nous mangeons et mangeons et mangeons

 "We eat and eat and eat..." Is the simplest way to describe life here lately! We stayed put in Toulouse last weekend and have enjoyed lots of delicious French meals.

The weather has been mostly rainy with a only a few days sprinkled in between with sun. Spring has started here, though, and everything is starting to bloom! Today, February 29th, was the most perfect blue sky day! The city is so lovely when the weather is nice and everyone is out and about enjoying life at the cafes in the plazas.  

The language is getting more familiar and easier. I am spending at least an hour each day doing duolingo and listening to lessons in French on Spotify. It's easy to take my airpods with me when we go to a park or when I'm on a walk, and I can get some good time in learning French. 

Here are the latest happenings: 

Walking to the petit park near our apartment 

Mara wanted to be in a meeting like Jay, so she put on some headphones 

New family game - Caracasonne 

Date night a Les Sales Gosses 

Posing next to my wall of French! 

My first course - no, it's not a green brain - some kind of delicious vegetable entree

2nd course - brioche filled with onions 

Jay's 2nd course - poulet (chix) three ways

The Canal Midi lit up at night! 

French Lunch out at Le Perche Pint

Saint Aubin Church 

We met Spencer (former grad student of Jay's who now works at Supaero), and his Italian friend, Paolo

1st course ravioli

1st course toast with pears and meat

1st course bone marrow

the main plate - fish with whipped carrots (or I could say whipped butter with some carrots)

Main plate - pork with mustard sauce and pomme de terre

My favorite dessert option here - cafe garmounde - a coffee with a sampling desserts (chef's choice)
 

Finn vs. His Dessert: Finn 0 - Dessert 1 

We found another beautiful dance store - Repetto (Maggie splurged on a new, pink dance bag) 

Afternoon Tea with my buddies at Le Jardin de The

Chocolate Chaud

Oreo milkshake 

Cafe garmounde - lemon meringue, cookie, and cranberry, orange bread (with a healthy dollop of Chantilly) 

First burgers in France from Toulouse Burger - The kids have found a new fav. place! 

Cite de L'Espace - We spent Saturday afternoon touring around the local space museum. The highlights were the Imax movie that was about chasing asteroids and a simulator that felt like you were going to the moon. Jay knew lots of the scientists in the movie and Bennu and DART were both mentioned! 

Ikea assembly party on a rainy Sunday after a night of lots of red wine and laughter with Sofie and Wylie's Parisian Friends, Sandrine and Amanada. 

Maggie and Sofie getting started on the bed 

Which way does this panel go?

Entertaining Mara with some hide and seek

Fun trips on the Metro to various parks with Sofie and Mara

Am I too big for this swing? 

The Garonne in full force after a weekend of heavy rain

And more ridiculous dinners out...

Le Joure de Marche - with Jay's former grad student, Don, and his gf, Kayla who are in town visiting.

Lobster Ravioli

Duck

Calomarie cabonara 

Seared cod with polenta in a chipotle cream sauce

Jay's steak - the best part was his pomme de terre 

Jay's dessert - Banofee (a popular dessert here!)

My dessert - "Chocolate Rock" - mmm, yum, yum. 

Vivants - our goodbye dinner with Sofie and Wylie before we say A Biento!

I only took one picture of dinner - we had 5 courses of the chef's choice. Tres Bon!

And we finally got to the most recommended place for macrons and chocolates

Macrons from Pouissin Bleu - they did not disappoint!