tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-343596712024-03-07T19:01:25.769-08:00Sight.Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.comBlogger202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-76071935626476180312017-09-12T20:08:00.000-07:002017-09-12T20:09:07.990-07:00Hello?<p dir="auto">After basically four years of not posting other that Dean’s birth and a couple of other things, I think I am going to start posting on here again. I guess the music has been updated via the spotify piece over to the right, but not much more. Not really for anyone else other than our family record…but if someone else happens on this, then hello! I clicked on the bookmark to this blog in my browser today and found myself looking back thorugh previous posts about travels and this and that - and remembered what a great way this is to record life. Instagram is kind of the new insta-blog and a great way to record life, but I think there is something to be said for the commentary that can go along with photos on a blog. I have so much on this blog from our pre-kid days, but not near enough since Z & D were born. In this day an age where we have thousands of pictures of them, it’d be nice for them to have something to look back on that is concise and provides commentary on their lives instead of just having to comb through thousands of photos and videos. Not sure if I will actually do this consistently but I’d sure like to. We just took an amazing trip to England and the Faroe Islands - and I want a record of that trip beyond insta posts and lots of photos. Just need to discipline myself to take the time to do it. <br><br>I also just found this Mac app called Blogo that seems to have good reviews. When we got an iMac, the lack of windows live writer deterred me from blogging becuase the native blogger site is terrible and there didn’t seem to be anything else out there. So, let’s see how this goes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCVKomrP-WrzlqmBr15zNW2i7vNT8eMXGOAnoQrB3ZgMXRqLO60NIHVf8vnMJRPkv7E1hUhjPQYezn3twpL9D6Y2hG3sx5bwDDZ6hEmb3wcV6eYfB1r56MSaNRUPj4Lb9w2Sh/s9999/DJI_0111.jpg" width="700" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p dir="ltr">We’ve had a photo of this waterfall in our kitchen for the last 18 months or so - and suddenly, there we were in all its grandeur. The Mavic Pro gives some nice perspective in this photo. And people actually live in that village up there…what would that be like? The Faroe Islands really are one of the most beautiful spots on earth that I have visited. We had an amazing time there with Char and her fam. Lots of hiking and exloring God’s grandeur (and keeping Dean in a pack and Zara literally on a leash as we hiked along the sea cliffs). Lots more to come from this trip. </p><p dir="ltr">Zara started school last week. Like started kindergarten. She was just one year old on this blog, how on earth is that even possible? It’s full day at PS 9 - and she is totally rocking it. So proud of that girl! </p><p dir="ltr">Well, there are some random thoughts for the night. Blogo seems like it might be good. Let’s see if it can post multiple photos at once: ok that didn’t work…computer nearly lost it with the spinning wheel. Have to figure that one out. Here’s a photo from our travels to Switzerland last summer. Wish I would have blogged about it, but at least there is a pic now - pretty cool juxtaposition with the mountains in the Faroe Islands...<br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy678Rl7LL9ZHVCuYkR4C6-9iAGaawQ4n4LvQf4PE60LopkAyH38oKxm81LzOLLE7-2-BN98fup-s33jh8SXtFawtgK_wGWuY6vPuFGj7gTEfVAlHhSU8eVbPA6nReH4rg0eYD/s9999/Switzerland-Aug-2016-878.jpg" width="500" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div></div><p>How bout the iPhone X? </p>Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-48877579649839561612015-04-28T07:32:00.000-07:002015-04-28T07:59:04.917-07:00Introducing...<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnmHoVzD30rOeJXMvTHX_jLaTIn2m7-lnwn84chLVwwslLybvS2hQU0DN-AxYc7m6W6ZzwOYPZ7o2ZK6YPXZ-AhoDUAVlg8ciG2HL7p1Bl1qsl812zHXbqJOK7TRH7_dtVV5S/s1600/Dean's%2BBirth%2B-%2Bblog%2Bsize-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnmHoVzD30rOeJXMvTHX_jLaTIn2m7-lnwn84chLVwwslLybvS2hQU0DN-AxYc7m6W6ZzwOYPZ7o2ZK6YPXZ-AhoDUAVlg8ciG2HL7p1Bl1qsl812zHXbqJOK7TRH7_dtVV5S/s1600/Dean's%2BBirth%2B-%2Bblog%2Bsize-10.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dean Haslam Eyre </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">24 April 2015</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:27pm</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7 pounds 15 ounces</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">20 inches </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-f93ef2e8-fde3-da91-f217-5510d92f7ab7" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We brought Dean home from the hospital on Sunday and Zara was sure excited to have her little brother here to show him the ropes. We love this little guy. What a namesake he has on both sides of the family! He has an incredibly calm demeanor and just seems really happy. He has a nice set of lungs as well. Read on for the crazy awesome birth story, more on his name, and some more photos below. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the story:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Baby's due date came and went on the 21st. We enjoyed some some awesome days in the city with mom and dad while we waited for him to come. Julie started having some contractions about 5:30pm on Friday night, though we weren't sure if they were real. They started coming a little more regularly (4 to 5 minutes apart) so she called the midwife at 6:30. The midwife told her to sit down and monitor her contractions and call when she couldn't talk through them anymore. When it got to that point at around 7, she called the midwife again who told her it was time to come in. Julie said we would put Zara down for the night, but the midwife said there wasn't time for that and should be on our way. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our neighbor came over to help put Zara down and we headed down the stairs and jumped in a cab (it was 7:15-7:20 at this point). We had to make a stop on Broadway to pick up out Doula on the way to the hospital. Unfortunately, we got the wussiest taxi driver of all time and he was super nervous about the fact that there was a woman in labor in his cab. I asked him if he'd ever driven a woman in labor before when we first got in and be kind of laughed and said no. When I told him I was serious he got quite nervous. He wouldn't drive aggressively at all. I was ready to kick him out of the taxi and drive the rest of the way. He was convinced Broadway would be faster than another street and of course we hit all kinds of Friday night traffic as we approached Lincoln Center. All the while, Julie's contractions were getting stronger and stronger and closer and closer together. Come on taxi driver and traffic! Finally after about 25 minutes of a ride that took me 7 minutes the next day when I took a different route back to the hospital from my apartment - we made it. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All four of us (me, Julie, Doula, and mom) raced into the hospital and up to the 12th floor. Julie had a big contraction right as we walked in the door and another in the elevator. On the way to the hospital, we learned that the room we were going to be in at the Birthing Center (one floor below Labor and Delivery) was still being cleaned so we would have to go to Triage on the Labor and Delivery floor first. So we headed there and met the midwife. She said she would need to monitor the heartbeat of the baby in Triage for about 20 minutes then we would head down to the Birthing Center on the floor below for delivery. I went into Triage with Julie while mom and our Doula waited in the waiting room. Here is where it got fun. This was about 7:50ish by this point. While in Triage (a room full of three to four areas that were separated by curtains with a gurney inside) you could hear one other lady in there in pretty serious labor (lots of screaming/moaning) so I tried to distract Julie from that. The midwife checked and Julie was at an 8. The midwife told me she was going to go put her scrubs on quickly (she came straight in from home to meet us at the hospital) after she got the heartbeat monitor on Julie for the baby. So, while she was gone - Julie's contractions started getting really big and at one point Julie said she felt like she needed to push! There was no one else in the room now and I was like "whoa, what in the world am I supposed to do"? I did my best to comfort Julie and talk her through the contractions - but on the inside I was thinking "Where in the world is the midwife? How long does it take to put on scrubs"?! When Julie said she wanted to push I kind of yelled out the midwife's name but nothing! After what seemed like forever (probably wasn't really that long) the midwife came back in. She checked Julie again and she was fully dilated! The midwife was checking on the availability of the room in the Birthing Center but finally just said "get me a room on this floor, this baby is coming...we don't have time". </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So they wheeled her out of Triage and down the hall to a delivery room and transferred her onto the bed. I ran back to get Mom and the doula who were still waiting outside the Triage room. I told them we were having the baby here - no time to go down to the Birthing Center. They jumped up and came down and joined us in the delivery room! Baby was coming!!! The time was now 8:16. The midwife was awesome. She stayed so calm and helped Julie through everything so well. Our Doula was amazing too as she and I both tried our best to help Julie through big time contractions. The baby's heart rate was slowing a bit with each contraction, then it would go back up. But ultimately the midwife knew we needed to get the baby out soon. She really encouraged Julie to make it happen. Julie was totally amazing. She was in a lot of pain - I can't even imagine but she was just awesome. Before I knew it the baby's head started to crown. I will spare you all the details, but within a few minutes this little guy made his grand entrance into the world! Wow that was a crazy hour!! What was the gender!? While they were clipping the chord to get him over to the warming table, baby's legs were crossed and I couldn't see to announce the sex. Finally after about 10 seconds of angling for the best position to see - I looked at Julie and said - "it's a boy!" Some of the best words I ever said. At 8:27, 11 minutes after we got into the delivery room, and roughly 45 minutes after we got to the hospital and an hour and 15 minutes since we left our house...our little boy was born!! It was such an incredible rush of adrenaline, emotion, joy, craziness and such a spiritual experience all at the same time. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We now have two kids! Whoa! Both of them have pretty spectacular birth stories to say the least. I have no idea what to expect with our next baby. I am sure Julie has a lot to add to this but she is zonked out after a couple of long long nights at the hospital. We were supposed to be able to be in the birth center where we would have a nice big room with a queen sized bed, no rules about visiting hours and a super relaxed environment where we could go home the next day. But since we didn't make it down to the Birth Center due to the haste of this boy's arrival - Julie had to recover in a shared room with a roommate who had a little baby that was good at crying - and they wouldn't allow me to stay overnight. Lame. But in retrospect it was such an awesome New York experience: from the taxi ride through traffic, to the crazy birth experience, to the shared recovery room and all that went along with all of that. Not sure Julie can look back at it and feel that way quite yet, but she says she will...eventually when she is caught up on sleep in 6 months. It was amazing to look out the windows there on the labor and delivery floor and from the rooms to see the cityscape of New York. Dean is a city boy. I think he will love the city as much as I do. We love this little guy so much and can't wait for you to meet him. Thanks for all your love, support, and prayers. And oh yeah - Julie is totally amazing. She is now mama to two amazing kids and she got them both here safe and sound through some pretty tough birth experiences. You rock Jules. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what’s in the name?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dean Eyre (Grandpa Dean) was my dad’s dad. Dean passed away at age 39 after a battle with cancer when my dad was just 15. Even though I never met Grandpa Dean, I have always felt a closeness to him. He was an incredible man who did so many amazing things during his life here on earth (more on him in a later post). Any time my dad tells a story about Grandpa Dean, there is a spark in his eye and an overwhelming feeling of love and admiration. I know how much my dad looked up to him and I know Dean was loved by all those around him. Our baby Dean is lucky to be named after such an incredible man. I think Grandpa Dean and Grandma Ruthy are smiling down on him and will probably pull a few strings up in heaven to make sure our Dean is watched over and happy during his life. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Haslam is Julie’s maiden name. There are so many incredible people in Julie’s immediate and extended family that carry the Haslam name. We are so grateful for the Haslams and that Dean gets to be a part of their great family. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Good name right? </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are a few more photos from the hospital, Zara meeting her baby brother for the first time, some of the great visitors that came to the hospital, and Zara welcoming baby Dean home. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have to say that one of my favorite moments as a father to this point was bringing Zara into the hospital room to meet Dean for the first time. She was SO excited and SO happy first to just look at him for a few seconds, and then to hold him in her lap. She seriously love that. You can see the look on her face in the photos below. I am so lucky to be the dad of these two. </span><br />
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I'll finish with this one below from when we first brought Dean home. Zara is really good at kisses. I like the look on Dean's face. Insert caption here :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEWpH1QmU0EOCrbk0TCuRC364WeLRRxp-LVzyZUZcQXQTqGzD0uBdjXdp5yBdOOuFrtaMy2f9VSFjVzbbp4LOdLttUtckeDNO3LOmxQ3Jjz6yL2YEOfnxRaIphpt_O8ckNHjz/s1600/IMG_9506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEWpH1QmU0EOCrbk0TCuRC364WeLRRxp-LVzyZUZcQXQTqGzD0uBdjXdp5yBdOOuFrtaMy2f9VSFjVzbbp4LOdLttUtckeDNO3LOmxQ3Jjz6yL2YEOfnxRaIphpt_O8ckNHjz/s1600/IMG_9506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEWpH1QmU0EOCrbk0TCuRC364WeLRRxp-LVzyZUZcQXQTqGzD0uBdjXdp5yBdOOuFrtaMy2f9VSFjVzbbp4LOdLttUtckeDNO3LOmxQ3Jjz6yL2YEOfnxRaIphpt_O8ckNHjz/s1600/IMG_9506.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a>Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-47505380024117256642014-05-11T08:17:00.004-07:002014-05-12T07:23:20.799-07:00This mom rules. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For the last 485 days or so - Julie has been a mother. Wow is she ever good at it. And wow does her little girl love her mama. I am not sure there is anything in the world that makes me more happy than seeing these two together, smiling and laughing - or when Julie gets right down there with Zara and teaches her. Julie is so patient, so full of love, and all smiles (mostly all :) ) when it comes to Zara. She is pleasantly persistent - for example, she kept trying to teach Zara sign language for please and thank you and a few other things. Zara wasn't picking up on it, and several times I said something along the lines of "Julie, you should just give it up - not sure she is going to pick this up" - but as Julie kept mimicking these signs to Zara, and then boom, all of the sudden she is the master of signing please and thank you. She is also the master of throwing her arms up and making the "where did it go?" face and gesture (see photo above - <span style="font-size: xx-small;">thanks to our friend for taking these great shots at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens a few days ago</span>). Pretty sure Julie taught her that one as well.</div>
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I am so lucky that Zara gets to have Julie as her mom. I am so grateful that Julie is someone that every child seems to love - she just has this uncanny ability to connect with kids. She has brought light and happiness to hundreds of kids in her unit at the hospital who are going through some very rough times, she has spent countless hours watching nieces and nephews who love her so, and now she dedicates herself to Zara and becoming the best mother that she can be. I am lucky.</div>
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Today I am also so grateful for the mothers in my life. Especially for my mom, and for Julie's mom. Those are two incredible ladies right there. Happy Mother's Day!<br />
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Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-88789763334344631892013-12-30T18:33:00.001-08:002013-12-30T18:33:28.762-08:00She is one!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Holy Cow! How is today Zara's first birthday?!?! Somehow it has been a year since that amazing night of Zara's feet first miracle birth. What a year it has been. Our first year as parents has been, well, I am not sure I can even describe it. It is like this thing that you can't fully understand until you are a parent and you have your newborn in your arms and she looks deep into your soul - or the first time she smiles at you - or the first time you hear her giggle - or the way she kicks her feet with excitement and smiles at you when she knows you are coming to get her in the morning or after a nap. Being able to experience all of those things for the first time this year has been so special for me and Julie. It has been a huge adjustment, and a crazy change in our lives, but oh so worth it in every way. Then you add in seeing Julie as a mom every day, and it just make me that much more happy.<br />
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We've had a fun few days around here in DC. Zara loved her first Christmas, well - she had no idea what was going on for the most part, but she really liked the wrapping paper. I know I am probably just saying this because I am her dad, but look how cute this little girl is!<br />
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She got this awesome little walker from her Grammie and Grandfather and she squeals every time she sees it. She is going to be walking really soon I think.<br />
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Today for her birthday we played at our house, took a few photos, ran some errands, and capped off the day with a little birthday party that some of our friends joined us for.<br />
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^^^We've been taking monthly photos of Zara on the couch here throughout the year. She used to just sit there or lay there and look. Not any more. She is a serious mover! The only way we could get her to stay in one place long enough to take a photo was to trap her behind all the pillows. Luckily, she thought it was kind of funny too (for a few seconds at least).<br />
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For dinner, we had Zara's favorite: Chipotle. I don't know what it is, but she will wolf down rice and beans and guac like there is no tomorrow. That face she is doing is her "I know what that is, and I want it!" face. <br />
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She loved the sandwich kiss. <br />
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She loved the candle. I wish I had a photo of her eyes squinting at it trying to figure out what it was. <br />
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Mama helped her blow out the candle, then it was off to the exploration. I was hoping for a messy cupcake, but Julie, being the good mom that she is, baked some awesome banana muffins.<br />
