Alexandre decided that he’d help Dad catch up on paperwork this weekend.

Helping Dad catch up on paperwork

Guess who’s dressed all-in-green today? Alexandre!

Did somebody order a leprechaun?

Hanging out on the couch

Juliette seems happier about giving her little brother a kiss than Alexandre seems about receiving it!

The months seem to be flying by now, and Juliette’s crossed her 23-month milestone. Next month, it will be her 2nd birthday, and once again her grandparents will get to share in the fun (this time, both sets of grandparents should be there). We took a few pictures on the couch to celebrate. Getting the Nuggi out of Juliette’s mouth took a little persuading. Good thing Dad snaps quickly…

Milestone birthday coming up. Juliette’s got the same pensive look that Dad has about his 40th.

Reaching for the stars

Cute as a button!

Not quite ready to give up her Nuggi yet…

It is a beautiful and unseasonably-warm mid-November morning, so we decided to take advantage of the good weather. We started the morning by saying hello to our two deer, who came right up to the house this morning to greet us. Then we went for a walk, up past the village fishing pond, then over to see the schoolchildren playing (they all came over and said hello — this bodes well for when Juliette starts there in September).

And we finished at the riding ring across the street. It’s Juliette’s favorite — stairs to climb, plenty of space to run. She’d spend the whole day there if we let her. Needless to say, there were a few tears when it was time to go home. It’s never fun to leave your favorite thing.

A walk in the park on a sunny November morning

Start at one end…

…and all the way to the other!

We’re not exactly at the age where the kids are ready to pose for a family photo. There aren’t any photos of the four of us. Here are three of us — as close as we can get to being organized!

Say cheese!

After a very energetic gouter with plenty of sugar, Juliette and Xavier decided to settle down and watch a little TV together.

Dad knows that they both have their whole lives to find out what they want in life, and who to settle down with. Right now, what they have most in common is their feelings towards chocolate. And our cat.

But as photo opportunities go, wouldn’t it be awesome if these two were still together in 50 years, sitting in the same chairs, shouting at the set?!? 🙂

A pretty intense session of CBeebies

Juliette is very excited about her new train set. What a great present from Adrien, Lucie and Xavier. Thanks again for coming to visit and for such a fun present.

Can you tell Juliette is a little excited?!?

We normally have pretty strict rules about playing with food at the table. But pasta is a different matter. Sometimes, we put pasta on our fingers.

Edward Scissorhand’s lesser-known cousin, Juliette Pastafingers

Dad managed to get ten hours of sleep last night, thanks to hitting the sack at 9pm. Just as well, because the kids were up bright and early on a Saturday morning.

Juliette decided to check out the Saturday-morning cartoons.

Alexandre decided to check out Dad.

Alexandre. Just hanging out with Dad.

After months of watching the horses graze in the pasture outside her bedroom, waving good-morning to them each day as we pass, and spending her weekends watching the local teenagers practice their riding, it was inevitable that Juliette would eventually end up with a pony of her own. Yes, it’s not real. But somehow Dad suspects that this is a sort of equine gateway drug, the first taste of what can only end in thousands of euros worth of riding lessons, stable bills, muck on the mudroom floor and a bedroom wall lined with ribbons.

Still, it was Dad’s idea to move to the countryside. And there are worse gateway drugs for little girls than horses.

Juliette gets some riding tips from Mom

Ride ’em, cowgirl!