PARIS!!

We are starting the year off to a great start- visiting Paris for the week.

We left on Friday- Moms birthday- and we spent the first part of the day traveling.

The kids- excited to leave.

I didnt like the first picture I took so I tried again.... not much better...

We finally arrived in Paris after a short 2 hour flight to look for a taxi willing to take us to our apartment.

A few pictures on the way to the apartment:

After an hour ride we got out, found the key to the apartment in a safe at one location and read on the contract that our actual rental was not there; it was in a different building a few blocks down (it would have been very helpful to have a map of where the new place was).  We finally found it after walking up and down the street with the kids, luggage and puzzled looks on our faces- look out Paris... here comes more tourists!  

Our apartment turned out to be fantastic!  It was in a great location, 5 minute walk from the Louvre, next door to a bakery, grocery store, restaurants, stores, and anything else we could have needed or wanted.  It was large enough for our family, had enough rooms for us all to have beds, two and a half bathrooms, and everything anyone would want in a home away from home (except wifi).

Our view from the living room

We put all of our things down and went back out to the restaurant next door for dinner.
  

After dinner- we walked a few stores down to the bakery for pastires (this years birthday cake for mom).  While we were in the bakery, Steve went to buy wine to go with their dessert.  

Mom had to get a picture... of the wine.

Happy Birthday!! 

Saturday we woke up early and headed out to the Eiffel Tower.  It was COLD COLD COLD!!!  We (the resident Ver was fine) were not expecting it to be THAT cold.  We waited in line for about 10 minutes before they let us get on the elevator to the 2nd floor.  The view was truly amazing!  We stayed outside looking around for a bit before we headed inside to warm up with a cup of hot chocolate and more pastries.

Waiting in line.... FREEZING!!!

We then walked around, took a few more pictures before we headed inside for breakfast (and to thaw out).  

Statue of Liberty

His donut was filled with chocolate... it looked great.

At breakfast:

The hot chocolate- you get to decide how chocolatey you wanted it...

After breakfast, we made a quick stop at the Gap to buy Aydin and Liam warmer jackets before walking towards the Arc de Triomphe.

 

We then started walking back towards the water by all of the stores.
For a small fee... you can rent this car... at 89 euros for 20 minutes.

 They named a store after her... (the store across the street)

The crepe stand... they were delicious.

 Before walking the grounds of the Louvre, we made a stop on the bridge of locks... and added our lock to the fence.

Our lock came with three keys... so our kids each threw them into the river.

After the locks, we walked the gardens of the Lourve and made our way back to the apartment.

We had to stop and get roasted chestnuts

Right outside the walls of the Louvre, we saw a man drawing/coloring Salvador Dali with chalk- truly amazing.

For dinner, we went to Taverne Karlsbrau for a fantastic seafood dinner.

 Escargot- Morgan, Liam and I all tried it for the first time!

That was on moms plate.... it kept him busy for a while.