There's a new bike gang in town!

Oh Paris.... I have missed you.

C dancing in the park

E waiting for the train at 5 in the morning. This is before she got motion sickness on board and I didn't pack a change of clothes. Learned my lesson that it is now, planes, trains and automobiles that make her sick :(

Pont Alexandre

Same bridge as above. This is when Emilie got her head stuck in the bridge. Talk about being scared.

I promise to take these girls back to Paris one day when they are older (and for better reasons than an Emergency passport)

Hello Beautiful!

Gamez crew eating crepes before the train home.

Watching the boats along the Seine.

One happy lady in the big city.

Well, I have been wanting to go to Paris but not quite how it happened. We were to leave Tuesday for Texas and Saturday night at 10 o'clock I realised that Charlotte's passport expired on her 5th birthday (3 months ago). Talk about panic. Luckily I had just spoken to someone who told me the embassy in paris can do emergency passports in an hour. I checked the website and it looked good, except there were no appointments left and we had to be the first people there on Monday to have a chance in hell of making it back to Geneva by Monday night. I packed and Alex came to pick us up to drive to his parents on Sunday. Woke up early Monday morning to take the train to Paris, get to the embassy and take the train back to Joigny, to then drive 4 hours home. We made it home at 8 that night had a quick sleep and woke up Tuesday to fly to Texas. With everything that has happened this year I never once thought about the passport expiring on her birthday (even though I knew that it was when she turned 5). Luckily it all worked out and we have a lot of really funny stories to tell from this day. Now I am in charge of getting new passports for her before our next adventure.

Endnote to a wonderful trip that went too fast

This is a pic of the girls at the start of our trip to Texas. They were so excited to get to Grandma's and see all of the family.

This is one of the last pictures from our trip. I think it sums things up. There is so much love here. It is amazing to see so many people take time to see us while we are there. This time we made it a very family oriented trip and only went to San Marcos to see Greer's new arrival Blythe. It just went too fast and we couldn't squeeze anything else in. When I see the love that people have for my girls, it is amazing to watch. It makes me question what the hell I am doing here, so far away, even if I don't think I want to live in Texas anymore. I have so many questions when I am there. Could I live here? What would life be like? Do I want to feel abnormal where I am supposed to feel normal? Is the education as good as where we are? What about ........and then I see the love that my family has for my kids and how they play with them and make them feel so special that it makes me want to forget about the questioning and think about what we are missing out on. This time leaving was my first time to cry. I think as the girls get older it is going to get harder. Knowing that we will only have these times once every year and for only 2 weeks is hard. I just wish everyone was a little closer sometimes. I am so grateful to everyone that took time out of their busy day/week to spend time with us and make my two girls feel like princesses. We love ya'll! 

San Marcos, Texas-Baby Blythe

Ladies at the bar

The crew with the next generation of Bobcats!

This school has changed so much. I get it, I graduated a really long time ago, but goodness has it changed.

All new

view down to the square, downtown San Marcos.

Love these girls more than words express

Eat 'em up cats! Eat 'em up! Eat 'em up! Go cats!!

Mommy Emilie with Baby Blythe. So sweet.

Rockwood, Tennessee-Grandma Helen

Pool time with Grandma Helen

swimming with Grandma

Emilie at a pool a party

delivering meals to the elderly. So much fun to see the girls helping with Grandma Helen.

Charlotte loved this dog. I don't think the dog has ever walked as much as it did with C Bear.

checking the garden with Grandma Helen.

using their imaginations to build with the pool toys.

Ms. Mimi was incredibly scared of the dog and cats, but finally she was brave enough to walk the dog to the mailbox and back with sister.

Travel companion for the road trip :)

I am so happy to see the girls with their great grandma. Such a special lady that has a huge place in our hearts.

Showing off their new hair cuts.

Seeing Uncle Rick and Aunt Stacy

Add caption

Random-Texas 2014

supergirl #1

supergirl #2

bedtime stories with Aunt Michelle

fear is beginning because the car started moving at Chuck E Cheese

full blown panic for E when she realises that she cannot get down by herself. Wow!

Dancing with Chuck E Cheese mouse. Charlotte is having a blast.

This is what Emilie looked like while the costumed mouse was dancing. I think her anxiety is getting worse and am not sure what to do about it. She is afraid of so many things. And not just afraid, but her whole body shakes with fear. Feel bad for her and hope she can grow out of it.

Happy again with Grandma Mary and Aunt Michelle.

Memphis, Tennessee

In front of the infamous gate. We went to see Elvis's house, but didn't see much past the gate. The girls were really confused as to why we were going to someone's house, but never went inside. They got a postcard and were happy :)

Teaching my children about graffiti from an early age. We were here.

Charlotte was thrilled to see that an airplane was going to Charlotte. She thought it was funny that Charlotte could go to Charlotte (North Carolina).

Picture of the travellers in the Houston airport before going to Memphis.
And I agree, Memphis has some amazing barbecue. Delicious!