To Provence and back

Autumn is here and at the start of October we went for a week in the south of France.  We met up with Alan and Caroline and their son Joseph.  Alan was in our wedding and they have been friends of Campbells for years.  And two other good friends (also Kiwis) theirs joined us.  All in all there were 6 adults and 4 little ones.  It was a great week in a wonderful place.  We stayed near a town called St. Remy.  

City of Avignon.  Really great old roman city with a palace that the Pope once called home.  The city is surrounded by a wall and ramparts.

In the gardern/yard of the house we rented.  There was a pool and it was warm enough to swim several days.

City of Arles.  There  is an old Roman colluseum which is still used today for bull fighting. It is an amazing structure that they are restoring.

French market in St. Remy

We enjoyed great food while there.  Every morning we had fresh croissants and pan au chocolat.  For lunch, fresh baguettes with cheese and ham.  And dinner, we had fresh food from the local markets.

City of Aix.  It had beautiful streets and markets. 

Kids in one of the many road stops along the way.  They were enjoying driving the play truck.  Luckily there were two seats and steering wheels!

Bathtime with Joseph!

Storytime!

More bathtime!

There was a lot of fun and laughs.  We were all spent after the week!

Busy September at home

It was photo week in Holland and the local shop was giving away a free photo (only one picture!).  So we tried to get one of the kids.  Like always, one was smiling when the other wasn't.  But i was a cute photo!

September has come to an end an fall is here.  The weather is really nice right now and sunny.  We have been busy but not much has changed.....other than Archie did a potty in the potty chair for the first time.  So he was able to put on a pair of underwear with Lightning McQueen (cartoon character).  He was super excited.

Oh!  I did a potty and get to wear underwear!

Trying to get a photo together....again.

Sylvie can finally ride the car...much to Archie's dismay.  He does like to try and push her around, which doesn't end well.  They were having fun riding it around and Sylvie is really happy to do something on her own.  She screams when we take her off it.

Sylvie is getting closer to walking but still reluctant.  She is taking some steps for us that she sees as a game.  She is really delighted when she does some on her own.  It will only be a small amount of time before she is off in a flash after Archie!

Last bit of summer fun at a friends house.  We even went for a swim.  Archie climbed a high ladder all alone to go down a slide into the pool.  He sceamed he was so happy to do it.  

Playing together finally.  They really have a good time playing together.  Archie gives Sylvie toys and they do pretty well.  No major fights yet.

With the seasons changing the sun is coming into the house in different ways.  Archie left the kitchen after dinner and I heard him talking an giggling in the hall.  There he was playing with his shadow.  He didn't quite understand and was a little afraid to touch it.  It was a fun moment that we were able to have playing with shadows.

And here is our girl again

Reading our favorite book, "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site,"  we try to make the shhhh noise at certain parts and this was their attempt.

We went to the play farm nearby our house.  The kids love seeing all the animals and there are toy tractors to ride on.  This was the first time Sylvie was able to do it and she had a great time.  We had a hard time leaving.  Archie rides the tractors too but is too fast to get a photo of!

Reading his favorite book.

Me trying to get another photo of them together....fail.

Today we went to a local agricultural fair nearby in the fields by our house.  We rode our bikes in true Dutch fashion.  Archie was in love with all the big tractors.  So we had a nice photo for him on one.

Back home for the last bit of summer

We arrived back home for a little more summer weather and the kids have had fun being outside.  Since coming back from the states, Archie has been talking up a storm.  He talks constantly and his vocabulary has increased a lot.  He repeats every new word and phrase he hears.  He is also speaking much more clearly.  Sylvie is a crawler and becoming a little rascal at times.  She loves to get close to Archie and try and destroy whatever he is playing with....and then laugh as he has a meltdown.  What a sweet sister!  

They are playing together now and really love one another.  Archie likes to wake her up in the mornings and greets her very sweetly.  When she is crying when waking up, we walk to her room and he says, "Don't cry Sylvie.  I coming.  It's ok Sylvie."

We did a visit the Ghent and went to Starbucks.  We love going to the city and getting some good NW coffee!

Archie is "smiling" in this photo.  He is not starting to try and pose for photos which is super cute and super funny.

Sylvie and I stopped by daycare mid-morning to join a party for a staff member we love.  Sylvie was able to sit at the table with all the kids and have a treat/snack with them.  She LOVED being there and it was so sweet to see them sitting together.  She will join the class in January for the same times Archie is there.  

Yum!

We go to an indoor playcenter a lot...and will more once the weather turns rainy and cold.  Archie asks every week if we are going.  I think it might be a weekly event!

Sylvie loves the playcenter as well.  There is a baby area that is all padded and she is able to climb everywhere and tumble around.  She has grown more confident since we have been going.

We went to a small coast town called Drimmelon.  There was a really pretty street with a canal to walk around.  Not much else but a harbor and some boats.  It was a good day out of the house and the flowers were really pretty.

Playground time!

First ponytail!

Double ponytail!

Archie enjoys doing playdough although he still eats it everytime!

Sylvie takes out her hair bands and the result is this.

We have been taking many walks in the afternoon to through the nearby pastures.  There are cows that we walk past (and through).  He says everytime (whether on foot or bike), "Cows, hear me! Cows see me!"

"Chickens, see me!  Chickens, are you?"

And hopefully I will get some photos of the kids watching a nearby construction site.  There have been diggers and dump trucks there for the past month doing demolition of building and trees and now digging for foundations.  It is very exciting and Archie wants to go everyday.  He also never wants to leave either.  We stand on the other side of the street and watch and talk about it.