Napoleon's tomb

After visiting the Musée de l'Armée, we walked around to view Napoleon's tomb, which, strangely, I don't think I had ever seen before.

The last time we were here, my boys visited the tomb with their Aunt Michelle and Nicole and Kristen. Michelle's sunglasses fell as she leaned over, crashing down below. We took a moment to laugh about that (she can laugh about it now, too).

looking up at the dome of Les Invalides

I am utterly in love with this window.

the tomb from the lower level

one of the many statues flanking the tomb

This photo does not even begin to show how tall these doors are. 

a rare self-portrait with the kids - and everyone is smiling!!

I always love the cone trees.

After a successful outing, we made our way home. 

first days in Paris

The first few days we were in Paris were rainy (and many since) and we were tired. 

We didn't do much except play games...

eat pastries,

and get groceries (always). These little tiny strawberries had the most strawberry flavor I've ever tasted.

And, of course, we walked over to the Eiffel Tower. It's a nice, easy outing for when we're still jetlagged.

At least puddles can make for cool photos!

After a couple of days, the Study Abroad students and my parents arrived. According to tradition, we went on a boat ride on the Seine that night. (It's good to give the students something to do so they stay awake until night.)

Just one of the bridges here with locks. The others are full to bursting. Eva asked if they ever dredge the Seine to get all the keys out!

Musée d'Orsay

It was really cold! I know if I'm cold, then everyone else is probably freezing. They were.

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.

12 on the 12th | April

1. Marc made this beautiful stack of crêpes for a party with his study abroad prep class. I thought they looked all ruffly and lovely. (He says the fancy crêpe pan I finally found for him makes all the difference.)
2. Of course I was tempted to eat a crêpe for breakfast, but I stuck to my diet and had bacon and eggs instead.
3. Self-portrait with Jessie! I love that she was here on the 12th.
4. We decided to be fun moms and took the girls to the dinosaur museum. During spring break. Do we win some kind of award??
5. Bella and Eva (in their new matching shirts) examining a dino habitat.
6. A dinosaur stranded on an island.
7. I love this picture of Eva from behind.
8. Jessie and Bella working on an island in the sand/water table.
9. The girls posing in front of the giant prehistoric shark.
10. My lone daffodil in bloom. What's that about? I definitely planted at least a dozen.
11. Sleeping Beauty and Prince, Fiona's must-have toys. Somehow, they made it into the museum, and then stayed there. I ran back to pick them up from the lost & found.
12. One of the many things I admired at DownEast Clothing. Jessie wanted to go get some layering t-shirts. I wanted to buy this sweater for Eva. Or maybe make one like it sometime!
{Little Caesar's for dinner. Whew!}

before & after

I finally got my hair cut and colored on Saturday (only a month overdue)! I took before & after self-portraits to document the extreme transformation. Now if only I could look like the after shot every day. I have tried and tried to just reconcile myself to my curly hair, but it's not working.
















Today I started the injection phase of my knee treatments (one per week for 5 weeks). It was cool – they use an x-ray and contrast dye to guide the injection and insure its correct placement. I was instructed to take it easy for the next couple of days and ice my knees several times. Pain relief will probably not be noticeable for another couple of weeks. Obviously, I'm hoping for an extreme transformation in this domain as well.

eleven

Lucas turned eleven today. My little boy isn't looking so little anymore.

He has definite opinions about how his hair should be, what clothes he will wear, etc. (Even making an eleven with his fingers has to be done his own way.) Sometimes I wish he would just go along with what I want him to wear and such, but I guess he's got to grow up and express himself sometime. Sigh.

Lately I feel like he's surprising me at every turn – trying new things (but not foods yet) and jumping into new experiences that have me wondering if I even know him at all! As his uncle Timm said recently, "He's a long way from kittens and butterflies!" (both of which he was afraid of as a small boy).

I guess he's teaching me that he won't be put in a box. What a happy thing!


Marc was out of town for a wedding and returned around 1:00, but Lucas could not wait that long to open his presents. (Pay no attention to the c on that gift bag...)

