White-Boy-B-Ball

We had an action packed weekend. Full of activities and sweat.

On Saturday, we spent the day with The Daniels where we met at the splash pools at the Luxembourg Gardens. The boys enjoyed that and Michael got pretty brown. I think he gets that tropical skin from me.

Then, we went back to the Daniels apartment where they helped me eat my 3 heads of lettuce that I bought because it was a good deal (3 heads for 2 euro). Note to self: It takes a lot of people to eat 3 heads of lettuce.

Nap time had by the boys and then we hit the main event of the day - an inner city basketball court. Complete with graffiti and everything. Jonathan/Kirsten found this basketball court near their place and wanted to try it out.

Well, a pack of inflating needles, 2 mini basketballs, and 1 adult size basketball later...we found ourselves trying to make half court shots. The boys decided they needed to be up high. And when I asked for a picture, they started slapping and grabbing their dads faces:
A bit hard to see...but squint and you'll get the hint.

Michael attempted some free throws of his own:
And then I put the camera away because I was afraid I was going to get thwacked in the face with a renegade basketball.

On Sunday, Brian went for a run in the morning, came back and announced that we had to be at Gare de Lyon in an hour and we were leaving in 30 minutes. We had plans to visit a co-worker's of Brian at her husband's grandmother's house.

Her house was situated at the edge of the forest of the chateau Fountainbleau. Not too shabby!
Ok, so that wasn't her house. But it is Fountainbleau and it has a huge forest attached to it as part of its hunting grounds. And the house we went to is on the edge of said forest.

We had a great time there! They barbequed for us chicken breasts, sausages, spare ribs...the works! It tasted amazing, and I ate so much I couldn't button my pants for the rest of the afternoon.

Michael loved playing with their son, who is about 6 months younger. They watered things together, played on the swing/slide, shot water guns...played in the tent and choo choo. FUN TIMES. I would have pictures, but their son was half naked the whole time so I am not comfortable with posting half naked pictures of other people's kids on my blog. Not smart.

Then, we went to the forest of Fountainebleau and hiked up a ways and looked around. It was AWESOME.

I LOVE hiking. I am no good at it and not sure-footed at all. But I love trying to find the way to get up somewhere, making sure where I am stepping is going to hold, and climbing up not-too-difficult places. I love the lookout when you get where you are supposed to be...because Mother Nature IS that amazing. I love the quiet that surrounds you. I just love it.

Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera because that's how much I have to focus.

And Michael...God bless my little hiker! He LOVES to hike and climbs really well. No fear. When we were going down, he would turn back to me and say, "Mommy, this way. Put your hand on this rock and go down."

What's not to love about that? Not only does he find his own way, being independent and brave. But he turns around to make sure I am ok and to let me know how to get down too in case I need help. If Michael is the only child I am able to have, I thank God that he gave me someone who is so easy to love and someone I am so proud of to know every day.