Ferrara's in Florida

Shopping & eating on the canals in Joordan My wonderful date on a beautiful spring evening J'adore! daytime at Trocadero nighttime in the Eiffel Tower park Reims--a visit to champagne caves Descending into a cave Au Printemps and their fresh bouquet displays Romantic Surprise-- In Paris, Philip took me to Pont Neuf, or the lover's bridge. Out of nowhere, he gently grabbed me by the arm as he pulled this lock and two keys out of his backpack.  I was as speechless as the day he proposed to me. The engraving, though hard to read here, says: PJF GGF, Song of Solomon scripture that  was engraved on my engagement ring, and the date we put the padlock on the bridge. After locking the padlock with our keys, we each kept a key as a memory;  mine is on my minivan key chain (wink) Pont Neuf View from our hotel room

Finally got ahold of some pics from our trip Here, we're having dinner with David & Kristin in Amsterdam

Tonight all of our children engaged in their after-dinner chores.  Here's Joel folding kitchen towels to the best of his 3-year-old abilities.    (Will work on the Lego mess that's behind him later...Legos: the real-middle-of-the-night-foot-killing, causing-French-speaking pain) When I told Joel that one day his wife would be so happy to have a husband that could help her with the family chores, he said this: Mommy, I'm gonna murry you!  I'm gonna murry you AND Daddy! Joel doing his chores

This morning Joel lounged in our bed listening to the birds chirp out songs as the sun was rising. He relocated from my pillow to Philip's chest. After a minute or so, he told me he heard drums. Half asleep and not hearing them myself, I didn't answer. Then Joel said,"Mommy, are the birds singing and playing drums?" It was then it hit me that one ear heard the birds while the other heard his daddy's heartbeat. Three year olds exploring life keep our lives colorful.

After our incredibly fun-filled morning, we drove back to Gainesville.  I asked Joel what his favorite part of the farm was and without hesitating, he said, "Da dog".  

We had a very fun time at a friend's farm in Williston, Florida, this morning.  We spent action-packed hours in the beauty of rural Florida.  Oak trees, rolling hills, and bright green grass for miles.  The kids didn't even complain of the hot and humid temperatures with the sun was out in its full summer force.  They enjoyed all of it! Joel watching the baby lambs as they eat Ruby Simone playing with two of the dogs Sable filling the rams' water bucket Baby Lambs!! More Baby Lambs!! Notice the "blue lantern" ring on Joel's middle finger Sable took a fresh, warm egg from under a hen Turkey A lesson on how to calm a chicken My favorite animal was this beautiful rooster Joel resting in between chores He is leaning on the corn grinding bucket where he loaded the grinder with fresh corn kernels Ruby caring for the baby lambs while Sable & Joel (below) added split peas and ground corn to the mix...

We saw Mia at the dress rehearsal and took pics together.  Thought it would be fun to post Sable & Mia at age 18 months and age 7 years. 

Summer Memories Sweetness Mimi's Homemade Spaghetti & Meatballs Two Peas in a Pod Three of the Four are happy it's morning

Dress Rehearsal Ruby Simone 5 1/2, Sable 7 Sweet Snowflakes Ballet Poses Frozen Theme, including Elsa & Anna Our friends' ballerinas -- can you find Joel behind the roses? lol Coach Kristen Sable's & Ruby's gymnastics coach, came to see them perform Cousin Love Sable - 7, Juliana - 11.5, Fiona Jane - 4, Ruby Simone - 5.5