The Lesson On Gimme's

"Noooooooo. I get two. I want a plane and a video".

There I was in the middle of Wal-mart contemplating my next move. The easy move is to buy both and walk out of the store with two happy kids. However, the much needed lesson to be learned, latter choice was to remind him who exactly made the rules anyway. I knew what his reaction would be, and I knew there was a good chance we would be walking out of there with neither a plane or a video, and just a screaming four year old.

"You can only have one prize for being a good boy at the doctors. Just one".

"Nooooo I get twoooooooooo."

I began to walk away and as predicted it tossed his little body on the floor yelling "WAIT! Stop! I get two! You buy me Twoooooo!". Screaming-crying-kicking. I walk away. I remind him I am going to go pay and if he chooses to get himself together maybe, just maybe I will still buy him the plane. I also tell him if he chooses to scream in the middle of the floor without his Mom around, he will be all alone and not safe.

He follows while continuing to yell. I apologize to the check out person, and I pay for Addie's surprise (a cheap little $2 doll). Rylan continues to say "I DONT WANT THE PLANE I WANT THE VIDEO! YOU GET IT FOR ME NOW". I whip the plane out of his hand and turn to him and say, "Sorry bud. You get nothing today. Bad listeners don't get a prize."

Now imagine how I got this kid out of the store and into the car. Not an easy task at all. I kept trying to figure out a way to move on through the parking lot (with a kid trying to drag me the opposite way), safely, and coolly. When it came down to the car seat moment, it was WWF at it's finest. As Addison played happily with her new well earned toy, I practically straddled Rylan to get him in his seat.

I then decided he should learn that his behavior should not only not be tolerated, but also ignored. So I announced in his state of fury that I was going to go get the coffee I had planned to get prior to the melt down. I am pretty sure the barista at the drive through window didn't expect to hear a screeching crying kid at the other end of the microphone. Guess what though--the message was clear to Rylan and I drove away with my well deserved latte' and a silent kid.

An hour later while sitting at the table having lunch he turned to me and said, "I didn't get anything today because I wasn't a good listener. Maybe tomorrow I will be and we can go back and get just the plane". I made no promises, but I reassured him that good behavior always leads to good things, and bad behavior leads to not so fun things. I also hugged him and told him I loved him regardless. I told him it is ok to be mad at one another but we love each other no matter what. He told me I was the boss, and that it was my job to keep him safe.

He went to school this afternoon a little wounded. I could tell his feelings were hurt, and that it surprised him that I bought something for Addie and not for him. I felt bad about hurting his feelings, but not for teaching him the lesson. Surely there is part of me that wants to be spoil my kid, and make him happy, but the consequences out way that need. In the meantime a friend suggested this book, which I will be buying ASAP!

Someday Rylan will realize at the end of each fight I always win--at least until he is eighteen. Then, hopefully, he will go on with a sense of feeling like the world doesn't "owe him", and can take direction from someone else even if it isn't want he wanted or intended.

Dusting Off The Career Hat

The day Rylan entered the world I once knew became nonexistent. Our plans we carefully made about our future prior to him shifted and became all about him. We didn't intend on the massive wave of emotions a new baby would bring. We also never intended on having a sick baby that would need his Mother so badly.

While pregnant with Rylan I was a warrior. I commuted daily between my sweet little suburb in Connecticut to Bronx, NY everyday. This included a drive to a train station about a half hour away, jumping on a train for about an hour, and an uphill 15 minute trek between train station and the building that grew fire in my belly, and five flights of stairs to my room. It was my second year on the job, and a brandy new career for me. I knew the first day I taught third grade that this is what I was meant to do. I loved my years as a social worker prior to teaching, but teaching in the inner-city gave me a different passion. I quickly learned that being a teacher is often being a social worker too! Lucky me I got to do both! I got to make real differences in kids lives, while finishing up my degree. The degree I commuted to in the Bronx every Saturday while trying to squeeze my belly behind the wheel. Teaching felt so right, so perfect.

I had all intentions of going back. The plan was to have the baby, stay home for a few months, and return to teaching. The only difference was I was hoping to find something closer so that I wouldn't be so far from my newborn baby. Needless to say this never happened. He came into the world, turned it upside down, and I couldn't be anything but a Mom. It was a blessing to be able to do so, but I missed my brand new career.

Fast forward to today.

