Griffin and School

Life is busy.

Apartment hunting

and just the thought of

moving again is taking up

most of my days.

We don't have to be out

until November 28th..

and I think they'll be pushing us

out the door on that day.

I don't want to leave here!

Griffin is slowly adjusting 

to his new life at school.

He has days when he jumps out

of bed and can't wait to go.

And then he has days that are the

complete opposite of that.

On those days

we do things like the above.

Trying out new cafe's and  

visiting the park.

I am not pushing him.

We are taking this school

thing slow.

Not the French way..

that's for sure.

As expats, 

we encourage the kids

to try new things.

Experience the food..

learn the language and 

the history..

understand the people and 

be respectful of their culture and country.

However,

when it came to schooling Griffin,

I decided not to send him at 

3 or 4 when most 

French kids are heading off to

l'ecole.

And I have no regrets.

I am also so grateful

for his patient teachers 

at his little school here!

We are proud of you Griff! 

The leaves are falling in Paris..

but the temperatures however

seem to be rising!

Bon weekend!!

La Parisienne

I ran a road race for the first

time Sunday! 

The La Parisienne 6.7 km!!

I started running at the 

beginning of the summer.

The furthest I've run is about

4 km.

 I had every intention of stopping

at 4 and walking the rest..

but I just kept going!

It was so exciting picking

up my number!

And the day of the race there

are over 25,000 women running!

It was such an amazing day.

Never in a million years

did I ever think of running

a road race.

And now..

I want to do another!

It's addicting!

There was a group of us

that ran.

So fun!

Yesterday..

Griffy didn't go to school.

He woke up crying and 

said he didn't want to go.

I didn't push him.

So we went to a cafe together.

(I had a delicious fig and mascarpone tarte!)

We've been having warm sunny

days with gorgeous skies over the city.

(sunrise this morning over Les Invalides)

And this morning he's off!

We kiss each others' hands 

and put them on our cheeks 

when we miss each other 

during the day.

My hand is always 

on my cheek.

So proud of you buddy!

Rome and The Amalfi Coast

Before I go any further..

I need to explain the 

eviction.

Eviction is a strong word.

I was being a bit dramatic.

(my middle name)

We have been told to leave though.

We haven't done anything wrong.

Didn't throw a big loud party

or have been disruptive in any way.

The building will be under new 

management and they are doing

major renovations.

So..we need to move.

We flew into Paris the morning

of August 5th.

The next day we were flying 

to Rome!

This was our 3rd trip to 

Italy but first to Rome.

I don't think I'd do that again..

we were SO jet lagged.

We were walking around the Colosseum

at midnight!

The good thing was that it 

was cool at night..

and so pretty!

We stayed in the Trastevere section

of Rome.

We rented an apartment for 4 days and it

was the perfect location.

We took a lot of pictures

with iphones.

Returning to Rome

is a must.

We didn't do half of what

I had planned.

Rome in 4 days 

with 4 kids

jetlagged..

not a great idea.

Believe me..

I'm not complaining.

We did fit in a lot and 

ate amazing food...

but I'd love to go back.

Maybe just with Steve. 

:)

On Saturday we rented a car

and drove to Positano.

A gorgeous and nail biting 

drive along the Amalfi coast!

We stayed in a hotel in

Positano for a week..

this was our view from our

balcony!

We drove to Ravello

one of the days.

We walked around this

beautiful town and 

had a fantastic lunch with 

this view!

Our days in Positano were spent on 

the beach

and eating big lunches!

In the evening we'd order pizza

and hang out by the pool.

selfie!

Another day we rented a boat!

This was probably one of our favorite

days! 

I don't think I've ever seen water this color..

a beautiful deep navy blue.

another selfie from the boat!

On Saturday we drove to Naples..

returned the rental car

(which we did not need the entire week

except to drive to Ravello)..

and hopped the ferry to 

Capri!!

This was taken from our

balcony looking down at 

the kids in the pool!

Capri was so beautiful!

The beaches..the people watching..

the food..the fashion.

Loved Capri!

Hannah and Will

rock jumping

I feel terrible about

not taking more pictures!

Too busy enjoying ourselves.

An amazing end to an 

amazing summer.

I asked Steve recently..

"where to next?"

Although, with moving to 

a new apartment soon

and getting kids

settled into school

and me adjusting to all

of this alone time..

I think we'll stay put for a bit.

Moving On

Griffin went to school this morning.

