Cherry pickin'

It's June and our cherry tree is completely laden with ever reddening, big, juicy cherries. We can literally reach out our window and pick a cherry for dessert. We are probably some of the luckiest Parisians that exist! Jos got the ladder out last weekend and climbed up to where all the really good ones are. Quinn came and sat outside and took great joy in watching his papa at work. And then we all feasted away (well not Q yet of course... he just got cherry flavored breast milk).

What to call a grandparent.

In most countries you know automatically what your kids will call their grandparents... everyone calls them the same thing. In France it's Papie and Mamie, in Belgium Bomma and Bompa; but in the U.S. everyone calls their grandparents something different. It depends on their family's origins, tradition or whatever. We called my mom's parents Nana and Papa. My dad's mom was simply Grandmother Betsy (or Grandmother Beatsa to 3 year old James).
So we've been struggling since before Quinn was born with what he should call my parents. Nana and Papa was out since papa is dad in Flemish... Grandma and Grandpa sounded a bit boring to us... so what was left...? Well, we decided that we'd have to invent something. We've gone back and forth on a few names but so far our favorites are Omi and Bobo. What do you all think? Does it fly? Yeah, Bobo the clown does come to mind but I guess it's not completely inappropriate for Rick.
So here they are... Omi and a slightly blurry Bobo!
(yeah, Quinn sure does like posing for the camera)

We're back!

I suppose I shouldn't begin each post with an apology. It must get a bit boring after a while... but this time it's been an eternity. I know...You all thought we were gone forever. But we've finally made it back to the land of the living. I just can't seem to update the blog as much as I'd like to. Here I thought I was going to be writing something once a week... haha... lofty goals. I can't even seem to manage once a month! Well... I'll stop hitting myself over the head for now and fill you all in on the family news instead. Much more interesting.
Little Quinn is not so very little anymore. It's amazing how fast it happens (just like everyone says), but we can hardly remember what he was like as a little baby anymore. He is more and more a little boy and less and less a baby. We can't wait to see what he has to say and do once he can talk, walk and explore on his own. But let's not get ahead of ourselves...
In any case, he is sure is coming into his own. His features are clearer and his personality is starting to come through. He is curious and wide eyed, busy as a bee and a huge smiler. He also seems to be quite social... smiling and flirting with friends and strangers alike. I suppose it's no wonder that he likes people since he's been traveling and meeting people so much since he was born. Since I last posted Quinn has been to Belgium twice, Holland and England... and in a week he's off to Italy with us. He even has his own passport now!
In March Quinn met his grandparent in Belgium for the first time. He completely fell in love with them. And the feeling was mutual of course. We are so very lucky to be surrounded by such loving families and friends. What a gift. For Quinn and for us!
Part of the reason I've been having so much trouble writing (besides the general business of being a mom... and all the traveling) is that I've been working quite a lot. Jos and I created a musical piece with a rope artist and four cellists that opened in April (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ropeandstrings). Quinn came to the rehearsals with us and was an absolute gem. While Jos or I worked on directing Quinn sat and took it all in with his big eyes and toothless smile. He loves listening to music and so when he was surrounded by a group of live cellists he was enthralled. My company is also starting to work on our new show as well as preparing our tour this summer through Corsica and the South of France. Meanwhile Jos was working in England a lot until mid May and now he's finishing up the school year at the Lecoq school.
So we can't wait for some good vacation time where we can lay about and (attempt) to read a book or something equally frivolous. It'll happen soon because... Newsflash... We bought our tickets to the U.S. for this summer! Hooray! It's actually happening. We have one whole glorious month off. We'll be in San Francisco from July 24th till August 20th with a quick trip to NYC from August 10th-13th. We're so looking forward to being there and showing Quinn off to all you family and friends.

Here are some recent photos (finally) of the little cutey....




Here's the little fella with the family in Belgium...

With Bomma and Bompa when we first visited in March

Taking a walk with Bompa and aunt Lu in May

Chillin' at a café with aunt Marleen