April in Paris

Eleven Aprils, to be exact.

I've never spoken much in this space about the years we spent in Paris.

Except that almost everything that I share about life with my children

in their early years took place there.

My daughter was nine months old when we moved overseas

and three days shy of twelve when we came back to the states.

My son was born in the city of lights!

And he was nine when we left.

Their whole childhood was lived against the backdrop of this great city.

These photos are from 1988 ~ the April my daughter turned one.

Her birthday was often the reason for a visit from my mom,

so many of our more "touristy" activities took place in April....

which any travel agent will tell you

is a spectacular time to visit Paris.

The first photo {above} was taken at Jardin de Luxembourg...

that place where my kids learned NOT to walk on the grass!

This shot was taken at Sacre Coeur...

I think we loved the tulips and her toothy grin more than the great cathedral!

Here she is with her pinwheel at Notre Dame.

And here's dad trying to sneak her a sip of coke in the Jardin de Luxembourg.

And this...

this is my baby nestled against the grill outside her bedroom window.

So many of our photos are like this one...

they chronicle the milestones and moments of family life

without that much attention to all the history and art that surrounded us.

I have a blog friend Catherine

who's photos of this city that holds so much of my heart capture it perfectly.

You can visit her at her blog home

La Memoire Vive

She's awoken in me a desire to share bits of our Parisian life...

so stay tuned, more of our years there to come!

For now,

know I'm in my office,

working hard...

and dreaming of April in Paris.

Joining Kim for

Little Things Thursday

and Mama Kat for her

Writer's Workshop