When Seth and I decided we would wait to go back to the US until December we decided to make plans for a family getaway for a change of scenery. Seth’s office is having lots of officer changes this summer with people leaving and arriving so we were limited on when we could take leave. So, we ended up needing to go in early June. Which turns out is off season in Europe and MUCH cheaper but it is also not as hot or sunny as we would have liked. But all in all our weather was better than expected and just getting out of our routine was refreshing.

Seth’s mom commented to him a few weeks ago something about after traveling so much with Jackson that it must seem easier with 2. Ummm, nope.  Just like for anyone else no matter how much we travel, traveling with kids is a TRIP and traveling with one is easier than 2. Each time we travel gets easier with packing and being organized quickly but kids are still kids and it’s not always fun to throw them in a car and take them to places unknown. With this in mind we decided we would take as long as we needed to get to and from Southern France. We stopped as much as the boys needed and gave them some run time. They actually both did really well on the trip. And once we arrived they both soaked up the family time and amazingly, they both slept really well!! Owen took the vacation as a sign that he should take long naps and sleep in a bit. We were shocked! And we took Jackson’s bunny alarm along which he actually checked and waited in his bed until bunny got up! Vacation miracle if I have ever known of one.

We were in France from Monday to Friday. When the clouds moved in we would take mini day trips and get away long enough to return when the sun came out over the pool again. The pool was a bit chilly but the boys didn’t seem to mind! On our last afternoon the lifeguard opened a water slide that Seth and Jackson got to tube down.  This was a major highlight for Jackson (and Seth)!

Here are some picture highlights…

(for those of you who don’t know what this is it’s a Magnum bar…we used to eat these as kids in Thailand!)

this was the look on Owen’s face as he watched Seth and Jackson try to get a kite in the air..he was very concerned!

this picture was taken just after the O man picked up a wine bottle in a restaurant and dropped it on the floor!  Not a proud mama moment. To his credit the wine display was next to a kids play area so it was all a bit confusing.

it was here at the crocodile farm that I realized with little boys my future vacations will include all things boy! I am going to have to borrow nieces to have girl time! the boys LOVED the crocodile farm.

jackson ate a macaroon for his Mia who *may* be a bit obsessed with them

It was a fun time of ice cream cones (with mint chocolate chip which we can’t get in Switzerland!), kite flying, swimming, a crocodile farm, French markets and time with just the four of us!

Before we jump into vacation pictures we wanted to let you know that Seth’s grandmother passed away this past week while we were away. Mimi was a sweet lady and she will be missed. She passed away peacefully in her sleep. Although we are very sad she is not with us any more, we are glad for her to be free from her ailing body!

Last time we were in Houston we took Jackson and Owen to visit Mimi at the assisted living home she was in. We took her a drink from Sonic and Jackson to this day talks about it. He reminds us how old Mimi is and how we helped her with her straw. We talked to Jackson about Mimi’s death and he had sweet things to say. He was sad for her that she passed away just a couple of months before her birthday. We told her she was going to turn 90 in August and he said “how sad, she’s going to miss her birthday party”. He sat quietly thinking. He was sad about the news and then he tried to lighten the mood. He cracked a grin and said, “I wonder how she got up there?”…when Seth and I said we weren’t sure he thought a little more, giggled a little and said “I bet they got there on a big bus”. Seth and I asked who “they” was and he said he thought “other old people probably went up there with her”. After a few more minutes of trying to think things through he said “did she take that walker thing with wheels to help her get around up there?”. He has had other questions since.

Mimi, you will be missed! We will think of you often when we use your Fostoria and make all of your great recipes!!!

Tomorrow morning we are going to be loading the car and driving to Southern France where we will spend 5 days just the 4 of us. This will be our first  family vacation since Owen has been born. I think our last trip (other than our homeleave at our parents homes) with Jackson was in Bogota when he was small. So, it will be an adventure with 2. Two that do not stop moving! We are praying the weather clears up so they can enjoy the pool (read: be really worn out by bedtime and sleep like a dream)! I’ll be honest, as excited as I am to break out of the mundane that sometimes comes along with being at home, I am a bit petrified!  I am sure it’s nothing a little brie and french pastries can’t remedy. On that note, I better go pack Jillian Michael’s 30 day shred DVD….if nothing else I can put it on and the boys can get a workout!

Pictures and stories are sure to come! Not sure if we will have internet in our room or just in the reception area so you may not hear from us this week!

Here’s hoping the garden is still growing when we get back

Last weekend I headed by train to Germany for what will likely be my last trip to see Leigh and her family. Seth and the boys came the next day to meet me in Germany.   It was a bittersweet weekend. I helped her pack boxes and helped her throw Katy Jo’s 1st Birthday party. It was so much fun to get to be with them and it was good to feel like I could attempt to help when they are going through a rough time with Bo in the hospital and their upcoming move approaching. But since I am still in denial about their moving I will focus on the party.

A few months ago Leigh mentioned wanting to do a French cafe theme party. She sent me this link….

French Cafe Birthday

Here is the invitation, if I had had more time I would have redone it but it was a quick job and it was probably better because the perfectionist in me would have likely given up and told Leigh I couldn’t help with it. Better I just sent it as is.

And here is how the cafe turned out…

Leigh’s parents made an amazing awning and she borrowed her neighbors patio. It looked like a real cafe.

Leigh’s friend, Heidi, made the window boxes with paper flowers…she also made homemade chocolate eclairs! So yummy!

what’s a French cafe without sweet macaroons?!

Leigh’s friend, Stefanie, made delicious chocolate cupcakes!

,

we used french yogurt containers on the cafe tables with a few daisies in them…when we go to France next week I have decided I will eat a daily yogurt so I can collect 10 more of these. Nope, not going for 10 days but maybe I can force feed some to my kid and Seth too!

Sweet birthday girl

KJ’s GiGi was in town helping out and made the yummy strawberry cake…and KJ’s daddy, Bo, got to leave the hospital for 2 hours to join in the fun!!

Jackson was reunited with his buddy Grayson. They were sitting on the step comparing bruises!

So cute together. I really wish they lived closer so the boys could play more!

Owen loved running in the grass and sneaking behind the bushes.

We all had a great time!  Happy Birthday, Katy Jo!  I hope I can help with your Sweet 16 one day…and your wedding! But that is way down the road. We want to keep enjoying you while you’re little! Thanks for sharing the past year with us! (ps-I’m sure glad I got to have pink heart-shaped waffles with you for breakfast and champagne mimosas with your mommy and GiGi to celebrate your mom successfully being a momma for a whole yr!!! )