Paris & Versailles

I realized after running the Wasatch Back with my family in June that if I was going to keep up my level of fitness, I needed something to motivate me.  Not that I don't love to run because I do!  But somehow there is just always a long list of things that I need to do and for some reason, taking care of myself easily gets bumped.  But with a race looming it didn't matter if it was raining, or if I was tired, or I needed to spend time on my calling, or if the laundry was piled up, or if Tyler wanted me to watch The Office with him...I had to make time to run!  So I signed up for another race.  This one was a 16K (10 miles) that began at the Eiffel Tower and ended in front of the Palace of Versailles.  I can't say I broke any records, but I finished and I had a lot of fun!  Plus...I always love Paris!  The downside was that Tyler got lost trying to drive through Paris to Versailles without me there to navigate and got lost.  He did get to Versailles eventually, but missed the end of the race and so I finished with no one there to cheer for me!  We'll have it down next year though, so if anyone wants to come and run with me...

After the race, we toured the gardens and then the palace at Versailles.   It was fairly painful to walk around after the race, but they were really beautiful and the weather was perfect.









This is where I decided we were done touring for the day!  I had hoped to get to the Eiffel Tower again in the evening so that the kids could see the lights, but it was obvious that they were done!  They were probably lucky that I had run my race earlier because I was tired too and really wasn't up to it either!

Our second day in Paris we went back to the Eiffel Tower so that the kids could go up inside, then we visited the Musee d'Orsay - which was unfortunately closed that day - and then the Sacre Coeur...which we hadn't been to before.  It would have been fun to fit in more, but it is amazing how slow you travel with four kids when you are walking and taking the metro!

First Day of School

We all had mixed emotions about today. Sophie and Briggs were excited to see old friends and find out what their classes would be like, but really sad that summer is over. I was excited about having a clean house for at least half a day again, but I really do miss them and dread the craziness of all the extra-curricular stuff that happens after school - i.e. soccer, piano, dance...But the day was a real downer for Porter. He was really, REALLY sad to have Briggs go back to school!  They play so great together and Porter LOVES his big brother!

Switzerland

We decided kind of last minute that if we were going to go camping and go to all the work to pack everything, we might as well drive a few more hours and camp in Switzerland!  Overall we had a great time and the weather was alright one of the days and perfect the other! 

We did have a few of the unfortunate things that go along with every trip we've ever had though.  Briggs lost two teeth while we were there, which would have been a fun thing if he hadn't swallowed one of them and if Sawyer hadn't swallowed the other (yes we put the tooth in a cup - oops)!  The tooth fairy came anyway - even in Switzerland - which was nice of her considering we don't have either of the teeth...still watching for those...

Then on another day Briggs opened one of the van doors and hit the car next to us.  They were nice about it, but it's still going to cost around $300 or so.  Real bummer!

And true to form...we were running late leaving for Switzerland  - plus Tyler had worked that day - so we didn't get to the campground until 11:15 p.m.  The reception office was long since closed, but there was a nice security gaurd who let us put up our tent and the kids were really good to keep quiet.  They were also great for the 6 hours that they sat in the car while we drove - refusing to let them out to go to the bathroom or stop for dinner because we knew we weren't going to make it on time.  

All in all though it was a great trip though and the kids loved it.  And I have heard the saying that, "LESS IS MORE."  But it is just too hard for me to make decisions - so of course - here are MORE  pictures than I need to post!

This is our favorite thing to do in Switzerland!  These are called Trotti bikes and are a cross between a bike and a scooter.  We take a cable car up one of the mountains and ride these down.  This was the first year that Briggs had done one on his own and as you can see...he was a little nervous!  He loved it though once he got going!  It was Sophie who had been nothing but excited who did a flip over her handlebars when a car came around the corner and scared her.  She was tough though.  She got back on and rode most of the rest of the way down.

Baby Picasso

Here is a small sampling of Sawyer's most recent artwork.  Yes, he is one of THOSE!  Into everything!  He climbs, he explores, he destroys, and on the side...he draws.  On whatever he can. 

 

As you can see he prefers a large canvas.  It wouldn't be so bad if all I had to do was keep art supplies out of reach, but no...the problem is I have to get three other children to keep the art supplies out of reach or ban them from the house all together - the art supplies that is.

Rockin' New Do

Yes, I love to play with my kids hair!  So this summer when we were in Utah we bought some pink semi-permanent hair dye for Sophie.  Both she and I were a little disappointed that it wasn't a little brighter, but it still turned out really fun!  Unfortunately it makes her look older though!  Not sure I'm ready for that...

Superheroes

I've never felt bad spending a little money on Superhero costumes because we get some good use out of those things!  They were out jumping on the tramp in their costumes the other day, so I snapped some pics that I thought were pretty fun...Especially since Briggs' Robin costume is getting a little on the small side!