I love being home and having the ability to raise my kids. It makes my stomach turn thinking about letting anyone else do this but me. I willfully and thankfully gave up all other hats I ever wore in order to be just Mom. Including the first job I ever had that sparked a fire in my belly and made me want to do more.

I have been steadily subbing in the local school in a nearby city this school year. It was a plus for some extra income, but it also reminded me how much I love the classroom. I come home each day (like today) dreaming about what my classroom would look like, and thinking about kids I met that day that impacted my need to want to return. I want to return. I want to make a difference in education while being a great Mom. Is this possible? Can I be great at both if I am still brand spanking new to this career?

While thinking about all this, a door opens and an entirely different opportunity walks in. This is what has left me with sleepless nights, and in a constant state of worry about what my next move should be. The economy stinks. I have been out of the classroom for five years which is more then I have ever taught. Do I continue to sub in hopes of a door in the education field opening full-time? or do I try something entirely new that has nothing to do with being inside of classroom?

I have been praying about this a lot lately. I keep getting the same answer which is never quite clear. I want to do right by my family, while also doing right by my heart. One thing I have learned along the way is, whatever my future plans are they can quickly become null and void by a simple life moment. Although this choice of mine may seem so heavy on my heart and mind, in the grand scheme of things, there is no right or wrong answer. This, however, will not stop me from comparing, contrasting, praying, and hoping I do what is best for everyone involved.

I am dusting the career hat off but I am not yet sure what it entails.

Where I Ought To Be

While mindlessly reading updates on Facebook, I saw one that read something that made me hold my breath. It was about taking the time to sit in silence before the day begins and truly thinking about how you want to live the next 24 hours. What are your motives and intentions? What is God intended vs. ones own will?

Deep thought.

I have met many sleepless night lately. A mind filled to the brim with "what if's" and "what to do's". Toss, turn, pray, repeat.

When thinking of my motives and my intentions on a daily basis there is one thing I never have to question and that is my kids and husband come first. My priority is being a great Mom and a decent wife, along with being a good soul. The rest is just extra.

This past weekend I could not have lived my "24" hours (really 48), better. Watching my kids & niece dance to the Laurie Berkner band was priceless. Having time with my family who I never get to see often enough-great. Witnessing Addie look at my grandmother with bright eyes, happiness, and smiles, saying (while pointing to her, blowing her kisses, and waving) "Great Grandma" and my grandmother welling up with tears-a moment to remember. This weekend held so many more great times: Rylan hugging my Mom longingly, Addie saying "Bless you" for the first time, OH and making names up for my sisters baby in utero. That's right Internet world, miracles do happen, my sister who thought she would only have one, was recently blessed with another. I love new life, and I can't wait to get my hands on hers!

It was all a short reminder that while thinking of the future I must also live in the present. The planning for the future, although important, can not hold a promise, as you may not be there to live it. However, being present in the present holds great promise of momentous memories. It is the essence of footprints left in ones heart, and what makes us who we are.

Sure we are paving the roads we plan our life's journey on, but right not we are pulled over to the side enjoying the view.

Tonight when I pray for guidance on whats to come, I am going to remember to thank God for everything he has already given me. An abundance of love. A life well lived thus far. And placing me exactly where I ought to be.

Open For Business Still

So maybe I jumped the gun a little bit. That's what us scared, worried Moms do.

My knee jerk action to a horrid story shared first hand by a fellow blogger friend, just made me want to hide behind a password.

Then I calmed down and my husband started to talk some sense into me.

Creeps. They are everywhere. On the Internet, in big cities, working in places we trust our kids in everyday, there is no way to filter the world. Although being a worrisome parent, we would love to put our kids in bubbles, and believe the best will happen in any given situation.

I am still not ok with some of the things people have Googled and found my blog from. After looking into this I think my first order to "filtering" will be the option to not be able to Google it. I am also vowing to be more diligent to check my stats, not for the number of hits, but the paths which they are coming from. If there are any worrisome, make my hair stand on my neck, paths, then my knee jerk action will in fact be the action. I will go private.

I thought hard about what the purpose and intention of my blog is. Sure it is a scrapbook of my kids lives, and yes it is and outlet when I am feeling stressed, but the best part is when someone finds me and says I helped them in some way. When forwarding my link regarding baby reflux to a friend, it reminded me how many people reached out to tell me how helpful my words were. This is huge to me since that time in my life, as a parent with a very sick baby, I felt so alone, and was on my own to figure out how to help my kid. I wrote this blog never intending it to be private, never wanting a password, an invite only, and without worrying I would every be completely "out there" as the next Dooce. And with that intention, I plan to ride the wave a little longer. I also still want to consider blogging as my #1 hobby. I want to be considered as part of the community. And for me, I would just feel disconnected to that world with a password.

