Snow day.

New York City shut down this week...always melodramatic, especially when the big storm never even really landed here. No work, all play and so we were delighted to get a free day to soak up these two. The whole neighborhood flocked to the hill just in front and we joined them...









When Romy woke up, we went in and scooped her up. Miss beauty was gratified to stand, looking out at the sledders - awing and marveling.

Humorous.

Going out is a negotiation with this one - friends zipped into her jacket usually pave the way.

Colette is obsessed with bandaids. Nightime ritual includes the bath, pajamas, stories and strategic placement of up to 3 bandaids on her body. She looks at us gravely and says, "I have a serious booboo".

Jammin is Colette's new friend. Along with Bindia. She checks their location on googlemaps whenever she can get her hands on my phone. "I am just checking where they are at, Mama" The other day she informed me that Bindia and Jammin used to be in my belly. Papa too at some point, apparently.

She is poetic and sweet and she gets it. She sat gazing up at my mom and brother Andrew as they unstrung the lights in rounds from the Christmas tree. She was quiet for a while. Then, "I am sad." I asked her why. "Because it is over."

Good Colette lines:

"Don't panic. I will come straight away"

"I'm a little worried about crocodiles and cows"

"Grandpa is my girl" (after spending a week with Grandpa and hearing him say that to her a lot)

"I will find an idea"

"Never never never never never never never" (Intense voice, wide venomous eyes - tapping on Romy's chest, very close up to her dear baby sister)

"I think I can smell her" (One night before I came home from work and Xavier said he though I was on my way)

Friends.

Fingers crossed.

Seals.

One of the things we found most thrilling in California was the animals. Near Carmel, we saw plenty of California Sea Lions, playful in the water - huddling together to sun in the December air. Very sweet. And further south, we got the chance to see a colony of elephant seals that come each winter. They come ashore only once a year, to give birth and mate. The males were aggressively going at each other and the baby seals were barking wildly. It was amazing because the males were monstrous, literally (2.5 tons), undulating awkwardly - obese - and unable to move. They looked almost stranded on land, they moved with such difficulty. Then when they would slide into the water, they were transformed.

Galette des Rois.

Annual fête in honor of the kings...the first year Colette took the most important role in the festivity. She hid under the table and called out the names of guests one by one as each piece of the cake was distributed accordingly. That part of the ritual makes it truly magical to find the fève is hiding out in your piece of the galette. The fève happened to be in the original queen's piece. It was a little figurine of an éclair, but Colette thought it was a hot dog...very French of her.

ROMY = 1.

Romy turned one just after the New Year. This photo from the summer sums her up well: harmonious babe. We love this little soul. Sometimes her older sister Colette's tantrums take up a lot of space and through it all, Romy abides - peacefully. No matter how many times she gets pushed over, she is ready with a smile and excited eyes as soon as Colette comes back to 'play.' She bobs up and down - dancing and squatting - getting ready to take off, free like a feathered creature. She is magic. We love you Romy Danda.

Big Sur.

Jaw dropping: Big Sur. Startled by its untamed beauty. Admired that it was so untouched. Crags, bluffs and precipices - wild water, grass and green the color of spring and blue-blue sky.







Around every zigzag in that one-lane road was a vista that mandated a stop. (At least I felt continually compelled - because Xavier didn't always want to stop...he was taken by the beauty, but also by the car he was driving. He somehow managed to upgrade the rental to a Corvette. Albeit bright yellow. I was slightly embarrassed when we would pull up and the engine sounded like an angry brute. He only got pulled over once).

Carmel, California.

Charming little town. Unreal. We stayed in Doris Day's old hotel - Cypress Inn...walked down the bucolic streets and wondered why everyone doesn't live in a town like this one.