Colie's Family June 2016

Colie/Jed's trip to Switzerland got changed.  Why?  We decided we needed to chase the sun and it was only found in the French Riviera.  This particular week it rained all over Europe and we found the only sunny spot.  This photo is literally taken from our apartment terrace.  It was so enchanting that Tom and I are going back in the Fall!

We could also see the pool from our terrace.  What a pool.  It was huge and clean and amazing views.  We spent plenty of time out there.

A little more perspective of where the pool was in the apartment complex.  We couldn't have found a better place.

Oh there is Tom!  We found him!  This is the hilltop village of Roquebrune.

All the streets seem picture perfect.

Roquebrune Castle tower

This trip was celebrating my 60th birthday.  Colie/Jed/Cora and Tom pampered and spoiled me all week.  On the actual day of June 4th we walked the cape, swam at the pool, and went into Nice for dinner.  They surprised me with candles on an apple tart at the restaurant.  We went overboard on gelato as well.  Perfect celebration.

The blanket is the pacifier.  She was a trooper tourist.  We took the train into Monaco and we are waiting at the station in this picture.

Checking out Monaco.  499 acres of land.

Monaco harbor with cruise ships constantly in the harbor.

I loved being there in the springtime.  Everything was in bloom and flowers everywhere.

The reflection of the casino in Monaco.

It's been so much fun to have the Stouts here.  Colie and Cora came a week early to try to get over jet lag.  Good thing b/c it took all of that week and more.  Jet lag and kids/babies is just tough.  We had to switch all of their travel plans as we tried to find the sun and we were successful.  They even had to switch their honeymoon plans:  they went to Bonn while I watched Cora for 3 days.  They celebrated their 3rd year wedding anniversary and I celebrated my 60th birthday while they were here.  One trip they made that Nicole had never done is the Neuhause Chocolate outlet.  They couldn't believe there was no entrance fee and all the free chocolate your tummy can hold.  Cora was choking on a cookie at the end of our visit so we had to make a dramatic exit but it did save us from the temptation of buying more chocolate.  Otherwise, I think we fit it all in:  Domus, waffles, Lotus Verte, Fri night market, Abby at La Cambre.  Thanks Stouts for coming.  Let's be sure to do it again!!!

Birthday day.  60 years old.  Okay, why not a triple gelato.  According to Cora's expression, she didn't think it was such a good idea.

Babysitting Cora.  Look who is up at 10:00pm!  And why is it that Pop is always the favorite???

Last night together on the Grand Place.  Hard to say good-bye.

Lotus Verte.  Do we have a photo of our favorite restaurant???  And so nice to eat outside on a summer evening.

There was a vendor downtown selling these wooden decorations.  I couldn't believe it had the right names on them!  

Bus ride home.  I miss you Cora!

Dan's Family May 2016

Our rental house in Sicily.   Near Catania.  Horrible access.  We feared for our lives every time we drove anywhere, but especially near the house.  Dan's family had the top level with terrace.  Tom and I on the middle level with another terrace. The living space was the bottom level.

Pool was a big hit with the kids.  I think Scarlet wins the prize for swimming the most.  She was almost always in the water no matter the weather or temperature of the water.  The views were outstanding from the house.

Taromina.  Always beautiful.  Daphne just makes it all that more beautiful.

The ancient Greek theater in Taormina.

Small strip of land that you had to wade across to get to another island.  This was just below Taormina, but the beach was rocky.  That's handsome Dan walking across.

The views were incredible.  

Walking through the small shopping streets

Noto.  Baroque village.  

Levi was especially happy because he realized he was at the 'head' of the table, thus he was in charge.

The descent into Cave Grandee.  Dan gets most dominate child carrier.  We were pressed for time so Dan carried Levi for the 45 min downhill, and the full hour climb back out.  Impressive to say the least.  When we looked down from the start I exclaimed, "I can't believe we are going to do this"....

The descent was step and rocky.  Not easy unless you were 14 or under.  Or Lara.  Dan carried Levi and Tom and I are just too old for this kind of stuff.  Be we loved it!

The reward for the hike:  crystal clear swimming pools and waterfalls and cliffs to jump from. Love the nature boy. Heavenly.

This is a photo of the water system we walked down to.

1297 Norman Castle out of the lava rock.

The fishing village wasn't really open for tourism yet.  We walked from the castle around the bay to a restaurant for lunch.

Pop had lots of wisdom to impart to the kids.  

This was a familiar site:  the group walking in the village streets.  It was fun to be together.

The rocks that cyclops threw at Ulyses (The Odyssey by Homer)

And again, much more wisdom to impart.  This time Scarlet is the victim.

The conquerors.

The view from the castle to the Rocks thrown by cyclops.  We ate lunch in the restaurant on the seaside across from the rocks.

Mt. Etna is quite the experience.  You take a cable car half way up and then take bus/jeep to the top.  This is the mid station where we rented winter coats b/c it was freezing cold.  

Mt. Etna

The wind at the top was incredible  Zane and Daphne said they were leaning completely into the wind and it was holding them up.  If we didn't hold onto Levi and Brauer they would have been blown off. (was it 50mph winds?)  It was sunny but it was COLD.

The newest crater is behind Tom and Brauer.  You can see the rim behind them with people walking across.  There are more than 300 craters there.

Cable car ride down

Cinisi.  Our last night before our flight the next morning out of Palermo.  We loved this little village.  Great sandy beach, gelato, and a fabulous restaurant right on the water.  Daphne's hips come to my waist.  She grows as I shrink in height!

Levi won't even hold my hand.  

We lucked out with a sunny gorgeous day.  Impressive kids to tramp throughout Paris with no complaints.

He looks French, doesn't he?  The hat was all his own idea.  Good taste bro!

Oh, Tom and the girls made some recordings that were awesome.  Talented girls!!!  We LOVED having the Herways to ourselves.  We got lucky with the weather and our accommodations and our flights/trains/metros/rental cars.   We did scratch our rental car in Sicily and had to pay 450euros but insurance and a lot of paperwork should cover it.  The rental house was not our first choice b/c the first one bombed out but the house we got was huge so that made up for it.  Everybody stayed healthy and happy and got along.  Dan asked me if they were a hard family to travel with.  On the contrary.  A pleasure to travel with!  It was sad that Dan had to leave early for work, but a treat that we got to have Lara and the kids a week longer.  It's rare that you have so much individual time with your grandkids.  Pop and I are lucky, lucky (and obviously blessed)