Jardin du Luxembourg

One of our favorite places was Jardin du Luxembourg.  It was beautiful, fenced and the perfect way to let loose after touring the museums and sites.  We ended up spending an entire afternoon there and it may have been the best afternoon of our trip!

Ready to stretch their legs.

This Maniac laughed at the smaller playground and went straight for the 8+playground.

He also jumped on the zipline.

Ching-Ching mid air

Little C snuck off for a pony ride around the park

Paris- Avec Des Enfants

Paris with kiddos is a completely different experience.  We prioritized the highlights and planned our museum trips so that we'd have plenty of Park time in between. It was definitely a highlights trip, but between the paintings, strolling the river Seine, enjoying too many crepes to count and being awed by the building, I think we all got a good "taste" of Paris.  

Playing in the Park before opening

At the TOP! Some loving it, some a little nervous.

See, we made it to Notre Dame.  Unfortunately, the kiddos were more interested in the  roundabout in the playground than going inside.

At the recommendation of one of Reed's colleagues we stopped at Sainte-Chapelle.  It was amazing, different and just the right size for the kiddos.  There are 15 stained glass windows on the top floor and with the SUN shining through it was stunning.

After a long day, sometimes you just need some brother time.

A cheeky monkey strolling the Seine in Paris

Cruising the Seine

Silly Boys

The Louvre.  Yes, Christian slept through the entire thing.  The big boys were surprisingly enthusiastic after we mentioned the monetary worth and fame of the Mona Lisa.  Amazing how "that" influence is already being felt.  

To break up a long day Reed offered the boys 50p for every smile and wave they collected.  G went right to work (see above) and had to be cut off 15 minutes and 13pounds later.

At D'Orsay.
The boys actually quite like the impressionists. They say they like to "feel" the paintings and they think it's pretty cool that something that looks like a mess can become beautiful with just a few steps. Plus, we just read The Invention of Hugo Cabret so they loved the renovated train station and ginormous clocks.  

Happy Place

The weather may have been cold, gloomy and downright rotten, but over the past few months I've found my happy places in London.

BOROUGH MARKET

Pure food nirvana.  I never leave in anything less than a blissful food coma.  From pastries to cheeses and fresh pressed olive oil to smoothies and a plethora of sandwiches.  There is true happiness to be found in eating  raclette covered potatoes followed by the perfect almond croissant

Little C enjoying a smoothie

Even G found something he loved.

 THE BRITISH LIBRARY

Definitely, "How have I not been here until now?" place.  But, after spending 2+hours there with Ariel and following it up with 3 trips in a month I think I've made up for lost time.  There is something truly magical about seeing masterpieces (both musical and literary) written in the hand our their creators. 

The Mysterious Mystery Exhibit

Just a few of King George III's books.

Happy Valentines...and Birthday!

Once a long, long, time ago our cat ate my ring.  That's right.  Luci, our lovely, cuddly, chunky kitty ate my wedding ring.  Reed very generously replaced my ring on my next birthday.  However, he replaced my lovely bands with a gorgeous solitaire.  After about 24hrs of debate I confessed that, actually, I just wanted a band.  The ring box was promptly snapped shut and the issue has remained...sensitive..for the past 9 years. 

On Valentine's Day 2013 it was all put to aright.  

In the middle of a perfect blue sky, on a timeless blue bridge, by a little blue box :).    

London Bridge...where I got THE ring.
*I know, I should show a picture of THE ring.  But, it's just a thin gold band.  As Bonnie puts it, it's 'nice'.
But, to me it's more than nice.  It's not flashy or shiny, but it's simple, it's meaningful and I will wear it and love it forever*

Just a few days later, Reed did a great job and got some friends together here in London for a surprise party after church and then we kept up the Newell tradition of having a birthday month and continued the celebrations in Barcelona a week later.  

Every year we find new, amazing places

But, we always make time for "Our" Restaurant.

Time Out!

We returned home to London with just enough time to get our feet under us before we got to enjoy a lovely spurt of visitors.  

First was Miss Ariel.  

While dreaming about having visitors I mentioned to Reed that Ariel's bucket list included attending a Premier league match.  Within the week Reed had found a way to get tickets, within 24hrs of receiving this information, I had Ariel's flight info in my inbox.  We had a packed 5 days with 2 football matches, the British Library, a jaunt to Greenwich and eating our way through the Borough Market.  

Oh, and the sun shone all week.  It was perfect. 

We also enjoyed...

runs through Hyde Park

Walking the town

And some yummy desserts.  

Next up...Bonnie and Aaron.  It was fantastic to have one of our favorite couples in town.  We completely ditched real life to enjoy our time together.  

They picked up some random kiddos at the British Museum

We celebrated Chinese New Year's in Chinatown and then enjoyed Les Mis. Which, I must say, was  quite good.  The vocals were impressive and the pacing kept you completely engaged.

Quick stop for a little magic

More vagabonds attached themselves to Miss Bonnie

We can validate the timeless nature of Stonehenge.  It never gets old :)

Right before I was accosted by a shamman who instructed me on the finer points of energy flows traced via her goat staff.  Pure awesomeness.

The boys slipped away for a match.

While the girls enjoyed an evening at the bookstore and then met up with the boys for a cozy dinner out.  

Good friends, great food and a little sun went a long way towards closing out a long, dark winter and getting us ready for spring!

Happy New Years!

By the time New Year's rolled around things were relatively quiet.  Our family and Michael were the only ones left, so we knew we needed to step it up for New Year's Eve.  The answer...

Balloons...Lots of balloons...In a wide open space (we're crazy like that :)

The world was topsy turvy for the night

Maniac McC strikes again

I was "safe"

Grandma was not.

Matts was in his element

It only took everyone, but the Hulk could be conquered.

Enjoying a little post bedtime snack.  GUMMIES!

Michael may or may not have had to run around the house in his shorts.  I'm just saying...

At the strike of midnight we discovered just how much the Swedes love their explosives.  It looked and sounded like WW3.  There were, hopefully Legal, fireworks shooting into the sky from every direction.  It was cool enough I woke up the boys to show them.  

Apparently strict gun control +inflammable ice +holiday spirit =very enthusiatic swedes.  

God Jul

With 8 kiddos and their accompanying adults (+Michael who's somewhere in between) our holiday in Sweden was non-stop entertainment.  Add a couple feet of snow and you have pure Christmas magic.

The Residence

We invaded our first school

Enjoyed some quality time at Junibaken

And enjoyed lots and lots of time in the winter wonderland.

Matts was a great protector

Little C liked to cause mischief and despised any and all gloves.  

G just wanted to have a good time

Reed and I also got away for a weekend in Stockholm and like the good people we are hit up the temple.  

Doesn't hurt that it's right next to a delicious bakery.

It was wonderful to get to enjoy the sights of Stockholm, eat some amazing food (best Italian ? ever) and SLEEP.

Although it seems crazy to go to the freezing cold arctic, where they only have 4hours of sunlight per day, it was a perfect break from life.  Filled with lots of sledding, food, movies, and family.