Shoes

Recently I have been looking for some kind of summer shoe for E. After limited searching and disappointed sighs (with three kids I just can't get out and search for what I am looking for), I took a new direction and found a tutorial on the internet for making the little slip on shoes that are so popular for babies, and actually quite expensive at 30euros a pair. I was quite happy with the outcome, and have grand ideas in my head now for much funkier versions. Unfortunately I have to confess that I am not so sure I am saving any euros on this project, as now I have returned to Marché St Pierre (the fabric mecca) bought way too much extra fabric and will be sewing shoes for the next year if I really want to be cost effective. Look out friends having babies!

too fast - 6 months!

Where has the time gone! Way too fast this time around, the baby is already 6 months old (at this point nearly 6 1/2months). This is her this morning.

Climbing

H & O are climbing everything these days. Well, to be honest they have always been little climbers, but more recently it is more frantic, and more adventurous. This is one of our first tree experiences while out hanging in the Champ de Mars:

1000 days

The boys are 1000 days old today! Seems like a milestone... not sure how, but it's a nice round big figure, the next one being 10 000, some 24 years away, that 1000 is surely worth a mention.

I hope that they will still be this charming then....

Haircuts

The boys experienced their first 'formal' haircut on Saturday. By formal, I mean, we paid for their haircuts at the hairdressing salon, over the usual me restraining them between my thighs and fighting for each strand of hair I can get my hands on. Not surprisingly there was a real difference in quality of the cut. Gone are the jagged crazy layers and lop-sided evidence of my hacking, and voilà the much less traumatic result of lollipops on the counter to ensure rewards for braveness and dvd player for distraction. Not sure why I didn't think of the dvd thing myself... not that that would have actually given me haircutting skills, but perhaps mine would have looked slightly less amateur.

Ile de Ré

We just spent a beautiful week on Ile de Ré, a fabulous island just off the west coast of France at La Rochelle. The Island is a haven of beachiness: quaint white washed blue shuttered towns, long sandy (and at this moment empty) beaches, and endless days of sunshine. This flat small island is also covered in bike trails and bike rental locations, so we took the opportunity to check out the cyclist perspective (all three kids included), for a fabulous day of marais exploring, lighthouse watching, farmers markets, and the beach (ofcourse!) à la velo. We stayed in Les Portes de Ré, which is at the western end of the island, and perfect for us and our usual desire to be 'out of the rush' when on holiday. We did spend some time on the more popular southern coast, also lovely with beautiful towns, very tasteful shopping everywhere, and probably the best beaches on the island. 

The port at St Martin (the capital), a truly lovely fortified town, with quaint and popular port lined with inviting looking restaurants.

enjoying a stroll through one of the pretty towns. 

collecting crabs (dead ones) on the beach 

 

even Bella came on holiday, enjoying our large garden and holiday home rental, and here taking some quiet time with E.

back to the beach - even if it wasn't hot, it was blue skies and fine and perfect for playing in the sand and running at the water's edge

playing on the sand dunes was prohibited... but try telling rambunctious 2 year olds that. 

old German bunkers could be found along parts of the beaches

learning young to suck it in

Enjoying the cycling avec baguette 

fun at the water's edge



We will definitely be back!

similarity

It was pointed out to me yesterday how similar H and E are. I am actually really surprised, as I thought they were all really different looking, but in fact, it may just appear that I have forgotten what the twins looked like as babies! This is H 2 years ago, and E last week: