Derek on leave

Last weekend I went to Charleston to see Derek who was on leave from Afghanistan. It was nice to see him but hard to say goodbye for another 8 months. At least he's going back as a general.... ahem I mean sergeant and he may have a more interesting job this time around.

Joanne and Avea dancing at a dinner Joanne and Dad organized for Derek
All of us at dinner

My two brothers

Maman and Derek at the airport on Sunday

France

Now that I'm somewhat (though not much) more awake, here are some pictures of what I did in France before the wedding.

Right after getting off the plane I went to the market with my uncle Bernard.
This is where we got our cheese.

My cousin Tim after lunch.

My cousin Nicolas with his daughter Manon.

Isabelle and Bernard after a long walk in the woods to this lake and old hunting lodge in the background.

View from my cousin Segolene's house.

About to take a Velib. This is one of the best new things in Paris. The city has put tons of bikes like these all over the city and you can rent them for 1 euro a day as long as you don't keep the bike for more than 30 minutes at a time (after that it costs a little more). All over the city there are racks where you can return and take bikes. DC needs this!

Segolene at a cafe

With Agathe

Elliot and Agathe

This is a place where lawyers and judges can buy the robes they all wear to court. This one's for judges but if you ask me it seems like it would be better in the lion king than in a French court. This is the first time in my life I'm happy I'll be wearing lots of suits.

Severine, Benjamin, Agathe and Elliot.
Miam! (Yum)

Aperetif in Reims with my aunt Francoise and Geoffroy (the one who's now married)

My aunt Marie-Christine on the way to the wedding.

My uncle Antoine.

Jobal's Wedding

I just returned from my cousin Geoffroy's wedding in Normandy. Before the wedding I spent a week visiting with my family. Although it was a bit of a whirlwind trip (sleeping at different people's houses every night), it was wonderful seeing my family again especially individually. Everything about the wedding was beautiful - from the church, to the people, to the reception afterwards). Plus it was great seeing Geoffroy and Caroline get married. They make a wonderful couple! I'm completely jet-lagged right now so although I have lots more to say, I'll just end this post with some pictures.

Some of my cousins at mass

Agathe (my cousin's daughter) ready to be a flower girl

Caroline, Geoffroy, Francoise (my aunt) and Jacques (my uncle) leaving mass

Alban (the youngest of the cousins) after mass

The coctail party - what a view!

My aunt Francoise

Caroline et Geoffroy

Lots of young cousins (most are just a bit younger than Derek)

Saskia and Benjamin

Dinner

All the hats!

The cake with sparklers

Geoffroy (approx. 4 am) The bride and groom danced until 6am... I'm sorry to say I was off to bed at 4:30 - before even the pregnant women!

With my little cousin Louis (Delphine & Arnaud's baby) the day after the wedding.

Geoffroy day 2
Louis

Caroline (or should I say Mme. Balland!)

SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last night with the help of lots of friends I pulled off one of the most successful surprises of my life - Sohail's surprise birthday party. Almost all of his close high school and college friends came as well as his sister Sara. Unfortunately we didn't capture the surprise on camera but it consisted of Sohail coming to my house for "dinner" and his friends jumping from behind the counter in my kitchen. Then we went to my roof deck to hang out and a few even went for a swim.

The birthday boy and his buddies

Sohail checking out the mask Nate got him for his birthday in Mexico.
Nate's the one to the right of Sohail.

Happy Birthday!

Swimming with the new mask!