Friday, September 17, 2010

vivre le france

We tagged on two days in Paris after our England adventures. We took it really easy and came back to the hotel and rested in the afternoons, but still seemed to get to see what we wanted. I think we also took about a million pics. So if you scroll through, you can see most of what we got to see.
Last time I came to Paris I LOVED the Arc de Triomphe. Unfortunately, we reached it right about at our limit/hazel's limit for the afternoon and decided to enjoy the street performers nearby and take a look from afar instead of climbing all the way up.
If you could hear me right now, you'd get to hear my terrible french as I attempt to order us a few Crepes avec Fromage et Jambon.
Right on the Seine river, close to this little line of booths with crepes, snacks, and antiques.
Hazel so generously shared her gelato with me that we got for her while we walked through the Jardin de Tuileries near the Louvre
Hazel kept trying to climb into the little fountain just outside of the Louvre
The famous Louvre Pyramids, we had a blast just wandering through here. We opted to see the museum another time. I got to see it last time I was here.
My handsome sweetheart, I couldn't be any happier! Love him and love that we got to spend the week of our 3 year anniversary in Paris and London!
Just outside Notre Dame, crazy gorgeous carvings and architecture!
Chillin on the Seine. There was this great summer festival going on along the other side of the river where people were lying out on lawn chairs and sunbathing.
Brandon loved all of the little artists along the edge with everything from paintings and sketches to antique pictures and books.
Hazel and I playing at the Eiffel Tower. It was actually super crowded and filthy with trash everywhere. Still so amazing and stunning to walk through, but wasn't a place with pretty gardens to hang out in like I remember.
Not even sure what this place is, but we grabbed some crepes for lunch just outside it's walls so we came in and enjoyed out lunch here. We actually had a lot of experiences like that in Paris in an attempt to see and sit where we would if we lived here instead of only going to tourist hot spots. It also brought us to a really pretty chapel later that day that felt like notre dame on a smaller scale but not nearly as crowded.
Can you tell how deliriously happy we are?
This is Le Centre Pompidou. It's inside out architecture is totally famous, but quite confusing to try to get into. Just to ride on the escalators, you have to pay the whole museum fee and go around through doors on the totally opposite side. This guy got mad at us for trying to go through the library door. I still have no idea what we were doing wrong. It was an entrance, we saw several other people go in that way...oh well.
We mostly ended up hanging out outside on the opposite side of it and letting hazel play and chase the pigeons, she was in heaven!
You almost got it Hazel! Just a little faster!
Taking a rest before she goes for him again.
Love this one!
We ended up having Pizza for dinner and eating it at one of these parks.
Brandon carried Hazel all over the city so we didn't have to worry about the stroller on stairs. I think she enjoyed cuddling with Daddy for the most part.
Our last afternoon there heading to the metro, then saw a nice little alley with the Eiffel Tower poking through, I love that!
Sorry for the cropping self portrait Hazel. We would just walk up and down these streets and enjoy all of the crazy cars. It was amazing!
Hazel at her limits.
I decided that if we ever really live in Europe, I want this car. I think it's adorable!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

London!!!!

London was fantastic! It's fast paced with a million things going on. With only two days there I think we saw quite a bit, but the shows were by far my favorite! Carol and Daryth were so kind as to wake up quite early, wait in line and get us front row tickets to Wicked for our anniversary! It was amazing! They were able to catch the matinee then they watched hazel for us. I couldn't ask for a better anniversary! We also saw The Merry Wives of Winsor at the Globe Theater which was fantastically hilarious! Then we wandered and did a few touristy things and got a few things at camden market.

On our anniversary with the London Eye in the background
Anniversary night just outside the theater after seeing Wicked!

If you squint you can see big ben
In front of Wicked
What we saw while we waited for the show to start
The stunning theater that the show was in
We are allowed to take kissy pics on our anniversary, right?
Hazel and I haggling at Camden Market
Wandering through Hyde Park near the Princess Di memorial
I was too chicken to climb on its back with hazel in my arms, this is like 100 yards from where we stayed
Mary was so sweet to watch Hazel while we went to see Merry Wives of Winsor
In front of Buckingham Palace, somehow I didn't picture all the tourist, kinda ruined it for me
Amazing fam, amazing show, so perfect!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Our day in Oxford, and surrounding areas

We finished with the canal boats on Monday morning and Brandon's Aunt and Uncle picked us up and we headed to this beautiful wooded area where they had spread his Stepdad's ashes. It was a gorgeous day and we went for a little hike around there, had a picnic lunch, then got a mini tour of Oxford, had ice cream, then took hazel to this adorable little park. Don't mind that the pictures are mostly backwards.

I used to LOVE these when I was little. I liked to spin around and around. I still remember this park right next to my mom's hair dresser. My sisters and I would go play while my mom got her hair done. They had a great one there, I would probably still fit on that one...I think this one is made for someone closer to, well, hazel's size.
Hazel totally enjoyed it though.
We also tried out this great squeaky teeter totter.
And daddy showed Hazel what the slide was all about. I think this was one of Hazel's favorite parts of the trip. I think it was high on my list too. What a great little treasure that if we hadn't brought her, we would have totally missed it.
I think these swings are better designed than the ones in America too.
An awkward impromptu self portrait...you like?
We were so excited to see these booths all over the place, we had to take a pic!
Seriously some of the most gorgeous architecture of the trip all right up next to each other. It was amazing!
My love and me
Hazel couldn't make up her mind whether she wanted to be carried or attempt to go down the steep dirt steps on her own, so she just plopped right down in front of her Mam-ma.
Brandon hiking around with Hazel. It was soooo pretty!
There was this great little tunnel that used to have a railroad right through it.
Dir walking around with Hazel bug. She really loves older men. There must be some grandpa vibe that just gets sent off, because she bonded with him right away.