Congratulations to Tasman! The collage he created, pictured above, won second prize for his age category in the SDFCU/FSYF art contest. The theme was "My Life, My World, My Dreams", and he featured many of his favorite things in the composition. There is $250 in prize money, which he's very carefully considering how to spend!

What a month - lots of visitors! We started the month with our friends Judith and Stuart from Australia, who made their very first trip to Paris. They're used to backpacking through India and China, so coming to France was a bit of an adjustment for them - one they handled admirably. To give them their dues, they are taking two months on this trip, and eventually ending up backpacking through Turkey, so they haven't given up their roots quite yet.

Next up were Catherine and Felicia, who came to us from Walnut Creek, California. They hadn't been here for many years, so they managed to do lots of tourist things AND spend lots of quality time with the boys. Tasman and Atlas love all our guests (are mom and dad really that boring?), especially when they can subject them to endless games of cards and "let's pretend we're knights".

Also on the visitor list - the U.S. Embassy in Paris played host to President Bush and the First Lady, as well as Secretary of State Rice during the month. They all were staying at the Ambassador's residence, and Adham's job during this time was to liaise between the Embassy staff and Washington staffers at the residence. This gave him lots of time to hang out with assorted members of the traveling party, and even with the guests themselves.

As we approach the halfway mark of our time in Paris, it now becomes bidding season again. The bid list will be out very soon, throwing Crystal and Adham into paroxysms of agonizing over where to go next. But what agony to be in - we wouldn't trade it in for the world!

Pictures up soon...