Eloise gets so excited playing in the exersaucer that afterwards she just has to chill out on the couch. I have to mention, the book lying next to her is one I received from Garrett for Christmas. It's an English book called, 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.' I'm almost finished and think it's fantastic! The main character/narrator is a 15 year old boy with Asperger's Syndrome who is being a detective for a neighborhood dog murder. The story reads just like the mind of a person with this disorder and from my previous work experience, seems fairly accurate.

Baby yoga

While I was on the floor attempting yoga, I had to run for the camera when I looked over at her doing what looked like some yoga positions too. I also had to show off her adorable sweater from Great Aunt Laurie. It reminds me of something I wore as a child?

Please Pray

Alan and I have a dear friend, David Usrey, who is the Area Director for Young Life here in Paris. On Monday, he was acting strange and had been having headaches. His wife, Kathy, and daughter, Tiffany (also both on YL staff in Paris) took him to the hospital to find out he has a brain tumor. The family decided it was best to be transferred to Atlanta for surgery and treatment. They arrived at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta late last night and the new round of scans show that the tumor is growing rapidly and he was put in the ICU. Surgery is scheduled for Monday. Please pray healing for David, skill for the neurosurgeon, Dr. James Robinson, and peace for the rest of his family (high school aged son, David Jr. too).
www.caringbridge.org/visit/davidusrey
Thanks, Beth and Alan

Musée Marmottan

Eloise and I had a couple of really long days alone while Alan was at school. So, yesterday we headed to the Musée Marmottan, an impressionist museum that's off the beaten path as far as tourist itineraries go. It was incredible!! I think it's my new favorite Parisian musem (replacing Musée Rodin...however, Musée Rodin gives free admission to 1 person if accompanied by a child - and it has a garden, so it might still be my favorite). Here are a few pictures that I took before I was reprimanded.

I honestly didn't not see any signs prohibiting photos!

There are tons of Monet's works (including lots of waterlilles and Japanese bridges, but also the famous Gare Saint Lazare and the Houses of Parliament in London) and a couple of his actual painting palettes, along with other works by Renoir, Degas, Manet, and Rodin. There was also a room of works by Berthe Morisot, a painter that I had never heard of before but was very impressed with. I wish I had gotten a few photos of those.

The Illuminations are a donated collection that include works from the English, French, Italian and Flemish schools, from the 13th to 16th century. The parchment was removed from the books they originally appeared in.

Just Hanging Around

Eloise was just sitting on the couch being goofy while watching the dogs play (we're house sitting for another yellow lab).

4x4 chain letter-blog style

This post is in response to a chain letter from Emily Wells. You're supposed to post and explain your 4th picture from your 4th album on facebook. This is Alan and I in Bath, England, Auguast 2007. We were visiting his parents for two weeks en route to moving to Paris. Bath was one of my favorite towns that we visited while in England. It's also where I ate my first real "english breakfast." That was definitely not my favorite.

So, now it's your turn rigel and the belles, pence to cents, p-roc's mom, barricklows, swiss miss, miller madness and peseys (if you have facebook?)

Happy Valentine's Day

Alan and I were able to celebrate the 3rd anniversary from our first date. We dropped the babe off at some friends' and went out to dinner and Starbucks (the locale of our 1st date). I would have never believed Alan if he has said that in 3 years we'd be married, with a kid and living in Paris!