When my now 18-year old son Will was little and we were expats in Paris, I described most outings with him in three words: “What a scene.” The pharmacy trip where we learned that nail polish isn’t lipstick; that time the pompiers rappelled S.W.A.T.-team style across the courtyard into our apartment to “rescue” Will when we got locked out (pro tip: don’t leave your key inside a Parisian door lock when you sneak out for dinner downstairs); afternoons at Jardin du Ranelagh where the combo of preschool friends, sand and water meant head-to-toe-soaked mud parties & walks of shame past horrified Parisians; crazy tantrums while pushing our grey Maclaren along rue de Passy; his little voice that was way too loud for the ladies on the 63 bus… ah, oui, many a well-intentioned grand-mère suggested that I spank his sweet little Cyrillus-clad bottom.

Our now 21-year old daughter Campbell kind of recalls the crazy, and can’t believe we weren’t booted out on the first Air France flight back to Washington, DC. Today, we’re mostly beyond those scenes and lucky to be expats again, this time in Brussels where loud voices don’t matter so much. scene on the road is my life in pictures, teamed up with two fabulous kids, one extraordinary husband named Chris, and our sassafras pup called Nellie. Thanks for stopping by!