Our little French Girl

For the kids in Ava's class, there are 2 major milestones that they look forward to. The first is turning 5 and the other is learning to ride a two wheeler. Ava can list the kids that are 5 and the ones that can and can't ride a two wheeler.  So much of the culture and our daily life centers around riding bikes that kids here learn to ride a two wheeler earlier than back at home. The plus side for me is that if she rides a bike, I can take off the heavy trailer. Pulling around at least 70 lbs of kids is heavy! 

So, today she rode her bike to school for the first time. I couldn't be more happy to get rid of the trailer and she couldn't be more proud!

More visitors!!

A couple of weeks ago, my Mom and Ron came to visit us in France. I don't know who was more excited, Ava, Grandma or me. We had such a great week together! Since we have lived here for a year and a half now, I have talked to my Mom at least once a week about what is going on in our lives, places we go, friends we have met. It was so much fun to actually show them the things that we have talked about.

We do a kid swap with 2 other families here. On Saturday was a "Parents day out" for us, so we got to take Mom and Ron wine tasting. A day on the wine road is always a good day!

On Sunday, we went downtown Strasbourg and took the boat tour around the city like true tourists!

At our favorite dinner spot in Strasbourg!

On Monday, we decided to make the trip to the Alps in Switzerland for the day. My Mom has always talked about seeing the Alps, so we decided to make the trip. It was only a 3 hour ride each way (well, it was supposed to be until someone had issues with the Garmin - not mentioning any names!). It was a bit cloudy, but still beautiful.

Beckett loved having a snowball fight with Ron.

We almost lost Ron on the last hike up the mountain, but he made it!

Beckett enjoyed all of the attention while his sister was at school all day.

Back at the bottom where we started.

On Wednesday, we all took the train to Paris for 4 days. Ava had been dreaming of going to the Eiffel Tower with Grandma for months! There would be no way Ken and I could manage Paris with the 2 kids, so we were very happy to have 2 Grandparents to help out!

First lunch in Paris!

On the locks bridge.

We can find a place for timeouts anywhere! This one was across from Notre Dame.

Ron and Ava at Place St. Michel

Relaxing in the apartment.

Finally made it to the Eiffel Tower!

I love our little family!

I love this picture! They were both so excited!

At Arc de Triomphe.

Ken and I climbed the 284 stairs to get to the top. The view was amazing!

Pretty spectacular at night.

A great restaurant!

Ava loved her fancy lunch!

Grandma loved her chocolate soufflé and wine!

Beckett loved the chocolate soufflé too!

At the Luxembourg Gardens.

Daddy rented them boats!

Beckett was a bit dangerous running around with a wooden pole for 30 minutes!

 

On the last day, we bribed Ava with a fancy dessert so we could sit at a cafe instead of walking to the park. She was pretty happy with the deal she made.

Sharing just a little bit!

It was very sad to see them leave, but we only have a couple of more months before we fly home for the summer. We are so happy that Grandma and Ron came to visit us - we are hoping to even talk them into coming back next year!

South of France

I love the beach - the sun, sand, heat - all of it! I could sit at the beach day after day and be perfectly happy. Ken hates the beach. Really, he hates sand. He hates it so much, he gets annoyed when our kids play in the sandbox at the park. So, when I planned a trip to the South of France for Ava's spring break, Ken was less than thrilled. I thought he was crazy - who doesn't want to go on vacation to the South of France! So, while Ken was in Milan for work the week before, I decided to recruit someone else to come with. I hate to say that we kicked him out of our vacation, but we kind of did. Our friend Meghan decided that she would rather be at the beach with her kids than at home, so train tickets were bought. Meghan decided to come down for the first 4 days with her kids and then Ken would take the train down for the last 3 days. Perfect solution! Ken was able to have some "Ken time" and work for a couple of days while the kids and I enjoyed the sand at the beach!

For four days, we let the kids swim at the indoor toddler pool where we were staying in the morning, have lunch, kids napped while the Moms laid out, go to the beach after naps, eat dinner at the beach, put the kids to bed, Moms drink wine out on the deck. It was perfect!

Waiting somewhat patiently for their lunch.

Temps were in the mid 60's, but they didn't care.

Absolutely beautiful.

My beach girl! She can play in the sand for hours.

Making mud pies.

A little tv time before bed.

Picnic dinner at the beach. 

So busy...

Love these 2!

Sweet boy.

Michigan girls - Ava and Ella.

The boys having fun.

Little quiet time with the ipad. 

On Wednesday night, Meghan, Ella and Ryan took the train back to Strasbourg and on Thursday morning, the kids and I picked Ken up from the train station. The first day with Ken, we drove to Cassis. It was beautiful.

Waiting for the boat ride.

We took a boat ride to see the Calanques. 

On Friday, we drove to Monaco. Monaco is crazy. They were getting ready for the Monte Carlo Grand Prix, there was a famous tennis tournament going on, there were fancy cars and paparazzi everywhere!

Outside the Palais du Prince.

Looking out onto the Monte Carlo Harbor

At the Musee Oceanographique de Monaco.

At the top of the museum. 

We ate lunch right next to the park on the top of the museum. 

Right outside the casino.

The casino.

Kens favorite car.

Beckett was too busy looking at cars to smile for a picture.

Beckett thinks that his sister is funny.

On the last day, we drove to Nice. 

This picture is funny in so many ways.

The kids have obviously gotten sick of taking pictures.

Outside the candy shop dating back from 1820. 

Fenocchio ice cream. Ava picked "Rose and Violet". Tasted like flowers.

Walking on the "Promenade des Anglais"

Beckett loved watching the planes.

The second week of Ava's spring break was not quite as exciting as the first. We had one goal last week, and that was to start the potty training process with Beckett. We made it through, but not without a few tears from almost everyone involved!

 Passing the time while we were housebound...

Ava decided she wanted to marry Beckett one day. Ava's vows "I love you. I can't wait to cook with you and learn with you". Beckett's vows "ROARRRR!". Maybe my best part of the week!

Potty training was a team effort this week....