Beach

We introduced Sadie to the beach yesterday.   Kevin had been really wanting to take a trip to the beach all summer and this weekend was our best shot.   The weather was not the best - threatening rain and was really rainy in town - but we went anyway.    The surf was rough and it go so windy we had to take our pop-up down, but we still had a good time. 

Sadie had to be coaxed out of the Jeep, but once she was out she had a good time.  She loved rolling in the sand and chasing birds.  She also found plenty of gross things (crab shells we think (hope)) to chew on.   She got into the water once but was scared of the waves.....so we now have 2 dogs who are not big fans of water.

She did great on the car ride -- its her furthest trip yet - so that was a win in itself.  We have tried to take Smokey places but he is so anxious in the car its better for all of us if he just stays home.

Kevin did his research and found us a new cooler (Orca) -- it was cheaper and could get to us faster if he got the pink one!  So we now own a bright pink cooler.  It worked really well, though we didn't realize Sadie would chew on it (of course, she chews everything) so we already need to get a new latch for it since we left it out at our house to dry out.....I really hope she outgrows the chewing.....

I know we just got back from a vacation ,but a day away was already welcome.  Work re-entry has been rough and we've been having some family health issues to contend with since we returned.

France

We took our long awaited trip!  By the time it got here I was so happy to finally not need to plan, and just do it..we knew stuff would go wrong but it was part of the adventure.

We spent 10 days in France, and split our time between Paris, Verdun and Bayeux. 

I am so glad I didn't talk Kevin out of any of our destinations, while it was a lot of travel in between the cities, each were really different and since we'd partly chosen France for the historian perspective we really needed to hit all three.   I know it will be years before we go overseas again, but I'm already contemplating ways to incorporate Verdun into a future trip since we were there only 1 night we know there is a lot to see and do.

I want to do a recap, both for myself and for if friends want ideas of what we did, I just haven't made the time.....I did put our photos together -- that was my goal before heading back to work.

We had an amazing time, and have stories and memories for years to come.

This weekend we get to give our niece and nephew their gifts, we missed both of their birthdays so promised to bring them something back...and they are really the only ones we shopped for!