I surprised Chloe by taking her to Payard on Lex. It's in our neighborhood and a stone's throw from Chloe's salon. If proof was needed why we need a new camera, the shots inside the restaurant should be sufficient. Chloe has occasionally picked up croissants to-go from Payard, but we have never dined there. The food was delicious! Though we were reminded of how long it has been since we've been to Paris.

We celebrate Valentine's Day on February 13. I tell Chloe that she deserves her own day. The tiny bathroom in our tiny apartment has great light, so we shot a few photos before going out for our romantic dinner on Wednesday. The middle shot is another in our "Benjamin holds the camera at arms-length and takes a picture" series. They tend to be our best photos.

More pictures of Charlie Brown. The photo on top is Charlie posing with his "Gross Ugly Kitty." That's what we call it. After Charlie finally ripped a hole in his George W. Bush doll (it took well-over a year), Chloe had to find a durable replacement. Now we have the Gross Ugly Kitty to greet us every morning. The photo in the middle is a classic Charlie space-cadet shot and the bottom photo shows Charlie tucking his paw, a pose he often strikes.

Chloe's urban winter outfit of choice this year.

Our good friends Alex and Paola came to visit us in NYC on a Sunday in late January for a dual-celebration. Alex and Paola got engaged while on a three-week trip to South Asia and we, of course, were nearing the halfway point.