Road Trip

Matt went on his annual hiking trip to Montana so I decided Finn and I needed a change of scenery, too. We took a road trip to Colmar, France, which is in the heart of Alsace wine country. Our hotel was in a perfect location, smack in the middle of the historical center of town. Except for the tiniest elevator ever (tight fit with a stroller) and the room facing the center of town, which made for loud music at night from the pubs below us, it was a decent hotel.

We spent two days wandering around Colmar and taking in the sights. The architecture was beautiful with the half-timbered houses painted bright colors. We enjoyed exploring the different quarters of the town. My favorite was Petite Venise (Little Venice). Our second day there was their market day so we had fun wandering through it and finding some local treats. Finn discovered his love for croissants and kugelhopf (a turban-shaped sweet roll, stuffed with dried fruits and nuts – actually ours had chocolate chips in it). Another local food I really enjoyed was the tarte flambee, which looked like a pizza with really thin crust and was covered in bacon, onion and cream.

Other highlights included Finn’s first ride on a carrousel, wine tasting at the local wineries, and the Musee du Jouet (Toy Museum). Finn enjoyed watching the model train displays. We also saw a puppet show. Finn liked the puppets but they freaked me out a bit. They looked like zombies. Creepy looking things!

The third day we ventured to another little village on the Route du Vin (Wine Route) called Ribeauville. We walked through the old town, did a little shopping and had a picnic before making the three-hour ride home. Finn slept the entire way home. All in all it was a very successful roadtrip for mama and son.

We Made It

Finn and I were home alone for 12 days while Matt was in the US.  It was tiring at times, especially when he wasn’t sleeping well some of the nights, but we made it.  I have a lot of respect for single parents who do it all the time.  We were both very happy to see Daddy at the airport. 

Hangin’ at the Beach

We spent an afternoon at the beach in Préverenges during Barb’s visit.  Préverenges is a small village next to Morges.  It was Finn’s first time playing in the sand and splashing around in the water.  The weather was hot so the beach was crowded, which meant some good people watching (no topless sunbathers this time though).

Chocolate & Cheese

What a perfect combo for a day trip! Barb wanted to visit the Cailler Chocolate factory near Gruyere so we ventured out while Matt was working. I’d been there several years ago when my parents visited so it was a repeat trip for me but I never say no to chocolate. I was pleasantly surprised to find they had remodeled since my last visit. The tour was well-done and informative (even the chocolatier from Peru who was in our group thought so) and it held Finn’s attention with the lights and sounds. The highlight of the tour was the tasting room. So much chocolate, so little time to try them all! We did our best and sampled a variety of the Cailler chocolates. The only thing missing was a big glass of milk. The photos are from the playground just outside the factory.

We then drove a few more kilometers to Gruyere and had a nice lunch on a terrace overlooking the Alps. Barb had fondue for lunch and I had macaroni de chalet, which is macaroni cooked in a cauldron over a wood fire with onions. Just before serving, cream and grated Gruyere cheese are added. Yum! No chocolate for Finn, but he did enjoy some Gruyere cheese from Gramma Barb’s plate.

Jet-Lagged

Finn and I had a great time in Minnesota.  It was so nice to be with family, to meet my nephew, Wyatt, and to attend my friend Shannon’s wedding.  Finn was an angel on both flights.  He slept almost the entire 8 hours from Minneapolis to Amsterdam.  I wish he was sleeping that well now that we’re back home.  He’s still struggling with naps and bedtime.  Lucky for us Matt’s mom made the trip back with me.  She was kind enough to take a few late night shifts with him. 

Minnesota Bound

Finn and I leave for a trip to Minnesota next Saturday. We have a lot scheduled for one week: a conference for me, a wedding (Yea, Shannon!), a birthday party, a baptism, a trip to the zoo with Gramma Barb and Grandpa Terry and a visit to Underwater World at the Mall of America with Grandma Thoma and Great Grandpa Klenz. All in just 8 days!

It’s going to be an interesting flight. Finn is in constant motion these days. He spends his time crawling anywhere and everywhere. He also has opinions about things and voices his dislike with a high-pictched scream. I’m sure the passengers sitting around us on the plane are going to love us.

Tulip Time Again

Matt said I’ve already blogged about tulips multiple times but it is that time here in Morges. We’ve had a lot of rain this month so we haven’t been out to enjoy them as much as in past years. In a recent trip to the tulip park Matt took the opportunity to teach Finn about the Sequoia trees, too.