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She couldn't figure out what it was for a bit. She turned it upside down, starting tearing it up, then I gave her a taste and she went to town. Basically downed the whole thing. </div>
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Happy Birthday Zara! Pretty crazy to think that one year ago, you looked like this:</div>
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...and a year from now, you'll be walking, talking, and doing all kinds of awesome stuff. Can't wait to see what year two beholds!</div>
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Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-43154959704632062332013-11-03T18:48:00.000-08:002013-11-03T18:48:10.077-08:00We pick the apple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We went apple picking a few weeks ago with friends. It was awesome. It was a little bit dreary, but that didn't stop us. Zara was excited about it for two reasons: she got to suck on apples, and she got to hang out with some of her best buddies. Oh, and she got to try a little taste of an apple fritter.<br />
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We really have some awesome friends. They just love Zara. It makes me so happy to see their excitement each time they see her. She adores them all and loves a little break from the old ball and chain (me and Julie). ^^Julie seems a little annoyed by how much Zara likes them (not really, just a great facial expression on her part for some reason). <br />
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Zara loved sucking on the apples. <br />
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The lighting was as bad as it gets, but I love this photo ^^. You can see what a joy Zara is in the lives of everyone who gets to see her. <br />
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^^ I love the expressions that always result from jumping photos. Check out Zara's face. Hunter looks pretty cool too...like a jumping bunny rabbit.<br />
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And last but not least, our best family photo to date. Julie was on my shoulders trying to grab some apples when it hit me that Zara could complete the tower. She wasn't much help grabbing apples, but it made for an awesome photo.<br />
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We went home and made all things apples. Nothing like a nice crisp apple on a fall day. It's always sad to see summer go, but the fall in DC is about as good as it gets. </div>
Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-68918102309083480822013-10-22T06:16:00.001-07:002013-10-22T06:16:10.556-07:00Eli's Newest Work RecruitIf Zara could, she would work with Eli all day. Electronics and driving the car are all up her alley. Typing on his computer is definitely on her top 5 favorite things to do. Also included on that list would be trying to climb on the toilet (I know- yuck), chewing on any cord in sight, making copies on the copy machine, and of course playing on/in/around the dishwasher.<br />
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After discovering this passion of her's, we brought out our old dead computer. We are sure glad we kept this thing around because now Eli and Zara can do their work together. <br />
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Although sometimes, she still deems it necessary to help a friend out.</div>
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Julie Eyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10084514616287029021noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-81239114114968067862013-10-20T18:14:00.000-07:002013-10-20T18:15:24.732-07:00The Sky<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So far this fall, we have been provided with some amazing sunsets in DC. This one was so awesome I had to run up to the roof to take some photos. The sky was on fire 360 degrees. I love the the fact that there were others up there on the roof taking a break from life and just enjoying the sunset and looking in awe at God's beauty.<br />
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The Washington Monument is under repairs (it cracked and had some issues resulting from the earth quake a couple of years ago), but I think it actually looks pretty cool with all the scaffolding. <br />
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^^^This is looking down toward Alexandria with the Masonic Temple on the left. Every color of red, pink, and orange was in the sky that night. <br />
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^^^Looking across at Arlington. <br />
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I hope the people in that airplane taking off from Reagan were looking out the windows. Pretty amazing stuff right? It's nice to be able to take a break from the hustle of life and feel God giving you a big hug when you look at something like this. </div>
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We went apple picking yesterday and enjoyed the crisp fall air. Zara liked trying to climb the trees, but most of all she just liked sucking on apples and being with our friends who make her feel very well loved. Photos coming soon. </div>
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Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-77692132513622542232013-10-12T06:10:00.001-07:002013-10-12T12:52:12.468-07:00A rainy morning inside<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In a effort to stay better in touch with family and friends, Eli has suggested that I take on some of the blogging in our lives. And although writing has not been my strong points in the past, here it goes. </div>
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Here is a quick sense of what is going in my life right now. I work one 7p-7a or 3-11pm shift a week. It is perfect for two reasons. I totally miss Zara while I am gone and I appreciate my more full time job as a mom so much more. And secondly, it has been so great for Zara and Eli's relationship (since he is the one to watch her). I think they really enjoy that alone time. Our summer has included lots of swimming (on the pool on our roof), park, splash park and other adventures in the DC area.</div>
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This week have been a little slow. Because of the federal government shutdown, most of the museums near us are closed. And I am pretty sure Zara is teething again. (I call her teething-whine-zilla. Just kidding. But really she just isn't quite herself with these first two teeth). And in the last two days, there has been nonstop rain. I used to like the occasional rainy day to curl up with a robe and a good book. However, that gets old pretty fast when you have a Zara who is 10x happier when outside. However, we are making the best of it and forging out of the house no matter what. Especially since it looks like constant rain for the next two days. And who am I kidding, might as well get used to it since winter is coming on. Since summer was fairly nice this year, I am hoping the trend continues and fall lasts until December... :)</div>
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Here are a few things I am loving about being this girl's mom right now. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARlay_x_J4dkgLMPG-jbgrFvTUlwJOogAjNlJpge5-73q7wKdyBmMwR0wyh2cCZA15QROkWrr7QWxBzXPkfrC0bF8zqXPODrYtotKTwSI8dz7Xw9MPV42EETwoNdCyfGyH_toDQ/s1600/zara-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARlay_x_J4dkgLMPG-jbgrFvTUlwJOogAjNlJpge5-73q7wKdyBmMwR0wyh2cCZA15QROkWrr7QWxBzXPkfrC0bF8zqXPODrYtotKTwSI8dz7Xw9MPV42EETwoNdCyfGyH_toDQ/s1600/zara-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love waking up to this tiny bit of bed head each morning. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-icbck0Lt8S0JTCHDUhYLEWSR8fYeTZL5x25BgJ1t5ixCcjwvgJFW9mDbGgVGbQJHcSXJRB8CXyJJP6WThZ658APFt4mODamWqu7ntFGF8aKm5VMW0DdGtUumjLSqzBrdka2tcw/s1600/zara-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-icbck0Lt8S0JTCHDUhYLEWSR8fYeTZL5x25BgJ1t5ixCcjwvgJFW9mDbGgVGbQJHcSXJRB8CXyJJP6WThZ658APFt4mODamWqu7ntFGF8aKm5VMW0DdGtUumjLSqzBrdka2tcw/s1600/zara-2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">She is constantly on her knees and I can't get enough of this view. <br />Baby feet can make one so happy.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVF1CTMBa_YjGgnGfFouJfA04NelxBbxWT7UFUSAKCnrd0hwhjv8ocWH5UephaxkXsmVJbtrFcTnG3F5py4iRgWHKAiqn4xU1iqwjPcQcbDEBUkt-k3qDjYk_jskb7OtmX0bos7w/s1600/zara-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVF1CTMBa_YjGgnGfFouJfA04NelxBbxWT7UFUSAKCnrd0hwhjv8ocWH5UephaxkXsmVJbtrFcTnG3F5py4iRgWHKAiqn4xU1iqwjPcQcbDEBUkt-k3qDjYk_jskb7OtmX0bos7w/s1600/zara-4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even if she is in the other room, I can open the dishwasher and Zara is there in a second.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTMihLtshjkFNrk6fxGNsPW9pdZzL8FIUGTcZLAjuWNS76lhYesupH0JmEWlFrY_ikTEs1CZVQQe0IDj0u5KKnuAXEHjd-xUXfvgvMh_xyd9NWxz41vBDMDXX4G52rci4ha8qxw/s1600/zara-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTMihLtshjkFNrk6fxGNsPW9pdZzL8FIUGTcZLAjuWNS76lhYesupH0JmEWlFrY_ikTEs1CZVQQe0IDj0u5KKnuAXEHjd-xUXfvgvMh_xyd9NWxz41vBDMDXX4G52rci4ha8qxw/s1600/zara-5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">The reflection of light in those blue eyes.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGY9KPxPOBJQubvfSskNn8IF9iX6le9TPJZ71TMt9iauYimi9I35Ynp76tBbCy6x-ZFlJIaRNL2PjYITrWiijUFel0X7HOWlAvv3NZuoTt8TpkXT-U5H5acpcB0CYo_RQcyflTA/s1600/zara-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGY9KPxPOBJQubvfSskNn8IF9iX6le9TPJZ71TMt9iauYimi9I35Ynp76tBbCy6x-ZFlJIaRNL2PjYITrWiijUFel0X7HOWlAvv3NZuoTt8TpkXT-U5H5acpcB0CYo_RQcyflTA/s1600/zara-6.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">She is pulling herself up and walking along, but sometimes she gets stuck<br />and can't figure out how to get down. She will put her hand out and make<br />noise until someone comes to help her. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFm6jYsnlX1Ro5Zf-xOHWmHA4Ufm-x3ZCguIwCuErMMzSI8Bimqu6OA0zyoXsBYId5BT9PEpdeDF_i-7WFxv60XTsyMTr9iAT58Q9ngtRiOdEjNT0fRrBUfUWAQvPV2ken6DzZw/s1600/zara-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFm6jYsnlX1Ro5Zf-xOHWmHA4Ufm-x3ZCguIwCuErMMzSI8Bimqu6OA0zyoXsBYId5BT9PEpdeDF_i-7WFxv60XTsyMTr9iAT58Q9ngtRiOdEjNT0fRrBUfUWAQvPV2ken6DzZw/s1600/zara-3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">And this is just one of the many faces I think is to die for.<br /><br /><br />Happy Saturday!</span></td></tr>
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Julie Eyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10084514616287029021noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-83507536707636813202013-09-22T15:28:00.000-07:002013-09-22T15:37:34.978-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Well. Four months later, I am finishing this last post on our trip to Brazil. Pretty quick turnaround...</div>
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On our last day in Rio, which also happened to be a perfect day weather-wise, we headed up to Corcovado. This is one of those spots I have always wanted to see in person. We had seen the Christ the Redeemer statue from below over the past few days, but suddenly we were right there underneath it on top of the mountain. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsT5LzXz16aZSk2tRX0Y3uENg5GJMSQlVlMjIg9MTeVr9o9tyVHbSvGIJj-0kRiqucC8jmQNtSJozBMUBn2t_9ASZ6QJjv1_XFdA8fcUct9Lb9FG7MThLt81Eu_eawp0FUjsH/s1600/Brazil-700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsT5LzXz16aZSk2tRX0Y3uENg5GJMSQlVlMjIg9MTeVr9o9tyVHbSvGIJj-0kRiqucC8jmQNtSJozBMUBn2t_9ASZ6QJjv1_XFdA8fcUct9Lb9FG7MThLt81Eu_eawp0FUjsH/s1600/Brazil-700.jpg" /></a></div>
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The vans drive you up a crazy steep hill and drop you off in a parking lot...then you traverse up a few stairs and suddenly you see the back of the statue. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKlowaRJQDdz_edJDeHcK0HlRQ8ClI2seMcaPlt9QCG5vJSMUdVLu3WI3VdaLAfrr87juHcN5GZGb19qFjwavZt2iqsM34Pv4Qs8UZ6fe7YBGKiQf2HxqhWmBQ1ct2QbVfAXE/s1600/Brazil-702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKlowaRJQDdz_edJDeHcK0HlRQ8ClI2seMcaPlt9QCG5vJSMUdVLu3WI3VdaLAfrr87juHcN5GZGb19qFjwavZt2iqsM34Pv4Qs8UZ6fe7YBGKiQf2HxqhWmBQ1ct2QbVfAXE/s1600/Brazil-702.jpg" /></a></div>
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At this point, you are literally on top of Rio. There isn't much higher than this. You can see for miles and miles. That's Copacabana behind Julie and her parents. </div>
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Can you find Julie? That is Ipanema beach there on the left </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-4a4WFLi6iPngeAmG2P1LtFP1HouCbcO8BhCoZluKeCqLsnNL_K_YBVs9nvzcvzn3viuFO6BJxIiexgJIKd-f3CI34A17f1fmYqLEj3Gx44Eb5fTCJZkEkiUBWKfcVLXEwuf/s1600/Brazil-707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-4a4WFLi6iPngeAmG2P1LtFP1HouCbcO8BhCoZluKeCqLsnNL_K_YBVs9nvzcvzn3viuFO6BJxIiexgJIKd-f3CI34A17f1fmYqLEj3Gx44Eb5fTCJZkEkiUBWKfcVLXEwuf/s1600/Brazil-707.jpg" /></a></div>
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It was one of those days where they sky is so blue that it almost hurts your eyes. I love the way that Christ is portrayed. There were those who wanted Him to be on a cross, but I am so glad they decided to portray Him in His resurrected glory.</div>
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There were a few other people up there with us enjoying the view. Ok, there were a TON of people. I don't blame them though, amazing spot. </div>
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These photos give you an idea of the amazing topography and the expanse of Rio. Wow, just wow. I can't believe we were up there. </div>
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Lil travel trooper Zara. Again, she was just awesome. Love that girl. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqzExDGfR3UKEoWKBPkydWk_rfz3dVaJzJt54rDsrK2SyRvzoHRHRbQIxH9J98o4StWTLrzFMv6fTIYSxw1ddP3VwDekZwd1IcjrpQlrnQE3SbrkGPYM555gEIYT8YzI2kV0h/s1600/Brazil-738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqzExDGfR3UKEoWKBPkydWk_rfz3dVaJzJt54rDsrK2SyRvzoHRHRbQIxH9J98o4StWTLrzFMv6fTIYSxw1ddP3VwDekZwd1IcjrpQlrnQE3SbrkGPYM555gEIYT8YzI2kV0h/s1600/Brazil-738.jpg" /></a></div>
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Experiencing all of these places with Julie's parents just made it that much for amazing. When you experience a place like this, it is so much fun to be there with people you love to enjoy it together. </div>
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Zara was pretty amazed. this is one of my favorite photos to date of her and her mama. </div>
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After enjoying the mountain top for an hour or so, we made the trek down the mountain. On the way down we were really glad we went up early as there were crazy amounts of people heading up. </div>
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Took one last look at Copacabana and the cool sand structures.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLChKTJXm8xYi_JWU3OdjrVxPdLhFB2J4ocZvuQ1-7NW24l3Usg3VtSojDTV2JtOOvHoBsMlnxjytgXqnX9hpLXDh_wjwCR634qhv8GzKAAPZP3ooNYiX-l3XMWqoN2RU_bPti/s1600/Brazil-829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLChKTJXm8xYi_JWU3OdjrVxPdLhFB2J4ocZvuQ1-7NW24l3Usg3VtSojDTV2JtOOvHoBsMlnxjytgXqnX9hpLXDh_wjwCR634qhv8GzKAAPZP3ooNYiX-l3XMWqoN2RU_bPti/s1600/Brazil-829.jpg" /></a></div>
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There are a lot of confident people on these beaches. I will leave it at that. </div>
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I should say that on one of the days Julie's parents stayed at the apartment with Zara while Julie and I headed to Ipanema beach to enjoy the ocean. It's no wonder that this is such a popular beach. The sand is like powdered sugar soft, and the water is quite the perfect temperature. There were some fun waves to be body surfed as well. </div>
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How amazing is this little girl? If you are wondering if you can travel internationally with a 6 month old, the answer is yes you can. Just do it! It will be tough at times, but oh so worth it. Imagine how much fun it will be for Zara to look at these photos one day. </div>
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So...from there we went back and packed up and headed to the airport. I think our driver that our awesome tour guide Rafa set up for us was trying to set a world record for the fastest drive to the Rio airport. We all just kind of sat there white knuckled, grabbing whatever we could in the car as we swerved through traffic. Luckily we made it one piece. We flew back to Sao Paulo and said our goodbyes to Julie's parents at the airport as they headed back to Registro and we headed into the city to our hotel as we weren't flying back to DC until the next day</div>
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Just a few quick photos of Sao Paulo. We stayed at a really cool hotel thanks to some credit card points. This was the view out of our room. Sao Paulo is HUGE. Buildings for as far as the eye can see. The only place I can compare it to is Tokyo. </div>
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It was pretty rainy so we enjoyed the hotel and a bit of relaxing after non stop action over the previous 9 days or so. </div>
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We ventured into the center of the city. It was eerily like a ghost town. Combo of the fact that it was Sunday, and the world's largest gay pride parade was going on in another part of the city. </div>
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We went to Little Japan and had some Japanese Curry (Sao Paulo has a huge Japanese population). Then we tried to follow the map the concierge at the hotel gave us...bad idea. We got totally lost and well, ended up in not the greatest part of town and suddenly there were no taxis. Luckily, a really nice concierge at a hotel used google translate on his computer to communicate with us and helped us find a taxi to get back to our hotel. It was a pretty weird experience. Not sure we will be going back there any time soon. </div>
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And thus, the four month blogocation comes to an end. Brazil was awesome. We are so glad that we went. It is a memory that we will forever cherish with Julie's parents. How cool are they? They were great travel companions. Julie is a pretty amazing traveler too...as a new mom she totally just dominated and we had so much fun together. The crazy thing is that we covered about .5% of Brazil in the course of the trip. It is a huge country. We'll have to go back again some day. </div>
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Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-11929786773083943892013-08-26T20:10:00.001-07:002013-08-26T20:12:43.983-07:00Rio: Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ready for some more Rio? We rented a really great apartment two bedroom apartment in Ipanema. It was just a couple blocks from the beach. Rio is crazy expensive as far as hotels go, but this apartment was really nice and reasonably priced. After having a great day with Rafa and getting the lay of the land, we ventured out on our own over the next few days. </div>
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We started out walking down to Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. It was so cool to suddenly be standing there on some of the most famous beaches in the world. We got there early in enough in the morning that they were not very crowded (they were packed later in the day). I never realized this, but Copacabana and Ipanema beaches are right next to each other, just separated by an old military fort. You could go out on to the rock peninsula and get a view of both beaches. <br />
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^^Ipanema Beach - lots of people out surfing.<br />
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Perhaps the best part of being in Rio, was the fact that we were there with Julie's parents. Julie's dad had served part of him mission in Rio in the mid 1960s. He hadn't been back since, so it was fun to see what he remembered and hear about his experiences there. </div>
