Vacations ended, school started . . . Fall is around the corner !

Today was a beautiful windy & sunny day that makes you feel grateful for all the simple pleasures we get to experience : running in the wind, laughing with friends, hugging your child, just laying on the ground outside and taking nature in . . . so many blessings !

I love experiencing the changes of the seasons, I discovered I am so happy each time it changes, I always like Spring, the beauty of new leaves in the trees, feeling the sun again, I got so excited to dip in the pool & relax all summer, and I am now ready for jeans and pumpkin bread in the fall, playing with the leaves, and the cooler winter days with nutella crepes, warm fire , raclette dinners with friends, and let's not forget the holidays !!!! I just feel so happy and excited to live, love and laugh with all my loved ones. Life is truly GOOD !

Oh, and I never got around to posting a few pics of the end of our STAYcation, so

here they are ; )

Adrien was invited to 2 wonderful birthday parties , a super hero birthday for Jackson and Garrett's train birthday. He had an amazing time - a day full of excitement :)

Sweet Garrett with Debi and Zane - he's such an adorable little boy !
The train - Adrien went 6 times - we counted ;) and could have probably stayed in there the whole day.
He was proud to build his caboose with his dad - they made a good team :)
Getting his luggage by himself at the airport when we went to MI for my grandmother's 80th birthday.
Adrien discovered a new passion for badminton - he's really into any sports, it's the cutest thing- he catches up quickly . I was watching him with a stick this afternoon, he used as a tennis racket, a fishing pole, a baseball bat and then played soccer with it . . . :)

We celebrated Adrien's first day of school with a fun lunch at WichWhich . . . MMMH :)

Lots of cuddles during the staycation - Adrien ADORES his papa cheri :)
Adrien likes taking picture - he took that one by himself

Duff enjoys Adrien's play tent for outside - he thinks it's for him and Adrien was so excited - he asked me to let him in there.
Cooking with my little helper - we really have fun together - we've been practicing and soon the cooking blog will start :) YEAH !

First week of vacation . . . ALREADY ?

Christophe put this little fountain in the pool today, it is so relaxing and Adrien loves going underneath it - he calls it a shower . .. We have to take a picture of him "taking a shower" , he swims all around it and laughs so hard ! Love it !
Adrien woke up without any fever today and in such a good mood, we knew we had our sweet baby back :) YEAH !! We asked him what he wanted to do and of course he asked to go on a train ride so we had a picnic on the train and it was just perfect!
Christophe captured Adrien's smile and love for the train so perfectly with this picture !

All On Board ! Tickets Please !

Our Sweet Duff - He 's growing so much ! We haven't taken as many walks with him this week - Christophe had to work on his grill all week long and then Adrien got sick. Tomorrow morning I am going for a run with him just him and I ;)

Adrien had the flu this week , a high fever, throwing up, lots of sleep & cuddles . . . Christophe and I felt so bad. We don't like seeing him in pain. We got him this little fireman outfit to cheer him up, and it totally worked, he walked around the house saying :" pin pon pin, pin pon pin" The equivalent of the sound a French fireman truck makes ;)
Adrien got a new hat and sunglasses this week - We had been hunting for a hat for him for a few months but they were always too big - he was really proud & happy :)

Last weekend, Christophe was busy working on his grill, I had to stain 3 benches so Adrien also had his little project. I got him a box from Home Depot ($1.35) and gave him his paint. I helped him put tape on it to make it look like a house, made a little hole for the window, painted a big A and told him to have fun with it :) He surprised us by playing with it for most of the day. He was busy "fixing" , "cooking", painting, . . . It was so neat to see him use his imagination and entertain himself for hours at a time. Last sunday night he fell asleep in the stroller when we took a walk with Duff and never woke up until the next morning ;) Best $1.35 I've spent !!
We went to Ikea with our friends Adeline and Luke last week. It was fun! We had missed them and it was so nice to see them again. At lunch Adrien wanted to eat in the kids' area. I had sat him down at a table behind the green table you see above. When I came back to check on him I saw his table was moved right close to the green table. I asked a mom there if she had moved it and she smiled and told me Adrien was the one who moved it himself, I guess he wanted to be close to the other kids. I laughed and it reassured me a little. Adrien will do fine at school. He'll be happy to socialize with other kids.

After a long week of working on house chores & fighting off flu and colds, we are all tired but excited to officially start our family vacation tomorrow. We will spend our days bonding together, swimming, cooking, taking walks, playing together. It will be nice to stay home and simply enjoy being a family ! Hip Hip Hip Hurrray for STAYCATIONS :) Let the fun begin !