Chantilly

My parent's Christmas gift to us each year is to fly my mom out once a year and have her watch my kids so Taylor and I can go on a trip by ourselves.  It is fantastic!  So in the spring after we'd been to visit my mission, Taylor got the itch to see his mission again.  And I kind of couldn't say no.  

But unbenownst to us, our already exotic trip was about to get even crazier.

Originally we were just going to Bulgaria for 6 days.  Then we invited Taylor's parents along and his dad wanted to stay longer to golf so it turned into 10 days.  Then his mom's return flight (since she wasn't staying that long) got cancelled and she had to fly out of Romania so, darn, we had to go to Romania too, and then, the biggest bump of all...

We walked up to the Delta counter to check in and the woman looked at our itinerary and said "Ohhhhhhh, I wish you'd gone to the next agent instead of me" and we thought "huh???"  

Did we know that Air France was on strike?  And had been for the past 15 days?  Did we know we could fly into Paris but not on to Bulgaria?  No we did not!!! Had anyone bothered to contact us in the past 15 days to let us rebook through another city?  Of course not!  So after much scrambling and mostly because of Taylor's dad's elite status, we were rebooked and on our way.  With a new 8 hour layover in Paris.  

So what to do?  After an overnight flight to Paris in coach, why not rent a car and drive a half hour to a big castle/chateau.

Chantilly did not disappoint.

Ok so maybe it was a little TOO much, rooms and rooms or art and sculptures and architecture.  So much to see so little energy.

And I had to include the Chantilly lace.

And the Chantilly cream dessert, which turned out to be just the most amazing whipped cream I've ever had.  Just whipped cream... but amazing.

And inside and out Chantilly was amazing.

Oh, and the horses needed an equally spectacular place to live so here's the stables which we didn't have time to check out.  Next time Air France is on strike I guess, which should be next month sometime ;)

The car we rented was fun and tiny of course since it's Europe.

And after surviving our driving mishaps and an hour of misplacing Taylor's dad, we were back at Charles DeGaulle and ready for our next flight to... wait for it... Serbia!  Wait, what???  When we got to Charles DeGaulle, it was literally empty.  Empty.  An entire airport.  Empty.  Except for when we finally got to the local European low cost carriers.  Who were still flying.  So Air France would not fly us to Bulgaria, but Air Serbia would fly us to Belgrade and then from Belgrade to Bulgaria.  So that's what we did.

Finally checking in to get some sleep in Belgrade... after 24 straight hours of traveling.

Playgroup Fun

Normally I put my kids in morning preschool- partly because they still take naps occasionally but also partly because I have a new baby at home and need just 1 less kid around.  But not this year!  Miles can go to afternoon preschool and Isla naps and then we have mornings to spend together with our fun neighbors who line up perfectly with Isla and Miles.

Zoo... farm... doesn't matter, it's all fun when you're with friends.

Piano Boys

I've been anxiously awaiting and also putting off this day for a long time.  I have wanted my kids to learn to play the piano, but I wasn't ready for the commitment on my part.  Sure I don't mind driving them there but the daily practice is what I had to be ready for.  We had a good friend who was a fantastic piano teacher tell us that there was no point in putting a kid in piano lessons if we weren't going to sit with them to practice every day.  YIKES!  But finally it was the right year- no new baby, 2 kids old enough to start.  So we jumped in.  

And they love it.  Their sweet teacher is wonderful and experienced and they're flying through the books.  Plus we're back to back with Isaac's best friend so they get to play duets right at the end of our lesson.  Couldn't have worked out any better!

Labor Day Campout

A few summers ago when we were in Kentucky and my kids were oohing and aahing over the mountains we were in, I KNEW we were bad parents.  We waste the amazing land around us.  Mostly that's because of a few disasters trying to camp with babies, but now that they're older, it's time to jump in on the fun.  And when several of the neighbors invited us along for their Labor Day campout and boating trip, it was the perfect opportunity.  

Plus when there's this many of our favorite babysitters along, the trip is a breeze.

Okay so these two don't care about the babysitters but they're pretty excited to be in the big boat.

12 adults, 20 kids, 2 boats, SO MUCH FUN!

It's hard being one of the youngest but napping on the boat mid-bite isn't too bad.

That smile on Taylor's face says it all.  He's about to rock the tube and hopefully not hurt poor Sam in the process.

Isla's ready with her job.

Miles is in heaven with his best buddy.

Good parenting right?  He's got a hold of the strap at least.

Flaming Gorge is just gorgeous.

Not sure what that dance move is but it's now been documented for all time.

And if boating wasn't enough fun, the camping was fantastic.

And after a mostly restful night of sleep, it was back on the boats.

This time Sam didn't fare so well.

Yep, you're officially kicked off the boat.

Cause it's kid's dance party time.  Break out the music, break out the music.  The fun begins now!!!

We had SO much fun we've already booked it for next year.  Anyone want to come along?  It's exhausting, fantastic fun.  We may need a car top carrier soon.