Summer Vacation to France!

This summer has been a whirlwind. We've mostly been working and trying to do as much with  the kids as possible on weekends. Although, July 1st, the McDaniel family came for 2 weeks! We met them in Frankfurt, and drove straight to St. Martin En Biere, a tiny village just outside of Fontainebleau (a very rich suburb of Paris, and wonderful bouldering destination). I reserved a gite (old farm house) for us all out in the country.

We had a wonderful time. The kids played wonderfully together almost the entire time in France. Some climbing, a trip to Paris, the McDaniel's visited Normandy, castles, pain chocolat, mais oui!! I miss the patisseries already. Why can't the Germans use more butter and chocolate! Everything here is so dry and tasteless. Well, at least pastries. Note to anyone travelling with kids to Paris: DO NOT TAKE A STROLLER! I should have worn the ERGO. The metro stations all have a zillion steps! Frank and Shannon had to carry that stroller up and down about fifty times. Other than that, we did Paris with the kids successfully. Cooper was a bit sick and grumpy the whole time, but I finally understood when two days later I had his cold. I was a grump too and wouldn't have done any better in Paris.

Fontainebleau was a huge hit with the kids. We visited the three pigeons area which is full of sand! Just like going to the beach, but better because the kids can play on boulders and in the forest and have a grand time while you boulder.

Julie and I came up with a plan of meals for the week and we only ordered food to go once, and fixed the rest of the meals at the gite. On the drive back, we stopped in K-town to get gas, and then managed to do the rest of the trip all in one long driving day.

Next trip we're planning won't be until October :( I am out of leave completely. In the hole in fact.

This past weekend I would rate up there with pretty perfect though. We climbed together Saturday and Sunday we did the pool in Graf which is wonderful. It is huge and so nice and has sand volleyball, ping pong, putt putt, slack lines, in ground trampolines, and 2 very nice pools. Cooper played and played non-stop for 4 hours. We came home, fixed dinner quickly, made a campfire outside, cooked s'mores, Frank played guitar, Cooper danced, I sang, and Lily watched in amazement at her daddy's hands strumming away. Summer, please never end.