March Birthdays (2009)

Tradition dictates that Kristen celebrates her birthday with her godson Quentin, whose birthday is just 3 days before hers. (Another occasion of a mother messing up her child’s birthday, although Jocelyne did NOT have Quentin induced unlike SOME people we know…) Quentin and Kristen spent the Friday of the weekend together. One special activity was playing mini-golf on possibly the worst maintained course in the world. Quentin won. Back home, they played Animalopoly. Quentin lost and accused me of cheating, so we had to explain that we no longer consider him young enough to ensure he always wins through altruistic cheating, of which we WERE previously guilty.
The rest of the Collignon family arrived on Saturday. We had a great birthday dinner. Kristen had made an American birthday cake like she likes them best: Devil’s food chocolate with butter cream frosting. It was yummy, even if it was not the prettiest cake ever. The adults played a lot of tarot (a contract card game, nothing to do with telling fortunes).

Anybody seen the movie Caddyshack?

Quentin lines up his shot.

Hole in one!

Quentin calls his broker for advice.

Making wishes...

Family picture L to R: Greg, Kristen, Quentin, Jocelyne, Annaëlle, Hugo, Didier

Sweet Home Chicago (January 2009)

We spent the first week of January in Chicago. For Greg, it was new experience. Kristen had been there when she was six. The great thing about Chicago in January is zero lines.  Kristen remembered a very, ver long line at the Sears Tower…and there was NO ONE when we went to see Chicago by Night from the top of the building.

The museums were great: we visited the aquarium, the observatory, the natural science museum and the ever fabulous Museum of Science and Industry. We saw the trains representing America from Chicago to the West Coast.

We went down into the coal mine, with a fabulous tour guide who kept us laughing.

We were overwhelmed by the visit of the U-boat (in its new home inside, unlike when Kristen saw it as a child).

 

We ate good food too, including the famous Chicago deep-dish pizza. We were also lucky enough to enjoy some fun evenings out on the town: jazz at Buddy Guy’s Legends, the Bulls playing basketball, and the Blue Man Group (not to be missed!).

Our only regret is that it was so cold while we were there that we couldn’t wander around much. The good news is that this gives us an excuse to go back when the weather is warmer!

More pictures online at http://picasaweb.google.com/GregorieKristen/ChicagoJan09?authkey=Gv1sRgCPSuqISGop3qWA#