The Great Escape

So this used to be an activity leading to hours of fun. Jaxon and Jonas loved playing on their bedroom windowsill; it is almost as fun as our backyard was. Until the other day Jaxon started screaming when I was in the other room. I rushed in just in time to see Jonas' head slipping under the bars on the window. Luckily he went out went out feet first and his head is small enough that it fit (as opposed to the alternative). I felt fairly helpless as I held my little baby up through the metal bars with his maniacal older brother screaming with all the distress in the world, "MY BABY! MY BABY! MY BABY! I WANT MY DAD!!!" I wasn't quite sure what to do, though it was clear that fitting him back through the bars was not going to work. Should I set him down in the parking lot and run around the apartment complex as quickly as possible? Luckily, there was a French lady walking her dog that had witnessed the entire event from just outside the complex, and although it is fairly embarrassing to have had someone see it, she did run over when I asked for her help. So all is well that ends well, right? Even if you feel like the worst mom in the world...

Speaking of Jonas, I finally found a taste that suits his palate. I was making a pesto/goat cheese spread (which really is delicious, provided you like goat cheese and you like pesto) this evening and Jonas got a hold of the pesto spoon. I didn't think he would be that impressed, but he cleaned the thing dry, and then cried for more. Maybe he isn't so much picky as sophisticated in his food preferences.

Eating Non-Food Items

Lately, Daniel has been planning our day trips based on picture-clusters on Google Earth. This last weekends cluster choice was a little village called Niolon.For our lunch we found a little épicerie that was kind enough to sneak us a baguette (apparently the village is so small that people have to pre-order their baguettes) and sold locally produced goat cheese. It was delicious! It made for a great little picnic on the beach...much better before Jonas puked up baguette all over me.

This hike turned out to be fairly difficult and Jaxon was not helped by the fact that we started out right about his naptime. He started whining a little bit so I told him that if he felt like whining he needed to tell himself, "I am a big, strong boy who can do really hard things." It seemed to work. He said, "I am big and strong. I eat rocks." It kind of made sense because he was getting frustrated by slipping on the rocks. A little later he said, "I am big and strong. I eat hangers." That made me start wondering when he started equating size and strength with eating things that are not supposed to be consumed... Anyway, it kind of lost its magic by the end. When he started whining again I urged him, "Jaxon, you are a big strong boy who can do what?"

"I can't do anything," was his response.

Of course, his fatigue simply melted away when it was time for a dip in the sea. We bought him a wet suit to try to curb his incessent shivering. I am not quite sure what Daniel is doing in the picture above.

Despite all the hopfulness, it still doesn't quite seem to be swimming season, yet. They were freezing!

I was trying to capture the nature of scaling up and down rocks to get to the inlet. It didn't quite work, but I am finally convinced that there are some things that are harder to do with kids.

Fontaine de Vaucluse

Daniel had a holiday to commemorate something French last Monday (when Daniel proof read this, he pointed out to me that the "something" being commemorated was Easter--oops!) so we took the opportunity and the beautiful weather to go to Fontaine de Vaucluse. Despite the fact that all of Provence had the same idea, we had a great time.

This baby is such a Hausen...Daniel is just been happy to have had his genes beat out mine this time around.

We are not entirely sure that this little walkway was supposed to be open to the public...Jaxon throwing rocks into the source of the spring.

Wouldn't you like to go take a dip in your underwear?

Mud Theme Park

A couple of weekends ago Daniel planned a little day trip up to a some of the provencal hill towns in the area. Because we are cheap and all the highways cost money we drove through twisty roads that wind through the hills to reach out destinations. It made for a very slow, though beautiful, little trip which left me feeling a bit queasy by the end.

Jonas loved having the windows rolled down and the wind in his hair.

Wandering around Ruissillon

When Daniel told me about this village, Ruisillon, I thought he was saying that it was the location of the biggest okra desposit in the world. I didn't think about it much but I was a little struck by Daniel's new found interest in okra, as well not having really associated okra with French food before. Anyway, I came to find out that it is the largest deposit of ochre in the world, i.e., ochre clay. This village is unique because all of the buildings were contructed using this clay and therefore the colors are very interesting.

Anyway, this trip included a hike along the "Sentier des Ochres" (ochre path), and it was only then that I realized my mistake of dressing Jaxon in his nice white pants...

Initally I had hope that I could wash it out, but after several rounds in the wash and realizing that the buildings have retained their color from this ochre for hundreds of years, I acknowledged the uselessness of my plight and threw the pants away.

Regardless, Jaxon had the time of his life playing in this "mud theme park" and ultimately his joy more than compensated for sacrifice of the pants.

After that we visited Gordes, another hilltop town, but it was too far past naptime to really do it justice.

Long lost friends

Just a few days after Janet's parents left, Paul, an old roommate and friend from BYU, his wife Amber and his aunt and uncle Sarah and Greg dropped in for a few days during their trip to France. We were surprised how well our little apartment accommodated four additional adults. They were jet lagged so we all ended up staying up very late each night talking and had a blast. I took a Friday off and we all set out to one of our favorite places, Cassis, a small port town, that seems to have been forgotten by many of the tour guides leaving it somewhat unscathed from the hordes of tourist on the French Riviera. Greg was kind enough to provide us with the great pictures he took during their visit. I take no credit for the high quality photography on this post.

It was a little cold but of course Jaxon could not resist the temptation to wet his feet in the sea.

Jonas enjoying the beach with Sarah keeping a close eye on him to ensure he doesn't eat the sand, one of his favorite foods. When I was watching him I thought he was safe as he had his binkie in his mouth. I looked away for one second and noticed out the corner of my eye Jonas spit his binkie out and quickly threw a carefully prepared handful of rocks into his mouth just before I could react. He screamed and screamed as I tried to get the rocks out, but we found out the next day when changing his diaper that he had succeeded in his mission.

As always, Jaxon started by dipping his feet in the water and inevitably ends up getting caught off guard by a big wave that knocks him down. Here he is shivering in the wind after getting wet.

Mom and dad to the rescue.

Jaxon loves throwing the rocks in the water.

I'm pretty sure Jaxon threw this one all the way to Africa...

Not quite, but he's working on it.

We discovered an amazing little hike perfect for the kids right on the edge of Cassis. Notice the cliffs in the background; there is road that we found that takes us to the top.

Jaxon found a hole in the rocks that he called his little house. After a long day with no nap, I think he liked relaxing for a few minutes.

Jaxon poking his head out of his "house" for a look around.

I am explaining to Jaxon the art of climbing up a cliff, one of my favorite boyhood activities. He loved going on a little adventure with his dad.

Jonas and Jan enjoying the wind.

Jaxon's story telling face. When he starts to tell a story, you can tell by the tone of his voice and his serious expression. Here he is educating us on the dangers of the snakes that live in the rocks.

Greg enjoying the view looking down on Cassis from the top of the cliff.

It was good to see Paul again and catch up after a few years. I think he more prudent than the rest of us as he kept a safe distance from the edge.

Amber and Sarah looking over the edge which is straight down for a long long way...

The Hausen's on top of Provence