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!!!