Printemps...

One day in Vernon in march, heavy fog on the Seine river.

Our friend Sandra fromWashington had a meeting in Paris, and stayed with us for a night : how great to meet up again !! It would be lovely to catch up as well with Troy and meet Charlotte and Noah : someday, someday...

Ruben's fifth birthday party !!
With Nelasha and Agastya, Solene, and Lilia.

Unfortunately, he slept through the family's party, but Alexandre was very happy to assist Domi in blowing the candles.

 

Going up the big wheel on the Place de la Concorde.

Having a good time (and eating carrots!) at Mahe's.

At the jardin d'acclimation, and then playing with Agathe, Alice + Lucile.

With the cousins (and grand mother, great grand mother, and uncle).

At the parc floral with Mathilde, Julien, Clement & Etienne.

April's holidays in Briancon  !
Ruben and Elizabeth came down first ; we joined them there. We went up the mountain to touch the snow (cold), played in the garden (great), and found heaps on morels in a very secret spot (yummy).

(Ruben on a hike with our neighbor Jean-Claude before we arrived ; Jean-Claude revealed the morels' secret spot to Ruben who then passed it on to us... Jean-Claude must have been disappointed in this development)

 At home, outside, hiking..

 

Elizabeth kindly looked after the kids so that Eric and I could go out together : we spent a nice morning / lunch in Monetier and did a great hike from the house : over the fort des tetes, via the Fontenil, then straight up to fort de l'infernet above Briancon (2377 m), and back down again. The last 200 m were still covered in snow and there were actually lots of ski tracks still visible - something to keep in mind for next winter !

The deserted forts up there make for a strange experience ; interesting but also terribly desolate...
They offer a great view (here Briancon and the vallee de la Claree) - But what it must have been to reside there..

For ascencion / 1st of may holiday, we went to Aix en Provence. The kids were delighted to water the garden, play by the pool, and Ruben even set up his own office with the old minitel (the last minitel on earth found a new life?).

 

At Sainte Croix beach.

 

Back in Paris : outings by the Seine (with the greenwall of the musee du quai branly), champ de mars,  parc de l'ile saint germain, and the annual firestation fest (with Alexandre holding the hose).

Ruben and I spent aweek end in Grenoble, staying with Eric and Virginie and then meeting up with Guillaume, Delphine and their baby Manolis.

In June : Impressive flooding of the Seine river in June.
 We also met up again with our friends from Delhi Gersende, Jerome + Jade and Nino. It was great to catch up !