Paris

Last weekend we went to Paris, sans kids, as Alexandra offered to look after them for two nights. This was much appreciated by us, and we had a great time, although obviously we missed Ilona and Bluet - so much that we bought them bubbles, crowns and pink/purple models of the Eiffel Tower (or 'Tower Building', as Ilona calls it). They were very excited to see us when we returned on Sunday afternoon.

Hotel cat:

Notre Dame

Inside a Roman bath

Space Invader in Montmatre

And back home again

So here we are

We have finally arrived in Zurich (well, to be honest, we have been here since Thursday morning). But first, let's recap last week. We were given the choice of where to have the visa appointment for the Americans amongst us - I think it was Atlanta, LA, Chicago or New York, so obviously we chose the world's greatest city. We then decided to use this as an opportunity to spend a bit more time in NYC. Initially we were all going to go for ~4 days, but then owing to a delay in getting the visa appointment I wound up with 5 nights in New York by myself before Emily and the kids arrived - and they were happy too, because it was an extra 5 nights for them in Missouri. Whilst in New York on my own I walked about a lot, went to the baseball game, did some record shopping and caught up with friends.

For my birthday, I was one of the few people at a Mets game

Then when Bluet, Ilona and Emily arrived, we had a couple more days of fun. I took Bluet to FAO Schwarz, the giant toy store of 'Big' fame, where Bluet played on (and loved) the giant piano. But even more than that she was fascinated by the life size lego models of Emmet and Stylewild from the lego movie, especially as they had been glued together so she couldn't take them apart. Apologies for the chronological messiness of all this.

For two nights we stayed in a hotel on Times Square (the worst part of Manhattan - I think this was the first time we ever took Bluet there) where Bluet was fascinated by the telephone, and permitted to jump on the bed.

And Ilona got to swing for the first time - and liked it as much as Bluet ever did

Bluet found some bubbles

And then we hung out with our friends who have twin girls a little younger than Bluet (the next day Bluet went to their third birthday party at a dance studio, which she loved. Bluet was delighted to discover they were also fans of Peppa pig. 

New York is tiring for babies

Bluet at the dance studio

Bluet post visa interview

Bluet pre visa interview

Lunch at PQ

Also, Ilona is getting very good at sitting up, and her first tooth has broken through

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Bluet's Big Bath, and other stories

Today Bluet was in the bath, the tap was running, and running, and running, until Bluet was in the deepest and best bhth she'd ever had.

Here is Bluet playing outside our house with her 'umbrella' (a stick)

And here is Ilona getting up

Tomorrow we are off to New York City, so expect lots of photos as we revisit our favourite old haunts on what will surely feel like a trip home.

Bubbles

For a long time we couldn't really let Bluet play with bubbles because she would get fustrated that she didn't know how to blow them, and then spill the bubble mixture, and it was no fun for anyone. But now she has mastered the art, and is out blowing those bubbles every day after she gets home from School, or at weekends. Here she is in bubble blowing action, in an outfit she assembled herself. Also, trying to open the door

Bubbles

Bluet loves bubbles. It is a word she will say at the drop of a hat (or at the sight of some bubbles). A new bottle of bubble mixture arrived, with her grandparents, from Missouri. We tried it out at the Zoo, and for a while it made Bluet very happy.

She is also fond of breakfast, as long as she can eat what we are eating. The days of sitting her down with a banana are disappearing fast.