Belle Paris in the spring

Well spring finally came to Paris, with the long warm days and return of leaves and flowers.


Even for we non-city folks, we must concede it is beautiful.

It has also brought a pleasant influx of visitors, who wisely booked early :) Summer is actually wide open, though much of the family will be in the U.S. for a good portion of the vacation.


The boys are thriving here, and have all made at least one special friend. Graham thrives on his growing independence and the excitement (and convenience for Mom and Dad) of making a solo trip to the bakery or supermarket. Eli continues to enjoy his sports and card games, while Lincoln enjoys thinking he is twice his age and three times his size... His brothers don't enjoy this as much, but the overall sibling harmony level is on the rise.


The dogs are calming down, but Cameron still can't resist the urge to chase the ducks in the pond - to the delight and occasional concern of the bystanders.


Hope all is well with all our readers


Boys setting a trap for Lucky the Leprechaun, our annual trickster visitor

Easter party at the Ambassadors Residence (yes it's good to be Ambassador...)

Dad's birthday - and my birthday rugby bear

Eli's special friend Anna

Picnic at Sacre Couer

Ahh! Those Swaney Boys...

Lincoln playing the part at his frog-themed birthday party


The visiting Glitterati


Bouncing in the Bois

Fueling up on pastries for another day

Glitterati with manservants


This is the before picture...

Sailing lessons

Boys with Ultimate Fight contestants stranded by Iceland volcano who passed their time in Paris by hosting a self-defense demonstration

Surprisingly, nobody got wet at this fountain on this day

Band of Brothers - Part II

Once the salty old dogs had finished with the Paris scene it was time to round up the next generation for an educational outing.

The scholastic experience began with an interactive multimedia experience that took place in the backseat classroom. Lincoln acted out the part of the Allied Forces in the Normandy invasion while Graham and Eli tried to watch "The Longest Day".

Next we disembarked at the gun emplacements at Longues de Mer, unleashing the troops to storm the batteries with snowballs.

After what was probably not enough time out of the car we moved on to the cemetery above Omaha Beach, (the one in Saving Private Ryan) - which is an incredibly moving experience I highly recommend - and which was only a bit marred by the challenge of explaining to Lincoln why running around with snowballs and screaming was not just not OK. There is also a great museum with displays that help younger audiences put the sacrifices and horrors of D-Day into a context they could grasp.

Lesson learned, our final stop of the day was Pointe de Hoc - where an intrepid team of U.S. Rangers scaled ridiculously sheer cliffs under enemy fire to capture and disable gun emplacements threatening the invasion fleet, taking something like 70 percent casualties in the process... The area has also been heavily bombed, which leaves the sense of a battlefield, and the boys took the opportunity to re-engage the enemy (the older generation) - hiding in bomb craters and ruined gun emplacements and striking from the shadow with snow, ice and even bare hands.

After an overnight in a quaint old town, and a breakfast of baguette and cheese we set off to see Mont Saint-Michel - passing tantalizingly close to Alligatorland - to the disappointment of the youngest brothers in the band...

Perhaps humbled by the accomplishments of the "greatest generation" - our band was able to scale the countless steps all the way to the top of the famous abbey, and also managed to keep the youngest brother away from various dropoffs of a hundred feet or more.

After one last meal punctuated by cheese and crepes we headed off to liberate Paris, and send the off our brother in arms - until the next adventure - wherever and whenever that might be...

The past and future of the Armored Cavalry (Matt this one's for you)

The victors of the Battle at Longues de Mer

The Band of Brothers in their Barracks

Cemetery above Omaha Beach

Lincoln's method for beating the cold

Cliffs at Pointe de Hoc

Before the sneak attacks...

The Counter-Offensive

Making the pilgrimage to Mont Saint-Michel

Almost to the top

Band of Brothers - Part I

Being in France it was a particular pleasure to enjoy the "Fraternite" of a frat house veteran - and lifelong role model, my brother...

Sneaking in before the summer rush on our guest bedroom, we squeezed in full itinerary on a long weekend - hence the need for two installments...

Our big boy day started out with braving the cold for some sightseeing

Strolling along the Seine - note the fashionable man purse

Hitting the classic sights - and for the record we did actually go inside -

and did not pretend to be Quasimoto (while inside)

Then a short break to warm up

Ooops, that's the wrong picture -

(of the "agile bunny" in Mont Martre)

This is was our break from the cold

(a nice warm fondue dinner in a cozy Latin Quarter restaurant)

and an obligatory stop on the way back home...