I tend to worry too much. I think about the worst case scenario and it feeds off of my worry. I can't live my life this way. Surely I will filter some of my pictures on here, and some stories, but for the most part, all that I have put into this blog has been just what I intended. Regrets =NONE.

As for the negative Trolls of the world. I don't mind them coming here and writing negative nelly comment either. It's life. You win some You lose some. And at the end of the day you can't win them all.

In the meantime there will be minor changes to monitor the gate of this website a little more fully. I am grateful for my fellow Mommy blogger friend that brought my ignorance/naive self into a more realistic light. And for those friends choosing to go totally private I totally understand and support you in doing so.

Motherhood. Blogging. Sometimes it's dicey.

I might change my mind tomorrow. Heck I could in the next five minutes. The great thing about doing this is I have the right too! It is a space that belongs to me. A space I have typed words on that I would never speak of. A space that hold more truths of me then ever told. A space that makes me who I am today.

In order to continue being this "open" I have to stay...well... open.

Open minus the naive part.

Roaming Free

Years ago I innocently started this blog with the idea of having a virtual scrapbook for my kid. I never imagined it to become a hobby, or provide me with income and/or freebies. I never thought it would connect me with people and that I would end up being part of a blogger family. I certainly never imagined attending a conference souly about being a blogger. I didn't have a hit counter, in fact I didn't have a filter of any kind. I lived in a world of thinking the Internet was a safe place, and that the only people that came to it were genuinely, and from a positive place, enjoyed kids. I never felt I needed to have a Internet guard at the gate of blog to decipher between "good people" from down right "creepy ugly nasty people".

I heard stories. A lot of creepy stories. I went on blogging thinking I was to small to be noticed, and that it would never happen to me. When suddenly it all hit way to close to home and my naive little Internet world shattered. The fact is, when you open yourself up to the world, people don't always come here to visit with the best intentions. Lucky for me I haven't had to deal with the "creepy" stories but it is starting to feel like it is just a matter of time.

A recent blogger that I know and lives like fifteen minutes from me, has had a horrifying creepy story happen to her. It made all the hairs on my neck stand up and my skin crawl. It screamed at me as a warning, and it made me think about this hobby of mine. Is it worth putting my kids on the line?

Nope.

What does this mean? Going private. How annoying it is to linger to a blog you once read and find--BINGO: PRIVATE. Or how you have to enter a password to sign into someones blog-talk about time consuming. And how I LOVE google reader which won't automatically let me know updated private blogs. I never understood why people went private to have a blog. Isn't a blog meant to be public?

Sure. Unless you have kids. There just isn't enough research or way to trace safety when it comes to the Internet and the ability to invite creeps into your life.

I know many of you loyal readers come here to read from a good place. I know some of you don't "know me" technically, but venture here often. I would love to invite you to part-take in continuing to do so, but this means ...the dreaded password. If you are a lingerer and you never comment but want to keep reading wither comment me your info, or send me and email via my e-mail address on this blog. I plan to go private in the next week.

I do think however, I might open a different blog that is less invasive about my kids, and more about me and my life--when this happens I will certainly share it with the world! Less Mommy blogging more Life blogging. Names hidden, pictures minimized, and peace of mind when I got to sleep at night.

For now the gate is open, and soon you must show id to enter. These days you can't let your kids roam free.

Getting Organized

As you witnessed in my last post I double-triple love food. My favorite magazines are food oriented (ok besides Us Weekly). The hard part is I can't seem to part with any of them! It has caused some major chaos on my shelves and I needed to find a solution. After talks this weekend at my Mom's night out with a Mom friend that will be featured on TLC's Hoarders this Wednesday (as the organizer NOT the Hoarder!), I started to worry about my need to hold on to these things and how I can do it in an organized fashion. I was thinking particularly about my gazillion Martha Stewart Everyday Food pile, and thought about shoe boxes. Then I realized shoe boxes wouldn't look so attractive on my kitchen shelf. Luckily my prayers for an idea were answered when I saw cute these cute plastic boxes from Better Homes & Gardens collection that were not only the perfect size I was looking for but also on sale at Wal-mart this weekend.

