April in Paris

We have been BUSY. Opa and Oma, traveling for Easter, Elsa's birthday, Paris . . .

PARIS.

I guess this counts as our first official family vacation as a family of four. It's possibly not the easiest way to start, but when living 4 1/2 hours by train from Paris, how can you resist?

I realized a few things when we got off the train and suddenly found ourselves in a very different world. 1) I have not left Germany for 6 months and it was really good to get out, 2) My college French studies are of no help to me after 15 years of non-use, 3) Erik and I were dumb not to go to Paris together before we had kids.  We had both been there before, but this was the first time together. Oversight. BUT, because we have been there, we didn't feel the need to run around and see all the sights and museums and were happy just to have the chance to live Paris for a few days . . . which is a good thing, because that's about all we were allowed to do.

Croissant #1, steaming hot.

The famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore

 Elsa's Shakespeare and Co. tattoo

 It's hard to say no to anything in Paris, so for 4 blissful days, we said yes to everything. A steaming hot crepe oozing with Nutella every day? Yes.

Not pictured: Elsa jumping up and down trying to get her share of the crepe.

More cheese, bread, tarts, and wine from the market down the street? Yes.

Real champagne? Yes. I mean, if you're in Paris and have to be inside after 7pm every night, you might as well . . .

You get the idea. Lest you be concerned that all we did was consume for four days, let me assure you that we also covered a lot of ground and saw the sights of beautiful Paris . . . allowing plenty of time for food, drinks, tantrums, and playgrounds.

And Elsa even managed to crack a few Mona Lisa smiles for the camera.