Solids

We've started introducing solids to Ian. The first attempt, involving steamed plums, was a little too bitter.

Bananas went down great, but didn't come out that well. 2 full days without #2. Sorry, no pics.

I tried avocadoes today and learned Ian knows how to spit. After that he threw a good crying fit. I tried to take some pics of him "enjoying" his avocado, but he loves to take pictures and started mugging for the camera.

I managed to get one blurry, half crying shot.

Sacrifice

On the way back from France we stopped by St. Avold to visit the Lorraine American Cemetery, the largest American WWII cemetery in Europe. It is an incredibly emotional experience. 10,489 American dead rest here, their graves marked by white marble crosses. I wanted to stop on the way to France, on the 4th of July, but a wreck in Munich that closed down the autobahn, along with the usual summer construction, slowed us down too much.

The American Battle Monuments Commission cares for the cemetery, and the job they do is exceptional. It is a fitting resting place for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Here's what those guys fought against - Nazi occupied Europe at the start of WWII.

Not yet...

Chris commented on the fact I hadn't posted in a while. Sorry, we've just been a little busy here.
Anyway, we just returned from France, where we had a little welcome party for Ian with Marie's family.
Everyone was happy to meet him.

The weather was predictably horrible, with daytime temps of about 15 deg. C. It did warm up the day we left, check out the outside temp, it's as warm at 6 in the morning as it was most days!

I constantly think it's not that bad in Northern Europe, then we go there. Of course, it doesn't help that Marie's area of France is at the tail of "rust belt" that is still in economic depression from the closing of the coal industry. I have to admit it has gotten better over the last 10 years we've been together, but the economic rise of the area is just a result of its suburbanization by Luxembourg, and her village and those nearby could best be termed bedroom communities, without any cultural or social outlets. Chris' Germany is much better, even if the weather is not the greatest.

Here's Bernard, the husband of Marie's cousin. He's a FAST runner, with a 48:13 in a 16km race (that's a 4:51 mile average) this year at 52 years old!