Paris- Day 2

You remember how Mark and I both took ambien last night?  Well, ambien is now my absolute FAVORITE drug!  We slept 14 hours!  Yes, I just said FOURTEEN hours!  Just typing that makes me wonder if I really know how to count :)

So because of that we had a later than anticipated start.  We were going to do the Louvre in the morning and then head to the Eiffel tower after lunch but headed straight to the tower instead.  Our concierge suggested that we take a bus there.  Why not?!  After all, this is a major adventure for us!  I asked Mark if I could take his picture (just to document it) and he very sweetly said "please don't pull out your camera on this bus!"  I knew he would say that and had no intention of actually taking his picture. :)

We made it to the Eiffel tower and it was amazing!  To say it is huge is an understatement.  There were gobs and gobs and GOBS of people so we opted not to go to the top.  It was pretty chilly and very windy today.  But we enjoyed walking all around the gardens surrounding this huge attraction!  Next we headed to the Arc de Triumph.  I love how ornate it is- really how everything is in the city.  It's amazing to me!

Next came the shopping down the famous Champs-Elysees :)  Oh the shopping!  We mostly just did a ton of window shopping.  Of course we had to venture in the mother of all mother Louis Vuitton stores.  It was huge and so great.  Unfortunately half of Paris was also in the store so we didn't stay too long.  But we stayed long enough for me to drop a few hints to Mark :)

I had heard from most people that we had to stop in at Laudree.  We had a really good lunch and had an even greater dessert-  macaroons (what they are most famous for)

Interesting story- we have been "approached" by all these ladies with a sign reading that they don't have money and are from who knows where and have a 2 month old baby yada yada yada.  We are quick to turn the other way.  But once we were walking and all of a sudden I saw a men's gold ring, like a wedding ring on the ground.  A man suddenly picked it up and tried to give it to Mark.  Mark tried to keep walking but the man basically put it in Mark's hand.  I thought it was weird so we kept walking.  A minute later the man was asking Mark if he could have some money since he just gave him the ring.  Mark immediately gave the ring back to him and we went on our way.  I didn't think twice about it.  In fact, I told Mark that I thought it was sad that someone lost their wedding ring. Mark had no sympathy for the guy and said it was a scam.  It wasn't 5 minutes later that another man did the SAME thing to us!  

After a little more shopping we decided to head back to our hotel and take a little rest.  Mark still isn't feeling too well :(  Thought we'd take the metro back and once again, Mark wouldn't let me pull out my camera :)  We made it back where Mark is taking a nap and I am blogging.  We will head out to dinner soon.  

We just got back from the most delicious dinner just right around the corner from our hotel.  I know we are in France but I just had the yummiest pizza!  Can't imagine it gets any better in Italy but I'm sure that it does.  Mark, very nicely, encouraged me to leave my camera in the hotel room or I would have had a picture of it :)

Most of these pictures don't need explaining!

you can see how tiny the people are underneath.  it's seriously HUGE! 

someone snook a little bite before I took the picture... :) 

Bethany, this reminded me of your wedding cake :) 

This is our hotel.  Le Empire Hotel.  I definitely recommend it if you are in Paris! 

Some more observations are...

some of my highlights of today revolved around food- a chocolate croissant, macaroons, the most delicious hot chocolate and a pizza.  GREAT thing that we walked ALOT today :)

the french language is about the most difficult to speak and it's probably best if i keep my southern mouth shut and just smile :)

i only said "si" about twice today and said "gracias" just once- another reason to stay quiet :)

owning a motorcycle is the preferred method of transportation

have i already mentioned the amount of people who smoke?!?

Paris is the best place to people watch :)

public transportation was actually not that difficult to use

french men don't wear hats- seriously, you don't see really anyone wearing ball caps.

Tomorrow we are taking the train to Reims and will be there until Wednesday drinking as much champagne as our hearts desire!

Paris-Day 1

Well, we are here in Paris!  What a day!   I can't believe we are finally here!  Our flight was great- good food, good champagne, and great seats that reclined flat for us to sleep.  I could get used to flying business :)  We finally made it to our hotel which is in a great location and we have a great room- king sized bed, hot huge shower, and free wi fi :)  We completely crashed once we got to our room after all it was 2 am in CA.  When our alarm went off an hour later we both felt like we had been run over by a train but made ourselves get up, take showers and hit the streets.

We walked.  And walked.  And walked some more.  We walked to the Louve but didn't go inside (tomorrows adventure).  We walked up the Seine.  Walked over to Notre Dame and did go inside- amazing.  Stopped for some famous crepes and I had my first cafe creme and I actually loved it (not a coffee lover... until now!)  Can't wait for another one.  Walked back to our room to just rest our weary feet and then headed up the street to a little cafe for a delicious dinner.  It was very grey and cold today.  So there's not much color to my pictures.