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Zara is after her mother's heart. She loves the beach. Isn't it just beautiful. The sand was like powdered sugar soft.</div>
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Another example of the interesting nature of Rio. Here we are on Ipanema beach, and right there is a huge favela next to some of the most expensive real estate in the city. Those guys have a sweet view. </div>
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More favelas above Copacabana beach. </div>
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We had lunch at a really cool restaurant overlooking the beach out on the peninsula that separates Copacabana and Rio. <br />
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Zara was such a good little traveler. She'd just hang out in the ergo carrier, she quite enjoyed some relaxing on my lap and wearing my sunglasses while we ate lunch. </div>
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From there we decided it was a good day to head over to wear we could take the tram up to the top of Sugaloaf mountain. Something we were very excited about. A place that provided another amazing vista of the city. </div>
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Here is where Zara came in very handy. There was a quite a line to ride the tram, but someone immediately noticed that we had a baby and they whisked us up to the front of the line. Brazilians are so nice to people with babies. Americans on the other hand, often just look at you like, "why didn't you just get a dog?" Brazilians are awesome. There were two separate trams, one about half way up, and then another up to the top. ^^At the first stop about half way up. </div>
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Then boom. We were there, on top of the world. We got there while it was light, then had the pleasure of watching the night take over. Above you can see Copacabana beach on the left, then around the point at the end of the beach is Ipanema. On the right is another part of the city, then the main downtown part of the city is off to my right (you can't see it in this photo). Rio is really big. </div>
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Julie's dad had been looking forward to taking her mom up there for many, many years. It was so fun to feel his excitement to finally be there with his sweetheart. </div>
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It was a bit overcast, but it provided for some beauty photos. ^^Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer Statue off in the distance). </div>
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Zara and her mama loved it. </div>
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The next few photos were taken as night fell. It was amazing up there. Lucky for me I had Julie and Zara there, otherwise I might still be up there taking pictures. Julie is so patient with me when I get a little overexcited about taking pictures.</div>
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See that little white dot in the middle of the photos? That is Corcovado. We spent a long time up there that night just taking in the beauty and looking out on what seemed to be never-ending city lights. We headed back and got some dinner and then fell asleep very quickly.<br />
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The next day we headed to Centro district. The oldest part of Rio that was full of awesome architecture.<br />
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This crazy cathedral takes a modern spin on a church. Looks like a huge pyramid on the outside, and this was the inside. I would guess these stained glass were like 125 feet tall. <br />
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Went to a "kilo" restaurant for lunch where you get whatever you want and pay by weight. This is the Brazilian way of life. Julie's parents have these places down to a science. They knew exactly how much to get and how much it would be. I, on the other hand got a little carried away - but it was really tasty. </div>
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The Opera House. Modeled after the one in Paris. </div>
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There are no paved sidewalks or streets in the part of Rio. They were all cobblestone or cool mosaic stone patterns. </div>
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There are juice bars on every corner. Somehow, all of them are busy too. Just about every fresh fruit imaginable and they'll blend it up for you right there. </div>
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Again, Zara just had fun people watching as we wandered around the city.<br />
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This was one of my favorite spots we visited. Real Gabinete Potugues de Leitura - this library houses over 250,000 volumes of Portuguese literature. I thought the books were cool, but the room was amazing. I think if I spent time in there every day I would become more smart. It was gorgeous. </div>
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From there, we wandered the streets a bit, and walked through some markets. ^^I always love rip-off sports merchandise in other countries ie this awesome Yankees hat sporting Mets colors. Don't wear that sucker in NYC. </div>
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Cool old buildings everywhere. It was fun walking a few steps behind Julie and her parents and taking it all in. See the sidewalks?</div>
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Julie's mom is the best. It was so fun to spend so much time with her and realize that so many of Julie's best traits are a direct result of her mother. </div>
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We finished off the day, and our time in Centro by going to visit a really cool old church. As luck would have it, it closed 3 minutes before we got there. So, we admired the cool doors and took a taxi back to our apartment. </div>
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That night we went to an amazing restaurant. I think that the food is one of the best things about Rio. It was a bit pricey in general, but these places served up some amazing food. If you're ever in Rio, go to Zaza Bistro Tropical (conveniently named after Zara) and Gula Gula. That's it for now. Next and final post from Rio coming soon (Corcovado). Check out Rio Part 1 below if you haven't seen it yet. </div>
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Julie Eyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10084514616287029021noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-66405197733507601782013-08-20T18:39:00.000-07:002013-08-21T05:44:06.604-07:00Blogocation: Rio de Janeiro - Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yo. It has been a busy summer, but it is time to get these photos up on here. This was a trip to remember and I want to have record of it. It has been several months since we were in Rio, but you'll be happy to see these photos - trust me. Not because I am a good photographer, but because anyone with a camera in Rio can take amazing photos cause that place is amazing.<br />
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We left Foz do Iguacu really early in the morning (like 6am so we left our hotel at 4:30). Let's say that we spoiled ourselves the night previous when we had stayed at Hotel das Cataratas and the place we stayed the second night was sub-par to put it nicely. We hopped on a flight and were off to Rio. </div>
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I have to say Rio is a place that I have always wanted to visit...and it lived up to the hype - for real life (s/o to Noah and Kristi there). The topography there is just amazing. No wonder the Portuguese were excited about it when they found it and settled there. Where else in the world is there an amazing city, amazing beaches, all in the shadows of these huge jungle mountains that are shooting up toward the sky everywhere you look? </div>
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We decided that we wanted to hire a guide for our first day in Rio to show us around and take us to the further away places by car. I found Rafa on tripadvisor. This was my best find to date on tripadvisor. Rafa was the most enthusiastic, entertaining, over the top person I have met. Just look him up on tripadvisor if you want to see what I am talking about. I think there were about three hundred exclamation points in the 4 page email he sent me in response to my confirmation that we wanted to reserve his services where he talked about the amazing stuff we would be doing. He had some really nice reviews on tripadvisor so we went for it. It was well worth it. </div>
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^^ The view of some of the crazy mountains flying in<br />
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First Rafa took us around to the other side of the bay to Niteroi - the city where he was born. You can see Rio behind us. See the Christ the Redeemer statue up there on the right?<br />
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The Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum - designed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Niemeyer" target="_blank">Oscar Niemeyer</a>. <br />
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Niemeyer designed it to frame the bay and Rio in the background. <br />
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One example of Rafa's awesomeness. I was taking pictures when he yelled at me, "Eli! Get over here!" I walked to over to him as he was putting this awesome headdress on Julie's dad. He then grabbed another one and put it on me and insisted on taking a photo. Meanwhile, he picked out two really cool necklaces from some tribal natives who were there selling jewelry they had made (see in the photo below) that he bought for Julie and her mom.<br />
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Next we got in the car and drove up this crazy hill to the Parque de Cidade where we were greeted by this breathtaking (literally) view of the bay and Rio. Holy cow it was amazing. It also happens to be a place where the paragliders take off. That is where Rafa paraglides. I almost talked him in to taking me. How cool would that be??<br />
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^^ Another example of awesome Rafa. He orchestrated every aspect of this photo. Julie's dad saved the day.<br />
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Next we drove back across the bay to Santa Teresa. The bohemian cobblestone neighborhood resting on the hillside overlooking the city.<br />
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It was full of amazing street art.<br />
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Zig zagging cobblestone roads hugging the jungle mountainside.<br />
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Santa Teresa houses the Escadaria Selaron. This is an interesting story. Click on that link if you want to know more. Basically, this Chilean guy, Jorge Selaron lived in Santa Teresa. He thought the steps were boring. So one day in 1990, he started putting tile on the steps to make them look better. One tile led to another, and after years of doing this, it turned into an amazing piece of art with Tiles from more than 60 countries. People heard about it and would send him tiles to incorporate into his steps. </div>
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Someone sent him one from Utah and DC.<br />
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^^ Here is his tile artwork of the bay that Rio sits inside of.<br />
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Zara thought it was pretty cool.<br />
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Pretty amazing right? Sadly, Selaron died earlier this year...but it looks like he pretty much had the stairs covered. </div>
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Rio is full of color. So many cool architectural details. </div>
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To finish the day, Rafa took us all the way to the top of Santa Teresa and into Tijuca national park. ^^^ An amazing component of Rio are the favelas. They are everywhere, and they are often just nestled in to other part of the city. They take up a lot of what I would assume is prime real estate. </div>
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We were greeted by some monkeys. </div>
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Rafa took us to his spot up there where the helicopters take off. I wish we had the ridiculous amount of money it cost to take a helicopter ride, but we were pretty much on top of Rio and had a really cool down to the bay and the city and up to the Christ the Redeemer statue. </div>
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Rafa whipped this flag out for a beauty shot that he again orchestrated. Ya Brazil! Notice the airplane - one of smaller Rio airports is right in the city, so you fly right over the city when you come in. Note to self for next time - fly in to that airport. And note to you, get Rafa as your tourguide when you go to Rio. </div>
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^^Sugar Loaf (the Portuguese named it that because they thought that is what it looked like. Not sure I see that. It was an incredible view nonetheless. You can see the trams going up it, that is where we headed the next day. And thus finished our amazing first day in Rio. We finished it off with a trip to a Juice Bar (they are literally on every corner) for some fresh Passion Fruit juice. Mmmm. Come back in the next couple of days to see the next post and more of Rio. </div>
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Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-43089095670444248572013-06-17T19:28:00.002-07:002013-06-26T15:47:32.103-07:00Brazil Part 2: Foz do Iguacu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dang. Iguacu Falls is amazing. I'm going to let the photos do the talking - but man oh man were we blown away by the creations of God. Nature is amazing. Imagine being the person that discovered these falls...<br />
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After a great couple of days in Registro - we got up early in the morning and caught a bus to Curitiba where we would catch a flight to Foz do Iguacu (btw Brazilian buses are super nice). We drove through the rolling hillsides of banana plantations and little towns here and there. It was beautiful.<br />
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We arrived in Foz do Iguacu and hopped in a taxi to our much anticipated splurge of the trip - Hotel Das Cataratas. This was the real deal. It is right in the national park, and you can see the falls from the hotel. We were all pretty excited about the place. <br />
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Especially Zara who enjoyed a nice big bed to hang out on for a few minutes after spending the morning on a bus and a plane. <br />
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We headed out to see the falls on a beautiful evening. ^^This was the view of some of the falls from right outside the hotel - the falls you can see behind us are in Argentina - we were right on the border. I loved the way that we saw the hotels, as we saw these first and were excited, then as we kept walking on the trail, they just got bigger and bigger.<br />
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That is some serious water coming down. I think there are 270 total falls - just everywhere you look. <br />
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The constant mist in the air made it crazy green everywhere - providing for some beautiful moss.<br />
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Oh ya! <br />
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These crazy boats take you up underneath the falls...not the biggest ones, but pretty big falls to say the least. We got excited seeing these boats, so we went on a ride the next day (Julie's parents watched Zara while we went). We were advised to wear our swimsuits and were glad we did as we were soaked to the bone. <br />
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Look at these two beauties ^^^Zara was pretty amazed as you can tell.<br />
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It was so much fun to be there with Julie's parents - and to see their love for Zara - even though she is their 25th grandchild - they made Zara feel like she was their first. <br />
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We were there at sunset - and here is where another cool perk of our hotel being in the national park came in...once the park closed, everyone had to leave, unless you were staying at our hotel. So we basically had the park to ourselves for an hour or so as the sun set. As you can see, it literally is just waterfalls for as long as you can see. The sound was equally amazing. Similar to the roaring ocean, but just this constant powerful crashing of hundreds of waterfalls.<br />
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After walking along the trail for half a mile or so, the water sound started getting louder and louder, until we came around a corner and saw the epicenter of the falls - aka the Devil's Throat. You come in from the left (above) and then follow a bridge out to the vantage point below - looking directly into the Devil's Throat.<br />
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As you can see by Zara's expression ^^^ she was a little thrown off by all this mist and water in the air. We were pretty much soaked after 5 minutes or so. Zara loved it for the most part, but come on - enough is enough she says.<br />
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It was hard not to take a million photos (I think I got close to that). But it was just so cool to be there, just the five of us with these MASSIVE falls to ourselves since the park had closed. </div>
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It was fun to mess around a bit with the aperture and capture the above photo. We enjoyed the falls until we were soaked, and then headed back to the hotel for an amazing dinner complete with Churrasco (Brazilian BBQ) and every kind of food you could imagine.<br />
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Zara was pretty worn out ^^^</div>
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Luckily she had her special crib they set up for her complete with her robe, stuffed animal, and flip flops they brought for her. Lucky little girl!</div>
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We got up early the next morning to go and enjoy the falls before the park opened. Again, we were taken aback with power and majesty of these creations. This day in the creation of the world was probably pretty exciting.<br />
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This shot ^^^ gives you a perspective of the little catwalk/bridge the have built that you can walk out on to. The photo above this one was taken out on the very far right of the catwalk. We walked back up to the hotel and Julie's parents watched Zara while we went on the boat ride up to the falls.<br />
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Here is the hotel from the outside^^^<br />
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And the pool out by the restaurant. Could have spent a few more days at this place. We were flying out early the next morning so we went and stayed at a not so nice place that night. Though the new hotel wasn't much to talk about (had an interesting dining experience there), it was right next to a really cool bird park full of all kinds of tropical birds that would fly right up to you.<br />
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Kathy could make a great bird show person. Look how good she looks with that macau. <br />
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<span id="goog_1302718040"></span><span id="goog_1302718041"></span>The lady in the gift shop there was really excited about Zara and insisted that we all try on their awesome bird hats and take some photos. Zara just liked trying to eat them.<br />
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So there you have it. Iguacu Falls. Holy Cow were they ever awesome. I say you must visit to believe it. We woke up early the next morning to catch a flight to Rio. Which is the next stop on our blogocation. Come back soon to see the beauty of Rio.<br />
