BRECON RIDES HIS BIKE

That almost sounds like a title to a children's book... but it is true. This happened a few days before we left on our Spring break trip while we were all playing out in the front yard. After finally deciding that Brecon no longer had need for his training wheels Ben took them off and away he went! It was quite a funny thing to listen to him make worried noises while he pedaled all the way down to the end of the street and back. Also the way he stopped by going onto the lawn and barely getting off in time before the bike tipped over to it's side. It sure was fun watching him go... my baby is growing up.

"Just keep pedaling fast"



One of my most favorite shots. Brecon sure loves his Daddy.

 

A victory toss in the air and you have yourselves a party for learning how to ride your bike! Way to go BRECON!!!

DAY 5 LOUVRE and SACRE COUER

 Our day started by getting our whole group to the church meeting house located right down by the Pompedou Modern Art Museum. I found it was a miracle we made it there without anyone stepping in dog poo or getting covered in dirt before we arrived. The children who were just with us doubled the primary when we dropped them off and us adults were able to attend Sunday school taught in English. It was fun to listen to the introductions as most of the people attending the class were "just visiting". One student from BYU was backpacking through Europe while others were in town for business. Sacrament Meeting was translated by the missionaries into an area just outside of the chapel. It was actually very hard to hear due to several reasons. The volume was not very high, it was echo-y, and all three of my boys were being very goofy and loud. A garbage can was next to Cael and when he saw his funny reflection he burst out laughing, Brecon laughed because of what Cael was doing and Connor could not sit still. We didn't exactly make it through the meeting, but it really was so great to make it to church on Easter Sunday.

Here the boys are after church

 We then headed toward the Louvre looking for a grassy spot to enjoy our picnic lunch and let the kids run around to burn off some of the energy they had during church. It was another beautiful day and just right for looking around at the beautiful buildings.

 We all enjoyed our lunch and the kids ran around playing chase and flying a kite. The string caught a couple of guys who were kicking a soccer ball around- they eventually moved away from our little herd of kite flyers. Also so thankful for Dusty who really chased the kids and tossed Cael around, locking them up in jail, Brecon pulling out a key to help him break out of jail, and the game continuing on and on. I can't even count how many times Bro. Miner was helping me out with one of my children during this trip whether it was because Brecon fell asleep in their double stroller catching a free ride up and down the stairs of the metro, sleeping peacefully while Dusty pushed him up the hill to Sacre Couer (while at the same time Cael was riding on his shoulders) or taking the boys to use the bathroom somewhere. Don't even ask me how many times Brecon needed to pee during this trip... it was more than 5 times!!!  So Bro. Miner really did help me (and the boys) out so much. I owe the Miners big time.

Enjoying a cookie at Sacre Couer- Notice who is sleeping in the back?

 The amazing view from the top of the hill and I do have to say the Sacre Couer is one of my favorite cathedrals I have ever seen.

OUR LAST METRO RIDE AT THE END OF THE DAY...

What a trip! We saw so many amazing things, walked 100 miles or more, got on and off the metro, did 5,000 stairs up and down and ate baquettes, crepes, and of course I will have to go back! Obviously that will be at a time of year when there are not so many people, long lines, or really hot weather. Paris we will see you again!

DAY 4 CHATEAU de VERSAILLE

Our Saturday morning began by going to a street market and searching for treasure, bargaining for a good price, and eating some more crepes and a cool slushy. I was not very successful at finding very much, but came away with a very uncomfortable pair of flats that would work for my sunday shoes (I only brought my tennis shoes and didn't think they would look very nice with my dress). We bought another train ticket and made our way to Versaille to explore the gardens and see "ALL the GLORY of FRANCE"...



 *Just moments before these two had become seperated from the group while we were purchasing our entrance tickets. There were people everywhere and when I realized they were not with everyone else, I began heading out into the crowd. It was within seconds that I saw them both walking towards me, holding each other with very scared looks on their faces. Cael told me that he was following the Blackhams' Dad (who had all the kids in the shade while we were waiting in line) as they got up to leave and were heading toward the ticket counter He looked back to see that Brecon was not behind him. He turned around and went to get his brother. Brecon had been distracted when the group got up to leave and when he noticed they were gone he started walking straight into the crowd instead of turning toward where we were. When Cael caught up to him, they called out for Brother Blackham and began walking the right way. This is when I spotted them. I don't think there was enough time for me to panic, but I am so relieved for the way this event turned out, instead of what could have happened... this probably wasn't the best way to start out our stroll through the gardens, but we are very thankful the boys were found safely.

BRECON- WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?



 AND THE RAIN CAME TUMBLING DOWN.... When we started making the walk back out to the main gate a grey cloud covered the entire sky and we began to feel a few drops of rain. By the time we had made it into the main square we were caught in a rainstorm, and we still had a bit of a walk to the train station. We covered up the sleeping babies and went as fast as we could go, completely wet by the time we made it to the now packed gate. After quickly squeezing what water we could out of the wet blankets, squeezing the strollers through the doorway, we thankfully all found seats and enjoyed the ride back into town.

Watch out! Two wet crazies ladies- comin' through!

