a conference early December, so we decided to fly to AZ and celebrate Thanksgiving with the Foremans in Flagstaff, then spend a few days in Tucson to see all of my friends down there. And the whole thing was just rad. Even better, was the fact that my Soazic surprised me and flew in to spend a week of the vacation with us. Can I say BEST FRIEND EVER? :) Thanksgiving was lovely - we ate too much, we napped...exactly what you're supposed to do on Thanksgiving day! We met Aria, Lisa's baby, for the first time - what a little cutie. Olivia wanted to hold her all the time :)

This is what happens when you wait too long to give these guys wine...

Nothing like a little baby sleeping in your arms.

Post Thanksgiving dinner coma. 

We also went for a short walk in the neighborhood with Uncle Jerry. Oh, ask Olivia how much fun it is to chase Uncle Jerry, she'll tell you :) I love that neighborhood - the quietness, the smell of the pine trees....bliss.

I have the best friend ever. :)

Fall things

So sorry I've let you down guys - it's been a long long while without any post on this blog. A thousands of excuses really, the knee surgery + recovery, an army of guest in October, lots of work for an awesome project on This Little Street...but in the end, I know none of these are good enough. I should have updated this blog anyway. Because it make me so happy when I do do it . I love having this special place to talk about this happy little life of mine. So I'll catch up on this fall really quick. Not too many picture because really, the first couple of months after mu surgery I just didn't have the energy to even take pictures. But here is what I have. When Troels' parents and grand-parents visited, we went to the Catskills and spent a nice fall weekend in the mountains. It was gorgeous with the golden leaves - and freezing too!

We did some Halloween decorations with the girls' little friends and neighbors, Hamish and Flora. I think that Madeline is love with Amish, her eyes start glowing and she's got a big smile on her face every time she hears his name ;)

My parents visited right around Halloween - they left right before the hurricane-, and of course we couldn't resist the idea to dress up my dad. How did we do that, you'll ask? Well, we were going to an event at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, so we told him everybody there would be wearing a costume...and dress him up as The Situation :D Of course, he has no idea who The SItuation is, so it was awesome. People started cracking up when they saw him...and he just had no clue why :D

The girls had such a blast, Olivia kept saying "You say "trick or treat, mama!". She's about ready for another round of Halloween already:)

A big girl...

...And this big girl I am showing you just started going to school in the morning. And she LOVES it. Especially when her daddy drops her off in the morning :) Look at that big smile.

My little Olive - I can't believe you are so big already!!! Daddy and I love you SO much!

The reunion

Olivia and Maddie (not Madeline her sister, but Maddie her little friend) didn't see each other the entire summer - so her mom Nicole and I organized a little sleepover for all of us at their home in Jersey.

Reason number 1 why I love going to Nicole and Maddie's house, let's be honest with myself, is that Nicole bakes the best cupcakes :D She owns a cupcake shop in Germany. Check these out! Gorgeous, uh?! That's what she greets us with every time!

Reason number 2 is that the girls have SUCH a great time. It's so fun to see them running after each other and getting in all kinds of mischief together. It always starts slow when we arrive and they haven't seen each other for a while....but that never lasts too long, and before we know it we are hearing giggles all over the house. Bliss.

Olivia goes fishing for lions. Don't ask who taught her that. All I'll say is that it may or may not be her daddy.



Reason number 3 is that Nicole is the best host ever. She put a guest basket on our bed. And organized a little cupcake decorating party for the kids. So much fun!

Madeline, not surprisingly, focused on EATING the cupake rather than decorating it. Can't blame the girl, she's hungry, after all we barely feed her ;)

And reason number 4 - Nicole and her husband have a huge garden for the kids to run around. My girls miss that kind of outdoor space so much, that they go crazy when they visit friends with a backyard!

Nicole and her husband organized a great little dinner so we could meet some of their friends - and since we slept at their house, let's just say that we may or may not have a little bit to drink to celebrate the reunion :)

A good (Labor) day

A (very) good day spent visiting some friends in Jersey who just moved from Chicago.

 "What? Jersey?!!" We said. 
"We know. But it's not what you think. Come and check it out." they replied. 

 And so we did! You see, there's a clear prejudice against New Jersey when you live in New York city. Many New Yorkers actually call NJ the armpit of NYC. Now now, play nice people, because what we saw hardly looked (or smelled) like an armpit. NYC might actually win in the smelling competition - but that discussion is for another day.

 Anyway, we went out, and had a blast catching up on their new life, have a little BBQ at their place, and then heading off to the local zoo.

Olivia went on a carrousel for the first time EVER. I know. Please don't report us to Social Services for bad parenting. She was beyond excited and wouldn't come off. The happiness on her face, the smiles...you should have seen that. And Madeline was excited too - but I don't think she totally realized what was going on. She's still our little baby girl - even though that won't last much much longer!

The view from here

This is the view I've had since I hurt my knee + surgery. People's behind.

Oh, yes yes, every now and then they wait for me, and clap and laugh "wow, you're so fast!". Whatever they say. Me and my crutches we are BFFs by now. Except for it is more a love/hate relationship. Love that they can get me places. But hate....well, hate them, really.
 

It's been extra busy with our friends in town and my surgery - like, INSANE is more the word. But we've had SO much fun, and I'm so happy they came to visit us.

Olivia had the best time playing with her little friends. We'll miss you guys.....come back soon!

Since I can't go fast nor far, we've been keeping it easy, staying close to home. Luckily we've got tons of great park in walking waddling distance from our apartment. This weekend, it's been nice to unwind a bit, take it slow.

Olivia is turning into a little girl, and dare I say (close your ears hubby), a little artist. She draws everywhere she can (yep, you know what that means), whenever she can and with such focus. I love watching her lost in her drawings.