I organized all the issues by season first and each of the four boxes represented a season(and labeled as such). Then I organized them by date inside the box for easy finds. Right now there is room to grow in them, but when there is no room I plan to thin them out by letting go of the ones that are old & aren't used much.

The final product was MUCH better then shoe boxes! The standing magazine files are temporary for my Cooking Light and Kraft magazines, until I run into something that matches the Everyday Food boxes and make it look more linear.

Who Stole The Cookie From The Cookie Jar

Rylan's all time favorite song is "who stole the cookie from the cookie jar". After learning this song last year in school, my little man started to be awfully inquisitive about what this "cookie jar" concept is all about. He had never seen one, and for as much as I tried to explain he seemed a little confused ("cookies that come from the store like a jar of pickles?" he's ask--no quite). So with some urging, and a great find at Wal-mart this weekend, we are going against the grain of cookie jars being "cool", and now have this:

It is odd that while I was growing up every home had one. Yet now they are next to extinct. Cookie Jars are almost on the list with cassette tapes, and VHS.

Do any of you have a cookie jar at home? It makes me feel like the kitchen feels more warm, homey, and all American.

Addison @ Play

Addison has been perfecting the art of play lately. She adores playing planes and buses with her brother, however, you might catch her doing so by covering them up with her "night night" lovies. We recently started a music class through our towns parks & recs, which she sings any and all songs at the top of her lungs. She is also an addict for the outdoors. She will bring you her shoes and say "Shoe on. Go outside. I play". She has really outgrown her baby stage, and is full on into toddler hood. It is amazing how fast this time goes by!

Here are a few photos of her at play:

Using a laundry basket as a "boat" with her babies.
Dress up time! She loves dressing up! She will not let you help at all! My 21 month old gets has more motivation to get dressed then my 4 year old!

Whats For Dinner Tonight?

I love food.

I 100% consider myself a foodie. I love to cook it, eat it, and find the best of the best at whatever it is I am eating.

The thing I loathe the most is boring food that has no seasoning. It's also rather uncomfortable to eat a meal that someone cooked for you and pretending to like it when really you would rather opt for a bowl of cereal. I also dislike a recipe gone bad, and legumes.

We all have our regulars. The meals that we always "go to" week after week, month after month. I like to try to be mindful of trying new recipes to add into that rotation. This is why my mail box is always stuffed with food magazines. My all time favorite is Martha Stewart's Everyday Food. I have saved each and every issue since 2004! I reference them constantly, and some of my favorite rotation meals come from there! I get a few others that I adore, and I also go on suggestions of fellow foodie friends. In honor of my love for food, and thinking of you, my loyal readers. I was thinking why not share some of those rotation lovers with you! Maybe you too love food, or you are just bored with the same ol' same ol' and wanna try something new. Here are my top weekly meals & some fav special plates:

• Turkey Sloppy Joes FABULOUS, full of taste, healthy, and taste AMAZING over rice!
• Tortilla Pie I sat on the floor this weekend looking through all of my Everyday Food mags with a conquest to find this one! I haven't made it in a long time, but the taste of its enormous YUM is not easily forgotten.
• Chicken Marsala Emeril makes this not only easy but awesome! Just make sure to pick up his Essence in the store--you can not overlook that one!
• Baked Ziti Even the worst cooks in the world could make this one! Easy, good, and kids love it!
• Crockpot Enchiladas Again even the worst cooks could do this easy 1, 2, 3 reciepe. If you have a crockpot, then you have easy, full of yum enchiladas coming your way!
• Crockpot Sausage and Peppers Emeril wins again! This tastes great over egg noodles!
• Beef Stroganoff (another crockpot Love)
• French Toast Bake Going to a brunch? wanna make something special for breakfast? This will knock your socks off!!
• Lighter Sesame Chicken In the mood for Chinese but not for the fat content? Winner winner chicken dinner! Serve over rice!
• Peanutbutter Silk Pie SHOW STOPPER!
• Spaghetti with olives & breadcrumbs easy, easy, and OH so EASY! So good. So quick. So Giada!
• Tarragon Chicken Pot Pies Now this one I have to thank a good friend for! She recommended this and WOW and knocked my socks off! Certainly not your average pot pie, and the contents can even be used over noodles or rice!
• Lighter Pot Pie a different take on pot pie but I use way less peas!
• Salmon & Zucchini Baked in Parchment Paper packets healthy dinner all in one! Great summer time meal!
• Sausage, Tomato, and Arugula Fettuccine Seriously out of all the ones listed above this might just be my ultimate fav! SO good! Don't skimp out on the GOOD block of cheese, and I so use regular good sausage but I am sure the healthy chicken one would be good as well!
• Chocolate-Hazelnut Tart Giada does it again! Perfection! Make sure to let it cook longer then suggested when in a regular pie plate!
• Biggest Losers Buffalo Chicken Meat Loaf surprisingly tasty!
• Petits Pains au Chocolat another dear friend of mine told me of this sliver of heaven. I made them to celebrate our trip to Paris right before we left and needless to say it is on the "make often" list.