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Let's take one last look at these amazing falls.<br />
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Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-14109304317034430742013-06-09T20:24:00.000-07:002013-06-10T06:04:29.528-07:00Brazil Blogocation Part I - Registro<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Julie's parents are currently on their second mission in Brazil...I know, they are awesome. We had planned to go and visit during their first mission, but were not able to. This time around, we realized that Zara would 15 months old before she met two of her grandparents unless we went and visited, and we really wanted to go to Brazil - so we decided to make it happen. Holy cow, are we glad that we decided to go for it. We started planning and little by little a plan came together. First we would go to Registro, the town where Julie's parents are serving for a few days. Then we would go to Iguacu Falls for a couple of days, then on to Rio de Janeiro to finish off the trip. We talked Julie's parents in to coming with us to Iguacu and Rio so we could spend more time with them, and have some Portuguese speakers with us. Zara turned out to be the best traveler of all of us. She was so awesome as she trooped along across the globe - 7 airplanes, a couple of buses, a bunch of taxi rides, hanging out in the Ergo for most of the day (when she wasn't being held by Grama) and doing all of it with a smile. Maybe it is because she achieved celebrity status the second we landed. Brazilians love babies...they are so darn friendly. They just love coming up and talking to Zara in Portuguese and giving her little pats. We just had to smile and act like we knew what they were saying. </div>
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We embarked on the long journey to Sao Paulo - which included a 9.5 hour overnight flight from Atlanta. Zara dug into her books and was awesome. The flight was full, but she just nestled in between us on the seats and slept the night away (can't say the same for myself...I was sitting next to the Brazilian equivalent of Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson, ok, well not really, but he was big and kind of leaned on me while he slept). Nonetheless, we made it and were greeted in Sao Paulo by Julie's dad and the kind, wonderful Branch President of the branch they are serving in. He insisted on giving Julie's dad a ride and coming to pick us up (roughly a 3 hour drive). He was about the nicest guy in the world. He gave us some great Brazil background knowledge to us via Julie's dad who was our translator. </div>
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Since we driving past it, President Joao (branch president) stopped by the Sao Paulo temple so we could see it. It was beautiful, and it was so cool to see the grounds packed with people young and old coming to visit the temple and do temple work. </div>
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Here we realized how much people liked Zara. These cute girls came up and made friends with Zara immediately. After seeing the temple for a few minutes - we jumped in the car and headed for Registro. We hit some nice Sao Paulo traffic, stopped at a restaurant on the side of the road and had some awesome 'welcome to brazil' rice and beans along with some guarana.<br />
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Finally, we made it to Registro where Zara met her Grama for the first time!! She was really excited to meet Grama Kath and be done with traveling for a bit. We changed clothes, and headed out with Mark and Kathy to meet some of their friends in Registro.<br />
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First, we went to visit a family that interestingly enough, were all Japanese. Registro was settled by Japanese immigrants. This family runs the main furniture store in town. They've all lived in Brazil for their whole lives. The grandma (on the right) speaks Japanese, so I had a chance to brush up on my skills. They were so incredibly kind, they even had a present for Zara. <br />
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On the streets of Registro^^ That night we went to a branch dinner that was being held for the adults. We had some more awesome food and had a chance to meet some of the really cool members of the branch. Not a soul spoke English, so we did our best to communicate through smiles and spanish (that they didn't really understand). <br />
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The next day we had the opportunity to go to church. It was so fun to be there in that branch of 60-70 or so. Full of great people. They were pretty excited about Zara. We spent about 90 minutes after church speaking to some of the youth in the ward. They knew a little bit of English, but for the most part we pointed and made gestures again. Julie's mom was there with us and translated. I just love that anywhere you go in the world, you can find a ward or branch to attend and feel the spirit. These people were 100% good. <br />
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President Joao and his family. It was really fun getting to know them a bit. They are an amazing example of faith and sacrifice to serve the Lord.<br />
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After church, we walked around and met a few more families that Mark and Kathy have been working with. We have been reading about these families in emails for the past 6 months, so it was so cool to actually meet them. You can see, that Registro is a fairly humble farming town for the most part - but so full of awesome people. </div>
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After visiting the families, we headed back to Mark and Kathy's apartment and had some dinner. Mark is a big fan of the bananas in Brazil. I think we tried 5 or 6 different kinds while we were there. Everything we ate was accompanied by some amazing fruit. That night, we had homemade passion fruit ice cream. yum. After a great day of meeting people and seeing Registro, we made some last minute preparations before catching a bus early the next morning to Curitiba where we got on a flight to Iguacu Falls. We stayed at a Pousada (bed and breakfast) just down the street from Mark and Kathy's apartment which worked out perfectly. <br />
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Here is the view outside of our room at the Pousada, we were right down on the river. Registro is a placed we won't soon forget. Here we are, these random Americans, yet they made us feel so at home and welcome. It was amazing to see Mark and Kathy in their element as missionaries and see what an impact they are making in the lives of so many, and how much these people love them.<br />
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Check back soon for the next stop of the blogocation...the ridiculously amazing Foz do Iguacu. </div>
Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-37005195867991671072013-05-09T15:31:00.001-07:002013-05-09T15:31:10.356-07:00Five years and a baby later…<p><font size="3">Last week, Julie and I celebrated our 5th anniversary. What the what?! How is it already 2013. It seems like just yesterday it was May 2, 2008 when Julie and I had just been sealed and I was anxiously awaiting Julie coming out of the bride’s room at the temple and seeing her in her wedding dress for the first time. Dang, did she ever look beautiful. Suddenly, it is 2013 and we’ve been married five years and we have this amazing little girl Zara in our lives. It’s crazy to think that we’ve been in DC for nearly 4 of the 5 years…time just goes so fast. I’m so lucky that Julie is mine. </font></p> <p><font size="3">We had a really fun anniversary – went out to breakfast with Zara on the day of at Founding Farmers which is home to the best breakfast in DC. Going out to breakfast is the key to Julie’s heart. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bjmQ3sbikuY/UYwjgYvqn3I/AAAAAAAALrw/l5sPbud3fnA/s1600-h/photo%2525201%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo 1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="photo 1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uHD9SGBfEfQ/UYwjhHiLujI/AAAAAAAALr4/Q33SCC9l7co/photo%2525201_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="483" height="483"></a></p> <p><font size="3">Then on Saturday night, we left Zara with some friends and went up and did some sealings and then went to SEI, our favorite sushi place in DC. And let’s just say that it is really really good. Come to DC and I will prove it. Julie surprised me after and took me to The Source for this wicked good chocolate fondant cake. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Vfw19EFVn8Y/UYwjhlMlloI/AAAAAAAALsA/ckrEbpcepYc/s1600-h/photo%2525202%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo 2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="photo 2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-A5avdpB4gyM/UYwjiUfBeDI/AAAAAAAALsI/NYSwqr3udSk/photo%2525202_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="483" height="483"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OlGACM3u7Y8/UYwjjHCYwhI/AAAAAAAALsQ/KDJ77bm7NVs/s1600-h/photo%2525203%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo 3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="photo 3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-77opzeQCWkw/UYwjj-babzI/AAAAAAAALsY/xnpqveiXbCc/photo%2525203_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="700" height="525"></a></p> <p><font size="3">As is tradition, I made Julie a video highlighting our last year. Don’t feel like you have to watch it, but I am putting it on here to have an easy place to access it. It was such a great year highlighted by the birth of Zara. Speaking of Zara, there are some photos I took of her a few weeks ago below the video. It is really hard not to smile every time I see her. It is weird how much love I feel for her as my daughter. Julie and I talk about that a lot…the bond of an eternal family is one of the greatest parts of God’s plan. Happy 5 years Jules!</font></p> <p><iframe height="393" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/65851301" frameborder="0" width="700" allowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen></iframe></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x8uMhufWVIg/UYwjkmKII-I/AAAAAAAALsg/WDUtGvpvBcU/s1600-h/untitled-1580%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img title="untitled-1580" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="untitled-1580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigShAQotA80OXXsPif3Sr4eBPzOkm0UtpHM9azTW2bO0yXWwSP24GVyh-q-klnrwXjAKbDMgtJrXF5lTeap9iSCA-xjQypri-3Ygo7KvJxMKkIVR6ZIo1CZIyZiGOg0VrC7htT/?imgmax=800" width="700" height="467"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yFSTNprcoh0/UYwjmWrospI/AAAAAAAALsw/ypFehktJQiU/s1600-h/untitled-1849%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="untitled-1849" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="untitled-1849" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AjOB3FUTtX4/UYwjnHKg9CI/AAAAAAAALs4/sxTYKPVbDDs/untitled-1849_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="700" height="467"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MzgqoHxHwt4/UYwjn-CqvII/AAAAAAAALtA/qo_nqkCk034/s1600-h/untitled-1854%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="untitled-1854" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="untitled-1854" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w5LU5G17q1Y/UYwjobKry_I/AAAAAAAALtI/xUA6iSUAeZk/untitled-1854_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="674"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OE_WtzmaO2A/UYwjpCUO2jI/AAAAAAAALtQ/gGwT6MDLeA4/s1600-h/untitled-1857%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="untitled-1857" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="untitled-1857" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OIXA9E-pCkY/UYwjpgKPQDI/AAAAAAAALtY/noTHpjbZM3o/untitled-1857_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="674"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QV_NGykWILU/UYwjqV-l-6I/AAAAAAAALtg/7CjoqlLJjAc/s1600-h/untitled-1890%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="untitled-1890" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="untitled-1890" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KyAmKjjqxqY/UYwjrJwB13I/AAAAAAAALto/2L3NHl6w29g/untitled-1890_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="674"></a></p> Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-8949541882545913322013-03-24T14:05:00.001-07:002013-03-24T14:05:22.427-07:00ni ju nana<br />
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Yesterday, Julie had a birthday. It was an especially unique birthday for her as it was her first as a mom. I just want to put on record here on my blog - that Julie is an amazing person. One of the reasons I wanted to marry Julie was because I saw the way that she interacted with children, and I knew that she was going to be a great mother. Now that Zara has joined us - over these past 12 weeks, my assumption that she would be a good mother has been confirmed. Right now, nothing makes me happier than seeing Julie in her new role as a mom. I don't know what the heck I am doing when it comes to nurturing a child, but Julie just has this natural knack for it. I have to admit, I get a little jealous of the way that Zara looks at her mom - they already have this special bond that only a mother and daughter can have. I know how much Zara loves her mom. I love how this new role is making Julie an even more incredible person - it makes me love her that much more, and makes me realize how lucky I am that she decided to marry me. Zara is lucky to have Julie as her mom, and I am lucky to have Julie as my wife and the mother of my child. <br />
Happy Birthday Julie!Julie Eyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10084514616287029021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-28909893689344238542013-03-03T15:51:00.003-08:002013-03-03T16:04:22.603-08:00Zara's Blessing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last month we had the wicked awesome chance to go to Maui. It was so awesome to see my brother Jo and his family along with Tal, Noah, and my cousins Ben and Sam and their wives. We were all there for a trip with the company that we work for (Imagine Learning). It was so awesome that we happened to be going to the place where Jo lives. More on the trip coming later - but want to get to the important stuff first. </div>
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Upon realizing that we would have so many people that we love so much there with us in Maui, we decided that it would be a wonderful time to give Zara her baby blessing. Earlier in the week Jo and Aja had taken us walking along this beautiful road in upcountry Maui that overlooks the island. We decided that would be a great place for the blessing. So, after going to church with Jo at their ward in Pukalani - we drove over to this beautiful road and slowly drove along until we found the best spot. Here is a view in both directions (thanks to the panoramic iPhone feature and to Ben for taking the pictures).</div>
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Jo and I scouting out the location and deciding this was the spot. </div>
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This is kind or personal, but I was so overwhelmed that whole day with the opportunity that I had to give Zara this special blessing as she embarks on her journey through life. All my life I have seen loving fathers take their baby into their arms and give them their baby blessing. All of the sudden that moment had arrived for me and Julie as Zara's parents. It was so special to have Jo, Tal, Noah, Sam and Ben there to stand in on the blessing and to have all of their wives there as well. It was also awesome to have Ana there to represent Zara's 48 cousins (23 on my side, 25 on Julie's). I felt such an overwhelming love for family that day and for God's plan for us. I love that the centerpiece of God's plan for us is our eternal family. Zara will be with me and Julie forever. All of our family that was there with us and those who were not are all part of an amazing eternal family. It is still surreal to me that we have this daughter for who we are eternally responsible. It is surreal to look in to her eyes and see the love of God and remember that she is my daughter. It is surreal to see Julie and Zara together and to see Julie as a mother. </div>
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This little girl is going to be special. Zara is going to live an extraordinary life in arguably one of the most exciting chapters of history - what will she experience in her life. What will she think when she looks back on these photos and sees our funny 2013 style and our ghetto old iPhone 5s etc. </div>
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Needless to say - it was a very special experience...one that I will never forget. Here are a few photos that we took afterward. </div>
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The lift up and introduce the kid. Zara was pretty excited about officially being Zara Jade Eyre (raising her arms emphatically).</div>
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Sam, Jo, Noah, me, Tal, and Ben. I think I was standing in a hole or something - I am not that much shorter than them am I?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RjbplxembyjRBIk1GRj5R1sjL5jL6zL3HmwwA-vgHflZhjBaR2YzE9tmWRf5AZEh4E4doCNUtErjppldaLPW1DbAncA2FAOQFKEaVb0Ymmdfocl17n2CBT_PD5ZNLKjeuSbk/s1600/Maui+2013-0145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">Joined by <span style="color: black;">Lindsay</span>, Kristi, Anita, Aja, and Ashley - thanks Ana for being the photographer!</span></a></div>
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What an experience. This little girl is amazing. Thanks to Saren for letting us use this beautiful dress that she purchased on Portabello Road in London that was hand made more than 100 years ago. Zara loved it. </div>
