Chuck D & Mr. T

I want to have a book and film club with Colin. Just us going back and forth about the things we really are into. He invited me to an Alexandre Tharaud concert at Carnegie Hall in a few weeks. I cannot wait.

I hope the children learn from my entertaining all the time the joys of being able to provide warmth and hospitality to peoples, to show friendship by having friends to your house, making people feel good to be included in your life at home, and having your house filled with laughter, creativity, ideas, fun. I don’t think a day goes by that we don’t have at least a few friend come play, stop by to say hi, or have a gathering. I love it and I love watching the children (and even peanut) be bolstered by the camaraderie.

Everyday I try to install a sense of wonder, love, joy and interest in what is going on around them and to teach them to enjoy and find moments to love in their day to day lives and in “small” things (I often find the overuse of this phrase slightly…I don’t want to be negative…just overused). Anyway, I love a the bits of my days-today I loved hugging Teddy in the morning, teaching Charlie’s class Roots Of Empathy, watching the girls dance and Liang during ballet class, the rain, sitting with Jenny and a friend talking about a friends pastry business, seeing MJ, taking Charlie to guitar and hearing him play a song with Alvaro and Cacilda, watching him sit down and write thank you notes, visiting Teddu in his class, taking and Über with the girls, the weight of the girls sitting on my lap as I dress them, and now the dogs laying around me and MJ next to me. Each day is such a wonderful day and I love that feeling.

Yesterday Charlie turned 7. How is this possible that he has grown up so fast? He was just born. He is such an amazing boy-so honest, thoughtful, funny, spirited, brilliant, loving, forgiving, adventurous, athletic, caring, handsome, cool, stylish. I mean really, Charlie, you really impress me and I love you sooo much, more than you will ever know (but I hope you do know so you can feel good knowing how loved and admired you are).

Halloween was so much fun. Pizza here with the Wollins, drinks at the Leahys and trick or treating with friends all over the neighborhood. Nelly came up with the genius and adorable idea of being a carrot so Scottie and I joined her with Scottie also a carrot and me a bunny. Charlie was a Pokemon, shark and like skywalker all in the same day and Teddy an adorable orange Pokemon guy. I let them eat all the candy they want for two days and then trade them money for it and let them go buy toys. Seems like the best of both worlds.

“Lamb la shoot!” Scottie trying “I love soccer!” In French.

They LOVED Paris. Went everywhere, drank so much hot chocolate, are so many croissants, played with their dear friends Kaia, Noa and Shen. Charlie learned a few French phrases and had fun ordering for himself in French and buying things in stores. Palais de Tokyo, Eiffel Tower, Centre Pompidou, Luxembourg Gardens, Deyrolle, the Marais…