Stained Glass Masterpieces

One of my better "I'm a fun mom" moments when in the afternoon while making dinner I let the boys paint the windows "stained glass" with watered down tempera paint. I surprised myself by being extra-calm even when the paint spilled . . . several times. I even didn't get ruffled when the almonds I was toasting burned while I was taking this picture!

Second Day in Paris

Graham up close and personal in his oh-so-French hat. It was wonderful to have some Mommy-Graham time alone. Things are fun with three boys, but very fragmented and crazy. More than once when we found ourselves outside with Graham's hat, we were scolded by older European women to get that baby's head covered.

Today we were getting over our jet lag, so we didn't get out until 3 pm. Graham and I took the long way to the Metro station to explore a bit, then took a long metro ride to Sacre-Coeur. We climbed all 290-some steps to the top, but I'm afraid Graham slept through the climb and the view. He was awake, however, to people-watch on the hill in front of the church with all the lovers lounging around!

Tonight Rich and I found a Thai restaurant around the corner from our hotel and a grocery store (hallelujah!). The Thai food was delicious, and we ate it outside in the beautiful night air. Graham slept through the whole thing yet again, and as I write they are both asleep beside me.

It is fabulous being here. Someday I'd like to live in a big city like this, maybe learn French, maybe learn to paint. Lots of years left to follow these dreams . . . after a little relaxing, I'm excited to get back to my current dream-come-true life at home with my husband and children.

Graham Demands to See the Arc de Triomphe

This is Graham and me at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. After walking down the Champs Elysees, I saw the Arc de Triomphe from across the street and was about to duck into the subway station and call it a day, when Graham decided he was hungry. So we sat down on a curb for me to feed him.

While I was feeding him, I noticed there were lots of people over there, and gee did they ever look small. By the time Graham was all full, diaper changed, and burped, we decided to take the underground tunnel we hadn't seen before to see the thing up close. It was a whole different story when we got there! It was gargantuan, and awe-inspiring. Plus, we were there just in time to see a neat ceremony for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier that lies at the foot of the Arc.

Why Breastfeeding is Great Reason #62: It forces me to slow down and consider the details of the wonders of the world I often miss because I'm in a hurry.

I never would have appreciated the Arc de Triomphe so much without my tiny traveling companion with a mind of his own!