Je ne parle pas français: Our Trip to Paris

Shortly before Christmas we took a trip to Paris by way of the EuroStar train. It was a really great trip - not only were the kids well behaved most of the time, but we got to see and do a lot without it being exhausting. Plus we went during a fun season when all the Christmas Markets were up and we could stuff our faces with as many churros and crepes and delicious treats as we could handle. And we did!

The transportation was fairly easy - we took an hour long train from Oxford to London where we switched lines and took the EurStar in to Paris via the Chunnel. I find it so cool that the train literally goes under water. You could feel the pressure change in your ears, but overall it was a really pleasant and easy way to travel. Mary was free and thankfully there were plenty of open seats there and back so she didn't have to sit on anyone's (i.e. my) lap.

We arrived at night so went straight to the apartment we rented through Air BnB. The apartment was in a great location and the apartment itself was perfect for what we needed - two rooms (the kids share a room when we travel), a bathroom, and kitchen, but the only downside was it was on the sixth floor with no elevator. This meant at least twice a day we (Miles) had to lug the stroller up and down and most of the time we had to carry Mary as well. I suppose it helped burn off the nutella filled crepes.

On our first full day in Paris we went out for breakfast where I could brush off my one year of high school French though we quickly learned that EVERYONE speaks English. We seriously felt like we heard more English for the first day than we did French! For all the jokes and rumors you hear about the French people being rude we didn't find that to be the case at all. People were very friendly and were super patient and polite when I did want to practice my French. 

We walked from breakfast to Notre Dame. When we arrived we decided it was worth it to wait in line to go inside and I'm so glad we did. Entrance was free and it was so beautiful inside (my pictures don't do it justice).

Notre Dame in background behind Mary

After Notre Dame we walked to the Eiffel tower which was probably three miles away, but the kids were doing fine and Finn just hops on the front of the stroller when he gets tired. We walked along the river with the Louvre along side us - it was such a great way to take in the city. We took the subway a lot too, but certainly did a good bit of walking. Each day we figured it was around eight miles worth!

We bought tickets to go to the top - and while the view was amazing, I almost think the view from the middle was better - you're not too far above everything and there's just more space to take it all in.

The following day we went to the Louvre in the morning. I've always heard it is big, but really the building, the collections inside, the underground area - it's massive and absolutely magnificent. We spent a good two hours and easily could have stayed longer, but we didn't want to push our luck with the kids. Our tour guide for the Eiffel Tower said that if you spent 30 seconds looking at every piece of art in the Louvre, it would take you six months to see everything!

BOB Strollers: Worth every penny.

Mona Lisa and Finn

Venus de Milo

The kids are standing in front of what used the be the castle walls,
before it becomes the Louvre.

When Finn started whining about holding the map we knew it was time to bounce.

From the Louvre we walked through the Touleries Garden (which I am sure is crazy beautiful in the spring) and up to L'Arc de Triomphe. We didn't take the tour up the Arc, but after seeing the city views via the Eiffel Tower it didn't feel like we were missing out too much.

We walked back through the Christmas Markets for more chi-chi's! (churros) and let the kids play in the children's area a bit before heading back to the apartment. I also bought a cute Paris ornament for our Christmas tree.

The following day we split forces as Miles wanted to check out the catacombs, but we figured it would be a little too scary for Mary. And truth be told after seeing his pictures I'm not especially sad to have missed it myself. Finn went with Miles and was a great sport and despite the look on his face in these (super creepy and gross) pictures, he seemed to have a good time with Miles.

Mary and I had a much more pleasant morning spent at the Orangerie Museum which contains works of Monet, Picasso, Renoir, and an exhibit with work from America depicting the Great Depression Era with the main focus being the American Gothic Painting which was on display for the first time ever in Europe (though no pictures of it were allowed).

We then met up with Miles and Finn at Sacre Coeur, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris. No photography was allowed inside, but it was beautiful. You have to walk up a billion steps, but thankfully the side of the stairs was paved in a way that allowed us (Miles) to push the stroller alllll the way to the top!

No kids were riding in the stroller although Finn wanted to.

We walked along the river that night getting to see Paris all lit up after dinner at a nice cafe/restaurant. The following morning we ate breakfast and then packed up to take the train back getting us home two days before Christmas.

A wonderful first trip to Paris - I look forward to going back some day!

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My Favorite 2016 Christmas Gifts

In mostly unimportant, fairly useless blog post topics, here's a list of gifts I love from this year's Christmas haul:

This snow globe was a pre Christmas gift I bought myself. It plays "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and I find it so adorable and will love it even more when we move back to the states.

I found these cute ornaments at the shop where we purchased our Christmas tree. Apparently I really like Big Ben and double decker buses. 

I collect tea pots so was thrilled with this gift from Miles of an Alice in Wonderland teapot. Alice in Wonderland was written here in Oxford (Alice was the name of the daughter of the dean of one of the colleges here who was friends with author Lewis Carroll, an Oxford fellow).

These were a gift for Mary, but we have all enjoyed them. I've heard for a couple years how popular magnatiles are, but these, while slightly different, are cheaper and honestly equally enjoyable. My nephews own some and I'm glad we got a set though I seriously want to order more!

