Bucket List: Paris? Check!

What better way to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary than a trip to Paris?  We took off on Wednesday, April 27 and drove to our hotel just outside of Paris, near Disneyland.  The drive ended up being a little longer than expected due to some odd GPS directions around Brussels and a stop for lunch.  J#3 found a new "toy" to keep himself occupied towards the end of the trip: 

On the way home, the portable DVD player was even

more of a life trip-saver!

Thursday, April 28th,  was our 10th wedding anniversary.  This was the day we chose to head into Paris.  J#3 LOVED riding the "choo-choo".  Doesn't he look like such a big boy in this photo? 

After our required lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, we hopped on a "hop on/hop off" tour bus.  This was just the ticket, since we went to Paris sans-stroller for ease of getting around.  The bus provided a place to rest.  Plus, the weather didn't cooperate with us and was cold, rainy and windy.  So, having the shelter of the bus was great. 

We made sure J#4 was bundled up well

We were able to see some of the great sites of Paris from the bus...

our first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower

The Louvre

  I had the camera, but was focusing on a map.  

J#1 made sure we didn't miss this great shot.  

Teamwork--guess that is what happens after ten years of marriage!

J#3 was excited about the Eiffel tower.

the girls

and the boys

Friday, we had planned to visit Versailles. But instead of learning more about those Royals, we decided to hang out at the hotel so I could watch the Royal Wedding of William & Catherine.  Because, this is likely one of the few times we will be able to view something like that LIVE, not recorded, and not at an insane time of day!   After the wedding fun--they sure picked a great weekend to get married, end of April marriages ALWAYS work out :-) -- we headed to the "outlet mall" near our hotel.  Needless to say, "outlet" malls don't really exist in Europe, due to the exchange rate.  Essentially, we would have paid about the same for something at their outlet mall as we would have at a regular, full-priced store in Minnesota.  Oh well, it was interesting to walk through an outlet mall with Dolce & Gabbana and Burberry.  

Saturday was probably the highlight of the weekend.  Guess where we went?

Arizona??  No...  Disneyland!!

J#3 went on his first ride.  He has been on a few merry-go-rounds, but hasn't really enjoyed them.  Luckily the few rides he went on were a bit more successful.  We did try the merry-go-round again.  He still doesn't love them.  But, he also didn't want to get off when it was done.  Talk about a love/hate relationship!  We are thinking it is because the horses go up and own at the same time as they go around in a circle.  There is a merry-go-round in the Centrum here in Eindhoven that is just cars (that don't go up & down).  I think we will try that one out eventually to see if it is successful. 

Pure joy.  First toy from Disneyland.  Woody from Toy Story.  

He also got a Buzz Lightyear.  Happy boy.

patient sister waiting

J#4 and I hung out while the guys went on the ride.
As you can see, I don't think she minded waiting around.  This time, at least.

  

After Disneyland, we headed to Animal Kingdom.  Ha.  Totally kidding.  We headed back to our hotel, and spent about an hour watching, photographing and feeding some ducks just behind our town house. 

Sunday, we headed back to Eindhoven.  Drove four and a half hours.  Straight through.  No stops.  Impressive for a family with a two-year-old and three-month-old, don't you think?