Dreaming of France -- Football

Thank you for joining this weekly meme. Grab a copy of the photo above and link back to An Accidental Blog. Share with the rest of us your passion for France. Did you read a good book set in France? See a movie? Take a photo in France? Have an adventure? Eat a fabulous meal or even just a pastry? Or if you're in France now, go ahead and lord it over the rest of us. We can take it.

In honor of the Super Bowl and the end of football season in the United States, I thought I'd post a picture of my boys playing European football, also known as soccer.
When we traveled to Europe in 2006, my boys carried along a small American football, which they passed back and forth whenever they found room to play catch. But one morning in France they headed down to a well-maintained soccer field across the street from the hotel and within view of the Mediterranean Sea, where they kicked the soccer ball around.

After a few weeks traveling around Europe, it was nice to settle in the hotel room and let the kids entertain themselves.

One afternoon, a few French boys showed up at the field and my boys played soccer with them. They didn't speak the same language, but they used some hand motions and the international language of soccer to play together. 

From the balcony of the hotel where we took the previous picture, we also took this picture of the Mediterranean. 

And from the soccer field, my husband took this picture of me sitting in the sun on the terrace while reading a book. 

And here's a photo I took of him on the terrace as he kept an eye on the soccer field. I would love to be sitting there now. 

I imagine if we had moved to France, my boys might have spent many an afternoon playing soccer with French children. 

Thanks so much for playing along with Dreaming of France. I'd appreciate if you'd leave a comment and visit the blogs of others who decide to play along too. That way, we can all experience the joy and beauty of France. 

Dreaming of France -- Children in Luxembourg

Please join this weekly meme. Grab a copy of the photo above and link back to An Accidental Blog. Share with the rest of us your passion for France. Did you read a good book set in France? See a movie? Take a photo in France? Have an adventure? Eat a fabulous meal or even just a pastry? Or if you're in France now, go ahead and lord it over the rest of us. We can take it.

Since I've been reminiscing about my children's early years, I thought I'd include pictures from Luxembourg Gardens in Paris.
If you have children, Luxembourg Gardens are a brilliant place to be visit. There are little sailboats the children float. Pony rides. Carousels with sticks to catch rings on. Puppet shows.
We spent a lot of time in the playground when the kids were little.

Here's Grace on a climbing apparatus that was kind of spongy ropes. 

Tucker shared his truck with a cute little French girl. 

And here are all three of them under an umbrella in Luxembourg Gardens.

I hope everyone else has lovely memories of France or dreams of visiting there someday. 

Thanks for playing along with Dreaming of France. I'm hopeful that more people will begin to join us now that summer is ending. I appreciate your participation and hope that you'll share your love for France with the rest of us.