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Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-48838011743435980232013-01-13T12:12:00.001-08:002013-01-13T21:58:10.193-08:00Zara’s Birth Story<p><font size="3">Full disclosure: this story is kind of long and detailed; don’t feel obligated to read it (there are some photos below as well). We’ve had a lot of people asking about the birth story and so we thought we would share it. This is written by Julie with a few words from me here and there. </font></p> <p><strong><font size="3">January 1, 2013</font></strong> <p><strong><font size="3">Our Feet First Miracle</font></strong> <p><font size="3">The baby action began at 6:07pm on December 30, 2012. However, this story starts long before December 30. At my 30 week appointment, we found out this baby girl was breech. At this point we didn’t worry because babies are so active and flip around all the time. Then again at 32 weeks the midwives said we still shouldn’t be concerned. However, at 34 weeks the midwife suggested we start doing some activities to get this baby to turn. These crazy tactics included breech tilts, cat/cow yoga moves, going to a chiropractor and acupuncturist, and even diving into the pool over and over again. Doing moxibustion and breech tilts both 3 times a day for 20 minutes became time consuming-especially on days when I worked. Getting this baby to flip soon consumed us. In between appointments I knew she still hadn't turned because I could feel her feet kicking my pelvis constantly. At 36 weeks it was time to do something about it. On December 4th we checked into the hospital and one of the attending physicians, several residents, our midwife, a few nurses, and an anesthesiologist attempted an ECV or External Cephalic Version. It literally means the two doctors (one grabbing the head and one the bum of the baby on the outside of my belly) trying to move the baby through my abdomen. It was good preparation for birth as it was quite uncomfortable. Eli was great to hold my hand the whole time and try to get me to focus on my breathing. But to no avail, the ECV was unsuccessful as baby girl seemed quite content in the position she was in and was unwilling to move. The doctor joked saying the baby was in there saying “try your best, but I am not moving.” After we finished, our midwife had a talk with us. She said if this baby didn’t turn with the ECV and after all of the other stuff we had tried, it was very unlikely she would end up turning. She encouraged us to stop all our attempts to flip her and just enjoy being pregnant for the remainder of the pregnancy (great advice-I enjoyed those final weeks so much more)! The midwife spent some time there with us after the attempted EVC to explain our options moving forward: we could attempt a less common and sometimes frowned upon vaginal breech birth or we could proceed with the norm for breech babies - a Cesarean section.</font> <p><font size="3">To be honest the next 24 hours were some of the hardest of my pregnancy. I felt sort of robbed of having a normal birth experience. Especially after reading so many birthing books, I was getting psyched to experience the crazy ride of giving birth. However, after a trip to the temple the next day, we came away feeling calm and at peace. We were going to do a lot of research and look into the vaginal breech as an option, but knew that what we really wanted in the end was a healthy baby. So we did research, talked to the midwives, and prayed…a lot. (If you are interested check out this website</font><a href="http://breechbirth.ca/Welcome.html"><font size="3"> </font></a><a href="http://breechbirth.ca/Welcome.html"><font size="3">http://breechbirth.ca/Welcome.html</font></a><font size="3">). There are a lot of opinions and studies out there in regard to vaginal breech births; I don’t want to go into all the details, because that would take several more pages. After much thought and prayer, coupled with extensive research and talking to experts, we decided that my body was meant for birthing and if we took the right steps, we felt this baby girl could join us safely through a vaginal breech birth. When I say decided, it just means that we were not going to schedule a C section at that time (which could have been an option). We decided that no matter what, I wanted to go into labor naturally, just in case she decided to flip at the last minute. There were several factors that would impact our ultimate ability and decision to proceed with the breech birth once labor would start. First of all, there were only three doctors at George Washington University Hospital that are trained in vaginal breech deliveries. The midwives informed us of these three and said that all three worked very closely with the midwives - and one of them would be there to assist the midwife in the delivery room. These three doctors had told the midwives that they would come in to assist even if they weren’t on call. Another factor/worry was the possibility of the baby’s head getting stuck in the pelvis on the way out. We did an ultrasound at 38 weeks and the baby was in the 50th percentile and her head was in the 30th so that was very reassuring. However, we decided not to do a pelvic exam until I went into labor because we did not want to disturb anything and risk my water breaking (more risk for a prolapsed cord with breech because the head is not blocking the cervix). We knew that due to these variables, the stars were going to have to align in order to this baby to come safely via a vaginal breech.</font> <p><font size="3">December 26 (her due date) came and went. Eli had made his goal for work and I finished my last day of work on December 21. We enjoyed a week off together, going to movies, eating out, and making final preparations for the baby. By the time the 26th came around, we were excited and ready for her to come. We knew that the further we made it past the due date, the bigger the baby would get: thus increasing chances of it being harder for baby to make it out without any complications. We had another midwife appointment on the 28th. During this appointment we found out my blood pressure was a little high. We did blood work and everything was fine, but it did make us even more ready for this baby girl to come. We decided to not do a vaginal exam to see if I have dilated. We really did not want to risk having my water break. Once my water would break we would need to go to the hospital immediately to have the baby’s heart rate monitored because (like I mentioned before) with a breech presentation there is a higher chance that the cord could be compressed. So we did not want to disturb the peace down there; and to be honest being dilated doesn’t really necessarily mean anything so we figured we would wait.</font> <p><font size="3">On Saturday morning we got up to exercise (like we had been doing trying to get the baby to come). I walked for 50 minutes and then walked the stairs for 10 minutes. We decided to spend the morning cleaning out the kitchen. We spent probably 3 hours deep cleaning the kitchen and letting Julie get her nesting fix. Still no action. (Up until this point I hadn’t really had any noticeable contractions- just mild Braxton hicks like I had been having my whole pregnancy). We continued cleaning and doing laundry until about 4pm. We decided that maybe we should try to go out and get some spicy food to get things going. At 5pm I reminded Eli that we feel asleep watching the new Batman movie the night before and maybe we should finish the last 30 minutes before we go to dinner so we could return it to redbox. We started watching, but were interrupted by a call from my parents (who are missionaries for our church in Brazil). They don’t have access to a phone all the time so I immediately answered. My mom asked about progress and I told her no action. She said “I think she is going to be a January baby.” I promptly replied that I hope not because the bigger she gets, the more concerned we become. Also, one of the midwives that we were close to would be on call this weekend so it would work out perfectly if she came sooner. So my faith filled mother knowing how anxious I was said “alright, I will go pray about that now.” We turned the movie back on and literally 20 minutes later (6:07pm), at the climax of the movie, I started to feel some leaking in my pants-kind of normal in pregnancy-but then it felt like a gush. I jumped off the couch and ran into the shower shouting to Eli that I think my water just broke. He followed me in there and asked if I was sure. I just laughed and turned around for him. I was wearing bright red pants and it looked like I had a water balloon thrown at me. I quickly called the midwife and told her what happened. “Remember how we were trying to keep my water in tact as long as possible?” I said. She replied with “you’re kidding! Well just make sure that baby is still moving and get over here to the hospital as soon as you can.” She said it very calmly, but I was a little worried because we would have no idea where the cord was (if it was being compressed) and until I could hear that baby’s heart rate on the monitor I was worried. So there I was, standing in the shower still leaking a lot of fluid, anxiously giving Eli last minute instructions on things to grab so we could rush to the hospital. We had to laugh about it because it was like a scene from a movie where the water breaks and the couple rushes to the hospital. We have made fun of that scene so many times (because when does it ever go that fast?), but there we were frantically running around trying to get out the door. Eli was a mix of total excitement and a little bit of shock as her ran around gathering the few things. The baby was coming!! </font> <p><font size="3">We called a few family members as we headed to the hospital (Yea for going to the hospital at 7pm on Saturday night-no traffic in DC)! Eli wanted to drive fast and run some red lights as that is the image he always had in the head, but I trumped that idea, opting for safety over a thrill ride. I felt a contraction or two on the way over, but I was still just anxious about the heart rate, so I didn’t really notice them. We dropped the car off and headed up to the 3rd floor of the hospital (me trying to walk with my legs together to avoid leaking fluid all over). We checked in at the front desk and asked for a monitor right away. Our midwife came over and we hugged and laughed that this baby did come at the perfect time. She strapped the heart rate monitor on and there was the baby’s heart rate going strong! What a sweet sound!! Eli and I looked at each other and smiled as here we were, sitting in the delivery room getting ready to have a baby! In the next hour we got checked in (I made Eli go get dinner), got an IV placed, talked to anesthesia (just in case), and all that jazz. I started having contractions about every 5 minutes. But, as we were busy getting checked in, I was just trying to ignore them. Who would have thought we wouldn’t even need to time contractions on our cool IPhone app? </font> <p><font size="3">The next big question was whether any of the three doctors who would assist in the breech delivery would be available to come in (since none of them were on call that night, and it was the middle of the holidays). Our midwife said two of them were out of town so she would try the third. Basically, if he was unavailable we would be headed to operating room to have a C section. She came back and said that he was on his way! My nurse said how lucky we were because he was by far her favorite OB. She made a joke that he must have had a baby at some point because he is so caring and understanding. Needless to say we were overjoyed! Then our midwife and her student midwife checked me and I was 4 cm dilated and 80% effaced. We were also overjoyed by this. Considering contractions were not too bad at this point, I was feeling very lucky. The next big question was how my pelvis felt upon examination. We also knew that if the OB examined me and felt (even a little bit concerned about the size of my pelvis) we would be going to the OR. My nurse then put the portable heart rate and contraction monitors on me which allowed me to walk around during/between contractions. Around 9pm the doctor came in and did an exam. I was now dilated to 5cm and he told us that I have a “roomy pelvis” which was music to our ears. He sat down and talked with us about all the concerns with breech birth (we had already had these conversations many times with the midwives) but we wanted to ask him as well now that we were in the moment. He said he felt confident about everything and we could proceed if we felt okay. His best comment was, “Well, if there is a book written for babies on how to come out if they are breech, your baby must have ready it!” Eli and I felt good from the moment we met this doctor, so we decided to go for it. He said goodnight and went to one of the break rooms to get some sleep. The midwife said she would call him when needed (He did after all come in on his day off). Our two midwives stayed and chatted with Eli and I for the next hour (as I paced around the room - being up right/standing/walking is the best way to labor with breech so the baby moves down). I knew they were trying to distract me as long as possible and it worked. I had to put on the huge pads (Eli called them diapers) because my water was still leaking all over the place - and when I laughed at a joke a ton came out which made me laugh even more - this laughter then quickly disappeared when a contraction would start :).</font> <p><font size="3">A few minutes later, the midwives had another patient come in that was in labor, so they had to leave. I joked that the other woman better not steal my thunder! I started feeling my contractions stronger around 10 or 10:30. Walking felt good and I just kept working on my breathing. I did start to feel the contractions in my back (before I just felt them in my pelvis). Before the midwife left she showed Eli how to put pressure on my back which helped a lot. The next hour felt progressive (at first I wrote "good", but I don’t think I can say contractions and good in the same sentence), I was starting to really feel it, but I still felt in control. We had been communicating with our doula and told her to come around 11pm. I headed into the shower at this point for some relief (which felt amazing - too bad I couldn’t get into the birthing tub because of my water breaking - next time). Thank goodness for water proof monitors. (Baby girl’s heart rate sounded great this whole time). Toward the end of the shower, our doula arrived just as I really started feeling lots of pressure in my bum with each contraction. It was around midnight when I felt pain in my pelvis, back, bum, and nausea with each contraction. Our doula was beyond a life-saving. She had a this shawl/wrap that she put around my hips and pull tight during contractions that helped take pressure off my hips, she also used a TENS device for my back, and a roller to go up and down during contractions. About 1:30 I asked the doula what she thought I was dilated to because I didn’t think I could do this much longer. I know many women are in labor for much longer, but the intensity of contractions and coming every 2-3 apart was unbearable. I just kept thinking I have only been in labor for 7 hours, if I have to do this for another 4 or 5 I can’t go on. You really have no idea what it is like until you go through it. Between 1:30 and 2:30 I reached the most intense contractions as I found my deep moan and just went with it. I was going back and forth between standing or kneeling on the bed just trying to survive each contraction. Our midwives came back in at 2am. The other patient had given birth. I was jealous.</font> <p><font size="3">At about 2:30 our midwife asked if I needed to push and I just moaned “I have no idea, I just feel so much pressure.” She checked me and said she didn’t see cervix so she would go call the OB. I was so relieved! We had talked before about how important it was to wait to push until I couldn’t keep that baby in anymore (because once she starts coming you don’t want a breech baby to hang out in the birth canal as long as a normal birth). I started pushing a few minutes later. I guess (though I was totally out of it), but there were about 15 people in the room. I had agreed to let anyone in the room who wanted to come in since this would be a good teaching moment for our doctor and midwife. The lights were totally out with the exception of one spotlight and everyone was very quiet. Baby girl’s foot came out a few pushes in. I was pretty excited because it just kind of slipped out. I thought, wow this isn’t going to be too bad. Haha-little did I know. With another push her other foot came out. I just remember our midwife saying “Julie, look down at your babies feet.” I looked down (I was giving birth on hands and knees because it is the best way to open the pelvis) and thought “oh no! Those are bigger than I pictured in my mind”. The next 5-8 contractions were so indescribable. I just had all this pressure and tried to push but wasn’t making a lot of progress. Finding out exactly from Eli later, I guess her feet would come out until her knees and then after the contractions they would retract as her legs were crossed. Everyone just kept saying I was doing so well so I didn’t really know what was going on. After about 6 contractions I thought “I just have just got to push so hard this time.” So I used my entire body and baby girl slid out to her stomach -”slide out” what am I saying here! Ha! - I felt that ring of fire! A few more pushes and she was out to her chest. I will let Eli do the justice on what it looked like because I heard what was going but didn’t see until later. (He actually watched)! </font> <p><font size="3">This Eli chiming in here - this was SO amazing. I am not good with blood, so I thought I would probably faint, but somehow I was overcome with superhuman strength and was able to watch and film the whole thing. It was so amazing to see this baby coming out exact opposite the way she was supposed to be coming (feet instead of head first). Only 4% of babies are breech, and a small percentage of breech babies are footling breech (feet first), so I knew we were experiencing something very rare here! Back to Julie’s account: Another couple pushes and her arms came out one by one (Eli here again, it was so amazing to see baby girl’s body move and contort in various ways to find room to get her various limbs and body parts out - it’s no wonder it is called the miracle of birth!). We then got to the point where baby girl’s whole body was out with the exception of her head. Eli later told me that she was basically just sitting there Indian style on the bed waiting for her head to come out. The moment I had been worried about for over a month now had come. From the moment I started pushing I kept asking how her heart rate was and it stayed steady. Her cord was also pulsing great so we knew it wasn’t compressed. Now the head- I was pushing with everything inside of me-all I cared about was getting that baby out. Our midwife tried to put her index finger into the baby’s mouth and pull down because that can help the baby tuck her head (a procedure they had told us about beforehand). It didn’t work. Then the doctor tried. Again it didn’t work. So he quickly decided we needed to get me on my back to use forceps to assist it getting baby girl’s head out. Everyone helped flipped me over on my back. He put the forceps in (which included wrapping in a blanket type thing and putting the forceps through the blanket to distribute the pull in the case that he needed to do so) and ever so gently (according to my amazing doula and nurse and Eli) turned the baby’s head, no pulling, and 10 seconds later her head popped out. 3:08AM. Exactly 9 hours after my water broke. There she was!!! They had planned on just letting her stay on my chest and keep the cord attached, but with the forceps the NICU team (who HAD to be there since it was considered a high risk birth) wanted to see her soon. They clipped the cord super-fast (sorry Eli) and headed over to the table where they began patting and suctioning. We knew she wouldn’t be screaming right away since it was a breech birth, but within about 60 seconds she was totally crying for us. I birthed the placenta and got stitched up (2nd degree tear) and they brought our new baby girl over to me. I was completely exhausted with emotions and shocked by what just happened, but I will never forget that first moment she came to me. It is a moment I will not even try to describe. That new song from Les Mis called “Suddenly” explains my feelings pretty well. </font> <p><font size="3">Needless to say after it was all over Eli and I were talking and we just knew that angels were in the room that day guiding the doctor and wife. Everything went perfectly. We couldn’t have planned it better. We received an answer to our prayers and the prayers of our family and friends throughout the world: our baby joined us safely and she was healthy. We cannot thank everyone enough for those prayers. We felt them every moment of this miraculous and crazy awesome event. </font> <p><font size="3">Love overflows here in the Eyre home for our feet first miracle- Zara Jade Eyre.</font> <p><font size="3">Two quick disclosures: We didn’t include the name of our midwife and doctor because we haven’t seen them yet to ask permission. If you want to know more about them personally just ask me and I will rave on and on about them. Second I am not supporting breech vaginal birth in every circumstance. This decision came after a lot of research and prayers. But if anyone would like to talk to me more about it I would love to chat.</font> <p><font size="3">And a quick few words by Eli: Julie was an absolute wonder woman throughout this whole experience. She did this all naturally. Once she decided on the breech birth, because she was going to deliver on her hands and knees, an epidural was out of the question. With the amount of stress and anxiety I felt, I can only imagine what was going through Julie’s mind, as she was the one that was actually going to giving birth to this baby. Julie handled everything with such a great level of peace and with a sense of humor. Her one liners during her contractions were some of the funniest things I have ever heard her say. This whole experience strengthened our testimony of the power of faith and prayer. This was as real as those two things have ever been for us. There is no doubt that God was in the details of this birth. Julie is an amazing woman and did something that hasn’t been done a whole lot before. Most importantly, she is an amazing mother. There is nothing that can quite describe the feelings of love that you feel for a newborn, and beyond that, there is nothing that can quite describe the level of love that you feel for the mother of your child as she looks into the baby’s eyes and you see that incredible mother baby bond.