Don't Wake the Baby!

My mom learned not to wake a sleeping baby today. Even if they are already kinda awake when you do so. If you didn't know, we've been watching little Kyla and Arwen this week and they have been having a blast. On Monday they went out with Kellie during the day, Tuesday they went and had fun with Grandma Betty, and Wednesday they had a fun time with Vicki at the park which was followed up by lunch at Grandma B's house. And Grandma Janet took both today and tomorrow off of work to cater to the little cuties.

Christy and Tom offered to let us go swimming during the day today but my mom didn't think she could handle both girls in the pool (a wise thought). So we decided to go swimming for a little while after Christy got home from work at 6:30). Unfortunately Arwen got pretty tired and cranky in the late afternoon about 4:30-5 and we put her down for a nap. When 6:30 came, my mom woke her up (kinda, she had her eyes open) and she cried and screamed for like 15-20 minutes before calming down enough to get out of her that she wanted to go swimming (she had wanted to go swimming all day long - would only put a swimsuit on earlier). We made it over and swam for about 30 minutes before it got too cold and we came home.

Tomorrow they get to look forward to the beach with Brooke and Miya (a couple of little girls in the ward).

Home Again Home Again Jiggity Jig

This morning we got up way too early and staggered out to the lobby where we were met by our driver. We had no problems at all and our flight home was horribly long and yet was comfortable. We had some yummy food on the plane which was probably our last really good French food. Then we arrived in Los Angeles and the flyway was broken and so we had to sit in the plane for almost an hour before they let us disembark. So we were kinda grumpy about that. Then we got into customs and because our flight was so late and there was a flight from Ecuador in which the customs officials were more interested they pretty much just waved us right through and as we were leaving they were bringing out the drug dogs. Gorgeous animals but I sure wouldn't want one chasing me. So we're home, tired, sore and extremely happy. A big shout out to Eddie and Andy for making our trip so wonderful. We're sitting here looking at the pictures -- boy we took a lot of them -- and I do believe that we saw a lot of things in a very short time and I wanted Eddie and Andy to know that we appreciate their organization, professionalism, friendliness and consideration. They made the trip for us and we will never forgot their kindness.

Disneyland Paris in Two Days

This morning we woke up and said our final goodbyes to Len, Lisa and Eddie and Andy -- our ABD guides -- I was very sad to see them all go. So we got in a car and drove to Paris Disneyland where we were greeted by Georges and he was quite possibly the nicest desk clerk I have ever met. Our room was not ready but he gave us UNLIMITED FAST PASSES for the duration of our stay and so off we went with Sharon to the park. It was eerily similar to Disneyland but -- as Sharon said -- more intense. Sadly the park was really crowded both days but we did our best and managed to get on all the fast pass rides and some that were not. I think my favorite ride was Phantom Manor. Pirates here does not have the Johnny Depp figures which surprised me. Small World is way more international which I really liked. Indiana Jones is a ROLLER COASTER which goes into a loop -- imagine our surprise. The first night we went to Blue Lagoon (which is DP's version of the Blue Bayou) and had a magnificent meal. Eddie (ABD guide) made the reservations for us and man we were treated like royalty -- the best seat in the house -- and the food was outstanding. Tom had an octopus carpaccio which was wonderful and the bread and my sampler plate were outstanding -- they had shrimp which were wrapped in potato strings and fried -- I'm in love!!! And then I had dessert -- chocolate mousse -- which was hard to eat because I was so full. One thing I forgot to comment about was I saw a very nice looking 11 or 12 year old girl who was dressed like Aurora -- dress, crown, shoes, gloves and a sword. Aurora the Warrior Princess. This is a new generation for sure. The second day we finished up Disneyland and went over to the Studios and saw several shows -- it was really crowded too and way less places to sit down. We went on ToT which was fun and then to the shows -- Animagique was okay -- Cinemagique was really nice -- and then we went back to the hotel and then to Walt's. Even though we were given the same royal treatment. So since we had to repack we went back to the hotel. Fun times.

