J'aime Paris

Ok, so it was freaking cold outside today, but as the kids didn't have Sat. activities and the sun actually came out (bonus!), we went into the city to enjoy the vibe. We are also in the process of marking off places to see and things to do if/before we move, so no surprise, we went to la Tour Eiffel. Mark and I have been to the top several times and the whole family has been there more than they'd like, however, the kids have never ascended its great heights. Mark accompanied Nico and Marina up while I stayed with Mason and Emma. It is Mason's goal to set neither hand nor foot upon the tower and he kept his promise today. He did allow me to take his pictures, though, with it in the background . . . funny kid.

Nico said he felt dizzy a the top like he was going to fall, but they have it all enclosed so you can't, probably from all the different death-defying feats attempted over time. When Mark and I first went up almost ten years ago, you could take the stairs all the way to the top, and it wasn't enclosed. It was a bit scary. Now it's either all the way up in the elevator, or half stairs then the rest in the elevator (all for security, thanks to 9/11). Anyway, enough about that, we just had a rare family fun day followed by an even more rare date this evening!

I've posted a random variety of pictures since they're all from this past week. One is of Marina and some girls from church working on a baby quilt for Achievement Days. Another is of Emma on the stairs from Valentine's Day, and then there's one of a cool building we saw today. The photo doesn't do it justice, though. I've only one with Nico in there, but I'll get some more of him in the near future. Mark took a picture of l'Arc de Triomphe (from tower) using his nice camera and it turned out pretty nicely. I call that traffic circle the Eye, a.k.a. Mordor, because it's always watching you and trying to entice you to come closer so you can go round and round its dangerous path. Champs Elysees? Stay alive no matter what occurs--road rules be damned! If you're not paying attention you can end up driving in its direction and then you have no choice but to go around. It's seriously suicidal and scary at times.

This Is What 2 Looks Like

So Emma, my real baby is now two! She is the epitome of a girlie girl, from her dresses to her accessories. Every morning she picks out her "pretty" outfit, usually a dress, then comes to us for approval, saying, "Look at me, I'm pretty!" I keep telling her how intelligent she is as well, but currently it's all about the glam. I think the picture of her speaking with Grandpa & Grandma Hamberlin on the phone sums up her personality pretty well!

Mason had his go-karting party this weekend, too (Mark took the pictures so we may never see them on the blog :) He had a great time with his friends, and it makes us all very happy to see him flourish with his little posse. Emma happens to be obsessed with Mason's friend, Cory, the guy who is holding her in the chair picture. She stares at him adoringly, perhaps a bit too psychotic-like. Oh well, I'll worry about it if she's still doing it at 13.

Battle Royale

Do you have a favorite family tradition? Our children find no better way to relax on a Sunday afternoon than to gang up on their father in what has become known as Battle Royale. Mark takes a beating but I think he secretly enjoys it! Almost without fail, several of the kids end up hurt and then come back begging for more. It's heartwarming to see little Emma join in the fun, ha ha.

I added one of Emma falling asleep yesterday after we attended a basketball clinic at school for Nico & Marina. We basically walked around, talked and played for two hours during her usual nap time. The kids learned some new ball skills so it was a productive afternoon. Mason & Mark helped out with a service project for a family from church who is renovating their home--gutted and all (yikes). Later on, Mark purchased some much needed new suits and then strapped one of our boxspring mattress' onto the minivan for another ward family to use for their relative who just got out of the hospital. He was a busy bee yesterday.

I won't go into too much detail but today after church we had our first Sunday of the month ward meal. It's very nice to get together and visit and everyone brings a main dish and a dessert. Several things are troubling, though, as people become wild packs of wolves and scarf down everthing that comes through the door, often leaving little for those at the end of the line. These often include children and the missionaries (who are trying to be polite). Don't get me started on those who show up and don't bring a thing, or who only come to church on the Sunday when we have this meal. Did I say I was going to be brief? :) Oh yes, the French love to see what everyone brings to eat. It's almost like a competition and that's a bit intimidating for me. The secret is to prepare something American from a box, like brownies or cupcakes and you'll literally have them eating out of your hand. Maybe I'll try Mac&Cheese one of these days.