Best laid plans

I packed the car the night before so we could start our 700 km drive to Paris at 6am. But the winding mountain road did not agree with Leila's stomach, and I had to completely unpack the car to get her a fresh set of clothes.

Happy New Years!

From the French Alps, to all of our friends and family, may 2011 be your best year yet!

And for the girls....

Chocolate chaud!!!

Ski break

Belgian beer and vin chaud - yum, yum!

Cozy cabin

In the Alps celebrating the holidays with Cindy and Lynn.

Rick at French cooling school

"What do you mean we can't drink wine while we cook?!?!?!"

High waters

With all the recent snow, the Seine is running so high (3 meters above normal, about 10 feet!) that the tour boat docks are under water and boat operations are suspended until further notice.

Another angle...

If you look closely in the water to right of the chained posts, you will see the very top of two bollards to which the BatoBus normally ties up.

That's the Louvre over to the right. If the waters go any higher Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo will have to lift their skirts!

Flood notice

Telethon Swim

Leila and Rick swam in the "24 Hours of Swimming" event to raise money for medical research. Leila swam over 1 km (42 laps short course), and Rick won first place in the 50 meter sprint. While we were swimming, the first major snow hit Paris and here are some photos.