Christmas Market Season

Ever since living in Germany when I was younger for a couple of years I have had a secret little obsession with Christmas markets. I love them! So, I feel super lucky to be in Provence where they also have a little obsession with Christmas markets. There was no question as to how our December weekends were going to be spent. This is our little exursion to Martigue, the "Venice of Provence." I guess it may be more convincing if one has not been to Venice, but they did have a great Christmas market!

Daniel eating roasted chestnuts. Yes, they actually eat them here. As far as I know, we only sing about them in the U.S. Such a shame.

Santa's little helper

This Christmas market in La Ciotat had a Christmas farm which was really fun.

Jonas experienced his first pony ride, which was a huge hit. Probably the best euro spent of the evening.

Jaxon got to sit on the pony for free. Best euro saved of the evening. He decided that he would rather drive the cars.

Isn't food always better with a face on it?

Fun with Cousins

During Matt, Rachael, and the kids visit in October, Jaxon and Jonas enjoyed lots of good times with their cousins. I think our neighbors did not appreciate all the fun and games as much as the kids. With five under the age of five, every minute is a party! We also had to get a little creative to figure out how to fit nine people into a small two bedroom apartment, but we had a blast. We found that the kitchen floor was the only open place in the apartment after all the kids were down, so each night we would sit on the floor, eat treats and drink herbal tea, and play cards until way past my bedtime. But of course, I was the only one who had to get up for work the next day.

Here are a few pictures from their visit:





Chateau d'if

A look back at Marseille from an island with one of our favorite coves below. Great shot taken by Matt

Lifeguard duty

I guess we thought it was too cold for the kids to get in so we didn't bring swim suits. Underwear works just as well.

Crab hunting - not as easy as you would think

Halloween day - a little late for a trip to the beach, but this did not deter the boys.

As we hiked up the mountain back to the car, the boys were tough and even passed a group of adults...Here they are showing how strong they are. I was convinced.

Meet the Mistral

The Mistral, the infamous wind that rushes through Provence, sure shook up the sea in a nearby coastal town we decided to visit (Carry Le Rouet) After our trip, I was seriously considering how long the commute would be to the office!

As we explored, we tried not to get blown away.

We found a nice shelter from the wind under this overhang.

As the trail got a bit dangerous with the high winds on the edge of a cliff I decided to leave Janet and the kids behind to see what was on the other side of the ridge. I was not disappointed...

Janet looking cute as ever with her hair blowing in the wind.

Jonas passed out in the car so Janet stayed with him while Jaxon and I explored a little further along the coast line. I think Jaxon enjoyed a little adventure with his dad.

This was are spot where we sat watching the waves and talking for a while.

Les Baux de Provence

Just a few pics of a recent day trip to Les Baux de Provence.

Jaxon's favorite part. He found a beettle and a snail to be his friends for the entire day. Every time we ventured somewhere where he needed both hands to climb, he would find a home for them and retrieve them on the way back down. Luckily for him, they were slow friends.

In a day and age where spanking is becoming illegal, some good old-fashioned discipline--medieval style.

A Wicked Trip to London

My brother Matt, his wife Rachel, and their kids Ryan, Kylee, and Dallin came to visit us towards the middle of October, and since Daniel was going to be in London for work anyway, we all planned a trip there together. It was so much fun to go with them, not only because we got to share one of our favorite cities with them, but also because we were able to take turns watching the kids in the evenings so we could all go see Wicked, the Broadway musical that I have been dying to see for three years. It was definitely a highlight of our trip. We went to the Victoria and Albert museum the first night when we got in. I had seen it recommended online for kids, however this was the highlight: a tiger eating an Englishman in India.

Here are thee kids when we went to Wicked. It was so much fun to go on a date with Daniel; we absolutely loved the show, I would recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to go see it. My one disappointment was that while I watching it I couldn't help but thinking, "I wish Jaxon were here." I really wish that we had taken him; I'm sure he would have loved it. So next time we go to London, one of us is going to take him.

Waiting for the changing of the guards.

Out in front of Trafalgar Square.

On the carriage at the London Transport Museum.

Our cute little conductors

Jaxon dressed up as a British guy at the V&A museum.

At the Museum of Natural History

Jaxon with a ladybug that he found at St. James Park. I only put this on because he told me that night that this was his favorite time of the day full of parks, the changing of the guard, and museums.

Jonas loved St. James Park.

Buckingham Palace

Cousins in a telephone booth.

Jaxon after falling into the swan pond at Kensington Gardens; it probably wouldn't have been quite as uncomfortable during the summer months...

At the Science Museum. It was fun for Jonas to be able to enjoy it this time. The last time we came here he was to little to much.

The Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens.

Having fun with cousins at the Princess Diana Memorial Playground.

And there's nothing like finishing off a trip to the park with some ice cream cones.

At the London Transport Museum

Just a picture to prove that I did participate in the trip.

Jaxon resting on a sleeping stranger on the Tube.

Having fun with our "Teeth and Lips" candy.

Then we headed home. I think we covered quite a bit of ground with 5 young children. It was so much fun sharing that with them!