Leah : Day 2

We visited the Matisse museum and the olive grove just outside of it.

August 27, 2016.

Leah admiring Matisse's cutouts.

Reflection selfie.

Picnic under the olive trees.

Leah let Daphné play with her phone... bonus points!

A little stroll.

The gardens of the Monastery.

View of Nice.

Cooling off by the mosquito larva pond.  Ha!

Bus ride home.

Dinner at the bakery with a tired baby girl.

Preparing worship for church.

Love Linz

Leah : Day 1

Hi guys!  My friend Leah saved up money from her amazing side job (selling her art) to come visit me!!!  I'm so honored and thankful.  Her trip was quick, so we packed in some good stuff.  

Here is day 1 (August 26, 2016).

I last saw Leah in January 2010 when I visited Montana just before I visited Tonio in France before we were even engaged.

She's a dear pen pal, so I feel like we haven't really even been apart.

I had to take her around town.

And of course the Nice soccer team merchandise store!

A visit to the fountains to let Daphné romp a bit.

She always makes friends with the older girls.

So this is why my back hurts at the end of a day.  Ha!

Chasing my little water bug!

Socca and rosé in Old Nice.

Please no pictures. -Daphné

Holding my love bug.

Daphné took to Leah immediately!

Leah left behind her husband and 2 kids (3 & 5 years-old) to come.  A special thanks to her husband for holding down the fort! 

Visit Leah's blog : Leah Eash Illustration

Love Linz

Mamie and Papi's

Daphné never has fun with Mamie and Papi!  Here's the proof.  Ha!

New pool!

Trinkets and rocks.

Walking on stones.

Testing the waters.

Expanding diaper.

Best mouth full of teeth.  Our little sharky.

A blur of cuteness.

More blur of adorable.

Love Linz

A visit from Seattle

Our friend Jordan came to visit us in Nice after being with us in Austria, as well.  He came from Seattle with his parents to just hang out and be with us and with other friends.  We are thankful.

Jordan taught at church the Sunday we got back from Austria.  He brought greetings from his church back in Seattle, Calvary Wallingford.

Tonio translated.  It was cool to see this.  They've been friends for quite a long time, and it was a beautiful picture to hear them both proclaiming the truth of God's Word in different languages.

We had a little beach picnic that evening.  Here's our little rock collector.

Jordan, Tonio and Daphné.

Nothing like washing off a sweaty day with the coolness of the Mediterranean.

You better believe that my water shoes have come in handy this summer!  These rocks are no joke, folks.  Do not be deceived.  Nice is not sandy.  HAHA!

Jordan, thanks again for coming, and a special thank you to Michelle, his beautiful wife, and his three girls for letting him come.

Love Linz

Road trip home from Austria

This post documents a very long day, the trip home.  You'll notice that Tonio does not appear in any of these pictures.  He flew back to Nice with his buddy Jordan.  It was nice to have a little more room in the back seat, but we missed Papa, that's for sure.

We started with our daily breakfast in our Austrian pension.

She enjoyed the cereal and raisins.

Sleepy time.

This rest stop came after a very unhappy baby. 

Chasing lizards helped lighten the morale.

It was good to walk around... freedom from the car seat!!!  Hallelujah!

Another stop to eat lunch.

This never happens... she let me do a ponytail and left it in!  It was hot, and I think she could feel the difference on her neck.

 

This was one of our last stops before arriving in Nice.  We were all tired and thankful to be so close to home.

Love Linz

Austrian tidbits

Enjoy these last photos of the end of our week in Austria!

Thanks for being patient with me in catching up.  We had such a wonderful time, then had Tonio's friend Jordan stay with us... and currently have my good friend Leah with us.  My time has been spent doing more fun things with cool people rather than sitting in front of a computer screen ;)

This is the patio where we often ate meals.  Daphné really enjoyed this ramp.

It was such a blast to see this little peanut explore her freedom and her legs!!!  She only started walking July 10, so just one month.

This was a fun little toy Daphné enjoyed being pushed around on.

And the sand box is where we could often find her.

But the thing is, she doesn't like being sandy or dirty.... haha!  So I was often dusting off her sandy hands.

It was really amazing to be here at the castle with our daughter... such a story to glorify the Lord!

Lake background selfie.

Town.  So very Austrian.

To get her to sleep for her nap, I walked into town a couple times.  Sleepy little piggies.

Snuggles and giggles with Daddy are the best!

And of course, we had to check in with the cuz, Rowyn via facetime.

Hi!

Daphné was often surrounded by groups of girls like this... she loved it... they loved it... win, win!

And the obligatory lake picture.  Tonio made the bold move to come introduce himself to me at this lake 7 years ago in August 2009... a year and two months later, we were married in October 2010!  Thanks Tonio for being a real man and pursuing me!  I'm so thankful for you and for our daughter!

First time in Millstättersee!

She loved it.

Can you tell?

The last night saying good-bye to everyone.

Love Linz