Now it is 7:45 pm and we both just took an ambien and are about to hit the sheets.  Tomorrow will be a fun but very filled day.

i could get used to this type of flying :) 

Academie Nationale De Musique 

I'm not sure what this little area is called but there were all these amazing high end jewelers... I did alot of window shopping here!  Funny because in between 2 stores was randomly a Swatch store- Mark gave me permission to go in there if I wanted.  No thank you sweetheart but I prefer Cartier :) 

Tomorrow's adventure- inside the Louve! 

So glad I get to experience this journey with the man I love!

The Seine on the Pont des Arts bridge (you can see some of the "love padlocks")

I look terrible in this picture but here is me drinking my very first cafe creme 

(this picture is for you Sara!) 

SERIOUS YUMMINESS  was consumed here- a nutella crepe!  (this picture is for you Patty!) 

Notre Dame 

What an incredible place this must have been to actually worship!  To hear real voices, to hear the organ, to listen to the Bible and to do all that inside this magnificent place- gives me chills.  They definitely don't build churches like this anymore. 

My camera was giving me serious GRIEF inside and I'm super disappointed in how most of my pictures turned out!  The stained glass was beautiful! 

just a random pretty building :) 

and another one :) 

We took this picture for Jake as he is a big lover of carrousels!

So, here are my first thoughts about this city-

It's old

There is so much history all around me- makes me wish I had studied up more about this trip

The buildings are gorgeous

Everything is so intricate- all the amazing little details all around

It's very dirty!!!

It's cold (tomorrow the sun will hopefully be out!)

The French have not been too terribly rude but not overly friendly either but they do for heaven's sake take their sweet sweet time.

Makes me realize that we (Americans) like to rush through our day- go go go!  These people around me today acted like they have nothing else to do or go.  They walk slow.  Eat slow.  Drink slow.  They take an hour to eat a crepe that I devoured in about 10 minutes- opps!  I'll work on that tomorrow.  They don't drive slow though- good grief, we were nervous wrecks in the cab ride to the hotel this morning! 

2 things I miss...

I miss my boys terribly!

I miss the clean California air!  Everyone here smokes- EVERYWHERE.  Even inside restaurants- gag!  It actually gave me a headache this afternoon :(

It was a great day in Paris.  I'm so glad I'm here with Mark and we are getting to experience it together.  There is no one I would rather be with than him.

And speaking of "him"- say a little prayer for him today/tonight.  He's not feeling well.  Sore throat and all over acheness.  I just don't want him to be getting sick!

Well, this ambien is definitely kicking in.

bonne nuit 

Trip of a LIFETIME!

Mark and I leave in the morning for a 2 week VACATION to the "city of lights!"

I'm hoping to blog at the end of every day just so I don't have to remember everything 2 weeks later :)  It's my first time to Europe and I canNOT wait to explore this country with the love of my life!

Au revoir

 

(I'll get around to a post about how Pierce is now SIXTEEN months sometime soon, I hope!)

It's about time...

... for a haircut.  Don't you think?  :)

I just knew that we would have a repeat performance of Jake's first haircut...

But my sweet second born did this...

the WHOLE time!  

He maybe batted the lady's hand away once.  He just sat there completely still playing with this basket of little toys.  I was in shock!  He even let her use the clippers on his neck- unreal!

The new and improved (and much older looking) Pierce!

(i even think some of his curls may come back!)

Valentine's Decor

I've totally been into all these adorable "crafty" blogs lately.  They have me completely inspired.  Oh how I wish I could be like one of these girls.  But unfortunately, I don't have one creative ounce in me but what I can do is copy... well, most of the time... if it's easy enough :)

I don't know how I stumbled on here but I found this and thought, "now THIS looks like something I can do!"  And with all the testosterone floating around my house I needed something a little girly and since Valentine's Day was right around the corner... why not!  So off I went to JoAnn's.  That in itself is another blog post but I'll just remember that outing in my head- it was hilarious... I have maybe been in a craft type store twice in my life :)  Sweet girl that got roped into helping me had some funny stories to tell that day during her lunch break I'm sure!

VOILA!  

Isn't she CUTE?!?  I think it turned out so cute and I'm incredibly proud of myself :)

I also downloaded this subway art from the same site and had it printed.  Just a little something to freshen up our guest bathroom in time for Valentine's day!

And lastly, last night I just whipped out (smile) this little cutie!

There are so many things I want to do now.  I've had fun imagining myself going back to JoAnn's or Ace Hardware in search of the materials that I need for my next project.

Stay tuned... this may be the year I become "crafty"  :)