Heights

This morning Tom and I got to wake up late and go to the Louvre. This was enjoying the Louvre while running a four minute mile – the highlights of the Louvre in one hour – we saw, in no particular order, Venus de Milo, the Monna (notice the French spelling) Lisa, several statues, several paintings by Michelangelo, Raphael, Da Vinci and a ton of Greek and Roman statues none of which we know what they are but will have to sort out later by the picture. Then after the Louvre we went to the bathroom which was closed so we had to go to this exclusive pay toilet which cost 1 Euro for guys and 1.5 Euro for girls. We went into the bathroom to be greeted by three GUYS who would run into your stall and spray some flowery disinfectant on your toilet seat and then they would stand there and wait until you came out and then run to disinfect the sink area with the same flowery smelling liquid. It was very VERY strange.  Then we walked up and down a billion steps to the water taxi which we took to the base of the Eiffel Tower and then we went up the Eiffel Tower to the first floor where we had a lovely lunch of chicken in a wonderful sauce with these amazing cheesy potatoes. Then we had opera cake which is basically mousse and coffee cake and a vanilla sauce. It was delicious but so rich I could only eat about half. Then I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and went up to the second floor and then to the very very TOP OF THE EIFFEL TOWER. We got up to the top (Tom and I got separated and so I was up on the top floor by myself) and then up to the top observation deck and I started to freak out. Fortunately my friends from the trip were there and they were able to calm me down until I found Tom and then I was okay. But it was VERY high and VERY hot and VERY crowded. And I came pretty close to a melt down. Tom was able to take a picture of some guys who were OUTSIDE THE EIFFEL TOWER PAINTING. That may have freaked me out more than anything. Then we came back to the hotel and took a nap and then we went to La Duree for dinner and oh my goodness the food was exquisite. Tom and I had a shrimp scampi brioche thing that was amazing and then we had sea bass that was also amazing and then dessert – oh my goodness the dessert was so good – Tom had a Napoleon with pastry that was so crispy that each sheet was like glass you tap it and it fell apart. I had a vanilla cream pastry that had the Napoleon pastry on the bottom and cream and cream puffs on the top with cream that was dream like. The food was outstanding. Then Tom and I came back to the hotel and we had to say goodbye to our most of our fellow travelers. That was really sad. Tomorrow we are off to Disneyland Paris with three of our friends – for friends they are now. So until tomorrow bon soir and sleep well!

Royalty and Romance

We woke up this morning late. It is so hard to have this much fun. I know. No sympathy. Okay. We got up this morning, had breakfast, and went to Versaille. If I were going to die and come back this would be where I would go. I have never seen so much gold and paintings and opulence than here.
Fantastic. Tom and I and probably 30,000 of our closest friends were invited into the king and queen’s private apartments. Almost worth being beheaded for – but not quite. So we went through Versailles and then went to La Flotille for lunch. Tom and I had the salmon wrapped in “paper” pastry and leeks and it was by far more elegant than the plain old chicken and potatoes. We’re finding on this tour that the people with the more adventurous palates are getting the better food. So we ate and then some of the group went off on a bicycle tour and we (Tom and I and Laurent (the native guide) and Eddie (the Disney guide) went and played Petanque which is the French version of bocche ball. Tom and I thought we were winning until the end and Eddie swooped up from behind – a set up at best – then we came back to the hotel and rested for a while and then we went on the Bateaux Parisienne for a dinner cruise which was quite possibly the most romantic thing Tom and I have ever done. You know, there are 37 bridges in Paris, 35 for everyone and 2 for pedestrians only but our server told us when we got to the romance bridge that if we made a wish and kissed it would come true. So Paris, we’re comin’ back. This time of year the Eiffel Tower sparkles every times it is the hour and it’s gorgeous. So we caught a taxi back to the hotel, called it a night, and tomorrow we have the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and our final dinner. That will be way WAY sad. So tonight, from Paris, in a very romantic mood, this is your Paris correspondent saying I’ll post again tomorrow.