</font> <p><font size="3">Sorry this was kind of long, but we want this documented so Zara can read it someday - and we want to remember the details of this miracle. Now, we just have to figure out this whole parenting thing... </font> <p><font size="3">Now for the fun part, here are a few photos of the miraculous adventure of Zara’s birth:</font> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wjGPVRGyIO0/UPMU-8QLbxI/AAAAAAAALj4/OLeI8oTlk9o/s1600-h/IMG_0550%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0550" border="0" alt="IMG_0550" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-c4BzYQQBaOI/UPMU_RhDRYI/AAAAAAAALkA/8gTLrN76FOU/IMG_0550_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">Here Julie is standing in the shower talking to the midwife on the phone when her water broke. Look at those pants! I should have taken a photo of the back. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113563392964435874740/BabyZara?authkey=Gv1sRgCNSSpL3x2t-s8AE#5833011817800359554">This link</a> will take you to a picture that I took of Zara’s feet when they first started coming out – it is cropped down to her feet, but didn’t want to force it on anyone, so click on that <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113563392964435874740/BabyZara?authkey=Gv1sRgCNSSpL3x2t-s8AE#5833011817800359554">link</a> in the case that you’d like to see it. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YrdB3E0RqDE/UPMVABwkRCI/AAAAAAAALkI/D6G2AsLmA4I/s1600-h/IMG_0640%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0640" border="0" alt="IMG_0640" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PV7qoYdPywE/UPMVAjPJnNI/AAAAAAAALkQ/3X_y762nMg4/IMG_0640_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">Here we are with the amazing people that helped bring Zara in to the world. Seriously amazing people. I just wanted to give them all a big hug after Zara was born. And I did just that! </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uMANGC47nMY/UPMVBQpV4tI/AAAAAAAALkY/h9nTZsO5600/s1600-h/IMG_0675%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0675" border="0" alt="IMG_0675" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dRmMEbPtqYU/UPMVB1pPekI/AAAAAAAALkg/sTG7-heUvuw/IMG_0675_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">She already has me wrapped around her finger. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GJx_FnIFSsY/UPMVC7eOO4I/AAAAAAAALko/oT2Ts28AMsI/s1600-h/IMG_0681%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0681" border="0" alt="IMG_0681" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FUlyfU13EEI/UPMVDZwxo2I/AAAAAAAALkw/x0lwxRfeG1M/IMG_0681_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">What the what?! We are parents??</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-V4y7ifchTQg/UPMVDxhjqpI/AAAAAAAALk4/YauuuOe7LY8/s1600-h/IMG_0699%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0699" border="0" alt="IMG_0699" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LTj08AIOzDE/UPMVEe0IiwI/AAAAAAAALlA/QNrwuhTT38U/IMG_0699_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vAdRhooa53w/UPMVE83WDBI/AAAAAAAALlI/kHZ0umJSp0Y/s1600-h/IMG_0704%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0704" border="0" alt="IMG_0704" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cnaW-bLh5Zo/UPMVFilGCXI/AAAAAAAALlQ/fM-qpFAqfM0/IMG_0704_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">Julie talking to hear parents in Brazil. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HRNp5HoOLjc/UPMVGZ_eQ8I/AAAAAAAALlY/qDQp7Wl9DMg/s1600-h/IMG_0729%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0729" border="0" alt="IMG_0729" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qIa4xPAO_TI/UPMVG_nC3oI/AAAAAAAALlg/xMm0NbjEBBc/IMG_0729_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">Her birth certificate sheet.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-opYBvqV0QRk/UPMVHYNQ5YI/AAAAAAAALlo/DqOE2wAphTQ/s1600-h/IMG_0737%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0737" border="0" alt="IMG_0737" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-x-7x0DkkOrI/UPMVIA39g2I/AAAAAAAALlw/Rzzlo_PCqSY/IMG_0737_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">Grammie to the rescue! My mom came in the day we left the hospital (I went and picked her up at the airport, then we went and picked Julie and Zara up from the hospital and went home. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xcl6OaJvJBM/UPMVI7NPmxI/AAAAAAAALl4/-b7mFeR6aLw/s1600-h/IMG_0744%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0744" border="0" alt="IMG_0744" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9i4maI-MxLU/UPMVJbRuUdI/AAAAAAAALmA/J6nk69IzCUg/IMG_0744_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">My mom is amazing. We ate like royalty and learned the secrets from them best! We wish we could have had Julie’s mom here, but she is serving a mission in Brazil with Julie’s Dad. We are looking forward to bring Zara down there soon to meet her grandparents.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PIsjpgD901w/UPMVJ0SqneI/AAAAAAAALmI/3SuPOTYrHTk/s1600-h/IMG_0750%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0750" border="0" alt="IMG_0750" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8LnB8TCDBSc/UPMVKjTC70I/AAAAAAAALmQ/1vcyTBCxPJg/IMG_0750_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a> Her head didn’t quite fill out the little hat we had that we wondered if she’d be small enough to fit in to. </font></p> <p><font size="3">There you have it. Zara is two weeks old today and is the best thing we ever could have asked for. </font></p> Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-49964712857591010532013-01-10T09:41:00.001-08:002013-01-10T09:41:39.114-08:00Introducing…<p style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; font-family: ; background-position: 0% 0%; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><font face="Trebuchet MS"><font style="font-size: 13.5pt" color="#222222"></font></font></span> </p> <p style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; font-family: ; background-position: 0% 0%; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><font face="Trebuchet MS"><font style="font-size: 13.5pt" color="#222222"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4hFWzLRac0g/UO79KSvkFwI/AAAAAAAALgg/hrFNNV2DtKs/s1600-h/What%252520is%252520her%252520name%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="What is her name" border="0" alt="What is her name" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zmGERbry5kQ/UO79K8aQ9xI/AAAAAAAALgo/6123XmYZXBA/What%252520is%252520her%252520name_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="245"></a></font></font></span></p> <p style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; font-family: ; background-position: 0% 0%; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><font face="Trebuchet MS"><font style="font-size: 13.5pt" color="#222222"></font></font></span> </p> <p style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; font-family: ; background-position: 0% 0%; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><font color="#222222" size="4"><strong>Name: above</strong></font></span></p> <p style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: white" class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: ; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: arial"><font color="#222222" size="4">Born December 30, 2012 at 3:08am</font></span><span style="font-family: ; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"></span></strong></p> <p style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: white" class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: ; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: arial"><font color="#222222" size="4">7 pounds 6 ounces</font></span><span style="font-family: ; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"></span></strong></p> <p style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: white" class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: ; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: arial"><font color="#222222" size="4">20 inches long</font></span><span style="font-family: ; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"></span></strong></p> <p style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: white" class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: ; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: arial"><font color="#222222" size="4">Blue eyes</font></span><span style="font-family: ; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"></span></strong></p> <p style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: white" class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: ; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: arial"><font color="#222222" size="4">Blond hair (we think)</font></span><span style="font-family: ; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"></span></strong></p> <p style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: white" class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: ; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: arial"><font color="#222222" size="4">Born feet first</font></span><span style="font-family: ; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"></span></strong></p> <p style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: white" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: arial"><font color="#222222" size="4"><strong>Amazing mother (Julie)</strong></font></span></p> <p><font size="3">We love this little girl so much. So far she has been an absolute angel. I don’t pride myself in taking photos of people (not something I am used to doing), but I got some good advice from Saydi and we gave it a shot.</font> <font size="3">Here she is at one week:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sbvV7qwnhfc/UO79MFEEbVI/AAAAAAAALgw/FUSMO1BWw2E/s1600-h/IMG_0882%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0882" border="0" alt="IMG_0882" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-c1NFAIB3jWU/UO79MqHSyhI/AAAAAAAALg4/gdMC1-RpG8c/IMG_0882_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dM4UpdQKDGU/UO79NSuVZnI/AAAAAAAALhA/OvRzWEVYDTY/s1600-h/IMG_0894%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0894" border="0" alt="IMG_0894" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pGpHBeChgCI/UO79OGfWeTI/AAAAAAAALhI/lghuKrwVq9Y/IMG_0894_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AYtltSQ7Kik/UO79O7KmZpI/AAAAAAAALhQ/QlZphPqFtgA/s1600-h/IMG_0889%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0889" border="0" alt="IMG_0889" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rsAtPWgmtlE/UO79PdG75VI/AAAAAAAALhY/PP9QyZnG0Yw/IMG_0889_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZVzldxEPApk/UO79QJpaSQI/AAAAAAAALhg/OA_YvLNC7ZM/s1600-h/IMG_0903%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0903" border="0" alt="IMG_0903" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g_YsjzJABcM/UO79QhKzlkI/AAAAAAAALho/UN7kHg-sKwc/IMG_0903_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KDn8YxolCDY/UO79Rar-7NI/AAAAAAAALhw/4T02kcCJS08/s1600-h/IMG_0909%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0909" border="0" alt="IMG_0909" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AQwtlFvEHBI/UO79SNw0B2I/AAAAAAAALh4/9NCQ8agBI-8/IMG_0909_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqJpGl33o7_PmcrmpDmBxxZclXc-TKSB0QW-SV_jA6hRSCjRGHWs5nA2SklHvJsiwTvQiPG5PiPeAZQMnOpwe6dD0jumeGIKMnjgSo0wHpfk4Qu-HV6yfDHL4nLEGIFo__K7x/s1600-h/IMG_0911%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0911" border="0" alt="IMG_0911" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JgQfqKuFPUM/UO79TIt-7LI/AAAAAAAALiI/CPqJ-x-SbDU/IMG_0911_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IAZsH4lY0j4/UO79T9n_PHI/AAAAAAAALiQ/odd5krTJh0k/s1600-h/IMG_0913%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0913" border="0" alt="IMG_0913" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WT7B4ESuaDI/UO79UdF4qRI/AAAAAAAALiY/KyycYOtzlXU/IMG_0913_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></p> <p><font size="3">Zara is quite the little girl. We have only known her for 11 days, but the bond you feel as a parent is just so cool. They say that babies come with their personalities intact – and I think that is the case with Zara. She seems to be very sweet, very laid back, very strong willed (judging by the fact that she wouldn’t flip inside Julie and came out feet first), and very aware of her surroundings. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Julie and I are working on our Cliff Notes version of the birth story and will be posting it on here soon for those that are interested. To put it briefly, it was a miracle. There were angels in there assisting the midwife and the doctor as Zara came in to the world feet first and ready to start her life!</font></p> Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-72683134838117041542012-12-16T09:40:00.001-08:002012-12-16T09:58:41.323-08:00paris finale<p><font size="3">We finished our trip with another awesome day in Paris. I really really like that city. It just has all the components that make an amazing city: food, amazing public transport, museums, amazing architecture, every kind of person you can imagine, history, a river, amazing public parks/gardens… to name a few. And, like I said in the first post, being there with a pregnant woman makes everyone really nice to you. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7Spu8Uo9gqc/UM4Gr9MtjzI/AAAAAAAALWo/wMMuajjo8RA/s1600-h/IMG_0198%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0198" border="0" alt="IMG_0198" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ga92iqXpJmE/UM4Gsr099aI/AAAAAAAALWw/Vw3gLtv7M-8/IMG_0198_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">We started out the day walking past this building again. Hotel de Ville – pretty amazing city administration building. No wonder it is such a cool city. We then took the hike up the steps to the top of Notre Dame. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-L8M6f6nsV6I/UM4GtFg9fEI/AAAAAAAALW0/0qOAwDCdcu4/s1600-h/IMG_0203%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0203" border="0" alt="IMG_0203" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ei9sVHY5drs/UM4Gtg7WRAI/AAAAAAAALXA/tbR37UYe0BE/IMG_0203_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">This guy is cool. Just chillin’ there watching over the city.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hvlBLIlKdBg/UM4GuXdBdXI/AAAAAAAALXI/-seqqUVhcfM/s1600-h/IMG_0205%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0205" border="0" alt="IMG_0205" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HIxxq-Lrigo/UM4GvJGPFUI/AAAAAAAALXQ/N7gbBDwUUmc/IMG_0205_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">I think the one of the coolest parts of being up there was the view of all of the Paris rooftops. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w3JW8yoi5V8/UM4GvyWzSLI/AAAAAAAALXY/GM6Y0XxLwJA/s1600-h/IMG_0211%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0211" border="0" alt="IMG_0211" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GTEG1V2ket0/UM4GwvUCAAI/AAAAAAAALXg/j3bLaALaYlg/IMG_0211_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">This guy deserves a second photo. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Mq9tFlRpo2Y/UM4GxdchwKI/AAAAAAAALXo/Suz-Op1qJ7Q/s1600-h/IMG_0229%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0229" border="0" alt="IMG_0229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDJwux3rAipLBF1yoN9Xq0MJK6fciVuG8WuceQwlaL6HfQNppWLQZdhq2R68qCoGSWKXZ8acHpg1nb3wsvjI8AZXrdbnSA7dLmslNobyyjcQx3GlCNTSVAZ4bdF8G6MebCxsB/?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIN-OtCBuuaxCB98-fG00kWiLqZJrXaKWDYebHzuBzR5Ocn4VkuVdevwFDcnqpXQ1d7urIW1_kIT148srS6_V8-1LNqQ1eJ7VbOJTRINN_v_wXfN_qslpvbGW9S5uewPZmmw0r/s1600-h/IMG_0242%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0242" border="0" alt="IMG_0242" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BdAbikduODo/UM4GzifL6XI/AAAAAAAALYA/e-mEJdmnPW4/IMG_0242_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MhAV9d1T7tw/UM4G0T-y7YI/AAAAAAAALYI/86zhQUMfKXA/s1600-h/IMG_0245%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0245" border="0" alt="IMG_0245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_vNl1MQ_IhIRmOmA0qtmNdK4w85_DksI2ORnjVCPlmYB-c_qbbK2t96mfJioCjU2XcU670ljIM8WJSzjv1hQntaYuGpY2huCfH5f208cjOu-qtBavgJktSk9dWH7jExOVYnM/?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-z1e2y-GX_VU/UM4G2jy22hI/AAAAAAAALYY/C5ChKIn_8bg/s1600-h/IMG_0248%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0248" border="0" alt="IMG_0248" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ptomOkBh7aI/UM4G3WPcYgI/AAAAAAAALYg/eA9XqbxkA6c/IMG_0248_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-z2QRJQcik5E/UM4G4BhvxUI/AAAAAAAALYo/z1imZO78MCk/s1600-h/IMG_0253%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0253" border="0" alt="IMG_0253" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1EEeqIVa26s/UM4G464UbmI/AAAAAAAALYw/y-XfklfxKtA/IMG_0253_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_UheZEkm4mo/UM4G5pj1eFI/AAAAAAAALY4/PQvFNWZBFjg/s1600-h/IMG_0264%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0264" border="0" alt="IMG_0264" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QL1S0dgpLrg/UM4G6X7RYKI/AAAAAAAALZA/VXkBDJz8U2A/IMG_0264_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Ls29k-rtnk6ryhNKnMG5Bb6ooYPOCx6fOH_YEqR1sb8CHi9K0llpeLAagYoFEbp6jd141TRU1vS-LclNcSIKZTobnfD5-NtSWZp8qGcpaM1xoqXg6jrJXDKe1bDmn0eXYSpN/s1600-h/IMG_0269%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0269" border="0" alt="IMG_0269" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JdK3xyqpzZg/UM4G8AL7WTI/AAAAAAAALZQ/e8DCggRVKhY/IMG_0269_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">After coming back down, we went back to this amazing gyro place that we had gone the night before to get lunch. I would fly back to Paris just to get another one of those. And, things probably taste better when you are eating them on the banks of the Seine. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UGuwOvRFmIE/UM4G81WqXOI/AAAAAAAALZY/Wd37sDFuqqg/s1600-h/IMG_0273%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0273" border="0" alt="IMG_0273" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0j5_GeiX8Bo/UM4G9_hXO1I/AAAAAAAALZg/xYQQwHVJwlY/IMG_0273_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">Next stop was the Pompidou. Amazing art. Even the building is a fantastic piece of modern art. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-skTu-87HHP4/UM4G-4vjsNI/AAAAAAAALZo/ApsKbgVp45M/s1600-h/IMG_0276%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0276" border="0" alt="IMG_0276" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7DpfgTkzcfQ/UM4G_rRJm_I/AAAAAAAALZw/vpszBvL1gCQ/IMG_0276_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">This is the restaurant there. How cool is that? </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQ3FHv7Ka4IU6hXrmvPGc96KzDcLZ1KiEBbKzPS1xpUuc2nmcN8PQjD0jDRg5Ir5zB6TtF6wkkh73Mtx4gnDxczVfoJcDWkYFeKj-_012rfKoGER3TWhwMK6CtgJJrOiqW4D_/s1600-h/IMG_0286%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0286" border="0" alt="IMG_0286" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JDhMDP09OVY/UM4HBCJW69I/AAAAAAAALaA/uWQs70Wz0UU/IMG_0286_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">This is a piece by Gerhard Richter: one of my favorite artists. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-anAp0d4ZSn8/UM4HB8uG4_I/AAAAAAAALaI/VhEo3boFCmY/s1600-h/IMG_0289%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0289" border="0" alt="IMG_0289" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XIZmklBmLDU/UM4HCS1pkdI/AAAAAAAALaQ/tZkvLTR1mkg/IMG_0289_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">How do these artists come up with the ideas for these pieces? Then how do they transform their idea into the actual piece? </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JT3lS0JO3MI/UM4HDe-FfcI/AAAAAAAALaY/klaBetW83xY/s1600-h/IMG_0295%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0295" border="0" alt="IMG_0295" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FY3xGSt39XM/UM4HEN6mvLI/AAAAAAAALag/FdjZucY6LIg/IMG_0295_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LZC7K5TxMos/UM4HEp7UKCI/AAAAAAAALao/GBS73XxmaZs/s1600-h/IMG_0299%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0299" border="0" alt="IMG_0299" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XzYn-eLq7iQ/UM4HFe5yuFI/AAAAAAAALaw/Y4TCX1-iTIE/IMG_0299_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">This is the best shot of our trip to Paris. Julie is awesome. