this and that

a little of this and that between two days of beach going.  after our fun day on pinel we spent some time at clare and stella's where ezra taught stella to catch the ball and clare started the tickle monster game.  the next morning we went to our local bakery for some croissants, a crepe, and coffee.  stella had her first real nap since their arrival and then we went to the carousel after pad thai at our house.  ezra rode on a horse after one ride in the spinning circle.   he is trying new things lately.  i hope this crosses over into his eating habits soon.  it seems like every picture i take that shows him eating is with a chocolate croissant.

pinel island

 it is an island off an island - a mini-island getaway from your island.  this place really is magical.  and today was one of my favorite times on the lovely pinel island.

 first of all, we had clare and stella with us all the way from california.  

secondly, clare insists that she's on vacation and is going to have chairs and lunch on the beach.  

 she thought it would be a good idea to have a fresh caught lobster grilled to perfection.

 clare choosing the right lobster

 this is steve our server

 ezra did not come with to pick out a lobster.  he doesn't like lobsters.

 here he is peeking out of his tent at a safe distance. he was very concerned and said, "be careful mama."

 the spread

 we are certain food tastes better outside. 

 

 after lunch ezra led us on the path through the nature reserve. 

 we found this makeshift picnic table and benches someone made under a mangrove

 we all took in the beautiful shoreline and then ezra and i continued up another path to the highest point of pinel because ezra wanted to go.
 

 he was so determined but by the last few minutes up to the top it was so hot and rocky that i put him on my back.  that probably was a good idea in the long run because i did get a little sunburned from sweating off all my sunscreen.  i think that it was the first sunburn i've had in the almost two years of living here.

 looking back to where we started

 the view to the left from the top

 this is the sign at the top which ezra was most excited about. 

    we had a great time.  we also spent some time in the water where the kids were happy kicking away in their matching rafts.  we went to the gift shop and got a few keepsakes - headbands, a straw hat and a wooden turtle for ez.  on the way home we stopped at the pharmacie.  stella slept in the car while clare did her best to get in and out of there as fast as she could.  french pharmacies are something special you see.  and then we stopped at sarafina's for baguettes and dessert.  it was such a wonderful day.  i'm cherishing these days and special moments we are sharing together.

this moment

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.   inspired by soulemama

mullet beach

aaah...  day one beach day at our local mullet bay beach.  this was a perfect first day with bright blue skies, puffy clouds, and not so rough of a sea.

 i am delighted in getting to know this little beauty better.  she is a warm, attentive, and loving little girl who attracts a lot of attention from men on the island.  i'm serious.  she's been cooed over by at least three since she's been here and had one young man practically blowing her kisses a towel over from us.

 she is very lovable.

ezra built sand castles

 while stella tried to eat some sand.

 ezra felt very cool in his new beach shorts from clare and stella.  they have little skulls on them which is a favorite emblem of his being the little pirate of the caribbean that he is.  "cookies for breakfast lunch and dinner!  ahoy mateys!"  is his motto.  isn't that pirate type behavior?

 we like him just the way he is.

 eating one of those aforementioned cookies share by stella...  she has found another way into his heart already.

but, really just look at those eyes, those curls, the cherubic cheeks and hand expressions.  she's a little doll!

clare and stella arrive!

 they came a day late due to bad weather at their connecting flight location in atlanta.  but, they arrived 20 minutes early the next day.  ezra and i walked into the airport to wait for them and 2 minutes later, they walked out of the sliding doors.  i love picking up people at this airport.  it's so tiny and uncomplicated - much like the island itself.

 ezra took this picture of the gorgeous apartment they're staying in.  

 a view of the lagoon from within the building they're staying at

 we spent the first afternoon just getting them settled in their place, then drove to the french side and saw this beautiful rainbow.  it was so fortuitous i had to jump out of the car and take a picture.  it was much more spectacular in real life but most of all it gave us a happy feeling of what's to come for the next week.  we stopped at the store for some essentials and then came back to our place for dinner.  the kids were just as excited to be with one another as their parents.  it is so great to see a close friend come so far to see us!  thank you clare and stella for being here!