our last day :(

today we left biaritzz...it was a great spot...fun to chill in...and we did chill, as it was sort of cold!!  we drove up past bordeaux to st. emilion.....it's a beautiful little wine town...the cathedral was built in the 700's!  it's so cool, with all the little streets etc...we wandered around...had lunch at a little brasserie....it was very good, except that andrea on her last 2 bites had a piece of glass in her salad!!  they just say 'ok' and don't do anything else...in the states they'd be bending over backward!!!  then, as we walked around, tams fell and cut his eye...andrea and kristen took him to the pharmacie...where they gave some holistic drops that took down the swelling...we had gone back to the car because it was freezing...they wandered a bit...we went looking for them...finally all got back together!  drove back to bordeaux...sat in traffic for about 1 1/2 hours!  whew! finally got to their house...we decided to just go to our hotel that's by the airport...it was getting late, so we had to say 'au voir'....which was very sad....we had a great time with them...they are so easy...the kids are super easy and fun...tama is a doll and ira is such a good baby...hope my kids took notes!!  so off to paris, then munich, then the usa tomorrow!!! a long, long day!!!  it's been a fantastic trip!!!

good friday in biaritzz

today was sunny!!! woo hoo!  at least for half of the day...we could see how beautiful it is here in good weather....we just hung out in biaritzz all day...nice and relaxing...mostly we ate....after breakfast...russ and shem played a little pitch and putt....tama played along with them....at one point, shem being funny, hit the ball...but, it almost hit andrea and ira!  it just whizzed by them...lucky!we walked into town in search of all the goodies we needed to have....we found the pastry shop with all the amazing pastries....then went to a bench overlooking the ocean to enjoy them....walked around town....had waffles...they are delicious!! they are made with a thick yeast dough...russ had 2....bought more chocolate....yum!  then, it started drizzling...then, raining as we made our way back to the hotel...afterwards the boys went swimming in the indoor pool...i wanted to, but, the spa was maybe lukewarm...not worth getting into....we just napped and visited...tonight we went back to the restaurant from last night...it had the best steak...fries....all delicious....so as you see...we ate a lot!!  tama is so good at trying things...he makes a funny little face, like' do i have to?' but then eats shrimp, mussels, whatever...amazing!  so after a day of eating we all rolled back to the hotel!

san sebastian

today we drove down to san sebastian, spain...originally, we were supposed to go stay there...but, our hotel in biaritzz is so nice that we changed our plans...i'm glad we did...san sebastian is nice enough....but, it's a much bigger city...and it was really, really cold...it's only 45 min. away from biaritzz, so an easy drive...of course, we got there just before siesta...we seem to do that alot on this trip...can't get the hang of everything closing down at 2 until about 4 and restaurants until 7:30...we did find a fun little restaurant...the food was very good....afterwards, even though it was so cold...we had to get gelato.....we then, just walked around the town...i guess marijuana is legal here, but, we didn't inhale!...turns out from our pictures, that we picked up a 'bum'...he was asking persistently for money at the gelato shop...then, in pics we saw him at the cathedral...then, he was at the car park...hmmm...i gave him 2 euros....shem says i shouldn't...the car park itself was an adventure.to get into a parking spot!!  but, russ did a fantastic job...no crashes...it's funny over here....if they are parallel parking on the street...9 times out of 10, they hit one of the other cars...and no biggee!  even when we are watching...funny....we drove back to france...there are 3 toll booths in the 45 min drive...down and back...rip you off!  the boys and tama went to play 'pitch and putt'...we chilled....then tonight went to a great basque restaurant...it was really great food...i don't know...after this trip...russ and kris might be eating meat again!! they're loving it!  then, we took a 'short' half hour walk home...looking for waffles...but, this place closes up early when it's off season!!
a fun day!!!

biarritz and surrounding towns

today was hung out a bit in biarritz...austin, russ and shem went surfing in the early morning, but, there was no surf....so sad.....so then, shem and russ rented bikes and went on a little 50 miler ride....we drove down to meet them in la ruhne...the concerige showed me a main road to take...couldn't find it, so we typed it into map quest...we went on a beautiful ride through alot of little towns of the basque country...of course, it also made kristen pretty sick...all those windy rodes will do it for you...in la ruhne we had planned to take the petit train up the mountain to see the view...but, alas!  the cloud cover ruined the view.....so, we thought...let's have lunch...went to the pretty 'little' town of sare...no luck...every things still closed from the winter...went to another village...no luck...we did get a pastry to tyed us over...drove onto st jean de luz...but, by that time it was too late for lunch...over here they serve until 2:30...then restaurants are closed until 7:30....it makes it hard to have a late lunch!!!  we walked around the town centre of biarittz....saw a few shops....and then finally could have dinner...it was delicious! they are so cute with little kids here....it's fun to watch....so another fun filled day....

