misc. from Mom, Dad, & Jessie's visit

One day we walked over to Les Invalides.

We found a door just big enough for my mom.

Jessie brought Telestrations for Eva's birthday. It was highly entertaining.

Jessie was sketching the term "jailbird." Eva, unfamiliar with that term, guessed "person imprisoned by chick." Hilarity ensued.

Three of my favorite people.

Eva wanted to ride the carousel, but she didn't want to go by herself.

Jessie accommodated, but requested that we not take any photos. I made no promises.

street crêpes for lunch

.....aaaaand creepy clowns at the Champ de Mars.

Marché aux Puces

The flea market at Vanves was on my mom's list of must-dos.

She is a serious shopper. I bought a couple of gifts for friends of Eva's, Jessie got one or two things, and my mom had several heavy shopping bags.

Seriously. What in the world?!

The button man's stall is always fun to peruse.

Okay. What is it about doll heads? Creepy, disembodied doll heads? Because we saw quite a few.

I thought this was a pleasing display.

We saw some people who looked like they were seriously considering the creepy dolls.

Jessie and I agreed that these mini dice were very pleasing. Then when she posted about them on Instagram, she found out that her husband was hoping she had purchased the whole lot! Oops.

My mom bought some of these gigantic chant sheets for monasteries.

This was Lucas's reaction to the flea market. He said he will not be joining us on any future visits. Too weird. And if Lucas says that, wow! You know it's weird (but I think it's weird in a good way).

Versailles

Jessie wanted to see Versailles, so we all went for an excursion one day when Marc was teaching.

The gardens are just immense. I could have easily spent another couple of hours wandering outside.

Mom and Jess

Eva was right in front of a French school group! Quite a field trip.

We found a snail in the path and Jessie picked it up to move it to safety, but not before Eva took a photo.

I love these bushes trimmed into urn shapes!

Quelle drame!

We had my mom stand next to one of these urns to show the scale.

The thing about Versailles is that it is so over the top. So much gilding everywhere that you just kind of burn out. At least I do. But it is still interesting to imagine thousands of people living there, milling around the grounds, the king holding court, the secret trysts, the servants, the parties...

the chapel

the Hall of Mirrors

This ceiling was in a far more sedate area of the château as we were exiting. I would rather see carved stone any day over all the crazy gilded excess.

The grounds were more to my liking.

As well as these cool graphics in the ticketing office!

a too-short visit

My parents came into town from Philadelphia last Thursday at midnight. They came for a brief visit to celebrate Lucas's birthday and Priesthood ordination. I was so glad they could make it, especially considering the stressful time my mom is having with her business right now.

I was not so glad when they had to leave on Monday. We don't see them often enough, and the time just flew by.

As I have already established, my dad spent the entirety of his time here making trips to Home Depot and working on handyman projects around the house and yard. He's a wonder.

Mom and I ran errands, did a little shopping, and cooked together. (I love having a cooking buddy.)

Here are a few random photos from their short visit:

Mom let Eva borrow some of her bracelets for church. She was thrilled, of course. She sometimes refers to my mom as "Grandma Queen" because she is so fancy.

Eva came up to my mom on Sunday and said, "Have you ever dreamed of having a choir of two?" Mom replied that she had not, but was happy to join when Eva invited her to form their very own choir of two.

They snuggled in Eva's bed, making their selections from the Children's Songbook and practicing.

Max was their accompanist. There's not much I love more than family making music together.

So sweet.

After the choir concert was over, Eva sang Read Me a Memory for Grandma and Grandpa. I still get choked up every time I hear it.

Mom came with us to the junior high when we paid Lucas's fees ($145!), got his locker assignment, and practiced with the combination.

(Sadly, his schedule is royally messed up, so we are still waiting for a new one and he has not had the chance to walk around the school and find his classrooms yet.)

We always take an airport self-portrait (usually because I have forgotten to do one before that point). I have the cutest parents.

I hate it when they leave. Especially when I don't know when we will see each other next. sigh.