Legos! Finn got HOOKED up this year. Legos were his only request for Christmas and he got some from our friends Craig and Michelle, Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Rob and Aunt Sarah, us, and Santa. I love how much he enjoys them, how good he is at following the directions to build a set and even better using his imagination to come up with his own creations. Bonus - no batteries.

If you were to ask Mary her favorite gift she would say her Paw Patrol presents, but she also got this baby doll and does really like it. I read once how a good way to promote diversity is to ensure your kids have toys that look different than them which seems like such a simple and smart idea to me. Plus I find it adorable when she acts like a little mama.

Books. I love setting out our Christmas books about a month prior. The kids love reading them because they haven't seen them in awhile and each year we add a couple it seems. Here are some cute ones my mom sent the kids this year:

Other honorable mention gifts - Miles shaved his beard! I have mixed feelings about the facial hair, but his clean shaved face was a nice (and I'm sure temporary) surprise. We gave Finn a piggy bank of a red British phone booth to store all his UK money in (he's saving up for more Legos, naturally) and my friend Brandy sent me a new Cale ornament as part of an ornament exchange I do with some baby loss friends. I love seeing his collection grow each year.

What were some of your favorite gifts this year?

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'Twas the Night Before Christmas {2016}

Mid December we took the kids to visit Santa about twenty minutes outside of Oxford. It was my favorite Santa visit to date as they only allowed so many people in per time slot so there was no waiting in a long line, the kids got to speak with Mrs. Claus who informed them they had just made it on to the nice page (despite Finn informing her he has been a little bad in addition to being good), and then they got to take their time talking with a really authentic looking Santa. Finn was a man of little words during the encounter - I think it still feels too much like a celebrity sighting for him to be his usual chatty self and Mary was reluctant to speak to the strange man, though did whisper a few replies to some of his questions.

Then Santa gave them each a present as well as some food to leave for his reindeer. I had no desire to be in the picture, but Mary started to fuss and walk away so they asked us to hop in and Miles quickly did so then I felt obligated to as well, though I wish I just put my foot down and stayed out and let the kids be in it by themselves even if it meant Mary threw a fit because kids freaking out in Santa pictures are THE BEST anyway. 

We spent this past week in Paris which was so wonderful. but unfortunately I brought home a bad head cold and have been pretty miserable today, so I look forward to hanging out in my pajamas all morning while my kids entertain themselves with the far too many gifts they will be opening. Below was the result of checking our APO box today. My mom informed me that there are SEVEN more boxes en route. Oye.

The darling pajamas Mary is sporting are a gift my good friend Deborah got Mary LAST year, but they fit her perfectly this year. Mary is holding an ornament I got as part of a baby loss ornament gift exchange I do each year with some great friends. This one has  C in the middle of the heart for Cale and I love that he is "in" each of these pictures, though that wasn't actually my intent. I was just wanting a sweet picture of the kids looking at the Christmas books under the tree.

Santa got Mary a scooter this year and Finn is getting a couple Lego City sets. I really am excited to see the excitement on their little faces in the morning, but mostly I'm feeling thankful for the health of my family (head colds aside), and the opportunity to spend this Christmas together. 

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

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Mary Turns Three

Leading up to her birthday she would tell you that she was turning six, but she did in fact turn three today, as hard as it was for all of us (herself included) to believe. 

This year brought many changes for our little girl. It's sometimes hard to remember she saw a speech therapist for a short while as she is so articulate and chatty these days. She has no problem telling you what's on her mind and what she wants, logic and reasoning be damned!

She's still our meatball - about the height of most two year olds - and still sports a delicious little belly that I hope sticks around a bit longer. Her once near black hair is light brown with some near blonde highlights that accentuate her soft curls.

She tells Finn she loves him each night before bed and loves to play with whatever he is playing with, but also thrives on her individual time when he is at school and often likes to pick a fight with him, usually by simply disagreeing with whatever he is saying, much to his chagrin.

She's shy at first when meeting new people, but warms up quickly and has great manners (much better than her brother it seems!). She is very caring and concerned when someone isn't feeling well or is hurt. Finn had his first ear infection last week and she came up to him to just gently rub his head and tell him it was ok. Or if you say "oww" in her presence she will quickly run over to get boo-boo bunny for you or come give you a kiss and then tell you it's all better.

When she is sassy though she does it justice. She can throw a fit like nobody's business and during her moments will tell me "I don't want daddy/Finn/Big Mike to talk to me" when someone has the audacity to want to speak to her when she's not in the mood.

Mary loves to sing and enjoys music time at the local library, but when Miles and I sing her random songs she will often tell us, "stop it! That hurts my ears!" She refers to herself in the third person which is all kinds of adorable.

She tells me she misses Roscoe and the other day asked me where our house was and I responded, "this is our house, honey" to which she said, "no, our house is in SaBANnah!" She seems to have a great memory as she talks about a lot from Savannah still - a pool we went to five months ago, her friends there, and even the rental truck we had before moving.

She sleeps in a double bed now, the crib a thing of the past, and if she wakes up in the middle of the night will ask you to "please snuggle with me" which I'm likely to give in to because it's just so sweet.

She loves books and being read to, loves animals, and is obsessed with Paw Patrol. When asked what she wanted for her birthday her answer simply was, "a cake" because she's the best (though she got some presents as well).

It's hard to believe that it's already been three years and it's hard to believe that it's only been three years with this delightfully wonderful little girl.

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