driving to biaritzz

today we got up too early...(i only slept 2 hours)...russ, shem and i went to rent our car..i reserved a 9 passenger van...shem was a little worried because he thought it would be too big for the streets....almost was!  got the car, went back to the hotel...checked out and went to pick them up....it took us awhile because streets had diversions...so we'd have to go around...it took a bit (thank goodness for map quest!)  got to their street which is super tiny!  barely room for parked cars and a driving lane...russ almost took out a car as he was parking, went over a few cement things...guess it happens all the times....then, we packed up....wow...back to the days...alot of suitcases, 2 baby seats, and 2 surfboards...they didn't fit on the roof, so they fit them in by the window...reminders of the good old days!  all of us got into the car....drove south to biaritzz...car ride wasn't too bad...kristen was sort of squished, she was in the front middle seat with the stick shift....andrea, ira and i in the middle seat, kerry austin and tama in the back...not a lot of air...had to keep opening the window...we drove to bayonne...it's a pretty little city...we are now in basque country...the basque people are not from any tribe or group of people...they have been here for at least 4000 years...have their own language and customs....they live in southern france and northern spain....have alot of good food!  bayonne is the city that brought chocolate to france...they have delicious chocolate!   we had a mousse hot chocolate...very rich, thick and frothy...yum!!!  then we walked to a creperie and had different crepes for lunch...on most of them, they cook an egg with whatever you have...different, but good...afterwards, we drove on to biaritzz...i'm in love!!!  it's a beautiful beach town...has a gorgeous beach....our hotel was built by napoleon 3rd for his empress eugenie...it's gorgeous...our rooms look over the ocean...now, if the weather would cooperate!  at least it's not raining....it's a really nice hotel...we all have great rooms...shem took tama swimming in the indoor pool...he loved it...the kids are so easy...we had a really good dinner on the beach...never finish until about 11...late!  tomorrow the boys are surfing in the morning...then, some sightseeing1

bordeaux

on sunday we got up...got ready and went to the train...we rode the train to bordeaux...3 hours..beautiful scenery of rural france....after arriving in bordeaux, we called the hannemanns and they met us at our hotel....we walked around the city...saw alot of the beautiful old buildings...we had a late dinner (they don't start eating dinner until about 8)....then, hit our beds...this morning, shem had his last day of school...we took it easy and met them at about 12...we decided to try out the spa...so, we all took turns having massages....while each of us waited we shopped around all the fun shops...the chocolate shope which is delicious...chocolate and macaroons....yum!  we had pastires...bordeaoux is famous for different ones...have to try them all!  we had lunch at 'west coast burgers'....he was nervous when we told him we were from l.a.!  and more nervous when we said shem had a burger restaurant in hawaii!  but, they were delicious!  it's so fun to hear tama chatter away in french!  he's so cute...he has a crush on kerry...wants to hold hands with her as we walk...he picked her a flower on his way home from school....the baby, ira, is so easy also...just eats and sleeps...not much crying...perfect baby!  tonight we went to a great restaurant...we all tried something new...russ had escargot and oysters....kristen actually ate a steak!  i tried the escargot...i think everyone  had those....shem had steak tartare which is raw steak...we all took a bite...yuck...andrea had veal liver...ordered by mistake...and not loved!  it was fun....so tomorrow...off to biarittz!

drive by paris

today austin, kerry and i 'did' paris....it was alot of fun...we were pretty busy as we had only one day to see the city...austin has never been here before...so we showed him all of our favorite places...we started off walking to the louvre, which is very close to our hotel....i love the louvre, but, we do it pretty fast...we saw the mona lisa, venus di milo, winged victory, the sphinx to name a few....onward and up! we then hopped the tour bus which i think are great and easy to see everything...we drove through the city, over the seine and down to notre dame cathedral....as always, the line was really long to get into it, so we took pics and got back on the bus...down to the L’avenue des Champs-Élysées...i love this street with all the great stores and restaurants....and of course, the arch d' triumph....so we shopped a bit, went into my favorite, louis vuitton....petite bateau and saw darling baby clothes...had lunch at a cafe...walked to the arch which is so beautiful...afterwards, we hopped the bus and drove to the eiffel tower...the trademark of paris....i think it's amazing....we had our favorite crepes...(my first sugar in 7 weeks!)...walked across the street and kerry got another crepe...gotta feed that baby!  then, we walked up the hill to the palais de Chaillot  which is gorgeous and has such a fantastic view to the eiffel tower!  walked around...caught the bus...went a few more stops and then found out that they stopped working at 6:30...the day had been pretty nice, jacket weather up until then...but, as darkness fell, it got really, really cold...my little rain jacket didn't do alot...we were lucky that the weather had been pretty nice throughout the day....so, we found a taxi and went up to the sacre couer cathedral which has a fantastic view (normally) of the city...it was cloudy...so, not so great tonight!  caught another taxi after wandering through the cathedral...drove by the moulin rouge which is basically in the 'red light' district!  and tried to go to a mall...which was closing...so we walked down a street looking for a restaurant....i think we were in the not so good part of town...couldn't find one...finally walked into one...had a pretty horrible dinner!  austin's steak was 'blackened', not really cooked, he said it tasted like fish?  my omellete had croutons in it...an interesting choice....we then walked a few blocks looking for a taxi...finally got back to our hotel and took a nice warm bath....that was fantastic after the chilly night!  russ and kristen arrived about 10:30...they had a late dinner and now we''re heading to bed...ready to go down to bordeaux in the morning!!!  a fun start to a great trip!

