Oui, Oui Mi Cheri !

We hopped the Eurostar this weekend for a quick getaway to Paris. Key words here are: no kids! We left very early Saturday morning and were at the Louvre by noon. We stayed for a little less than an hour, enough to see Mona Lisa, Winged Victory and some other DaVinci pieces. Next we went to the Arc de Triomphe. Climbed the 200+ stairs to the top to see some unbelievable views of Paris. The metro took us out to the Eiffel Tower. We spent a majority of our time here due to the two hour wait to get to the top. Well worth it though. Next stop was the hotel to drop off our backpack and rest before dinner (which was so great!). After dinner, a boat cruise down the Seine. So much fun...Tom was cold. Apparently he didn't get enough of the french wine b/c I was just fine! The city really is magical at night with all the lights. We topped off the night with a Nutella crepe off the street. Yum!

Sunday we slept in (yeah!) and then headed where else but to Notre Dame. We were lucky enough to sit in on a service and hear the beautiful voices of the choir. The cathedral is breathtakingly beautiful and it's so amazing that it took nearly 200 years to build! We decided to climb to the top of the bell tower (344 steps this time) where we saw the big bell and saw more stunning views of Paris. It was noon by the time we were through, so we quickly went to a cafe and got a baguette. Sat in the park and people watched while eating it. No place else does a baguette sandwich taste so good!

Back to the train station after that and we were home by 4:45. I did miss the boys, but it was nice to get away. Jeb went right to me and gave me a big cuddle. He knows how to work his mum!

Did you know...if you looked at every piece of art in the Louvre for only 3 seconds, it would take you 3 months to see it all - day and night.

A Sunday surprise!

It's taken me awhile to get this on the blog, but it is blog-worthy! Last Friday we had temps in the 60s and we were running around without coats! Saturday was spent in Cambridge where Tom's mom and I punted down the river while it got colder and colder and finally rained. So dissapointing. I didn't think it could get worse until I got up on Sunday to my boys acting like it was Christmas. I nearly fell over when I saw that it looked like it was. Remember, this is April. I'm beginning to think England's weather is crazier than Michigan's!!

Jeb is 6 months

I've always said that 6 months is my favorite age. Jeb is no exception. He is so happy, with smiles and laughs readily available from the moment he gets up until he is in bed for the night. If he is a bit unhappy, all we have to do is get Jacob in the room. He loves to look at Jacob. He looks at Aiden as if he is from another planet. (Sometimes I think he is). Jeb has rolled a few times, but for the most part he just hangs out. Food is another issue. At 13 lbs (2nd percentile), he needs his solids, but his body doesn't want to give them up. Prunes, prunes, prunes. No result. Visit to the doctor, who gave us some sugar water and bam! He was much better. I wasn't - I've never seen so much poo in my life! While on holiday...yet Tom was no where to be found!!

Six months goes too fast. I hope the next half year slows down. We are enjoying every second with Jeb!

Easter in the Lakes District

We spent a long weekend in the Lakes District - about 4 hours north of London. It was so beautiful and so relaxing! We got there Friday morning and visited the World of Beatrix Potter and then took a boat ride around one of the lakes. Then on to our cottage. The boys were super excited about one thing...the cottage had stairs (our house doesn't). They belly surfed down for the first half hour of being in the house.

On Saturday we decided to stick close to home. A nice little hike up the side of a mountian following a waterfall. Aiden loved throwing rocks in the river and Jacob led the way the whole time. Another walk in the afternoon was right out our back door, through a sheep pasture and then to a lake to skip rocks and enjoy the views.

Easter Sunday. I woke up early with Jeb to find that it had snowed. The view was even better out our window! Plus, big bunny tracks in the snow...the Easter bunny had come to visit and left eggs all over the house! The boys loved it! We had chocolate eggs for breakfast! We then traveled on to Joy's dad's cousin's house for church and Easter dinner. Not such an easy task when you are driving on single track mountain roads when it has just snowed. It took us twice as long and we literally slid down one mountain side. So scary!! But it was worth it to spent Easter with family. It was great to meet them and spend the day with them.

Monday we had to go home, but we first made a stop at what is deemed as the most beautiful spot in the Lakes. It was super cold, but we walked half way around the lake watching the sheep and once again throwing rocks in the lake. It never gets old. Aiden laughs each time he does it! We left this beautiful peice of England and trekked back down to Beaconsfield.

Loads of memories of this weekend. Loads of wash too...

Can I get another hour?

That is how it feels today and this week as we are packing to head up north to the Lakes District of England. It's a nice long Easter weekend, so we are taking advantage by renting a cottage. The weather has just turned cold and rainy, so we may end up relaxing inside.

We need a little R&R. This week has been crazy busy with helping at school, easter egg hunts, animal farms (v. fun - I'll post pics soon), and football. Plus the laundry and cleaning (didn't get done this week!) The days have me so tired! Need proof that I'm not all there? On Wednesday I was at the grocery store with the two younger boys. Jeb up on top of the trolley - you know how hard it is to see, so I have made a rule that Aiden has to stay beside me so I don't run him over. I guess other mothers haven't made that rule because I ran a little boy over. I apologized up and down, but everytime we passed them in the store both the mom and son gave me dirty looks. I was devastated. I swear I didn't see him!!!

So, onward we go in our packed-up van. I truly am so excited for this weekend. I just want to sit and not try to stretch one more hour into my day. This weekend 24 should be just right.

Spring in England

Everywhere we turn lately there are signs of spring. The biggest change is the amount of daylight we have. Instead of the sun going down at 3:45pm, it is now 6:15pm. Thank goodness! Soon, we'll have so much daylight due to the sun coming up at 3:30 am. Hopefully the boys don't think that is the time to get up.

The flowers are blooming and we have beautiful daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths blooming this week. We also have some form of a rhododendron blooming outside our bedroom window. I love opening the curtains each morning and seeing new blooms. Yesterday, we planted flowers. It brings so much life to the back garden!

This week brings Easter. They don't color eggs here. Everything seems to be centered around chocolate. Just what we need...more energy for the boys! Good Friday is traditionally started with hot cross buns. Like the song, remember: "One a penny, two a penny?" At one time little boys came out each Good Friday and yelled that. Everyone had them since they were unleavened and bore the sign of the cross. Eventually the song came out. We just need to find some without raisins or sultans. We'll let you know how they are. The crosses on top are made of frosting, so I'm sure the boys will enjoy! Oh, and they aren't a penny anymore! Figures!

Happy Spring!

Baby food stage

We started Jeb out on baby food a couple weeks ago. How confusing it is over here to figure out what to feed babies! First of all, everything is mixed. So, Jeb started out on carrots and potatoes. Next was parsnips, spinach and basil. There are a few more fruit or veg combos, but after that all there is is meat mixtures. Jars marked as cottage pie, bolognese, etc. Plus the fact that they contain cows milk. Hmmm...what to feed my 5 month old. So, I bit the bullet and made my own. Those that know me well, know that I'm no Martha Stewart. The kitchen was a mess and the vast amount of peas that I started with filled only two containers. Oh, how I miss Gerber! Maybe making squash will be easier?? Or maybe we'll just make Jeb an English baby and give him cottage pie! I think we all know what will happen...3 kids... no time...and too much mess. Yep, I'll go for the jars!