He continued his tradition of opening gifts with his eyes closed. He likes to be surprised until the last possible second.

gifts received:

peanut butter m&ms from Eva
Heroscape expansion set from Max
new Heroscape master set from Mom & Dad
Super Mario Galaxy 2 from Mom & Dad
new headphones from Mom & Dad

He also received money from Grandma Mim & Grandpa Bob, Aunt Michelle, and Aunt Lisa, to his delight. I took him shopping and he bought another Heroscape expansion set and StarCraft II for the computer.

I corralled him for a quick birthday self-portrait. I love his freckles.

And then he was done.

When Marc came home, he took the kids to Nickel City (a nickel arcade). I stayed home and worked on my Primary lesson.

Then we had Little Caesar's and corn on the cob for dinner (Lucas's favorites).

I made homemade donuts for his birthday treat because he's not a big fan of cake. Max was my glazer.

After Eva went to bed, we stayed up late playing the Cities & Knights of Catan. Max won.

I hope you had a fabulous birthday, Lucas! I love you.

fifteen & nineteen

Last Thursday, to my amazement, Max turned fifteen.

He invited a few friends over and we took everyone out to lunch. After lunch, they watched Jaws in the man-cave. Marc, Michelle and I all have vivid memories of being scared to death by Jaws, but they found it only mildly frightening.


Max requested chocolate cake with white mountain frosting. He was most pleased, and said he can see why it's Jessie's birthday cake of choice.


On the same day, we had our nineteenth anniversary, but we didn't celebrate it until Saturday (except that Marc brought me roses).

Yesterday was Max's family party – Grandma and Grandpa came to eat homemade pizza (bbq chicken & asparagus/balsamic/pine nut/cream cheese), corn on the cob, and fruit with us.


For this affair, he wanted Boston cream pie. Lucky guy, he got to have two mornings of our traditional post-birthday cake for breakfast!

I'd say it was a banner birthday for Max, as he picked out a new bike (funded by all grandparents, parents, and his own savings) and we are finally getting him a cell phone. Jessie sent him a science/math-type book "to [her] favorite geek." He had seen the book before and was excited to read it.

On Saturday night, we went to Pizzeria 712, our favorite local restaurant, and it did not disappoint. We ordered perhaps the best appetizer ever – braised short rib with polenta and horseradish sauce. I could have eaten just that and left happy, but we also had the fingerling potatoes and:

roasted corn pizza with mushrooms and leeks.

None of the desserts at P712 were tempting us, so we went to the Chocolate Café for cake. Marc, of course, had dark chocolate, but I had vanilla. I am rather a cake snob, but theirs gets my stamp of approval.

Man, I've had three different cakes in the last four days! Do you like how much of our celebrating revolves around food??

spt -- au naturel

I think I'm not very good at au naturel – there aren't many things I like to eat just plain. (Well, I suppose I could have done something with chicken, but that would have been a pretty scary photo...)

I just happened to be making a salad last night that I was served at a birthday party recently. I guess I prefer my flavors to be mixed together! (Two dressings, even: balsamic vinaigrette and blue cheese.)

p.s. I think I should get extra credit for taking this photo with my left hand! It was quite a balancing act.

spt -- (non)extreme makeover

The challenge: there are a million little ways to get a mini-makeover, even when a visit to the salon is not on the calendar.

what's YOUR secret to feeling and looking fabulous?

Well. The plan was to actually go to the salon for a cut and color. These roots are killing me! But it was if everything was conspiring against me getting my hair done this week – I just couldn't work it out. Major bummer.

What to do? What to do?

This doesn't solve the root problem, but this new flower headband lifts my spirits! (I bought it at Kmart yesterday, in case you're wondering. I know, right?)

How's that for a super-mini makeover?

spt -- give me a break!

When I saw this week's challenge (to document one way in which we treat ourselves or just need a breather), my plan was to go get a pedicure and document that much-needed pampering (see last week's spt).

That didn't pan out. Yet.

Then I realized that reading is my go-to break, every day.

I can't seem to go to sleep at night unless I've done some reading, even if it's just a few pages sometimes. Flopping on my bed during the day with a book – even if it's just for 15 minutes – brings me back to calm when it seems everyone is hell-bent on stealing it.

And when I have a really good book, I'm not above taking it into the bathroom with me. (I tend to not get disturbed as often when I'm in there.) A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.