Summer oldie

Last summer, Lucie and her friend Charles got to ride ponies in Bretagne. I just found this photo on my phone, so here it is for you enjoyment.

This being France, we didn't sign any liability papers and just were told to head "over there" into the back paths between the fields. (Yes, that's right they gave two ponies to the dads and kids and NO ONE came with them!) It was fun, but I have to admit I don't know the first thing about horses, and these little ponies were strong and it's not entirely sure that this was a very safe outing... but nobody got hurt and the kids got to wear cool riding hats.

Bringing up Bébé

What with all of the hoopla in the US over the "Bringing Up Bébé" book, we thought we'd show off how well-raised our French children are.

This particular French technique is called the tip-and-lick, and it's a prerequisite for attending school, along with potty-training. As you can see Malo's way ahead of the curve.

Try it the next time you're out at a fancy French place, it's sure to make you an instant star.

PS: You should know that the English title of the book is "French children don't throw food". Ha!

The park on a cold winter day

It's finally warmed up in Paris, but we headed to the park last Sunday for a cold 1/2 hour of play (-6°C). We couldn't really stay much longer, but it was a good time.

Malo about to plunge head first down the kiddie-slide.

 Michele managed to convince him to go feet first.

That was cool!

Let's go again!

He's already a bad boy who wants to climb back up the slide, but with a snow suit on, it's basically mission impossible.

Lucie and Malo playing together. They've been having a lot of fun, both inside and outside.

Lucie loves making faces, and she's good at it too!

Bilbao

Michele's Christmas gift this year was a weekend for 2 in Bilbao, where the Guggenheim has a museum designed by Frank Gehry. We had a great time, looking at art and stuffing our faces with tapas and other good foods.

It's rather an impressive building, sheathed as it is in titanium.

 It glows in the sun, which is pretty cool.

 Inside, there was a large installation by Richard Serra.

We took some photos before getting busted by the photo-Nazis. No photos allowed anywhere in these any museums, even without flash. Guess they really want you to buy those postcards, but it does seem petty.

No art-filled weekend is complete without a tour of a church with a nice hell scene.

Baby walker

As we're not able to head out much, Malo's found a solution to his plight and makes do with the toys he has at home. This one happens to be a stool from Ikea.

We're taking bets as to when he actually starts walking. I'm guessing as soon as he feels that he has a reason. And as always with Malo, it ends with big smiles...

A quick visit to the park

Shortly after returning from  Xmas break, I took the kids to the park for a cold runaround. Malo was very happy to have a first try at the baby slide and to cruise around the play area. Since then, the weather has turned bitterly cold (for Paris) with an entire week of freezing temperatures, and lows as cold as -8C. We'll head back to the cold when we're no longer at risk of losing fingers or toes to frostbite.

 You know Dad, I outgrew this hat a few months ago...

Lucie got to work out some of her bountiful energy (better here than on our sofa).

Malo considered what that shinny thing could be, and more importantly: how to grab it so he could taste it.

Jesus was a girl. Wait! What?

Today a Christian spiritual came on French radio. As a result of this song, Lucie and I had the following conversation:

Lucie: How can the baby Jesus grow up to be a man?
Me: What?  (and very confused because I wasn't paying attention to the radio)
Lucie: How can the baby Jesus grow up to be a man?
Me: Uhmmm, he just grew up.
Lucie: But if the baby Jesus was a little girl how does she grow up to be a man?
Me: Wait do you think Jesus was a girl?
Lucie: Yes.
Me: The baby Jesus was a little boy.
Lucie: OH! I didn't know that (and runs off to play.)

Today's religious lesson: Jesus was not transgender. I'm glad we cleared that up.

The excellent adventures of Lucie and Malo

While their parents were away (more pics later), the kids stayed at Pakkah and Dadou's the for the weekend.  This being the 21st century, we were appraised of the situation in real time.

The grandparents' apartment is not baby-proofed, nor will it be, and so Malo was put in a play pen. After complaining vehemently about his loss of freedom (and lodging a complaint with Amnesty International for wrongful incarceration) he passed the time by making toys for luckier children.

He decided against staging a hunger strike.

 

Prison food isn't that bad, really.

Then it was back in the slammer, where the authorities allowed a visit.

"Don't worry little one, I'll get you out soon."

 "I'll just lace this cake with some sleeping pills..."

With his jailers asleep, Malo made his great escape, and remembered to bring a snack for the road. (you don't end up with those cheeks by forgetting your snacks, you know).

 "Can you believe this didn't even make the papers !?!"

Malo and Dadou

Malo and his grandmother in a cute shot.

Life's a beach

A brand new day

When you vacation with kids, you get lots of opportunities to see the sunrise...

Just like his Pop-Pop, Malo likes to drive. You just can't make this stuff up...

 Lucie found herself another crocodile to play with

 Malo floated about. He didn't like the water much at first, but eventually got used to it and liked it.

Lucie and Dad went for a quick kayak ride to look at some fish with a 1970s-style contraption with a glass bottom. Though she probably couldn't see anything, Lucie loved it.

Back on the beach, Malo was looking for a kayak of his own

He eventually got a ride as well. Despite what it might look like, we were only about a yard from the beach and in about 6" of water.

The girls