Normandy Post - Part 1 of 2

Sadly, I am going to have to post for awhile without photos.  When I get them uploaded and everything fixed on my computer - I will put a (UPDATED W/ PHOTOS) next to a blog post title so you will know.  :)  I keep hoping we will figure it out and not posting the new things we are doing.  I'm afraid if I let that go on too much longer - I will start to forget some of the fun details.

Normandy Post #1

Last Friday, all the Blockers piled into our twin Volvos & headed to the train station.  Kelly & Natalie Buck were coming to town!!!!   Kelly had written us that week to see if there was a time she could come for a visit.  We said that week was truly the only time - so if she could get a ticket - come on!  We knew if anyone could pull it off - it would be Kelly.  She bought their tickets, packed her bag and Natalie's bag (age 5) and was on a plane within 48 hours.  Amazing!

After they arrived, we took them for a crepe & a quick drive through downtown Caen.  Then off to the manoir....for some fun playtime.  The kids played while we talked and giggled.  Chris had to share his rendition of the Atlanta airport & I think we were all experiencing some side-splitting laughter.

On Saturday, we had planned a trip back to Honfleur to see the market & possibly the carnival there in town.  We strolled through the market, experienced our first hole in the ground toilette (sorry to be descriptive on that).  We had told the kids it was a possiblity while being in Europe & that day - we experienced it.  The boy's giggles were off the chart in seeing something like that.

After a good morning giggle, we made our way to the pier to see if the carnival was open & behold it was not.  They have signs everywhere posting the dates of the carnival, but no times.  So odd.  We ordered delicious bagette sandwiches & headed to eat along the English Channel.  Aside from the yummy lunch, I think the kids were most taken with a white bird that kept trying to creep up on us and nibble a crumb or too.  This turned into a full on attack by the kids to shoo the bird and then his friends away.  I would have to say that the birds have become a special part of our time here.  Especially for the boys - they have named most of them Harry and then Harry's friend is Larry.  ;)
We got some yummy chocolates and played on a playground.  The kid's LOVED this!  You should have seen them sprinting to the playground equipment.  Hooray for wide open spaces.  When I post the pictures - we can show you all the fun they had with Natalie & Kelly swinging them on the swings.

From here, we went to the Naturospace.  An indoor arboretum filled with all different types of butterflies and then some cute birds too.  The kids loved walking through and attempting to have a butterfly land on them.  There was a sweet French couple there that had the butterflies all around them.  The man said he thought it was his cologne because the butterflies were continuously landing on them.  He was really kind to help the kids try to get one on their finger.

We went back for a cozy night/day at the manoir.  The kids just wanted to hang out and get some good playtime in together.  Who could blame them, in a fun, exciting foreign country (check), at a beautiful country house (check) with lots of grass to run and play and a house to explore (check).  Chris kept them for a few hours and played lots of outdoor games while Kelly and I ventured into the Caen Sunday market.  After joining the parking craziness - I popped the curb in my car & we found a spot to park.  We came home with cider, yummy brie and apricot preserves (Kelly - truly one of my favorite things to eat so far),  bagettes, fruits & veggies, and the sweetest pack of eggs I have ever gotten.  That may sound crazy - but there was a farmer packing up the eggs as you told them how many you wanted.  I said I wanted a dozen - so after giving me that - he told me to hold on and from what we can gather he said in French that he was going to give us a baker's dozen.  He took a single egg carton, wrapped up an egg and rubber banded it.  If I had received that from our grocery store at home, I would have thought twice before consuming.  But here - it doesn't get any fresher than straight from the farmer.  :)  The kids had a fun movie night with popcorn & French cookies while watching Despicable Me.

On Monday, the kids got some good early morning reading, coloring, & playing.  Kelly and Natalie were headed back to Paris that day to see the Eiffel Tower and be there for their flight on Tuesday.  She helped me get the twin Volvos to the train station while Chris taught class that morning.  As they were headed back, we would be picking up a new set of visitors from the train station....stay tuned to the next post.

(I just updated this post with some pictures it let me load onto the computer - I'm hoping to get the rest of their trip on here soon!  Stay tuned for more photos)

Kelly & Natalie - we love you all & so glad you came for a visit.  We hope you had a great time & safe trip back home!  We can't wait to see pictures from your Paris visit and your time in Normandy.  Sending hugs!!!!!