A Beautiful Life: family

Friday, March 18, 2016

Au Revoir

Spring Break 2 is finally here. We are off today with the older kids.

I realize there really are no longer "travel agents" because of the internet, but I feel like I maybe missed my calling. I have planned our 10 days almost down to the minute, we will see and do just about everything. This will be mine and the hubs 9th trip to Paris, but the first for our kids and I want them to see it all.

We have an apartment for our trip on a great street right in the heart of the city

with plenty of cafe's right outside our door

this is why I love google maps, I can literally stalk the streets of Paris from 4,000 miles away. I can see the restaurants, the shops, the menus. Big brother really is watching!!

Our first day is low key, I know that everyone will be exhausted from the flight. After we are settled in our apt we will go the the center of the city and see Notre Dame.

then at sunset we are going to a concerto at Sainte- Chapelle

this chapel is one of the most beautiful chapels in the world. The walls are all stain glass, and at sunrise and sunset it is absolutely beautiful to see the light reflect through the glass. They have hour long concertos almost every night, between the acoustics and the lighting it will leave you speechless. We will hear Vivaldi and Pachelbel, 2 of my favorite composers. If you ever find yourself in Paris, this is the one thing you should add to your list.

After the first day we are on the move. Our walk through the city will take us to

Tuileries Garden

Arc de Trimophe

Champs- Elysees

and finally we will end up here

We will go and see some of the greatest pieces of art here

Louvre

Monet finest work here

Musee d'Orsay

Rodin's sculptures

and end the day with a tour of the catacombs

well technically I plan to end each day with this

we will visit the artist square at Montmarte

where I hope each of my children find one piece of art they truly want

We have a day trip planned to Normandy, something I have never done but have always wanted to do.

Omaha Beach

We have been study up on D day and we just watched Saving Private Ryan, I have heard it is eerie and life changing to see the remains of D day first hand.

Of course my daughter and I have our day planned

the moroccan hot chocolate is to die for!!!

we will take a boat ride

a bike ride

and lots and lots of people watching

its the best!!

a bien tot!!!

Friday, January 8, 2016

Wrap up and Resolutions

We definitely had a December to remember.

We started off the month with our annual trip to Silver Dollar City to see the lights.

I have said it before, and I will say it again...if you ever have the opportunity to go to Silver Dollar City in December do it!! It truly is spectatular and it will just make you happy, I promise!!

We decorated gingerbread houses

and checked out our competition around the city

not bad, but I still think ours was better.

We went to the Wild Lights at the Zoo

had a Christmas tea with our American Girl Doll

baked some cookies

went ice skating

saw Santa at the symphony, and heard beautiful music

and had a great holiday.

Now that the decorations are down, the kids are back in school, and the new year has started it's time to work on some resolutions

*Read, read, read-this is on my list every year but the benefits from reading; knowledge, vocabulary, intellectual curiosity, improved concentration, I mean its almost like free therapy. I get my best recommendations from friends, here is what I hope to read in 2016

any other recommendations??

*travel every change I get

Don't you love a resolution that is pretty damn fabulous. I have been working very hard on this one and have a few trips already lined up

*Try one new restaurant a month- I feel like I already do this, but now that it is official I really have to dine out a lot. It is a win win for everyone, I get a great meal and the chefs/owners are getting business, just doing what I can to support my city.

Looks like I am good through April