Paris, day 2

Day Two in Paris began with a trek to the Arch 'de Triumph ... Don't know much about it, except: there IS a closer subway stop (good to know for people on crutches), there are about 290+ steps to the top (also good to know for crutch bound people), it has a fabulous view of the city, and it is where all the bikers ride through at the end of the Tour 'de France ...

The kids were just happy to have an "American" meal at the Hard Rock Cafe before heading off to the Lourve ... We got to see "The Da'Vinci Code" on T.V. a few days later, and felt very knowledgeable about the whole museum ... afterall, we saw the Mona Lisa too!!

I loved the view of the Eifel Tower from the top of the Arch ....

Below is a picture of some building decorated like a Gingerbread house .... it was on the street on the way to the Arch ... we had plenty of time to take a picture or two while poor Shelby rested her very sore and blistered hands ... Paris subway system has LOTS of stairs, and there was LOTS of walking ... she was a good sport to do it all on crutches!

Paris, anyone?

With the excitement of Christmas day over ... I hauled Nathan & Rebecca around to see some more Castles (again, the kids chose to stay home) ... After a quick trip to 3 more castles ... we headed home to plan the weekend ... what to do? what to do? ... hmm.... how about Paris? So, early Saturday morning we all loaded into the 2 cars and headed to the city of lights ... We decided the first thing to do (after checking in our hotel, and a quick bite at McDondald's), would be to see the Eifel Tower ... How hard could it be to find? .... From the thrilled faces of the teen-agers above, you can see that the subway system in Paris leaves a little to be desired ...

But ... we found the Eifel tower ... After standing in line for 3 F-R-E-E-Z-I-N-G hours ... we finally made it to the second level ... where it was FREEZING as well .... so, we ran around the observation deck for a quick look at the city, then went back inside to sip hot chocolate and wait for the elevator back down ... By the time we got down, it was dark and the Tower was all lit up ... It looks better all lit up anyway ...

I think we may have gone to Nortre Dame the first day as well ... can't remember anymore ...

Happy Birthday Spencer!!

Of course, it wouldn't be Christmas Day without a Birthday celebration for Spencer!! Spencer turned 9 years old this year, and had a fun day with his cousins! He got a lazer gun tag game, and later that day, some other friends came by with matching guns -- so, the kids all ran outside for a wild game of lazer tag! We were a little unprepared this year ... we used a lot of eggs for Christmas breakfast, and forgot to leave enough to make the Birthday cake. But, since Spencer isn't a huge cake fan anyway, we had Birthday cookies ... we also didn't have any birthday candles ... so, it was tea lights on the birthday present ... He loved it anyway!

Spencer is always happy to celebrate Birthday in the afternoon, and loves to have a new pile of presents to open!!

He sure was a cutie!! It's been fun seeing him grow!

Spencer was DEFINITELY the best Christmas present of 1999 ...

Christmas!

Yes ... Santa found us! We had a fun morning opening presents together, and then spent the rest of the day doing puzzles and playing games... it was very nice! I may have even got a nap (if I remember right), despite the melodious sounds of "Rock Band" screaming up from the basement! Devin was impressed (note the carfully hidden smile/smirk) with a Santa that brought him a Nano ~ he was saving his money to buy one himself, and had just gotten the rest of what he needed from a babysitting job... clever Santa!

Shelby was thrilled with her blue Nano as well ... Of course, she had asked for one, and with total faith in Santa, knew she would recieve. ;)

Spencer, being Spencer, was thrilled and happy with everything he recieved ...

Spencer instructed Quinn on the finer points of hunting for the pickle on the tree, and then the present madness began ...

Christmas Eve

It was so much fun to have Nathan, Rebecca, Darby, & Quinn at our house for the 2 week holiday break! They got here late on Sunday the 21st and stayed till Jan. 5th. We rushed them off on Monday to see the Cochem castle and then the last night of the Christmas Market in Trier ... Cochem & Trier are opposite directions from our house ... But, they were good sports and seemed to enjoy the long day. The next day, I took Nathan & Rebecca for the last minute Christmas shopping around Bitburg and on base ~ the kids were more than happy to stay home and hang out together!! We had a relaxing Christmas Eve ... We played games, watched shows, the boys built a German Gingerbread house (Hansel & Gretel, of course!!), and the girls made lots & lots of cookies!