The list could go on for about 15 more blog posts! This isn't even counting the recipes I have collected from my family & friends personal stash, or favorites ripped out of favorite magazines. It also doesn't include my favs from my gaggle of cookbooks. I hope, however, it gave you some ideas for your next meal! And if you are a foodie out there holding back on a favorite that can be easily found on the Internet PLEASE share in the comments section!

All else fails my lazy days brings me to Trader Joes turkey meatballs. The are outstanding and the entire family loves them!

Go off and cook yourself something good now!

Faith

I have had this ongoing prayer lately that goes something like this: "God please show me what my soul purpose here on earth is". It is sort of a funny prayer, as when I am not praying, I am thinking it is a death wish. I believe that once you realize what your soul purpose on this earth is, you peace out, and go home. I am not ready to go "home", but I am ready for some answers to end the yearning I have.

It is constant. A pull that tugs from the very core of me, that reminds me I must seek further. A need to try new things, take leaps of faith, and be more open. No matter what opportunity life gives to me, I must receive it with the best intentions and how it is, (and if it is supposed to), fit into what my path is all about. Nothing is finite in my mind. Anything is possible when there is God and Free will.

Enter new opportunities.

I toss and turn. The idea of something new makes me so incredibly anxious. However, I know in order to grow, I must try. While pondering all of this I wrote this as my status on Facebook the other day:

When thinking about how to live your life purposely and passionately, one must think about what they are willing to sacrifice, and willing to give it a chance. Chances can be scary, but living life with the confines of only what you know can be even scarier. Growth happens when we spread our wings and learn something new.

So easy to write. So hard to live.

I keep asking myself: Do I jump? Do I take that leap of faith, and completely challenge myself in ways I am unsure of?

Just when I think life is only handing me one thing, it gives me another plate full.

I am feeling overwhelmed with "making the right choice". I am thankful and blessed for the opportunities, but unsure on which to choose or if I take them all on.

The yearning for answers is still pulling. I am pretty sure tonight's prayer won't look any different. However, I know in my heart of hearts, no matter how afraid I am, I have to have faith.

I'm going with faith.

Skate On Over And Be A Winner

My favorite tv memory as kid during the Winter Olympics was always figure skating. It was even a highlight to me prior to the whole Nancy Kerrigan & Tonya Harding famous attack ins 1994. I loved watching the different performances, and watching the skaters guide accorss the floor effortlessly. It was enticing. My Mother and I used to be glued to it.

I always wanted to attend a live show that involved real life skaters, and not Disney characters on ice! Luckily this is happening in the very near future, and guess what? I am taking some readers with me! Check out my review blog and enter my current giveaway to local residents, and those of you out of driving distance, a chance to enter Smuckers awesome "Be Evan's Guest" contest!

Momma's Gonna Raise The Roof

When I noticed my son wasn't making simple milestones I remember feeling alone and overwhelmed. I wanted to shield him from a world of judgement, and being put in a category. I wanted him to be just known as Rylan, not by a diagnosis. I wanted to fix him in the confines of my own home, and tell no one that my kid different.

After allowing Birth To Three into our home we became more comfortable with the idea of having a kid that might need special ed services. We felt supported, heard, and best of all, felt like our child could make some major breakthroughs with the right people. The hardest lesson for me was to learn I had to give up some of the control, and let others do their jobs.

Sitting on the other side of the table has been life altering. When I was the teacher, or the social worker, delivering diagnosis' or concerns seemed easy, natural, and obvious in most cases. I can safely say, sitting on the other side of the table, being the parent, it is none of those things.

I put my young child, at the age of three, on a school bus. I trusted our local school to give him the services he needed, to push him up hill, and to communicate freely what we needed to do on our end. Since those tender, young days of worry, I can honestly say I haven't been more pleased with the staff and education he has received. He has made absolute, drastic changes. Things I once worried he would never do, he now does with ease.

