A day at the beach

More photos from the August... One afternoon Eric, the dad of Lucie's friend Charles, took the big kids and the dads for a motor boat ride and afternoon snack on a different beach than the one we usually go to.

 

Charles' mom packed snacks for everyone. Here is Lucie discovering the amazingness of crepes with nutella. 

 Climbing...

 More climbing...

 Malo and I stayed home.

 Don't worry Malo! Next year when you're bigger and have your own life jacket you can go too.

Later in the day Greg and Lucie joined us on the beach. Howdy Partners!

More Eating

Malo continues to eat well.

 It helps if you open your mouth to show him what to do. Just kidding.

 After a filling meal, the best thing is to take a nap and let your sister finish the green beans.

It's always a good time to put on your bathing suit and cover your head in barrettes.

 

Are you making fun of me?

Solids

Malo turned six months on September 1, which meant that it was time for him to start eating solid food. We started feeding Malo carrots in Lucie's old highchair.

 Ok, now what am I supposed to do.

 What? You really want me to eat this?

 Maybe I could just smear it all over everything.

 So, we changed chairs and things started going better. Now he's a pro!

Back to School

The beginning of September meant back to school for Lucie. She is now in the "moyenne" (or middle) section and very, very proud of it. The highlight of her first day was that while the little kids nap, she gets to run around outside with her friends.

George went with her, but at the end of the first day, her and her teacher agreed that he would stay home from then on.  It's a big deal. No more school for George!

 

Her new teacher's name is Veronique and according to Lucie she's very nice.

 

Ok, time to take her coat and get to work. Those bulletin boards aren't going to stay bare for long!

Malo waves, bye Lucie! Have a fun first day of school!!

Summer fun

Fanny and her parents joined us for a few days in Quiberon. Lucie and her cousin had a great time, running around the beach and the garden, and generally playing very well with each other. We all enjoyed nice-ish weather and cold-ish water.
 Lucie and Fanny lunched in style.

 Texas-style Breton stuffed calamari.

 At the end of the day, the mermaid rested

Meanwhile, a Pakka could sometimes be spotted exiting the waves

 Isabelle and Grand-Mere Nathalie having a chat on the beach

Malo got snuggles from Armelle

Tiny feet in the sand

Malo looking all grown up

And showing is funny side: Malo el diablito - onesie courtesy of Brooke and Brian in Austin

 

How to tell your kid is ready for solids?

Well, sometimes you just have to open your eyes, and it'll all be clear.

This photo is from our time in Bretagne last August.

Who needs legs?

not Malo, obviously, but he definitely needs a maracas, seeing how we clearly don't feed him enough...

A day in Vannes

On our return from Cantal, we kept the rental car for a couple of days and headed to Vannes to return it. Despite 35 years of going to Quiberon and a rather short distance (30 miles), I had never even been there. It's a shame, because it's a very picturesque city. Now the wrong has been righted.

And Frank Sinatra's got nothing on this kid...

Sunny Sailing

There are beautiful days to go sailing in Brittany...

Then there are days like these...

In Bretagne

We arrived in Brittany the second week in August. 

Lucie had not been sleeping very well during the first half of our trip. So we ignored all the parenting books' advice and bribed her with a bowl of chocolate milk for breakfast if she would please, please, PLEASE not wake us up during the night. It's amazing how quickly the promise of chocolate milk can drive away nightmares, spiders, thirst and what have you. Here she is proudly with her bowl.

While Lucie was busy not sleeping, Malo was also not sleeping. He learned to roll from his back onto his belly during the beginning of our vacation.

Everyone came to see his new trick.

 

Even his rabbit was impressed.

He also practiced sitting, but this is something he is much less interested in learning.