Making Me Happy...

kids back to school!

here's to a great year!

a few new books to read..

can't put down The Chaperone!

(thanks Em :)

these adorable milk glasses!

wish i could say i found them

at a flea market..

ikea.

.99 euro.

a table filled with books

and magazines

and pretty french fabric.

looking down from our balcony

at hannah on the longboard 

in our alley.

being back in this gorgeous 

city that i'm so blessed

to call home!

A' la rentree'

oh it's so good to be back in paris!

as much as i LOVED being back 

home in the states..

with our family and friends 

and the beach and no cooking..

and on and on..

i am happy to be back home.

the streets are quiet..

many cafe's and stores are closed.

i think the french way of life

is wonderful.

steve talked today about 

some of his colleagues

returning from holiday.

not only do they take 

2

3

4

or 5

weeks off..

but then they come into work

and just want to talk about their vacation.

A' la rentree'  is a slow process...

i am learning that as i write.

my mind is still on vacation..

but physically i am back in the real world.

wednesday starts the new school year 

for the kids here at 

ASP.

Stephen..graduated this past June and 

is doing a post-grad year here.

i can't tell you how happy i am 

that he is here with us 

for another year.

hannah is going into 10th grade

and will is entering 6th.

griffy and i will be solo.

no..

griffy is not attending preschool.

he's not ready 

and i'm not either.

:)

p.s

this was the view from my

balcony this evening.

gorgeous paris sky.

home

we are home.

in paris!

 and oh what a summer 

we had.

on our last day on the vineyard..

just hours before our ferry..

11 of us sat around a big

table at farm neck country club

(where the president just happened 

to be playing!)

having lunch

and bloody mary's

and talked about our favorite

moments of the summer.

it was so hard to pick one!

there were so many moments.

so many wonderful memories..

not only for the kids..but for me too.

i love being there.

i will look forward to our next summer

on the vineyard.

here are some highlights...

(the one up top is my niece ella 

taking her first jump 

off jaws bridge)

what a great night this was!

my whole family..

except for stephen

who was busy scooping ice cream..

and my niece cameron are the only

ones missing.

cousins!

hannah getting 

ready to jump.

illumination night in the

campground kicks off 

fair week on the island...

it's so fun to walk through

and see all the cottages 

decked out in lanterns.

one night after dinner

we stopped at the beach

for a quick photo shoot...

the sun was setting and the 

sky was gorgeous.

the day after illumination

the fair begins...

we eat like crazy..

lobster rolls

corn dogs

strawberry shortcakes

and fried dough.

i buy a poster every year.

someday i'll hang them all.

the agricultural fair 

just celebrated 151 years!

we love to visit the animals...

these two baby alpaca's 

were born recently..

salvatore and hugo!

griffy and annie

checking out the goats

our last night.

fireworks..

what a way to go out!

waiting patiently

for the fireworks

saturday we packed it up 

and had our last lunch

and headed to the ferry.

let me just say..

many tears were shed.

we miss you guys..

we miss the island.

but,

we are home now.

and it's always good

to come home.

martha's vineyard campground

we decided to stay here on

the vineyard for a few more weeks.

steve flew to the island

last saturday and  we moved out of 

our little cottage and into

this one!

it's located in the campground

and it's the sweetest little cottage.

all 4 kids sleep in this room!

there is a double bed on 

the opposite wall where

hannah and griff sleep.

here are a few more

of the gingerbread cottages

in the campground

the tabernacle..

located in the middle of the

campground..

not only hosts religious services..

but family movie nights, art shows,

children's plays, flea markets,

sing alongs and so much more.

we are loving being here!