He's been there about 3 hours now

and the director has already emailed

me twice saying that he's fine.

I guess she thought I'd need 

that reassurance after 

dropping him off this morning.

He is attending a small

bilingual school here in the

city.

The teachers speak only French

in the morning and

only English in the afternoon.

There is a private garden for recess

and the lunch menu looks

like something off of a 

Michelin starred restaurant.

I know this is a perfect place 

for Griffin.

And I know that he's ready.

But, man it's been an emotional 

few weeks for me.

Stephen leaving for college.

Saying many goodbyes to family 

and friends.

Getting evicted from our apartment.

Griffin going to school.

Yes..

I said EVICTED!

I'm in shock

and trying to be positive

and grateful for the time that 

we've had in this amazing apartment.

But..wow.

Moving on.

Our Summer in The Pink House

I can't believe I didn't take

one picture of the house

we rented all summer!

Maybe it's because every time

I looked out the window 

there were a MILLION 

other people taking a picture of the house.

This is it!

We rented
"The Pink House" for 5 weeks

this summer.

We LOVE being 

in the Campground !

Staying here is such a nice

balance to our life here in Paris.

We're able to walk to 

the market and the harbor

and Stephen can walk to work.

We arrived on the Vineyard

on the last Sunday in June.

A few days later we celebrated

Hannah's 16th birthday!

So bummed that I can't fix the

red-eye in this picture!

We took Hannah to the 

Sweet Life Cafe for dinner

with my mom.

It was such a lovely evening

and we got to sit outside

under the twinkling lights.

Hannah and her cousins

trying out the 

paddle boards.

Out to lunch at the 

Sandbar with my dad

and some of the cousins.

Hi dad!

I regret I didn't take 

many pictures this summer.

I also didn't cook much at all

this summer!

We spent many meals here

at my mom's house.

My mom also hosted a

"Carnival"..which we hope will

become a yearly event..

and that Steve can attend next year!

The Carnival was a blast!

Complete with tiki bar..

games for the kids

and amazing food!

Can't wait for next years' mom!

(and next year we'll have a group picture!)

We had a great day at the 

beach the next day.

This has become an annual game..

and we're always the loudest family on

the beach.

We don't see our family

during the year..

.....so we soak up as much as 

we can during those 5 weeks.

A rainy Sunday afternoon

spent at the Lookout Tavern

with my brother David and sister 

Jen and her husband.

Fun!

So glad we were able to 

spend some time with 

some dear friends from NH.

Thank you Lara, Erin and Kerry 

for making it happen!

We loved seeing you

and can't wait for next year!

And it wouldn't be summer

without the obligatory bridge

jump...

(sweet jump Kyra!)

Hannah

David

Cammie

Not this year Griff

One late afternoon Jen and I took

all the kids up to Squibnocket..

Squibby is open to the public

after 5.

We love Squibby!!

When we start getting close to the end..

we all start saying,

"we haven't done this!"

or 

"we haven't done that!"

Menemsha for dinner and sunset

is a must and I'm so glad

we  pulled it together to go.

We bring a bottle of wine

and order dinner from

The Bite and Larsen's fish 

market..

steamers

shrimp cocktail

lobster rolls

and the seafood nachos

are amazing!!

Miss you Stephen!

Nothing better than good food,

family and the best sunset in 

the world!

It was also Will's 12th 

birthday!

On our way home from Menemsha

we swung into my Mom's house

for cake and singing.

Happy Birthday buddy!

We love you!

We rented the Banana boat!

Such a fun day and Jen and I 

got to ride on the boat while towing these

guys with Griff and Annie!

I don't think I've ever 

laughed that hard!!

Last one standing

What a blast!

The summer was filled with 

ice cream

and carousel rides..

and back door donuts

and swimming

and family and friends...

and house buying!

We bought a cottage in the 

campground!

Still pinching myself and 

counting the days until next summer.

Waving goodbye

to our family and 

our new home.

It was an awesome summer.

See you next year!

We drove to Boston

and spent two days

back to school shopping

hair cuts

doctors appointments

and saying goodbye to our

Duxbury friends

after they hosted a

fantastic meal for us!

We love and miss you Perry Drive!

Griffy loved trying on

back to school clothes.

Our last American meal before

boarding our flight home to Paris.

Clam chowder and hamburgers.

And we're off!

Goodbye Boston!

Hello Rome

Positano and Capri!!