Day Two - Switzerland & More Driving

We made one stop before leaving Lake Geneve at the Chateau de Chillon. I love Switzerland. They make things pretty. Castles usually seem so cold, but this one had a little Swiss style and was much nicer.

And here again are the Alps. This is driving through a pass into Italy where we are realy up quite high. Still, not much to see. It was a shame. The Alps are amazing.

And here we are camped out in Levanto, Southern Italy. Just above Cinque Terre where it was much, much nicer weather! Hooray!

Day Three - Cinque Terra, Italy & Monaco

Cinque Terre is a string of 5 villages that are right on the coast, at the bottom of really steep hills. There are no main roads to the middle towns, just trains and hiking trails. We parked at the northern most town and hiked part way to the second. It was a little treacherous with 4 small children. People either thought we were really cool or really insane. We didn't cross one other child, other than a baby in a Bjorn. So when it started raining, we turned around and hiked back. We ended up getting to right about where Sophie's nose is in the picture before we turned back. There was a picnic table where we had lunch first. The second village is around the other side of the bend.

And this is Monaco. I had read that people either love it or hate it and that you make your decision within the first couple minutes you are there. I LOVED it! Despite Porter nearly being run over by cars twice - even while holding my hand - and being a bit stressed driving through Monte Carlo with scooters flanking every side of our very large van, I just really loved it! It was just the look...the atmosphere...maybe knowing that there is a whole lot of money in that tiny little country!

So sad we left before night. All of these trees have lights in them!

This is the Grand Casino in the background. You actually have to pay admission to go in and spend all your money gambling!

Day Four - St. Tropez Market

Tyler tends to be somewhat of a scrooge when it comes to spending money unless... it has something to do with FOOD! I never take him shopping because he ruins all the fun, but turn him loose in a French market with fresh produce, meets, Mediterranean dishes, and CHEESE and look out! He was on a mission! He paid 12 euro (17 dollars) for a little block of cheese! He was pretty happy about it though. Grandma Ronna stocked the kids up on candy, so they were pretty happy too! And Grandpa Tom got himself some french prunes to top off the heist...and keep things regular as well.

Day Five & Six - Gassin & Ramateulle

Both of these villages are on the hilltops above St. Tropez. They were so fun to just wander through. Ramatuelle had a market the day we went, but my favorite part was just winding through the little cobblestone streets.

Day Seven - Nothing But The Beach

I realize now that while I enjoyed myself, I didn't really appreciate this day like I should have. I have a hard time doing nothing! Tyler could sit on the beach for days and love every minute...I get a little antsy. I find joy in organizing things or completing projects. But after being back to the grind for a couple of weeks...in the cold...I would gladly go back and just sit on the beach!

Day Eight - St. Tropez Old Town & Pier

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!