Visit from the Bower family

I love the Bower family!!!

I had the amazing privilege and honor to work with Jeff many moons ago in Montana.  Well, it's been nine (9) years since we've all seen each other, and it was like no time passed at all.  Good friends are just like that, easy and fun!

 

Here's a photo I hijacked from Challis' facebook.  Tayden, Jeff, Avey, Challis, Sayda, Solan.  Avey was born while I lived in Montana; now she's a tall 11 year-old.  Crazy!

Old Nice with the gang.

We had to get ice cream!

Family selfie near the port!

Outing to La Réserve for some snorkeling and rock jumping.  There's my man.

Tonio taking Daphné for a little dip.  She's such a fishy.  Isn't that water gorgeous?!!!

Picturesque.

(Four years ago Tonio, Sebastien and I slacklined around here.)

And here's me with Daph.  She likes kicking her legs and doing "Motor boat."

Waving!

Saying good bye to my sweet Challis.  (photo also hijacked from her facebook page).

And me and Daphné with Jeff!

I miss you Bower family!  Daphné now says, "Avey" quite often with a "Sayda" or "Tayden" in the mix... Solan, sorry bud.  Deep down in her heart she loves you, but refuses to say your name.

Love Linz

Beach Picnic with Tonton

After my mom and dad left, we had to pleasure of having Daphné's tonton come visit for a day!

Unfortunately, Daphné was attacked by a mosquito, and the t-bird got her eye.  Poor thing.

It swelled shut, and she was sooooo itchy.  But she's a trooper, man.

Our view from our picnic blanket.  This is Saint Jean Cap Ferrat.

Tonio and Sebastien going out for a snorkel.

Tonton Seb!!!

Papa!!!

The brothers.  I'm so thankful they have each other.

And this little girl decided she wanted to walk the whole beach back to the car.

 

She loves her Daddy!

What an amazing place we live.  Thank you God for creating such beauty for us to enjoy!

Come on Papa!

Up the stairs.

The night finished with a LOOOOOONG visit to the emergency room.  She's doing fine now.  Her eye is all back to normal.  Mosquito spray and a mosquito net is part of our daily routine!

Love Linz

Grandma & Grandpa (Last Day)

Oh, the day that's never fun... saying see you later.

Walking through a bunch of airport construction.  It seems that the whole city of Nice is under construction right now as they are putting in the newest tram line to supposedly open in 2018.  Read more here : TRAMLINE.

Guess who is in Grandpa's arms?

Until the very last moment.

I'm so thankful they got to come and spend time with us, but mostly with their little granddaughter.  Distance is rough, but I'm glad we have technology.

And the pre-flight selfie.  They had a bon voyage and are all adjusted now back to California time.

Miss you guys!!!  Love you.  Daphné says, "Gamma" and "Gampa" now =)!

Love Linz

Grandma & Grandpa (Day 15)

The day before Grandma and Grandpa left.  We had a nice walk into town, then a lovely picnic at the beach as our grand finale.

Here Daphné displays her skills of organizing.  I plan to do a blog post with pictures of what she has ordered, lined up, stacked, etc.... She's an engineer's daughter, for sure.

Walking with Grandpa is the best!  He taught her to wave at the trams going bye.

Safe in Grandpa's arms.

Here they are waving.  Daphné now says, "Wave!" followed by the gesture, every time she sees a tram.

On the bus headed down to the Mediterranean Sea.

Me and my mama playing with our girl Daphné.

It's so fun with Grandma!

The famous pool that she absolutely loves.  My parents received orders for 3 pools while they were here, so there are now 3 families in California with these epic made-in-China "French" pools.

Daphné ridding her pool of rocks.  She's kind of a clean freak (like her mom).

In between her 2 grandmas!

Packing up after a wonderful evening together.

This is my man, my handsome, my love.  He's the best!  We noticed the funny background photo after the fact.  And yes, that is Darth Vader on his shirt.  He's riding an old-school bicycle =).

Love Linz

Grandma & Grandpa (Day 14)

Sunday, July 17th, we dedicated our sweet little Daphné to the Lord.  It was a beautiful celebration!

Here's the beautiful princess with her Grandma getting ready to go to church.

We had a picture up on the screen during her dedication.  She's in a train!

Grandpa praying for our sweet little sleeping angel who's in Grandma's arms.

Mamie, Kikik (Cricri or Christiane where Daphné gets her middle name), Grandma, Grandpa, Daddy, Mama, Papi.

I got teary-eyed at one point.  Her life is such a blessing to us. 

God has given her a special joy ever since she was born.  She also loves to sing, "Lala" with us.  We prayed the following verses over her life :

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks...

...God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." -John 4:23-24

Our prayer for Daphné is that she worship God with her whole life!  AND... we think she will probably be musical, so we pray she can use music to worship the Lord as well as lead others to worship Him.

Her buddies in Sunday school : Gabriel, Daphné, Julian.

Snack time.  Julian, the little guy to the right is the same age as her cousin Rowyn in California.

My favorite picture from Sunday school thus far!  These little feet will do big things one day!

A kid's wonderland.

And this pony has become a Daphné fave.  She rocks to the very ends of the base!  I can't wait until she can ride a real horse!

Hanging out at Mamie and Papi's after for lunch.  Here she is with her Robi and Grandpa!

Love Linz