Day Nine - Port Grimaud

Port Grimaud was sort of a brightly colored mini-venice. It was fun to stroll around and we had dinner at an outdoor cafe. Somehow though, we got there without Porter's shoes...

Day Ten - Coming Home

Tyler actually suggested we camp somewhere on the way back, but the sheer amount of dirty laundry, plus Sawyers new 4:00a.m. habit, and Porters potty regression contributed to the decision to drive the 10 hours straight and just get home. We did make one stop along the way though in some little French town (I don't even remember the name of) that was just off the main highway. Have I mentioned that I love France? There are the coolest little villages everywhere.

We also had gotten into making friendship bracelets as we lounged on the beach, and Sophie probably made 10 of them on the way home. Unfortunately the really cool one I made for Tyler has not been photographed, but he has actually been wearing it around his ankle all week. Those of you who really know Tyler would know what this means... He must really like me!

Is It Just My Husband?

So is it just my husband who thinks that going to the doctor for anything other than a sports-related injury somehow questions his manhood? He had no problem going in for an MRI on his shoulder, but going to the dermatologist was another story. We both had things worthy of being checked out, so we went together. We had a referral appointment together and then the dermatologist. For some reason, at both appointments Tyler felt like he had to explain to the tech why he was there - which was along the lines of "my wife made me." I told him after the first appointment that the tech didn't really care about all the details he felt he had to share, but all the same...the second appointment comes and when the tech asks why we're there he says, "We'll there's a little spot on my arm, but I'm sure it's really nothing. I wouldn't have even come in except for that my wife wanted to have something checked and SHE figured since she was coming in anyway that the doctor could look at my arm too." I had my back to her, so I gave him my best, "What are you talking about - she doesn't care - and that's not true anyway" look. And - so that you can all sleep tonight - you'll be glad to hear that neither of us have skin cancer! It's true that I may have a little paranoia, but 'better safe than sorry' is my motto.

Coming Soon...St. Tropez, France

We spent a fantastic week on the French Riviera that I would like to have on the blog, but unfortunately we came home to a broken washing machine, Porter -who has been completey potty trained for three months - had some serious regression, and Sawyer got sick a day or two later and has been sick all week. So that along with a LOT of pictures to sort through has really hindered my blog time! I have big plans to get it done soon though! I know you're all dying with anticipation equal only to the season finale of your fave T.V. show, so I'll get on it! :)

Berkastel-Kues

Every year in a village called Bernkastel-Kues they have a wine festival with an amazing fireworks display. The fireworks represent a battle between a ship on the river and the castle on the hill. Fireworks are lit off from both alternately until the end when both of them shoot off tons and at the end the castle is lit to look like it's burning. We went last year and loved it enough to brave it in the rain this year. But lucky us, the rain stopped as we were literally pulling into the village and there wasn't another drop all night. We spent a couple hours riding the rides and eating before the show started.

Porter LOVED the cars. This picture doesn't show the amount of shear joy that was plastered on his face the rest of the time! We had to let him ride it twice because it was so fun to watch him!

This is at the top of the ferris wheel. The village is along the Mosel river in the middle of wine country. The valley is covered with vineyards and is one of my favorite places in Germany - so pretty! It just looks like green hills behind us, but it's all grapes!

Labor Day Weekend - Hutt!

On Saturday we did a little canoeing with some friends around a small lake not far from home. I tried to tell the kids about the old days when I was little and Grandpa Wayne used to take us canoeing. He was serious about his canoeing and always made us do it right. So as he was the lead canoe guy - he would say, "Hutt!" when we were supposed to switch what side we were paddling on. I loved it and of course tried to instigate the technique when Tyler and I were a young married couple out for a romantic canoe ride. It didn't fly. It was actually the cause of one of our first fights! Tyler thought it was silly and of course I took offense to that as it was the right way to do it. I mean, my goodness I was no canoeing amateur! Unfortunately my kids liked the story, but didn't care to do the "hutt" thing either. Oh well. It was a nice day and we had a good time regardless!

Talkin Smack!

