Category Archives: henry et marie

six (times two)

henry-et-marie

handm

 

These two are officially six…can you believe it?! We kept things simple this year and had a lovely French-inspired birthday picnic at a favorite local park. We got lucky with the weather and managed to avoid the crazy hot temperatures. We tend to shy away from outdoor activity when it gets to be over 80 degrees, if I’m being honest. Why did we have July babies?! I’m kidding – Cancers are the best (both my parents are that sign as well) and the fact that they were born late on the 13th means that they were technically born on le 14 juillet, aka Bastille Day to us (the French don’t call it that). It was a Francophiles dream come true to have my babies born on such a significant French holiday – it was an unplanned emergency c-section, and it was fate. You can read their birth story here, should you be interested. Back to the picnic…

 

bastille-day-picnic

picnic-bites

bastille-day-birthday

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our loft

black + white loft living

 

In 2015 we sold our home and rented this industrial loft while we awaited a green light to move abroad. The green light unfortunately never came, but we embraced the new chapter and the opportunities it afforded us. One of the biggest perks (for me) was the chance to live out my dream of living in (and styling) a loft. While I’ve shared little sneak peaks here and there, I’ve never shared the main living areas…until now! Situated in a historic factory (circa 1850s), the property was converted into condominiums in 2010. The architectural details and light won me over – enormous windows, exposed brick, original wood floors and beams…it’s the stuff loft dreams are made of. It was a fairly blank canvas, and while living smaller as a family of four was a challenge, I had a lot of fun with the space.

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dc with kids

smithsonian-garden-with-kids

magnolia blooms D.C.

magnolia blooms in dc

 

We made a last minute decision to tourist around Washington D.C. with the kids for spring break – along with the rest of the world, ha. The cherry blossom festival was happening, despite the fact that those beauties hadn’t bloomed yet. However, the magnolias were in peak bloom, and we found the most beautiful grouping of them in the Enid A. Haupt garden. Situated on the Smithsonian grounds, it’s on the way to the museums and I highly recommend strolling through, any time of year. It was a bustling spot of course, with everyone jockeying for position to get their best gram. I managed to capture this one despite having one adult and two five-year-olds who weren’t as keen to spend the morning blossom hunting. Thankfully they indulged me with a few photos in the garden before we went off to see the sites…

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why we marched

 

Today we participated as a family in the March for Our Lives. While we were unable to join the masses in D.C. (as I did for the Women’s March), we are proud to help amplify their voices by supporting the movement on a local level. It was our children’s first protest, and I can’t think of a more worthy cause. They recently had their first lockdown drill – huddled in silence with their 5 and 6-year-old peers, lights off, in a windowless room. While they don’t know all of the gruesome details (as it wouldn’t be age appropriate), they know enough to understand that gun reform is desperately needed. They eagerly agreed to protest with us (we gave them the option), chose the messages for their signs, and helped to make them. I was so proud to watch them hold those signs high for as long as their little arms could manage, and chant along with the crowd. It felt amazing to show them democracy in action, and the power of people. It made me feel proud to be American, which I haven’t been feeling much of lately. This is our country. This is their future. Enough is enough…let’s get it right.

add your name to make your mark.

we heart nola

new-orleans-with-kids

 

Last month we made a last minute decision to tag along with my husband on a business trip to one of my favorite U.S. cities, and I’m so glad we did. I fell in love with New Orleans during a series of visits in my mid-twenties, and have been anxious to get back ever since. I was taken aback when a few people reacted negatively when I told them we were taking the kids, because apparently the only NOLA they know is the inebriated, late-night party version. While that can be fun (I recommend experiencing Mardi Gras once when you’re young, like I did), it is only a small piece of the picture. There is so much to love about the historic city: the people, the food, the music…distinctly American but often French-infused. In fact, I feel it’s the closest to France you can get in the states. New Orleans is celebrating it’s tricentennial (wow) this year, and has conveniently been named the #1 place to visit by The New York Times. I’m sharing our whirlwind 72 hour trip in it’s entirety – my favorite family-friendly spots, itinerary ideas, and tips…plan a visit, and bring the kids!

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