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!

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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!!! )