I have to admit I'm a bit of a control freak. And I really relished the days when Sophie and Briggs were little and almost anything that they saw or heard had to get through Tyler and I first. I knew that when they started school that would change and I tried to be prepared. It was hard to let go, but they are great and it hasn't been too bad. What HAS been hard though is that I was not prepared for my 3 year old to pick the things up that the kids heard at school or key phrases that the new neighbor kids - and parents - casually throw around. So today as I was strapping Sawyer in his carseat I asked Porter, "Are you getting your seatbelt buckled?" To which he raised one eyebrow, swallowed the bite of pretzel he was chewing and replied, "Does it look like it?" His face turned a little concerned when he saw my shock and he looked even more unsure in the stunned silence that followed. Of course I hid the smile that I couldn't help as I said, "We'll you better get on that," and climbed in the car.

I also heard him laughing and playfully calling Sawyer a 'bumwa' the other day. Fortunately it sounded quite innocent and really was because I was pretty sure that he was actually using a phrase favored by our second grade neighbor - since I've heard it used by him myself several times. - which involves switching the 'm' for a 't' and adding a 'd' to the end of the word. Thanks be that Porter heard it wrong! I thought that term had stayed in the 80's!

First Day of School

We had some mixed feelings about the first day of school this morning. Some excitement of course. Some anxiety. Some disappointment. Some sadness. Some relief that it was finally here! Briggs was up and dressed at 6:30 a.m. Obviously the excited one! He got into the first grade German Immersion program this year and can't wait to make new friends. Sophie was a good sport. She was disappointed that she didn't get into the German Immersion class this year and was more on the nervous side. Her German Immersion class had stayed together - teacher and all - for first and second grade so third grade is a whole new experience. Porter was pretty sad to have the kids leave of course. It's going to be hard for him to get used to not having them around. And I thought I was all relief - quiet, clean house again! - until we got almost home from dropping them off and as we turned onto our street Porter yelled, "Mom! We forgot the kids!" I found my eyes tearing up a bit as I explained, once again, that they were staying at school and would come home on the bus later. I really think a 5-6 hour day total would be perfect. Time to get some things done, but I do like having my kids around. It's really just the swarm of neighborhood kids coming in and out all summer that I can do without!

Tooth Invasion

The poor thing got all four teeth within a week! He was really pretty good about it though. I didn't even know they were coming! Our kids usually don't get teeth until around the year mark - Porter was 14 months - so I wasn't expecting any so soon let alone four at once! Fortunately he is really good about not biting when he nurses, but everything else is fair game as far as he's concerned. He especially likes to bite my jaw, arms, and my neck near my collarbone! He's like a little vampire baby!

Bare Foot Walk

My mom will vouch for me when I say that I've always been a big fan of mud! And I'm always game for any chance to walk/play in it! So when we heard about the Barfoos Pad...we had to go. It is about a mile walk over all kinds of different terrain (mud, moss, grass, rocks, bricks, etc.) I was actually disappointed that there wasn't MORE mud though and being a connoisseur of sorts - it wasn't really the quality of mud I prefer, but the kids loved it! All but Porter that is. He wasn't particularly thrilled at being dragged through thigh high slop and freaked when his shorts got dirty! Whose kid is this?

The second half of the walk was through different obstacle course type things.

Expanding Hobbies

For the past year or two, I have been making bows for Sophie. As I've previously mentioned - I love dressing up my little girl! It's become quite an investment though as I've acquired ribbon in nearly every color imaginable, so when a friend suggested that I make some to sell I thought, why not? And ever since I have been cursing her name because now I've added a whole new realm to my hobby by entering the world of retail. The bows I made that first time all sold and I had orders for more. So now I'm doing some of that, but trying to keep it small scale for now. There is a season for everything and my season for adding things to my to-do list really didn't come with my fourth child. I do really enjoy making bows though! So I do it here and there and just have fun with it and I'm actually glad my friend put a little pressure on me. And if anyone needs a bow, let me know! I love making them for friends and family!

My Beloved New Dishes!

I had several people tell me that they wanted to see the dishes...so here they are! They are called Veitri Incanto and they're so cute and fun, but very classy! Easily dressed up or down. You can see that the dishes in the picture are all different patterns which is what I went with. You can choose a style and have everything the same, but there were too many fun styles, so I bought some of everything!