DAY 3 PARIS

We were still about 2 hours away from the city of lights, so enjoyed the day detouring in the town of Peronne, strolling by a lake, eating lunch by a beautiful little church in the town square and entertaining 2 elderly couples with our group of highly energetic children. We loaded back into the van and arrived at our destination about 20 minutes before the Blackhams and Mary Anne's husband arrived. It is so nice to have friends from church to spend spring break with. And as a bonus: Tera served her mission here in Paris! Now we were all set to go!

 We set out the evening by walking, grabbing some dinner and eating at a park, catching the metro, and starting our Paris trip by going to the Eiffel Tower at night. The boys actually had more fun playing on a stair ramp by using it for a slide, but ... what are you going to do?

 The next morning we went back to see the tower during the daytime (not nearly as magical) and we were amazed by the mobs of people and the lines that wove around and around. Let's just say that instead of waiting in that long line for hours and hours to ride the elevator up to the top, we bought the kids icecream and they were good to go.

 ENJOY that ICECREAM KIDDOS! Way better than waiting in a long line, right?  (2 babies not pictured)

*Our next stop was taking a river boat tour along the Seine. I took so many pictures and for once during this trip I was thankful for my high powered zoom lens on the camera... that is... when I wasn't wrangling with Brecon or Connor OR both, keeping them from falling over the side, trying to listen to a "telephone-like" device which gave an audio tour of what you were seeing, grabbing snacks, Brecon falling asleep, Connor insisting on climbing on the rail, pulling him back, trying to take a few more pictures.... you get the idea. I just needed one more set of arms for this ride, but overall it was a great break from walking around and seeing a different view of the major sites.

We then went to the Arc de Triomphe and took some pictures and walked around. Again, there were so many people waiting in line to get up to the top, we decided to get a good view of it from ground level. Still an amazing structure from that view.

*a short stop to see where Tera's mission apartments used to be and a snack at a Creperie- poor Joey got nutella all over her shirt and pants. Luckily my boys only got the sweet stuff all over their faces, necks, and chins.

On to Notre Dame Cathedral. Awe... hear the bells, bells, bells (more like yells, yells, yells)  It was Friday and they were having service but still allowed visitors to walk along the side up to the front, where we made it after the slow (and crowded 'cattle drive') we were listening to the hymn led by men in the front.  Brecon was napping in my friends double stroller, Cael was taking pictures, and I wanted to get a few shots as well. Basically Connor did not like the thought of being strapped to his stroller one more minute and he went nuclear. In an attempt to appease him I lifted him out and was holding him in my arms, but he was still upset and throwing his body around. By this time there are men waving their arms at us as I am pushing through the crowds to get out of there as quick as I can (though not fast enough), pushing the stroller and trying my best to hold onto a 18 month old who is really putting up a fight and yelling about it the whole way. I couldn't leave fast enough and you can believe I will never forget how completely embarrassed I was by the entire episode.
After walking out over to the front courtyard the boys had a blast chasing all the pigeons away we looked up and we think that we saw Quasimodo up in the bell tower.... he was probably wondering who was yelling just moments before inside the meeting.

We all met up with the friends and enjoyed a cafe' dinner in the back courtyard behind the cathedral, having a great view of the flying buttresses (however you spell that one). One thing to remember is that all these places we went to have dirt walkways, simply because the amount of foot traffic would destroy anything else. While this seems like a great idea for the city to do, it is another thing for mothers with children. I have never seen so many children so dirty from head to toe- especially my boys. They were building towers and roads, making dirt gloves up to their armpits, putting on dirt make-up- you name it. Connor thought is was fun to grab handfuls and put the stuff on peoples' heads OR on his own. Yes... even though it would be very late when we finally made it back to the hotel and the kids were all half asleep or just reaching their first REM cycle, I had no choice but to hose off the layer of filth from their bodies. It just had to be done. Luckily the boys are pretty good sports about being sprayed with water, even Connor did quite well- only yelling until he was holding his blanket and had his pj's on and quicly falling asleep.

Spring Break- DAY 2

 I have to say that this was one of my favorite days during the whole vacation. The weather was beautiful, and the area was amazing. We started the morning at the Zaanse Schans open air museum which had everything you would ever want to see about how the windmills work, wooden clogs, cheese and pancakes. We didn't quite make it to the cheese building (sad I know) but this was a place I would love to go back to again and again. 

We had grabbed some food for our picnic lunch before we crossed into the Netherlands, as well as some chocolate croissants for breakfast. By the time we made it to our first stop I was feeling very hungry and all I could think about was the "Pancake house" at Zaanse Schans.... but when we got there and saw the outrageous price for a thin plate sized serving, it was too late! We needed to eat- and fast. Add into here a potty break, a crazy bird that wanted to eat our food, and the boys climbing into an oversized wooden clog and you have yourself a beautiful morning. 

 

I don't know which ones I like better- huge oversized yellow, or bright pink?

 Some of these were painted so beautifully I couldn't imagine wearing them at all. A nice photo will do.

It was about 2:00 in the afternoon when we arrived to the Keukenhof Gardens (photos below). I really don't have the vocabulary to express how gorgeous this place really is. It is heavenly! The smells, the colors... spectacular! And tulips sure make beautiful backgrounds too!

I think the next time I go we will actually spend the entire day just here....