When it happens, it really happens

Saves us money this way, I guess

TIFF Kids 2016

One reason we have been so silent is that we are enjoying TIFF Kids after a 2 year absence. 5 movies so far and one more next weekend! Plus the kids still love the "digiplay space"

Trying out the red carpet

Practice makes perfect

weird sand

green screen fun with Kenzie

first virtual reality

Our story-telling miss

green games that fizzed

a video game with Marc-Andre

Reading her way around New York City

She wanted to go in to every book shop we passed (I limited it to 3)

The book was better than the dinos - or perhaps she just felt comfortable under a T Rex

Central Park stories

A good read on the Upper West Side

She read so much that - since we were going to dine with my colleagues - we first went to the kids bookshop in Manhattan and got her another 2 books...

The grand dames of New York museums

I didn't want to overwhelm Sophie with the huge array of museums that exist in the Big Apple and I wanted to save some for when we go as a family. So Sophie and I agreed to go to the Natural History museum (on what was supposed to be a very wet day) and the Met (on what turned out to be a very cold and windy day). Despite neither being "interactive", they were glorious and we had a lot of fun.

We adored the oceans room

terrific images and text

The dinosaurs were impressive but slightly less captivating; the 13 buildings in one are exquisite

One of the amazing things about the Met - beyond its location, building and huge collection - is that it has a tremendous set of family guides. We wanted to explore the collection through the lens of "From the Mixed up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler" -a family read of 2015. Some lovely helpers at the info desk circled on the map all the items that inspired the book, and off we went with Sophie as guide.

a Roman vase where the children might have stashed their clothes while they hid in the museum for a week

Egyptian jewellery that caught Claudia's eye

old and new amethyst jewellery that caught my eye!

sometimes I wish I had a wig; this one would do nicely

the glorious building

some Tiffany

my goofy gal

The bed where the siblings slept (and under which they could just about slip away and hide)

the forgotten Michelangelo and my tour guide

New York City

So for Sophie's 9th birthday and New Year's 2016 gifts combined, I took her to NYC for 4 days. And it was so much fun!! She just wanted to be there and be able to tell her (French) friends - so we didn't see the Statue of Liberty or a Broadway show or go up the Empire State building etc.

We did walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. 

We did go to Time Square (over-rated).

 

We did walk in Central Park. 

We did stay with a lovely colleague in his gorgeous 19th century Brooklyn brownstone. 

We did pick up a ring that I had ordered during my February visit to Senegal
(the amethyst, as the green stone sits too high)

We did go to a bead shop, as promised.

and stayed a loooooong time

We did some shopping for summer sandals and clothes.  

We ate crazy American treats

We did eat a Brooklyn (puffy) bagel.

We did get to know Brooklyn a bit

We did see some of my kind, global colleagues.

  We did frequent 2 museums (more tomorrow) and had a wonderful time in that amazing city.

So we want to return soon with our lovely lads.

Delicious doesn't do it justice

something sweet

something sweeter

once baked, the puff pastry-wrapped chocolate bar didn't last long

Piggyback

I was moaning to friends yesterday about how much the children are fighting and bickering, and then they go and do something like this today. :-)

Some indoor exercise

assisted chin ups

Sophie wanted to head back to the indoor gym/playground with her buddy, Zaira.

running up

and down

climbing up

moving her equipment

balancing

ready to swing!

March Break 2016

First day - Our traditional March break raid on Mabel's Fables and the Bagel House! (and Jeet came with us)

 

Pouring over the seasonal tea catalogue

hosting the final games night - for now

Second day - headed to Montreal to see Grandma

Third day - did not head to Maine to do the hut to hut ski trip - because there was no snow...

Fourth - sixth days - we headed to Ottawa.We had a grand time at the National Gallery and the Museums of Nature and History, hiking a (snowy) trail in Gatineau park, and eating with Mr & Mrs Cormier, doing some late night shopping for more books (because, yes, the kids had finished theirs)

another Louise Bourgeois - they even remembered her spider from Bilbao 

what Seb built instead of actually seeing the Vikings exhibit

Drove home very late but it was memorable because...

Sophie had her first "footlong" - and finished it before me!

Seventh day is a stay-cation sort of day!