All good things must come to an end

My parents just concluded their five-week visit, so we are currently going through withdrawals. I am learning how to cook again and waking up early to take Jaxon to school. Jaxon doesn't quite get it when I tell him that they are not coming back for a long time and announced to me this morning, "Grandma and Grandpa are coming back on Thursday." We had a wonderful time with them!

Jonas enjoying what he loves most

We celebrated our five year anniversary when my parents were here. Looks romantic, doesn't it? We would have gone out if Jonas would eat anything other than my milk, and a romantic evening out with a clingy baby just isn't that romantic. My parents served us a delicious dinner, however, French-style lasting a couple of hours. Here we are starting with snails; we have to fight Jaxon for them. I have a feeling #2 isn't going to be quite adventurous an eater, considering that these are the faces he make when eating SWEETENED apple sauce...

Yes, he is gagging.

My dad took Jaxon to school and picked him up each day. It tends to be a time consuming activity; he is something of a dawdler. Here he is doing his "tram hand." When he puts his hand up like that we know that he in tram mode and likely to be unresponsive. Trams are one of his greatest obsessions.

Walking up the ramp to school.

Eating out at "Buffalo Grill". The place cracks me up, it is a Western-themed restaurant complete with country background music, TV showing rodeo segments, and a cheese plate for dessert.

Visiting the little French farm by our house. This place is adorable; it is run by a little old couple who sell fruit and vegetables from their garden. We learned here that French sheep eat even baguettes.

We finished their trip with one last hike. Here Jaxon had discovered a small colony of ladybugs. Jaxon was happy as a clam.

For someone who doesn't even like apple sauce, the kid sure does like eating dirt.

Grandma and Grandpa's visit

My parents arrived the middle of February for a visit. Jaxon was thrilled and told me that their arrival was even better than Christmas. That is a big deal for a three-year-old! We have been having so much fun showing them around our new little corner of the world. Why not start with a trip to the beach? Grandpa helped Jaxon get ready for a little dip in the sea. I don't know why I would ever not bring him dry clothes after visiting any body of water. He has proven that weather is not a deterrent for him.

You have to love the coat with the naked legs

A visit to the Vieille Charite in Marseille. Jonas in his usual position.

A visit to Palais Longchamp

Jonas daring to try the slide at Longchamp (kind of)

Hiking around the Calanques near Cassis. The Calanques have quickly become one of our favorite places in the world...and it is only 20 minutes away from our house.

Cassis

Jonas was really excited about the pebbles on the beach, although he probably would have lost some of that excitement had he succeeded in getting that handful of them into his mouth.

Hiking up to the church in Allauch

Heading over to Chateau d'If and the Frioul islands.

Enjoying the views from Chateau d'If.

Daniel practicing for the part of Edmond Dantes.

Jaxon getting ready to make his escape.

At the Frioul islands. This is where Daniel is truly in his element. He can't wait until snorkelling season comes around. We are almost there!

Jaxon before the wave...

Jaxon and Daniel after it hit. A huge wave completely engulfed the front of the boat when Daniel took Jaxon out there to take pictures. Luckily my little hydrophile laughed through the whole thing. For as much as he gets wet (he really can't resist any water that he sees) it is a very good thing that he doesn't complain about being in cold wet clothes.

My little sumo wrestler. Jaxon was always such a stick that it has been funny to me to have a chunky baby. It makes me very proud of my milk--I think that I am making butter this time around. He really is not at all interested in eating baby food (at nearly eight months). It works out well for us since I don't really like feeding babies food. Grandma tried to feed him for awhile, but she gave it up because she didn't want to be associated with something he disliked so much.

While Daniel was on his business trip to Houston, the rest of us made a trip further up into Provence to visit Les Baux-de-Provence, Arles, Avingnon, and Nimes. Here we are making our way through the streets of Les Baux-de-Provence

The views from the castle

Grandpa teaching Jaxon how to knock down castle doors

Looking back on the town

We decided that this is definitely a one adult per child adventure. Climbing on the cliff-perched castle ruins was potentially treacherous at times, but Jaxon loved it.

The Papal Palace in Avignon; one might think that Jaxon would have been bored by it, but he found many interesting roads for his matchbox cars.

The Pont du Gard

The Roman arena in Nimes...Jaxon learned way more about Gladiators than I wanted him to know.

Grandpa helping Jaxon be an airplane in the arena.