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Y9aIN1Mo80M/UM4HGMxMuFI/AAAAAAAALa4/2lLOU4PbMcs/s1600-h/IMG_0314%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0314" border="0" alt="IMG_0314" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rFcZgbZi7Lk/UM4HGoXvwLI/AAAAAAAALbA/fZMVmirayI8/IMG_0314_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">Inside another church on our way to Sacre Coeur. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eBa-f0VYh_Q/UM4HHGVKoZI/AAAAAAAALbI/slFgA-7vkLo/s1600-h/IMG_0320%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0320" border="0" alt="IMG_0320" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-28oCppzCvHM/UM4HHgTcMvI/AAAAAAAALbQ/tNUcwRTmvxI/IMG_0320_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lLcse89TWoo/UM4HIuEFe6I/AAAAAAAALbY/s0XRl-ePBq0/s1600-h/IMG_0323%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0323" border="0" alt="IMG_0323" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zNEscDMidlY/UM4HJLFSHmI/AAAAAAAALbg/ECw7huJqung/IMG_0323_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">After all the rain earlier in our trip – the weather could not have been more perfect on this day. Did you know that Sacre Coeur is made out of a rock that gets more white over time? It is like blindingly white. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiua7p2iBVRzGKEGzyKT1yg5CwR3AXEjGG41DD6wgaxzEfxvKTLvWqf8V_0jhlGUvHIwPcQdDJ6kuS8FP1CpC3VCJPTLYejTiNlR6e74FnMHkAu_7dOIS2jhZ7uzfsH57VOGd7X/s1600-h/IMG_0325%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0325" border="0" alt="IMG_0325" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VhnLrldYeSg/UM4HKrHKV7I/AAAAAAAALbs/A680RWSdyRk/IMG_0325_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dHG15c_ISXA/UM4HLZWQijI/AAAAAAAALb4/0_rGnYTds9c/s1600-h/IMG_0328%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0328" border="0" alt="IMG_0328" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EpoxZI1tfXA/UM4HL6vKJBI/AAAAAAAALcA/8voTAqQB4_w/IMG_0328_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pY00SEQadUg/UM4HMXHeQ2I/AAAAAAAALcI/IsG5k8AnYD0/s1600-h/IMG_0330%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0330" border="0" alt="IMG_0330" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-S361uorcA0Q/UM4HNAIsuPI/AAAAAAAALcQ/9n16ghLMZpg/IMG_0330_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kzySdqJlxtU/UM4HN6iNWhI/AAAAAAAALcY/v5Z2fsrqwbU/s1600-h/IMG_0341%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0341" border="0" alt="IMG_0341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9OONLvxzMVHi0rbKBMc2TgrQENlX9fV0pGe8oPEG1XLZPCcu9JABL_jOJUW0YwvcBLlAfieZhfJw1ukvFvoHohZT52IRe7TIQJf3f5zCDWVBZxuE_rJHEytroauG4yVMS7kW/?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">They were serious about no photos in Sacre Coeur so I failed to take any photos inside. The red stained glass in there is amazing though. Above is inside a little church next to Sacre Coeur – the sun streaming through the stained glass was beautiful.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-34089h0a5rQ/UM4HPXHA8KI/AAAAAAAALco/UqS4nq23Kd4/s1600-h/IMG_0347%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0347" border="0" alt="IMG_0347" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hBBPK3PuYKw/UM4HQNalUeI/AAAAAAAALcw/TjLP8xo5XQQ/IMG_0347_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">Just having some gelato and seeing what Rick has to say about the Montmartre. It was so cool to walk through the little streets of this neighborhood and see the little houses where some of the greatest artists of all time lived and painted. I can see why they chose to live in that part of Paris as it is up on the hills overlooking the rest of the city. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qdZ0mqpuwjA/UM4HRO8DCsI/AAAAAAAALc4/A-PK7d9ktyc/s1600-h/IMG_0353%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0353" border="0" alt="IMG_0353" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-osNAqZrAIJ4/UM4HR8Ul1XI/AAAAAAAALdA/nGJp7omxytw/IMG_0353_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">The Opera House. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yLZ3uIs_Td8/UM4HSeXFYSI/AAAAAAAALdI/YzQzZRZFMcw/s1600-h/IMG_0355%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0355" border="0" alt="IMG_0355" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rTQVvRdL-KQ/UM4HS9cqf2I/AAAAAAAALdM/A_8M_frI8y8/IMG_0355_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">We found this store that had some awesome baby clothes. We broke down and bought this little dress. This was the first piece of clothing we had bought for baby girl. Good thing we don’t live in Paris or we would be throwing down some serious cash at this store. Parisians realize that there can be more in a baby girl’s wardrobe than pink and pastels. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6MwjEPiDxA0/UM4HT-VojyI/AAAAAAAALdY/A-HrM_WAWKM/s1600-h/IMG_0359%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0359" border="0" alt="IMG_0359" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RpIrNG6XBQA/UM4HUjF6sKI/AAAAAAAALdg/eDB1Omn---A/IMG_0359_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">We finished the night with a trip up the Eiffel Tower (and some awesome line waiting). It is pretty dang spectacular up there though. Going up the elevator kind of gives you the willies cause you can’t see anything below up and you are just shooting up in to the sky. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aIcR6QDvO7o/UM4HVW1BMSI/AAAAAAAALdo/D3g2vrwBUzk/s1600-h/IMG_0367%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0367" border="0" alt="IMG_0367" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mWaxwavHDD4/UM4HWIR3T2I/AAAAAAAALdw/5RASrr_v9fo/IMG_0367_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">The Louvre from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Pretty cool huh?</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ozj3dFnnx3g/UM4HW8uRDGI/AAAAAAAALd4/FJeDzRv22Js/s1600-h/IMG_0368%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0368" border="0" alt="IMG_0368" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IhdBdcyFXG4/UM4HXqGIksI/AAAAAAAALeA/P64mct47MvA/IMG_0368_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">The Louvre on the left and then the Seine in the middle, and Notre Dame on the right. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-z7R9be1hlu0/UM4HYFJDqpI/AAAAAAAALeI/5d7e6MtGAlM/s1600-h/IMG_0372%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0372" border="0" alt="IMG_0372" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-djF8QSzk_5E/UM4HY0RQ_zI/AAAAAAAALeM/X2zZaZ3fVjU/IMG_0372_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">We struggled to get a good photo up there. We were kind of distracted by this fifty something couple that were drinking champagne and going at it (making out) next to us. It was really romantic. Really though, this was a great way to finish out trip to Paris – from the top, looking out over this great city. We had such a fun trip. Julie is the best travel partner I could ask for. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6EM_CD8h1b4/UM4HZoxJgiI/AAAAAAAALeY/x3U8AKp8e9A/s1600-h/IMG_0383%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0383" border="0" alt="IMG_0383" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_Sw_el9wH2A/UM4HaYA0PNI/AAAAAAAALeg/haUG8L8FXKA/IMG_0383_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">We had a long layover in Frankfurt on way home, so we jumped on the train and went in and checked out the town. It doesn’t hold a candle to Paris, but it was fun to be in Germany for the first time. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gC2kZlgNXiY/UM4HbWhfVHI/AAAAAAAALeo/8VOR0fJPXxU/s1600-h/IMG_0384%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0384" border="0" alt="IMG_0384" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cpxoIlek6vw/UM4HcDx4TBI/AAAAAAAALew/mHmuG-__3M8/IMG_0384_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JoG9N8yPoGw/UM4Hc8_nUzI/AAAAAAAALe4/qbw8pq7Od00/s1600-h/IMG_0395%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0395" border="0" alt="IMG_0395" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Sw51Mt2Jb6A/UM4HdCTJbbI/AAAAAAAALfA/XOxvhhJ6m8M/IMG_0395_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7bJVl9g3gVIYx4zfwI4116eQjxL_3dqSzNTScK8nGOtK0p9mO9TO7FxCrjGOGlgOdXwwVrgqk7CpqM2vwVbIlLdFqEQ_cAuO0vT5LQueWaKwHpMXkws6Ie5_HoDZYqMyrrHJ/s1600-h/IMG_0398%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0398" border="0" alt="IMG_0398" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9cF-Hw26QHU/UM4HenNqp_I/AAAAAAAALfQ/4xcKQxPwmyM/IMG_0398_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">Experiencing “curry wurst” – a big old hot dog with some curried ketchup lathered all over it. Interesting. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMkeSdnugBTvHK5WWg_B9QmJu4lXqRAx9EXBO795abTn-jGpExconlLsPnte5CjhvyEnbzI1Bkp5RIVTE0zUCbXLxN0X44uisdzx0wulbDWfxneGUN0oOShQYInn1ZZM0WL0F/s1600-h/IMG_0400%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0400" border="0" alt="IMG_0400" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-A7J8PgDW9kk/UM4HgDhFSHI/AAAAAAAALfg/Qt9jvpQMAFA/IMG_0400_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">The best part of Frankfurt though was that we were in the mother land for gummy stuff. In particular, the home land of Haribo. I was in heaven. After we almost accidentally bought red-bull infused gummies at another store, we found this store chuck full of every kind of Haribo you can imagine. Yum. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Well, that’s it for the blogocation to Paris. Hope you had a nice trip. We are now 10 days away from baby girl’s due date. We are getting SO excited. Julie is still working and feeling really great (her last day before maternity leave is next Friday). She is 38.5 weeks now though, so really, this girl could be here any day. Stay tuned!</font></p> Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-35119147936115107492012-12-02T08:40:00.001-08:002012-12-02T08:54:43.199-08:00paris: part two<p><font size="3">Due to the fact that every day in Paris presents itself with endless photo opportunities – it is going to take more than two posts to get through this trip. So here is the second installment: The next morning we got up early to head out to Versailles in an attempt to avoid the crowds. We failed. It was crowded. Asian tourists really like Versailles. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BKFqke7tf3w/ULuDYDmb8OI/AAAAAAAALLA/pBvn_-MyZzQ/s1600-h/IMG_9947%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9947" border="0" alt="IMG_9947" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JmdIkaoIXnc/ULuDYk4PH6I/AAAAAAAALLI/aLm0A7u8z1c/IMG_9947_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w7sJQKT2zvY/ULuDZRI4FnI/AAAAAAAALLQ/e-34_vXn9i4/s1600-h/IMG_9953%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9953" border="0" alt="IMG_9953" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcBoVk9_kQJNwbFdHOe82W2a1VYkyP32YMyoqIE4E4Xx2O2_67Wfq18VkCuCUP7CiXwAEw38AYOzSx-JKP10__Nf76_Hf2q8GZFqKhvd1vEY3gyuU5OBMBO2OGqmVY5hWTm9V/?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">The amazing chapel. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6l8184uJNTA/ULuDa2o2W1I/AAAAAAAALLg/PRkMx69K-lc/s1600-h/IMG_9965%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9965" border="0" alt="IMG_9965" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fJE7-fYXNdDRan2oT1d5uxoUgGSajYJd8PWiei4XqIMayeJoyZ2PARXZgOGRdnn2jPUZxwYII3PDmcqwgQdysiDj3bx68xRBOFUMGUWvKqGdbjk1FjoGsuxXwyfOmmxXHXm5/?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">This was Louis XIV’s room I think. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tJqmL4D-DaA/ULuDcRFdABI/AAAAAAAALLw/AvjrhcbVWKQ/s1600-h/IMG_9966%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9966" border="0" alt="IMG_9966" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8p3_7jDfVEY/ULuDdcIDuxI/AAAAAAAALL4/3VCdUHxaLD0/IMG_9966_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">I think I liked this view better though. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JLO0-tyGRG4/ULuDejuKtbI/AAAAAAAALMA/GHR7DPIc85w/s1600-h/IMG_9970%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9970" border="0" alt="IMG_9970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09wey_D-pDQ8Q6YcCmWy_TJxNywH7FLXVoJWYV4MvI6TFAhZjTdQYmrZkZtebX2CMr7Oncn3f2jzfy1bSK9dWze93WB3tngIIixGdMs4OvpaeF3rWnwSpq9OayKoccIvKd2T9/?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Apparently, the Hall of Mirrors is a cool spot. There were a few people there to see it with us. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-poOs_XiNEiU/ULuDgGnN9BI/AAAAAAAALMQ/IBPY1bGmNEE/s1600-h/IMG_9974%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9974" border="0" alt="IMG_9974" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-J6ilRztxi6s/ULuDg2k7OpI/AAAAAAAALMY/deqqUpFwOWk/IMG_9974_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Talk about extravagance though – I am dumb for not knowing this beforehand – but apparently larger mirrors were very hard to come by in that day and age. So Louis decided – hey, make me a hall of them. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qH76XMp83NU/ULuDhw2n_jI/AAAAAAAALMg/1Zg6To8v6KM/s1600-h/IMG_9977%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9977" border="0" alt="IMG_9977" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nWT2zgTnFZc/ULuDirfM-pI/AAAAAAAALMo/LxLLRXRv7yA/IMG_9977_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">After feeling a bit claustrophobic and seeing the palace – we went out to see the grounds. We were greeting by the sun and blue sky! This was the first time we saw either of those since getting to Paris. It warranted a photo. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jvH-PJ4-6Hs/ULuDjfgkYNI/AAAAAAAALMw/etKNSe28SG4/s1600-h/IMG_9989%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9989" border="0" alt="IMG_9989" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_xPKdSWH9ac/ULuDkLm7qMI/AAAAAAAALM4/Y_vlauM2ttA/IMG_9989_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKzLiZ2L-rtUFQNYtrZ0yL-1bjWzBoLJRylvI9J8w24BPyjpEmcCS3dZPbcf3HknyjHP4F4wM8bIZfPSQfoG_iQladyjtyjXY709qST3OE9I-F9e5k4mhZ1fPsD4xzqQpqqy4/s1600-h/IMG_9991%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9991" border="0" alt="IMG_9991" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VmAXRfNm99Y/ULuDlfkm5bI/AAAAAAAALNI/UH5Z4ZmHRSk/IMG_9991_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">We happened to be there on the one day of the week they turn all the fountains on. It also means that is the one day you have to pay to see the gardens. Oh well. It was really enjoyable though to see the fountains and hear beautiful classical music playing throughout the gardens. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4G3gv2iR-n0/ULuDmJDZz3I/AAAAAAAALNQ/3YGotZeGgVY/s1600-h/IMG_9999%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9999" border="0" alt="IMG_9999" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GgN3uzbq4Xc/ULuDm4Hy81I/AAAAAAAALNY/nBZkQGdBOIk/IMG_9999_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">We walked over to Marie Antoinette’s estate – I guess she felt like the palace wasn’t big enough and she needed some more space. The gardens there were really beautiful. Everything is just so perfect and precise. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7S2ft8eKuO4/ULuDnpNJpRI/AAAAAAAALNg/_sOEYZioPTM/s1600-h/IMG_0005%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0005" border="0" alt="IMG_0005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6qxpSm4zIYM/ULuDoRoRUpI/AAAAAAAALNo/3v6PT2Rb89Q/IMG_0005_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-u7yygVfHOWo/ULuDqDhZKeI/AAAAAAAALNw/VVyKMNPbGuQ/s1600-h/IMG_0013%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0013" border="0" alt="IMG_0013" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HUOoNvjUvYA/ULuDqsh7UkI/AAAAAAAALN4/N2-nKLSAyV8/IMG_0013_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IXQEajCXDOs/ULuDrq-J8ZI/AAAAAAAALOA/EVVBHNE2O0E/s1600-h/IMG_0017%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0017" border="0" alt="IMG_0017" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IWjATdMHxy4/ULuDsbPQopI/AAAAAAAALOI/EnH4sxh4RvE/IMG_0017_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">It turned out to be a perfectly beautiful day to wander around the gardens. You could probably spend weeks there and still not make it through the whole garden. </font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgsAAhBMg_d6ndBgP6PmdaxEpzO2wIPeUsvqJ7O-NZEm9eEJe1yIxZ11eYXenDdvm7KOWxyLl29aVgXFae7ccRpvLbHQ9i-RK8RwEe0745pdNd8PCdclr27FrIphPTzqnONdd/s1600-h/IMG_0020%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0020" border="0" alt="IMG_0020" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NA-5lJbbbzE/ULuDuFho7LI/AAAAAAAALOY/4vV7NR6e--s/IMG_0020_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">From there, we jumped back on the train and headed back in to Paris to make it to the Rodin Museum. Julie really wanted to go, and I am so glad we did. There is this beautiful mansion and grounds where Rodin actually lived for a period of time. His sculptures are placed around the garden, then his art collection is inside the mansion. You can probably tell that I really liked “the thinker”… it is such a fascinating sculpture and concept. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LwfmgsGRgRw/ULuDu8RClBI/AAAAAAAALOg/DDQBJDhCxFM/s1600-h/IMG_0043%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0043" border="0" alt="IMG_0043" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9gNdE3Kf-pE/ULuDvRzeoyI/AAAAAAAALOo/NX6evgKz62g/IMG_0043_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">The houses surrounding the estate (and in all of central Paris for that matter) are amazing. I love the little chimney’s on every house in Paris. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-83e0JhkPEb4/ULuDwnzCQ9I/AAAAAAAALOw/elSBVauTHU0/s1600-h/IMG_0054%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0054" border="0" alt="IMG_0054" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KxV9GAd474A/ULuDxZuacTI/AAAAAAAALO4/KNWbww60BHk/IMG_0054_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OhsTJbvMObk/ULuDycHppsI/AAAAAAAALPA/a2SdzK80Jvo/s1600-h/IMG_0057%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0057" border="0" alt="IMG_0057" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Y1NtOjTkfZo/ULuDy6j2ioI/AAAAAAAALPI/t4MnXGZ23Ic/IMG_0057_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></font></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XbtS4ftnPDg/ULuDz7Qy-nI/AAAAAAAALPQ/TFIpYRb32ro/s1600-h/IMG_0059%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0059" border="0" alt="IMG_0059" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xBUz05cHOBc/ULuD00SK1eI/AAAAAAAALPY/VLBzusu9BgE/IMG_0059_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xVe9UgAuuJA/ULuD1gz51rI/AAAAAAAALPg/hZ-7wuevL_0/s1600-h/IMG_0062%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0062" border="0" alt="IMG_0062" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hBn_f9HdYrI/ULuD2F_O0FI/AAAAAAAALPo/nwVFd8U5PiU/IMG_0062_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lZEVfMFmCFA/ULuD3J-FOqI/AAAAAAAALPw/Wgvl-T8V44Y/s1600-h/IMG_0066%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0066" border="0" alt="IMG_0066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBYU5pGMlkrcWF9ex8ahfVv0LngaJIssIEAcwX3_WWxFRp5DCG5_sIzS6t47HbJ8oRrqpM-FYuDNvBPOjc3sFHYtvTptHtFiJs6hLugXqdlcJPTPVwKF9U16Vv8bQILaTwoKN/?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">This was Julie’s favorite sculpture. The Burghers of Calaith – men who turned themselves in to save their town from being destroyed during the hundred years war. Pretty amazing to see the emotions he captured on their faces. