a bird's eye view of where we live

look in the middle in the farthest distance

on that little strip of land out at sea is our hotel

yesterday we spent the day running errands together all over the island. running errands is my least favorite activity here with the oppressive heat, potholes all over the road as well as the traffic, road construction and annoying speed bumps along the way, going to stores and almost never being able to get everything on your list making more stops on your way home to get what you set out to get. but, when we have michael with us as our driver and companion, errand running becomes a time of family togetherness that we can enjoy. it becomes a time to explore places never explored together before and just hang out together without the distractions that keep us from being fully present with each other when we are at home. i don't even notice the aforementioned nuisances nor do they bother me at all if i do.

we went to the office supply store, gas station, hardware store, health food store, key making store, grocery store, and surf shop. between the key making store and the grocery store i snapped the above shot of the bird's eye view of where we live. i had never been up this hill before, but michael had, and we stopped to enjoy the view. this is a LOT of stops even for us adults, but for any 3 year old that can be a recipe for a tumultuous meltdown. but, ezra and i share the same superhuman strengths when our michael is with us and he enjoyed the day and only made one mini barely audible cry when we made him try on the third swim vest at the surf shop. on our way home we stopped at a boulangerie that i had been to once alone. it is in an inconspicuous grey building along the side of the road with very faint signage. i never knew it was there until i smelled the fresh bread baking from where i was filling up the car at the gas station next door. so we stopped together to have some time to pause and enjoy each other in a relaxed setting. there was nobody there but us.

this is the only sign that is barely visible from the road

my treats

the setting

a buddha

ezra got so relaxed he took off his sandals the second we sat down

then he ate around his chocolate chip cookie

michael and i each had an espresso

i indulged even more and had this delicious almond tartlet - mmmmm... it was so yummy!

after a little break from all of our running around, just sitting together in the shade eating and drinking at this quiet little bakery on our way home from marigot, we felt refreshed and ready to go home and begin our evening - for michael hours of long studying and for me making dinner, playing with ezra and a long drawn out bedtime routine. it is all these things and more for which i am grateful.