off to france!

our big adventure has started!  i'm off with kerry and austin to see the southwestern part of france….we will be joined with russell and kristen on saturday night…then, on sunday we will take the train to bordeaux to meet up with shem and andrea hannemann!  what fun…..

i always have a few things that seem to want to ruin the vacay from the start….so, of course i did this time also….thursday morning i was busy, but had everything handled…that is until i woke up with a bad stomach and everything that goes with it!  so, i went to the doc for some meds to save me on the trip…..had to meet with mark and mike about cabinets and things for the kitchen….check….went home…finished up stuff there…then, needed to get my passport…no biggee….i have a safe that i keep it in….it can be a little touchy….hmmm….it's not opening…starting at 4:15….at 5ish i call russ and ask him if he can come and help….he comes and can't get it…at about 5:40 we decide to call a locksmith…they are supposed to arrive by 6….i'm supposed to have left by 5:45….russ keeps working on safe…then, he looks up the safe maker on the internet…they have instructions! i'm trying again, no luck….the safe guy hasn't come yet…finally at 5:55…russ gets the safe open!! woo hoo!  i cancel the safe guy….get my passport…i'm out the door, fast!  traffic starts up in about calabasas…..not a good sign…i hear there's an accident up ahead….but, luckily for me i get to the airport in about an hour and 10 min….relief!  so, now we're flying set to arrive in a couple of hours…i just woke up…it was probably the best sleep i've had on a plane…i was worn out!!!  so, our trip consists of:

we arrive in paris at night….sleep…saturday morning, austin, kerry and i will go and see the sights of paris…we only have one day, so we'll be busy…the louvre, the eiffel tower, the shops, notre dame….to name a few…i can't wait!  russ and kristen arrive that night…on sunday morning we take the train to bordeaux and meet up with shem and andrea….we'll be in bordeaux for a few days…then, we drive down the coast to biaritzz….it's a famous beach town in france….this is also the start of 'basque country' which we are going to see…the basque's live in northern spain and southern france…they have their own unique culture…so, it will be fun to see…..after a few days we drive into spain to san sebastian….this is still the basque country…then we head back to bordeaux, fly to paris and fly home….it will be a great trip.!!

gettng there....

the kitchen is coming along….last week they installed the cabinets…they bring the boxes in, then add the moldings, and bits and pieces…everyday they look different….i think i've picked most of the things that i need to…who knew that picking an edge for the granite was hard?  but, as i was looking at them, i realized that the fancy ones sort of made me sick to my stomach!  weird!  so, i picked simple…i realize that i don't like fancy…just simple and classic…after a few different tries, we found the right finish and distressing for the cabinets…that is what will make or break them…the floor was picked after a few starts…robert had brought a few catalogs to look for what i wanted…i thought i would just get mexican pavers again as i loved that floor…but, he talked me into 'european' pavers…not quite as red as the others…it goes better with the look i'm going for…mediterranean…we found the perfect floor…only to find out the next day that they don't make it anymore…so, robert went on the hunt to find a replacement…i think we found it…i'm excited for what it will look like….this week, the plasters have been here finishing up…they have been doing the living room and hallway…it's funny how projects snowball….we had moved a couple of walls…so we had to redo them…i had oak on the walls and down the hall…that's a pretty old look, so we redid everything…got rid of all the oak…it's looks amazing and so different….while i'm gone, they will be staining and painting the cabinets…then the tile and granite etc…it's almost there!  i can't wait….i have to say that mike and his guys do such a great job….they come on time…never miss a day…it's amazing…plus, they do beautiful work…yesterday i was looking for cabinet knobs also….of course the one i like are the same knobs that are in my game room…for some reason, i continually pick the same thing…at least i know what i like…i really know what i don't like!!  so, that's the update on my beautiful kitchen to be!!! can't wait…then, i'll have to cook again!!! gulp!

aunt ginny

my bro and his 3 great sisters!

aunt carol and uncle bob

aunt neice and cousin kathy

cousins: mare, carolee, me, polly and lisa

A quick trip to Utah for my Aunt Ginny's funeral...I flew up Tuesday morning and home Wednesday night....I'm so grateful that I could go to her funeral...My aunt was an amazing, resilient woman...she had the best attitude about life...she was always happy to see you...she was always cheerful...she always made me feel loved...I'm so blessed in my family...I have great kids...my brothers and sisters are amazing....and my aunts, uncles and cousins are fantastic!  It was really fun to see my cousins...I haven't seen a lot of them in many, many years...it's great to catch up with them...now that we're old and gray...it's wonderful to see my other aunts and uncle...they are such strong people...they have lived wonderful lives...something that I strive for....i hope to go on, just as the have...they are a great example to me....