Ahhh, Love.

This morning (very early) Charlie came in and said, "Mummy I love you so much, because you buy me cars.  I'm going to buy something for you, and Daddy and Ti."

"What about Kate?"

"No, she has 'nough toys, same me."

Wise kid.

Charlie the Sailor Man...

Guess whose son just ate a half cup of steamed, chopped spinach and said,"This is yummy!  I've never had it before.  It's sooo yummy!"

Heading Home

Last morning in Paris.

As An Aside...

Charlie has started doing weird poses for the camera!

 ...I don't know where he gets it from.

Making Our Way Back Home

Sunday morning was a mad dash to pack and get out of the house as soon as possible, so we wouldn't miss our train back to Paris.  Everyone very kindly got up (imagine the hangovers! actually I think a lot of people were still tipsy) to see us off.  It was a sad, but lovely picture of them as we left...

We made our way to Paris and settled into our hotel.  Then we went off to my friend Jill's for one last humongous meal.  And what a spread!  Jill made sure I kept up with my daily foie gras (and then some!) and made a delicious meal....

We were watched the whole time by vicious, snack-eating dogs...

We started with whole foie gras terrine...

By the end of it, I was cutting the bread in miniscule slivers, as we had determined it was wasting space in my stomach and was really only serving as a vehicle to transport the foie gras from the serving dish into my mouth...

then some langoustines

and some more foie gras...

and then some duck, with some lovely vegetables en cocottes...

I couldn't lift the camera to take a photo of dessert, which was tarte au poires with caramel praline ice cream.
And now I've brought home a French Roll.  Around my middle.

THE BIG NIGHT

'Twas beautiful also.  Once I finished driving all over the French countryside!

First, we forgot all the toys and DVD's for the kids' room (and we were assigned this task weeks ago!), so Lizzie and I had to tear back home (in record time, Louis Hamilton couldn't have kept up with me) just before dinner was served, to get all the stuff.

Then, when the kids got tired at about 10 (in the middle of a true French meal!), I drove them back and put them to bed.  And even driving much more slowly (in the bus, versus the little car for the toys), AND changing them and putting them all to bed, I returned before the next course was served. 

Charlie and Ben sleeping in the car...

My co-pilot, William, who helped with directions all the way home, and helped keep Ben from freaking out when he woke up as I was putting him to bed!

But I did miss the speeches, so I will have to wait for the DVD to be produced!

THE BIG DAY

'Twas beautiful.