Chunnel, Notre Dame, Chez Clement and Baton Mouche

Today began with us loading everything up and putting it out in the hall where the magic of Tinkerbell transported our luggage to France. We went to Gare du Nord to take the Eurostar to Paris. It was amazingly quick and amazingly smooth. According to Tom's GPS the trip achieved 170 or so mph. So we arrive in Paris -- they are having a demonstration. OH! I got a picture of Kings Cross platform 9-3/4 even though it is under construction at the moment although the guides told us that the actual filming of Harry Potter took place at Euston Station. We also got a pic of the longest champagne bar in the world -- it was as long as the train. So anyway when we got to Gare Du Nord they were having a demonstration which really didn't affect us any way although the guides and the local guide seemed concerned. So we bussed off to Notre Dame. Man that is a magnificent place. Oddly they allow you to take pictures in the church -- we took 450 pictures today BTW gotta love digital -- and then we walked all around the church and took pictures from every conceivable angle. We then went to a store called Shakespeare and Company Bookstore and they actually had the two Terry Pratchett books that I've been looking for with the adult covers (like the Harry Potter books only TP). In the quad in front of Notre Dame they were having a bread baking competition and Tom and I got to sample some of the bread they were making. C'est magnifique. Then we came back to the hotel where they had a welcome reception for us -- Disney always does everything so well -- and then we had about an hour's rest and we went to Chez Clement for dinner on the Champs Elysee -- that is really some VERY expensive real estate -- we had salad and baked chicken and ribs with mashed potatoes and creme brulee for dessert. It was tasty but free so it was wonderful. Then we went to the River Seine and took an evening tour and saw all the sights. As I mentioned we took 450 photos today. We have very expensive internet here so have to limit the amount of time. Tomorrow -- Versaille and Baton Parisienne for dinner -- another boat trip -- imagine twice in two days but two different companies. Baton Mouches had spiders on the outside and the guide and one girl were really totally freaking out. That part was funny. So more tomorrow. OH our hotel here in Paris is totally art deco and I need to steal the print in our room so I may be spending some time in a French prison. Hope they have good food. Okay more tomorrow.

Tower, Hard Rock, the Eye and Hamburgers

Today we went to the Tower of London -- in the pouring rain. We saw the crown jewels and the golden coronation items which have been used in ages past and the crown which the current Queen uses and the Imperial Crown of India which the Queen will use when she travels outside the UK -- she's not allowed to take the real crown jewels out of the country. They were spectacular. We saw the Koh-i-Noor diamond which is 105 carats and the Cullinen Diamond (Greater Star of India) -- almost 600 carats and the Lesser Star of India at about 300 carats. Unfortunately they wouldn't let me play with them. Then after that Tom and I came back to the hotel and we took off on the tube by ourselves to Hyde Park Corner to the original Hard Rock Cafe and we went the wrong way and ended up in some super posh neighborhood in Knightsbridge and then had to turn around and walk all the way back -- we had a super informative waiter who for some reason singled us out to tell us the entire history of the Hard Rock Cafe which was way interesting. Then after that we went to the Vault to look at Jimi Hendrix's guitar, Sting's guitar, some original lyrics from John Lennon, an original outfit from BB King -- it was wonderful. Then after that we took the tube again to Waterloo station and got to ride on the London Eye. Tom got some super great pictures from it and I sat in the middle so that I couldn't see over the side. Somes acrophobia is very inconvenient. Then we found our way back to the hotel on the tube -- we have this down now just in time to leave London -- and then we walked over to Wolfe's and had a really yummy cheeseburger. We sat and chatted with our friends Len and Lisa and laughed until our sides ached. Then we came back here and are now going to have to pack and get ready for Paris tomorrow morning. They are picking up our luggage at 7:15 AM and so we have to get up really early. So goodnight and Bienvenue Paris!