23 months

Exactly one month from today Gavin will be 2 years old! But first, he's 23 months old today, which gives me the opportunity to post the best photos from the past month. Enjoy!

Wanna guess what's caked on his head? (It's NOT, as Jacob guessed, peanut butter...)

"helping" pack for the move

new skill: applying eye liner

I said "Gavin, mommy wants to take a picture with your head right here."

new skill: jumping rope

new skill: wearing jewelry

He's been rocking this adorable blazer every Sunday lately. 

new skill: skipping his nap (then falling asleep the moment he's in the car)

new skill: drinking hot chocolate (he's had marshmallow-eating down for a while)

Dad's legs = best toy ever + useful furniture

watching TV (pronounced "tibby") with Dad

with friend Oli (and Oli's toys)

age-old skill: eating a cupcake

arrivederci, Venice!

Ever since we visited Venice in 2010 I've had a tinge of regret that I didn't get to properly see the Bridge of Sighs (click here to read my post about that disappointment). This week I got to remedy that regret because my friend Catherine invited me to go to Venice with her for the day! 

It was a fabulous day where we revisited summer weather (Catherine wore flip-flops!) and enjoyed the gorgeous, unique city. Summer in Italy=lots of gelato. I don't have to confess how many times I ate gelato, do I?

Catherine's company, along with the unique, breathtaking city made for an unforgettable day!

In the morning while the water was still (before all the traffic started),
the reflections in the water were beautiful!

au revoir, Paris!

I got to take one last trip to Paris before we move, and it was such a great day! I went with my friend Becky, and her husband took the kids (thanks, Johnny!). We had no agenda so we just enjoyed being in Paris, which always involves eating great things. :)

Maybe my entire aim of the trip was to eat as many macarons as possible. I did the essential Pierre Hermé versus Ladurée taste test. Mine was a chocolate versus chocolate, and Pierre Hermé won there. But I still love Ladurée!

middle right=licorice and violet macaron (definitely a fave from the day)

ispahan macaron=rose-flavored macarons filled with rose cream, lychee and raspberries
(topped with a real rose petal, topped with a little drop of fake dew)

our second trip to Ladurée for the day--left to right: licorice, salted caramel x2, blood orange, green apple, violet

enjoying the ispahan

lamb chop with ratatouille 

And here are a few additional Paris photos, just because I love the place so much!

Notre Dame Cathedral (the Seine side)

at Shakespeare and Company bookstore

Thanks, Becky, for helping make the day so perfect!

More tea

The chances to visit my favourite English tea room are dwindling, so my Mom and I have visited as frequently as possible (including with Joye before she left). If you're not into pictures of food, you're not going to like this post. But I want to document the yummy things we've been eating.

The tea room doesn't allow children inside, so once when Gavin was with us we sat outside. It was a bit windy, so the experience was different, but still well worth the visit.

blueberry clotted cream sponge cake

triple chocolate scone (with chocolate chips and white chocolate chips,
which were still warm and melty when we got them!)--with clotted cream and strawberry jam

some really delicious pear and apple tea

chocolate and orange scone

double chocolate scone (with clotted cream and jam) with white hot chocolate

Gavin's enjoying a crumpet, and we were enjoying his cheesy smile. 

white chocolate and raspberry scone (with clotted cream and jam)

crumpets! (smothered in lots of butter)

fruit scone with clotted cream and apricot jam

figuring out how to hold the teacup

I'll miss the tea room.
And my Mom when she leaves tomorrow... :(