It has been two years he has been in the local preschool. Two years of predictability, comfort, structure, and feeling safe in a familiar surrounding. All of these I feel are key to thriving for any child on any spectrum of special needs.

He has come so far, yet I sill see some of the old concerns peer out from time to time. He has high anxiety with change. What sometimes seems minor to others, is massive to him. He over thinks, worries, and lives his life most comfortably with a safety net of prediction.

Recently I got his Kindergarten packet in the mail. He was assigned to a new school next year. A school that is less predictable, that he doesn't know, and has no sense of what is to come. Apparently the town divides incoming Kindergartens at random into the two schools. However the random isn't so random, as it is taken into account if siblings are in the same school, or if kids have severe disabilities. Since they consider these factors, (as they should), I had hoped they would have considered the fact that Rylan, although making major strides, has been going to the same school for two years and switching that on him could be detrimental. Now he is scheduled to not only go to a new school, but one that doesn't have the reputation for top notch special education. Sure the chances of my son graduating from needing these services are high, but even with a speck of a chance of needing more.... I need him to stay where he is.

I spent yesterday afternoon typing up letters. Lots of letters to anyone who is anybody in this town, asking (begging), for them to let Rylan stay. I hated being the pain parent that I used to deal with as a teacher, that over rides a choice that had already been made. However, as a parent I now realize, not all choices made are in fact with the best interest of the whole child in mind. Although they see my child doing fantastic at school, they need to keep in mind who he is at home, and that a choice needs to be made that supports his educational and developmental success in all settings.

I should add that after watching Waiting For Superman on the plane ride to London didn't help. The idea of tracking kids, and putting them in lesser schools disgusts me. The movie made me weep uncontrollably as a parent, an educator, and as a citizen of this fine country. I realized after watching it, that even in my suburban town with a great educational history, I still need to be an advocate for my kid. I still need to keep my hand in the pot, and although I need to give up some control, I should not (nor any other parent out there) give up ALL the control.

I may never get a job in this town, but heck my kid is going to get a decent education.

I can only hope and pray our requests will be heard. If not, I will have to make sure both hands are in the pot when in the new school. I have to be overly sure and confident that my kid is not only getting the services he deserves/needs, but that he is thriving.

My job used to be delivering news, and now it is receiving it.

My kid matters, and the place he holds in this world sacred. For that reason, and that reason only, Mom's going to have to get a little loud and blow the roof off this joint.

We'll Always Have Paris

Wow. The pictures are endless for the Paris trip. After hours of going through them, these are a "few" of the highlights (which is aka. for A CRAP LOAD). The pictures appear backwards in order of what happened, but at least the camera decided to actually WORK and I was able to capture it all on film. Here are the Paris highlights with a few stories along with it:

The entire vacation we kept drooling over the thought of a good crepe. We had went to a cafe' near Notre Dame one day and had them, and although good, didn't seem like it was "the best". We were in hot pursuit of "the best" crepe. The funny thing about finding food in Paris is people that have been there can't tell you where to go, and usually the super good places are little hole in the walls filled with locals. Luckily after our climb through the Catacombs one day we found this place:
We were unable to go the day we found it because there was NO ROOM for us! So we made it a point to go back the next day!
And BOY was it GOOD! We certainly found "the best".
Many people we spoke with who have visited the city before told us their favorite place was Versailles Palace. Since it was only about a half hour drive outside Paris, we decided to make the trek and boy were we thankful we did! The women that drove us was a better tour guide then the tour bus. We even got to see things we never would have seen on any of the buses, like the tunnel Princess Di had her fatal crash in, and the area they call "little New York".
The gardens were huge and breath taking. You could not get them all in one photo never mind hundreds. I am a lover a symmetry, so this garden was right up my alley. Everything you saw to the right you saw to the left.
We also saw some incredibly historic things inside the Palace. Like Napoleons throne:
Beautiful portraits of kings and queens:
The Queens bedroom which once house Marie Antoinette:
The Kings bedroom (certainly fit for a king by the way!):
It also held amazing views of those amazing gardens:
The outside of the Palace:
We also went to the Louvre. I was less then excited about this since I am not a fan of art museums. However, seeing a few of these historic things made it worth it!

