pt 5 Versailles

pt 4

pt 3

Notre Dame

Sacre Ceur

pt 2

lock bridge

back to the Louvre - these are all out of order

Napolean's apartment in the Louvre

Paris pt1

we love crepes

from the top of the Eiffel tower

Home

We finally arrived home at 2:45AM after several weather delays. So glad to be home. Vacation always makes you appreciate what you have back home.
I have over 900 pictures to go through. I don't think I will be posting them all.  :)  Maybe I'll choose one or two per location or site. I'll be making a photo book, as usual, I may post a link to view that if you're interested to see them all.
I badly injured my knee on the next to last day of our trip. Not sure how it happened, but all of a sudden it was just excruciating. Maybe a wet cobblestone or something? Whatever I did, it has not gone away and I might actually have to have it looked at.
Most of the days were cold and rainy with a few beautiful sunny afternoons thrown in. Despite the weather, we had a wonderful time. We saw most of the major tourist sites and many backroad neighborhoods that were absolutely adorable. The Louvre was my favorite. Closely followed by the formal  gardens of the Palace of Versailles. I also loved the quaint neighborhood of The Marais, and the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower. We all enjoyed the French bakeries. They make the best desserts! Josh enjoyed introducing us to his beloved crepes and we enjoyed eating them! Every pastry I ate was superb. I will miss popping into one of those places on every corner. However, the prices in Paris are as high as people report. Oh my goodness, just a coke in one sidewalk cafe we ate at was like $6!
We became virtual pros on the subway system and we walked endlessly. It was a great way to see all the lesser known parts of Paris. On our last day we had a photo shoot with a local photographer. Can't wait to see the family and couple shots she took! I don't think that we have had our pictures taken by someone else since the kids were babies. It was an unusual experience. But I really wanted good family pics from Paris.
Anyways, I have to get my jetlagged, sleep deprived self to a meeting now. Au revoir

4 hour delay, so we got $80 worth of food vouchers. Only we had just eaten dinner...so we just went to a shop and bought $80 worth of junk food for our apartment in Paris :)

Wow, it's been a week. And I don't just mean time wise.
*The minute J came home, she and Michael began a ginormous argument that lasted until yesterday. Way too much drama and tears.
*Hannah had finals today and is now a senior!
*Then, we went from 4 cars last week - down to 1 today. So when we get back from Paris we have to fix 2 and replace 1.
* After finally getting my new camera in yesterday I found out my main lens was broken so I had to borrow a lens for a shoot downtown today. Got the shoot done and photos edited and sent off.
*My grandmother (in New Mexico) died this morning. This was a shock, she was sounding good last time we spoke. She apparently had heart failure yesterday. I don't have any grandparents anymore.

Reunited

All moved out!

Josh comes home from his European tour tonight. Thank you Jesus. These trips feel like forever when he's gone. This time was London, Stutgart? (Germany), Milan and Amsterdam. Geez, they keep him busy.
Tomorrow we get to go move Jordan out of her dorm. Very happy about that. Can't wait to have everyone home again. Then, in less than 2 weeks we all leave for Paris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and I bought myself a new camera body, the Canon 7D. I'm super excited, but I had to do it while Josh was still gone or else I'd feel guilty. Don't even ask me to explain that logic, cause it's not solid. My old one was really starting to flake out anyway and I've decided I want to bring a real camera to Paris.

Poor Miles.. he thinks this bird is real.                                        I'm so mean.