Saturday morning we got up early and went to the airport to drop my mom off and to pick up our rental car. It was do or die with the rental car. It did die a few times but then we were on the road and made good time despite me driving 10-20 kph under the speed limit. I was warned by our first Airbnb host not to get a ticket because even in a rental they will hunt you down. They have lots of automated speed monitoring cameras on the highways.We stopped at a rest stop (there are tons of these along the highway and they are like a combination Illinois Oasis and Wisconsin rest area). The one we stopped at had a restaurant, gas station and playground.

Then we were back on the road to our first homeschooling host’s home in Chablis. We have beds here which might not always be the case these next six weeks. Marie and her family live in a different house in the same village and she uses the house we are staying in for work. She invited us over to her home for dinner and since it was still early, we went to the grocery store to get some supplies. This time I bought some big reusable shopping bags since most stores charge for disposable bags. I also bought an insulated grocery bag to double as a cooler when we need to take a lunch with us.On the way, I noticed some roadside pull off points where you can picnic. We stopped at a couple and took some pictures.

A vineyard

Got a picture of our car too!

The girls are using lightweight travel booster seats that put the seatbelt in the correct position rather than boost them up to meet the seatbelt.

We attempted to make chocolate chip cookies using ingredients from the store and some we brought from home (we brought baking powder and chocolate chips) but I was rushing and I burned them. A couple were not burned but when we tasted them before bed they were not quite right. The ingredients are not exactly like what we have at home. We will tweak the recipe and try again.

After the failed cookie experiment, we walked to Marie’s other house.

Lavender

Marie made Jambon à la Chablisienne (Chablis ham) for dinner. It was delicious! We also drank some Chablis with dinner which of course was made locally since all Chablis wine comes from here. We shared differences in French and American dinner such as the hour of the meal and the courses. We had a vegetable first, then the main course, then a cheese course. After dinner the kids played outside. Then we walked back to our house. There was this beautiful door I wanted a picture of. Before kids, when I traveled I took lots of pictures of things but now those pictures seem meaningless because they don’t have the people in them so I try to get the kids in the picture. The girls love to have their picture taken. The boys? They want to be in the picture but to be silly. See the progression below. I have to be patient to get the shot I want!