Michelangelo sculptures:
The REAL Venus Di Milo:
And of course... the most famous painting in the world, the one and only Mona Lisa:

The outside of the Louvre was pretty amazing as well:
Pete took this beauty of a picture on top of our tour bus:
The tour bus was, just like London, hard to find, and ok in experience verses the pretty penny you pay to get on it. It certainly helps people like us who have no idea how to get anywhere (contrary to what they say, Paris to us WAS NOT an easily walked city). The Red Bus really upset us when they announced they were skipping our stop because the place would be closed. We got off and walked to the place, and guess what it was open! They had lied in order to avoid

Everyone told us the Champs-Elysee's area was the place to shop. Although large and home to the famous Arc de Triomphe, it was a little heavy on the pockets. We surely loved the famous macaroons at Laduree, which in my opinion, worth every cent. However, next door at the cafe' seemingly friendly to tourist, we encountered overly priced items (payed $15 for a glass of soda!), and the waiter down right rude to us. When I asked to stop an order on something that hadn't even been made yet, he YELLED at me, and said "No you order you eat". Reasoning was not an option. I had tried to cancel the order since we were all finished and he had yet to bring it to me. So, everyone had to wait while I tried to stuff myself with something I didn't even want. Notice this place I did not take a picture of, nor will I be recommending. Sure there french onion soup was good, but this place was not a hole in the wall, but a rip off tourist central.

The Arc de Triomphe was beautiful:


Someone on Facebook mentioned I should go see the Catacombs while in Paris. This stuff isn't for everyone, but I love spooky stuff. It is said to be one of the most haunted places in the world. The security guard down there showed us some interesting things with his flashlight, like how far the bones went back, and teeth that still were in some of the skulls. The part we were in was home to about 6 million people. It was created in the 18th century after Paris' largest cemetery was closed due from public health concerns. All of the bones were dug up and the Catacombs were made. The burial of human remains underneath the city continued for 60 years!




Honestly, pictures can't even do this justice. The enormity of the Catacombs is massive, and makes you think it couldn't be possibly real. The security guard also told us that sadly many people forget that these bones were once a human, and try to steal the remains.

Our view from the hotel was quite nice:

One of the highlights for me was Norte Dame. It was massive, historic, breath taking, and FREE as I believe Gods house always should be. Plus it had no cafes or bathrooms next to peoples remains. The beauty it has can not be captured as a whole, so I did what I could without flash photography.








Parking seems to not be an issue in Paris. Especially for this little car:
The first night we were there we went up the Eiffel Tower! I was scared out of my mind. It was MASSIVE. Way bigger then I had ever imagined. The fact that I actually got up there is a pure miracle. The elevator up is glass, and I thought for sure Pete would find me in a corner on the floor rocking back and forth, hugging myself by the end of it. It was so worth sucking up my nerves for this.


Our hotel was a modern, botique hotel. Hotel 7 had a nightclub feel. The moment you exited your room music came on, and calagone was sprayed in the air. Sort of reminded me of the mall when you walk by Abacrombie. It was clean, the people curtious, but some of them had no idea about how to get around Paris which wasn't much help to us. The room itself had a clear, see through shower in the middle of it! Thankfully I only had to share the room with my husband or else there might have been some problems.
The best meal, by far, that we had in Paris was at this place:
All mine was a cheese board with ham. You took the cheese and melted it in a little pot. Then poured the cheese over the ham, and boiled potatoes. HOLY YUM.
Pete had the platter of beef that you cooked on the grill at your table:

Since planning this trip I have been wanting to make sure we fit in time to go to the famous Buddha Bar. I have been listening to cd's by there Paris location for a long time. I was excited to have the experience. Not only did we go, but the famous DJ (Ravin) was actually DJ'ing that night, and I was able to score his signature on one of my cd's! I was excited! One of the highlights was the cab ride to the Buddha Bar with our cab driver Tony. Tony told us his entire story about how his ex girlfriend stole money from him after "making love on Decemember the 20th", and how he was "little stupid not big stupid" and taking her to court. Seriously, I wish I thought to put it on my Flip cam. It was one of the those hilarious moments that I will never be able to recapture in its entity.
The other odd thing that we realized in Paris with the inability to get a cup of coffee to go. Starbucks was the only option and at a $10 for a Grande' price, it wasn't an option really. One day Pete and I did find a cafe' to give us a "to go" coffee, but this consisted of two clear bar cups with hot coffee in them.

We did encounter some rude people, but for the most part Paris was friendly. I certainly would go back given the opportunity. Especially since it is a city that you can never see enough history in!