The Loire Valley and Lake Conroe

Will's final day in France was spent venturing out to Chartres and the Loire Valley.  Here are some of the things he saw...

Chartres Cathedral

Amboise Cathedral

and maybe

Le chateau d amboise


Chateau de Chenonceau is definitely on the itinerary.  Isn't it beautiful?

 and possibly these too...





I know Will is very sad to say au revoir to Paris but we will be thrilled to have him home this weekend!

As I mentioned, Dave and I wanted to make sure that Kate and Harry had a fun Spring Break too.  We checked in to a new resort about an hour and a half away for 24 hours.  We swam....











went in the lazy river (even though it was FREEZING!!)



Dave was trying not to touch the water.  It was really cold.


{This pool was heated}


Harry even braved the ice cold water slides.

Then he went straight to the toasty warm jacuzzi...


When I called I asked if the pools were heated.  The receptionist said yes but in fact only one of the four pools was heated.  We had a great time anyway!

We played some beach volleyball





Harry rocked.  Kate and I not so much;)



{I-phone photo in the dark}

Although Kate did love playing in the sand...

We roasted marshmallows






{These are I-phone photos:(}

And we played miniature golf...





And I might be terrible at volleyball (and all sports for that matter) but I did have TWO hole in ones and I won at mini golf.  And Dave is a  really good golfer!

As we were finishing mini golf, a FIRE ANT bit Harry's lip! Ants got into his snack and he accidentally ate one.  We thought it bit his tongue but we later saw his lip swell up and we saw the bite.  Benadryl helped a lot.

We had a GREAT Spring Break and we still have a fun weekend filled with soccer and two parties.

Will arrives home this evening and we cannot wait to see him!!!  I am sure he will have lots to share:)

Fine art and play dates

Will called me today and we spoke for just a minute or two.  He LOVES Paris and has NO desire to come home.  He wants to stay for 2 more weeks.   He told me that he bought a small painting:) Since his budget was very small, I am guessing it is a street watercolor.  So glad he got one.  Dave and I bought our very first oil painting as a couple in Paris and we showed it to Will before he left.  So, now Will has his first painting from Paris. Today, he spent the day at the Louvre....

He got to see this famous smile...

I remember being surprised at how small and unassuming it is in person.

Then, they went to my all time favorite museum ever, the Musee d'Orsay.  It is an old train station located near the Tulleries gardens.  The architecture alone is a work of art...

and inside you see the most beautiful works of art like these...

{The reason I am documenting Will's trip this way is that he forgot his camera!  Yes, it really pains me to write that but we charged it and cleared the memory card but we never gave it to him.  So, he has a disposable camera with 27 photos but I know this trip is such a whirlwind...he will forget what he did each day.}

While Will was appreciating the fine art of France, we were blessed with a visit from Shelly, Owen and Libbie!  They came over for lunch and a play-date.  Owen and Harry hit it off playing Wii and spy.

Shelly brought Kate this great lil puppet back from China.  It was so sweet:)
Shelly also gave me a great piece of embroidered silk art and some sweet charms for the boys.

I am in love with this sweet little face.  Libbie is AMAZING!





She loved this little "bunny" in the box.  She was determined to do it and I caught a little smile when she achieved her goal.

Kate and Libbie played so well together.  Kate was trying to show her everything and Libbie really takes it all in.  She is extremely determined and I can tell she enjoys a challenge.  She did not take the easy way out of anything and she does not let anything deter her.  It is something very special to see in action.  This little girl is going to do BIG things.

After lunch, we went to the park....

Harry hanging upside down.  He banged his head on a pole:(

Let me just tell you about Miss Libbie and her cute yellow walker.  She could have taken the easy smooth concrete path to the park.  But she chose to go in the grass and over bumps.  She challenges herself and I love that about her!  Nothing is going to hold her back!  She takes the road less traveled.


Shelly and Libbie



Saying goodbye...Owen, Libbie and Kate.

I will admit that we did not take many pictures of the boys...they were off playing.  I cannot wait to visit with them all again.

Versailles or the Rodeo?

Day two in Paris for Will includes

Versailles

The Arc de Triomphe

The Eiffel Tower at night and an evening cruise on the Sienne River

We did finally get a message from Will.  His international calling plan seems to not be working but he is having a blast!  Dave spoke with him briefly too.  He is apparently eating as many of these as he can....



Yes, he is a big fan of the croissant au chocolat!


Meanwhile back at the ranch....we went to the Rodeo for the day:)
I did not bring my good camera and lens and it was bright daylight so please excuse my poor photos.









The pony rides are always a big hit.

Then it was off to the petting zoo.
I still have nightmares from being attacked by a llama in 1999 in the Rodeo petting zoo with Will!!









Harry petting a kangaroo/wallaby thing.

We went to the pig races and some other things but I did not get good photos.  Then, it was out to the rides.






 Then we ate some really unhealthy foods.  It is a MUST at the rodeo.





There is not much junk food that  Harry can actually eat.  This is his first candy apple ever! He did not even eat half of it:)



Then we ran into our good friends and did some more rides with them...







Will and Harry always do the big bumper cars together.  We missed Will today.





Harry and his friend, Hollis raced down the big slides.  Harry won!!!



Dave went on a fast, dizzy ride with Harry.  I could not even watch them.  It makes me sick but I did go on them when I was a kid too.

This is a new ride at the rodeo and I think it so BIZARRE...



They zip your child inside of a big plastic ball and they roll around/float in a shallow pool.  It reminds me of goldfish in a plastic bag.  It creeps me out but I am not sure why...  My kids did not go on that ride.  I did see one little boy crying and his parents had to go unzip him.

And tonight Dave and Harry are rockin out at the KISS concert at the rodeo;)



Will wanted to go so Dave bought the tickets not realizing that Will would be away.

They will also see all the bucking bronco, calf roping, mutton busting etc that happens there at night:)
Hmm who do you think is getting more culture this week?