3 + 1 = 4

It's a bump!

2!

On Thursday the 27th of January Quinn turned two!! Kind of hard to believe. Jos was in London on Thursday, but my parents and I fêted Quinn and then we had a second fête on Sunday. Quinn was perfectly happy to open presents and eat cake more than once. His favorite part was blowing out the candles though which he wanted to do several times in a row.

Mr. Straw talks to Mr. Juice Box

A Year of Quinn (Part 3)

SEPTEMBER

We got back from our vacation towards the beginning of the month. Work started up again little by little and normal life (whatever that is) began again.


At the beginning of the month we were still lounging on the beach and eating fish burgers.


Riding the carousel in Paris. Quinn made sure to try out each and every different seat.


Autumn sun on the train to Belgium.



OCTOBER

And all of a sudden it was the Autumn. Jackets, falling leaves and long shadows. Near the beginning of the month we went to Montmirail to visit my parents. While we were there we all decided to drive down to Chaumont sur Loire and see the beautiful gardens and installations before the end of the season. The installation-gardens were incredibly inspiring.


Messing around in Montmirail.



Enjoying the gardens (and the last bit of sunny weather) in Chaumont sur Loire



NOVEMBER

Jos was working in Amsterdam for the first two weeks of November directing a big cabaret show. My parents and Quinn and I visited for a long weekend and we got to see the show, meander along the atmospheric canals, see some good friends from Holland and celebrate Rick's birthday in style.

Quinn is definitely a performer (wonder where he gets it?) and he even likes to clown around for himself in front of the mirror or the camera on my computer. He loves to take pictures of himself in silly hats.




Walking around Amsterdam with my parents.



DECEMBER

At the beginning of the month we went to London to visit James and Adric and celebrate a late Thanksgiving. We did a home exchange and ended up staying in a lovely family home in North East London. Quinn was thrilled to see that two cats came with the deal too! Then back to Paris, then there was snow (and lots of it) and then all of a sudden it was Christmas and the end of another year. We celebrated the holidays with both our families and came home at the beginning of January happy, exhausted and stacked with presents.


Playing with the cat at the house in London. Quinn probably had more fun than the cat did.




Dressed up for Thanksgiving dinner.



We finally met Jos' dear friend Simon's two children Noma and Teyo while we were in London. Nobody wanted to stay still for the photo of course!



Christmas walks with Bobo.



Waiting for more gifts to open on Christmas morning. Quinn definitely understood the present thing this year!



James and Adric set up the Christmas feast!


More presents in Belgium!



Snow and trampolines... what could be better?!

A Year of Quinn (Part 2)

MAY

In May we visited family again in Belgium, visited friends nearby and took it easy at home.

Playing, walking, visiting in Belgium with the fam.

Visiting our friends near Paris.

JUNE

The Summer! We went for lovely sun filled walks in the countryside around my parents' place, Quinn had his first ride in the kayak, we picked cherries from our tree, and Quinn finished his year at daycare....


Walking in the Summer sun in Montmirail.


Quinn's first (sort of) ride on a horse.



Kayaking!


Our very own cherries from our very own tree. Quinn absolutely loved them. We even managed to teach him how to spit out the pit!


Stealing dad's toast. Love that blueberry jam!


Goofing around with our neighbor Garence.


The end of the year party for Quinn's daycare.



JULY

In July I was off on tour again with Aida. Jos and Quinn met up with me in Bordeaux and then we all went together to the Dordogne for a bit more work and play.



On tour in Brittany. Not bad!


Playing outside Bordeaux.



Swimming... probably Quinn's favorite part of the Summer.


AUGUST

Lots more traveling in August. Both for work and pleasure. But mostly pleasure. We managed to fit our vacation around the gigs that Jos had with his one-man show. It ended up being the perfect plan. We had an amazing three-part holiday in Austria, Slovenia and Croatia. Jos played twice in Slovenia, once on an island in Croatia, and we all got to stay on and soak up the atmosphere, and the sun. Nice work if you can get it!


Before we left on our mad gallivanting we went to Belgium again to visit the clan.



In Austria we stayed on a working farm that was also a bed&breakfast. Quinn developed a deep fascination with tractors both big and small.


Walking in the mountains outside Salzburg, Austria.

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Next stop the beautiful city of Ljubljana, Slovenia. We stayed for a week and almost wished we never had to leave.
We all completely fell in love with the city, and we're already planning our next visit.



Quinn in the park by our apartment in Ljubljana.

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And then we arrived in paradise. The island of Cres in Croatia. Wow!


We stayed at an amazing house on the island which came with a Donkey, Luca.
As soon as Quinn woke up each morning he raced outside to feed him .


Fresh, grilled sardines and fries... what could be better?!




Basking, boating, swimming... It was hard to leave... but September was calling and there were things to be done...

To be continued with Part 3 tomorrow...