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0nOfc3INXzQ/ULuD4n-3l9I/AAAAAAAALQA/KFX43VEm5NQ/s1600-h/IMG_0067%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0067" border="0" alt="IMG_0067" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-h2EViKl4mV4/ULuD5faACZI/AAAAAAAALQI/Rrw4bI07yaE/IMG_0067_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DsRgAJWSZe0/ULuD54ZyYWI/AAAAAAAALQQ/qc7PMTm58pI/s1600-h/IMG_0074%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0074" border="0" alt="IMG_0074" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2TjFa6DoPjE/ULuD6lPkODI/AAAAAAAALQY/rWKk8s6T9D8/IMG_0074_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">At the center of the garden. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Z-A5uCORj14/ULuD7NchT0I/AAAAAAAALQg/RYwbiuppa-M/s1600-h/IMG_0080%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0080" border="0" alt="IMG_0080" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vvsOs9UHt-0/ULuD73017FI/AAAAAAAALQo/DD7m3wPgA5o/IMG_0080_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">We hurried from the Rodin Museum to the see the Catacombs before they closed. Unfortunately, after hurrying to get there, we were greeted with this sign. Hmmm. Well, at least there was a cool metro sign to take a photo of across the street. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AudtGXYqbLk/ULuD8rvDgaI/AAAAAAAALQw/m36QnPng3fA/s1600-h/IMG_0077%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0077" border="0" alt="IMG_0077" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eAUWW7vVp5o/ULuD9cXdw0I/AAAAAAAALQ4/BxY4e8KqeH0/IMG_0077_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mGcENXVSZUk/ULuD96-tQOI/AAAAAAAALRA/tQzNyTKYhAU/s1600-h/IMG_0089%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0089" border="0" alt="IMG_0089" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HEEUxYCskWg/ULuD_ImEu3I/AAAAAAAALRI/zpR1gLjslwg/IMG_0089_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Then we went to see the Pantheon and saw this amazing Smart Car sized truck. That dude probably feels like a real man cruising around Paris in that orange hotness. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IWmbD9UIlF8/ULuEBsyfkgI/AAAAAAAALRg/NPdKOc1cNHk/s1600-h/IMG_0093%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0093" border="0" alt="IMG_0093" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7if-l2gvpKE/ULuECY-cFyI/AAAAAAAALRo/jWJkHd1u3sA/IMG_0093_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></font></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NAn8icMTjAU/ULuEDb-_wNI/AAAAAAAALRw/7tgaOHt1b4o/s1600-h/IMG_0096%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0096" border="0" alt="IMG_0096" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1zBoXUCFKAE/ULuEEEUwOZI/AAAAAAAALR4/wAPhEK7VX_M/IMG_0096_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uZ3gv5CRUbo/ULuEFJWs7nI/AAAAAAAALSA/FSgLyXjhmhE/s1600-h/IMG_0107%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0107" border="0" alt="IMG_0107" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tzlX_ue1upM/ULuEFsh2FvI/AAAAAAAALSI/BFadttKT_x8/IMG_0107_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Interior of the Pantheon. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HiJDAX6K8-8/ULuEGcrIG3I/AAAAAAAALSQ/6XXArHc5r1w/s1600-h/IMG_0110%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0110" border="0" alt="IMG_0110" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-b2eUczmOuU4/ULuEHKi8yWI/AAAAAAAALSY/7agNkezqXxs/IMG_0110_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uVjwYi3MjFY/ULuEH9bVJKI/AAAAAAAALSg/bdZLaDYyO6k/s1600-h/IMG_0111%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0111" border="0" alt="IMG_0111" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PZC1rpjNpRc/ULuEIVkyq7I/AAAAAAAALSo/lFqH4yQgn24/IMG_0111_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">View outside the Pantheon. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AOZAkxVg0uA/ULuEJXTG7uI/AAAAAAAALSw/fNx8xZ9FOPM/s1600-h/IMG_0132%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0132" border="0" alt="IMG_0132" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KFh9doFzx2A/ULuEKCx5pBI/AAAAAAAALS4/nXBaAdxfCTU/IMG_0132_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Not bad hops for a 7 month pregnant lady right?</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Q35ZRQH3H1Y/ULuEK5oaPpI/AAAAAAAALTA/vWFday4ZXa0/s1600-h/IMG_0141%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0141" border="0" alt="IMG_0141" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-01q60EOxNDE/ULuELdrvLlI/AAAAAAAALTI/2DRQ7VeJnd8/IMG_0141_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Luxembourg Gardens took us by surprise. We just kind of happened on to it, and it probably was my favorite part of Paris. We got there just a “the golden hour” started and the weather could not have been more perfect. Here is this meticulously manicured park in the middle of the city full of all kinds of Parisians just sitting back and enjoying the beauty. I could have stayed there for the rest of the day. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ol0GhLNk-SQ/ULuEM2jWIQI/AAAAAAAALTQ/roorhm9tKu8/s1600-h/IMG_0144%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0144" border="0" alt="IMG_0144" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RI3PKfRRPaw/ULuENddfmqI/AAAAAAAALTY/DQY4BzwaF0s/IMG_0144_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VYXA4lWnv08/ULuEOJaCdtI/AAAAAAAALTg/ebFzV4lCEZc/s1600-h/IMG_0145%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0145" border="0" alt="IMG_0145" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-T_Vcg8XmHEo/ULuEPHhTzXI/AAAAAAAALTo/lCHtN_2i100/IMG_0145_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></font></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UIfBFzhJfT8/ULuEPknYguI/AAAAAAAALTw/OhXIgbXT_-Q/s1600-h/IMG_0149%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0149" border="0" alt="IMG_0149" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wbETQ28yO94/ULuEQSs85GI/AAAAAAAALT4/ye3sCqpgRIA/IMG_0149_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FPcyYZC-sGI/ULuERI12n1I/AAAAAAAALUA/AbH-bnFKqq4/s1600-h/IMG_0151%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0151" border="0" alt="IMG_0151" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-T1Sq5oLzrlw/ULuER0B_MlI/AAAAAAAALUI/N9hDhoygzqo/IMG_0151_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">That building behind us is where their Senate/Parliament? meets. I wouldn’t mind that being my office. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-obiR32_lx2A/ULuESr_88BI/AAAAAAAALUQ/IrGGZbbJ0FM/s1600-h/IMG_0158%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0158" border="0" alt="IMG_0158" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GHR9p5Q7JwU/ULuETTMXTHI/AAAAAAAALUY/ilavdCxySRQ/IMG_0158_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1s-dMC4Ptvw/ULuETz8zVeI/AAAAAAAALUg/z4tR-vyL2zM/s1600-h/IMG_0163%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0163" border="0" alt="IMG_0163" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RIpH8UTEwgA/ULuEUt-xf7I/AAAAAAAALUo/C3MKART_V44/IMG_0163_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">As darkness approached, we stopped by and saw St. Sulpice – another amazing church. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GSU9rgONKYI/ULuEVeWBrWI/AAAAAAAALWU/n60uWW7XJxc/s1600-h/IMG_0167%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GSU9rgONKYI/ULuEVeWBrWI/AAAAAAAALWY/qOr4jx3S6JQ/s1600-h/IMG_0167%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0167" border="0" alt="IMG_0167" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mENGFok19DA/ULuEXCn7MFI/AAAAAAAALU8/gK7r5cpxnHg/IMG_0167_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Just another Parisian street. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CnQ-3i52pDM/ULuEX4zd1xI/AAAAAAAALWc/LE_RvCRR2j0/s1600-h/IMG_0189%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CnQ-3i52pDM/ULuEX4zd1xI/AAAAAAAALWg/_90QGK3h97w/s1600-h/IMG_0189%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0189" border="0" alt="IMG_0189" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dvl5tZXfTSs/ULuEZQp-aKI/AAAAAAAALVQ/blYt4zcowpM/IMG_0189_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">We finished the day in front of Notre Dame at night. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cUEpy4lV320/ULuEaA4KA7I/AAAAAAAALVY/86tzQoR5ex4/s1600-h/IMG_0196%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0196" border="0" alt="IMG_0196" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jNkD_HZlyLU/ULuEbJlSVDI/AAAAAAAALVg/H7pnRhsVn1E/IMG_0196_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Here is Hotel de Ville – another really cool building just as we walked down in to the metro station to head back to our apartment. Paris is quite the city. </font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-48817196201670604102012-11-19T18:07:00.001-08:002012-11-20T07:17:18.888-08:00Paris<div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">whoa. It has been a while. A couple weeks ago, Julie and I went on a trip to Paris. Paris gets a lot of hype, and it lives up to it. I had been there for a few days while in college, so I remembered a few of my favorite things. But it was so fun to be there with Julie (she hadn’t been before) and cover almost every inch of that city in about 4.5 days along with our buddy Rick Steves. </font></span></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-phYUW9nLKz0/UKrkwNQsZgI/AAAAAAAAK_g/EMycK9F5YD0/s1600-h/IMG_9782%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9782" border="0" alt="IMG_9782" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Jg8O6D8Q4Mk/UKrkw5t_j2I/AAAAAAAAK_o/S_279XCiUro/IMG_9782_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: small"></span><br><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">If you didn’t already know – Julie is pregnant (baby girl coming on Dec. 26th or thereabouts). We got the serious itch to take one more fun trip together before baby and Paris was the place. Julie was like 7.33 months pregnant while we were there and I had a hard time keeping up with her as we walked around the city. Last time I went to Paris, I remember a couple of occasions where I felt the truth of the “French don’t like Americans” thing that you always here. The secret to getting around this is to go with your pregnant wife. People were SO nice to us. As is usual on our trips – Julie was patient with me while I took a ton of photos. Here is the first slew of them –then I will post some more later.</font> </span></font></div><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span><font size="2"></font> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-djcZkQq9_Mc/UKrkxssFCII/AAAAAAAAK_w/f8rX2PFaqw0/s1600-h/IMG_9625%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9625" border="0" alt="IMG_9625" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4fPcSc6wHnc/UKrkyjTHlzI/AAAAAAAAK_4/Pj2iSWRTek4/IMG_9625_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">We rented a little studio apartment near Republique which was a great launchpad to get all over the city. The day we got there, there was a farmer’s market going on in the street right in front of the building we stayed in.</font> </span></font></div><font size="3"> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OagZPTbYUmg/UKrkzde-H6I/AAAAAAAALAA/P0dNExGKZS4/s1600-h/IMG_9629%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9629" border="0" alt="IMG_9629" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iymC-Wg9STg/UKrkz3TxppI/AAAAAAAALAI/OYRzCV0un_s/IMG_9629_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">They sell Rabbits at farmers markets in France. That was weird. This guy is burning all the feathers off of one of these game hens or pheasants or something like that.</font></span></font></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"> </span><br></font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-e3K90dqkMoo/UKrk0pwR8mI/AAAAAAAALAQ/NmO7BMjaNEA/s1600-h/IMG_9644%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9644" border="0" alt="IMG_9644" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BthAg1JMMWw/UKrk1RutYZI/AAAAAAAALAY/lUcsY0J4H3Q/IMG_9644_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">First stop was Notre Dame. Beauty.</font></span></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"> </span><br></font><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVoPCvfG-zcB9VzJPAnZ5qCEfjhyphenhyphenXJHGs4D-HPD6x2G0Uv_y88vHvYCHm0rwZMfKwVN1qukW43kvpKNLUQYqpnCINJf3R4fe34hYI7oA1A9gn6OcayrKyaM2myQ_D8On6loSN/s1600-h/IMG_9651%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9651" border="0" alt="IMG_9651" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U5jalEjHSvw/UKrk3ZogS9I/AAAAAAAALAo/9xdcqgSi4Fg/IMG_9651_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7mYTPgwibjk/UKrk4v2rTaI/AAAAAAAALAw/kH7JRYBTknk/s1600-h/IMG_9652%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9652" border="0" alt="IMG_9652" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eBrSgyf8qvU/UKrk5Y_Ig4I/AAAAAAAALA4/wuGV_z5Mcpw/IMG_9652_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SFx2435g9bA/UKrk6WvZgjI/AAAAAAAALBA/Zeejd6xc3PU/s1600-h/IMG_9657%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9657" border="0" alt="IMG_9657" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fTeLKEz1wMc/UKrk7v_u0AI/AAAAAAAALBI/ik-Oj1NYm08/IMG_9657_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Q4UI6UVCo5I/UKrk8mx3FEI/AAAAAAAALBQ/qtkOevGM_IQ/s1600-h/IMG_9667%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9667" border="0" alt="IMG_9667" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UceQWWfmsmg/UKrk9QgSG0I/AAAAAAAALBY/ukDuOmx_H-I/IMG_9667_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bMNwAwbG1s4/UKrk-szU0SI/AAAAAAAALBg/4h-AlklYB1M/s1600-h/IMG_9675%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9675" border="0" alt="IMG_9675" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-q2xDQ36DK8A/UKrk_WRL5lI/AAAAAAAALBo/dSi1Bog641k/IMG_9675_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LYXAbamEf5w/UKrlAcY7mtI/AAAAAAAALBw/LBSEC1tMlrA/s1600-h/IMG_9698%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9698" border="0" alt="IMG_9698" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wxe16bY5K_o/UKrlBF4zdDI/AAAAAAAALB4/SirjD2nwIgU/IMG_9698_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></font></span></a></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">Baby girl really liked Paris too. Especially all the yummy pastries and Quiche Lorraine. </font></span></div><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jzYuChcx9cM/UKrlB7jkUNI/AAAAAAAALCA/DBQfQUNGai4/s1600-h/IMG_9689%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9689" border="0" alt="IMG_9689" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JZZEpxf-kKk/UKrlCmYRiEI/AAAAAAAALCI/JYb3Aqfa4J0/IMG_9689_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">I think my favorite part of Paris – is just wandering the streets. Every single street is smashed full of character and history. </font></span></div><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMgVXvLO2HCnr8-0biYXG85r7NwKcEuuPHco0pWwJyoPatw-hJaA32nknKgDXMHBeAAGvPjTEruRAJ3aXanSMdccf8peUjBBPD__ZaxEfGkBluPYRDrIXq1HV1vine7HLRsDD/s1600-h/IMG_9691%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9691" border="0" alt="IMG_9691" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oHuQccfadR8/UKrlEWTk_3I/AAAAAAAALCY/q39lmVnmEe8/IMG_9691_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8zulr8pTv_c/UKrlFhMISuI/AAAAAAAALCg/YLCfS9qC2fo/s1600-h/IMG_9704%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9704" border="0" alt="IMG_9704" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bTqkJQ9CBqo/UKrlGTYAQ3I/AAAAAAAALCo/o09bMxWcR80/IMG_9704_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">Another church on the way to Saint Chappelle. </font></span></div><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QEaSltPVV8o/UKrlHdkprrI/AAAAAAAALCw/7oSIYHyzwIc/s1600-h/IMG_9716%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9716" border="0" alt="IMG_9716" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LojQaAk3EXA/UKrlH-2wi9I/AAAAAAAALC4/2CE3xR7LKJw/IMG_9716_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">Inside Saint Chappelle. Pretty much the most beautiful stained glass in the world. It was amazing to just sit and look at the detail. Thank goodness for Louis XIV and his need for opulence.</font> </span></font></div><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Cpg7GHAWOiw/UKrlJ5VxbII/AAAAAAAALDA/0Ih8aPqzdSw/s1600-h/IMG_9725%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9725" border="0" alt="IMG_9725" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mkgGKHSQd1c/UKrlKjF67mI/AAAAAAAALDI/VEjPhhPcymM/IMG_9725_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FqRZ3eYhqo0/UKrlMtOzsYI/AAAAAAAALDQ/0qhkV6t67l0/s1600-h/IMG_9729%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9729" border="0" alt="IMG_9729" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yo2Sm_fxjf2kDhxQYECBLJujWmRYX8Xb_-AeyvIoTbdVEm49eD-Ot85sho1YbtHmvIZtsSvZhgM8dORmFXxTEuYfl3-83v_7JHnxMhQGXPUjbyyZZ2t76N_7dqn_DwsNmehu/?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-G8a_yNW2V_M/UKrlOVNb4DI/AAAAAAAALDg/lzQ2hPMPCF8/s1600-h/IMG_9759%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9759" border="0" alt="IMG_9759" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fdH5pLxxYzg/UKrlPN0HPmI/AAAAAAAALDo/LurlzYk8wks/IMG_9759_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TGiGu9tU68w/UKrlPmOzdxI/AAAAAAAALDw/hG5vHHF_K0g/s1600-h/IMG_9763%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9763" border="0" alt="IMG_9763" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JYYwE4iTglQ/UKrlQU8gUGI/AAAAAAAALD0/r6quhkXaF3M/IMG_9763_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">Julie thought this was so funny since I like gummy bears so much. </font></span></div><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SIq9hACNGQ8/UKrlRDYjSDI/AAAAAAAALD8/u-3vNSs2TaY/s1600-h/IMG_9768%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9768" border="0" alt="IMG_9768" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-e9YLoitbujs/UKrlRvD7e-I/AAAAAAAALEI/I8CdOyTNCxY/IMG_9768_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></font></span></a></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">Next we headed over to the Louvre. </font></span></div><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6gXPt3ydnfk7q-Qa8WRK1Um4uZIRdzUwbpyIzs3nvmIPmcwbZ5CtZ6jPmfxxhsuwKbgrQuHOaIaCAwTOkO2ulQTBAiNe9qVvqW6ixKGJhk7Pzl-vaoSD5b5DmtOJgUCFwwG2/s1600-h/IMG_9787%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9787" border="0" alt="IMG_9787" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iV5UHHQW_2s/UKrlTGZ-pCI/AAAAAAAALEY/Xgt1uUu8c9o/IMG_9787_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-77V-hjKaeIU/UKrlTzdr3qI/AAAAAAAALEg/cYlEo0NovGw/s1600-h/IMG_9788%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9788" border="0" alt="IMG_9788" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8UALEayfIdo/UKrlUfW6hdI/AAAAAAAALEo/QbT8yekqfHM/IMG_9788_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">The Mona Lisa! I bet that lady would think it is so weird how many people come and look at her through bullet proof glass.</font> </span><br></font></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jF6AAFzjbWo/UKrlVYvtYAI/AAAAAAAALEw/Ttafvmp6f3Y/s1600-h/IMG_9792%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9792" border="0" alt="IMG_9792" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kupUX5U4iP4/UKrlWeHa_SI/AAAAAAAALE4/pG1og_JwPV8/IMG_9792_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LsAEQwfDLZE/UKrlXM6x76I/AAAAAAAALFA/yreC2gnbrWY/s1600-h/IMG_9798%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9798" border="0" alt="IMG_9798" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-q44Z2sSWJVY/UKrlX5pVDlI/AAAAAAAALFI/YRoJEniV1dc/IMG_9798_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">We went back to our apartment and crashed after no sleep on the plane the previous night – and walking 29.4 miles (not really but it felt like that).</font> </span></font></div><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Wv_d--mVzwU/UKrlYzQ5O3I/AAAAAAAALFQ/Ax1ser6OdEU/s1600-h/IMG_9801%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9801" border="0" alt="IMG_9801" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDO8lKr-S_83gqQl7avwKE2K1tRkMAutGXN2LPdQiTJeaY05Aj4kgPf5iWEXJPhEeojyTzDc-HF4GUl_ZM-X8ZaUP5iALib24V-obGu7oRppyVPEQeU8h3Np-6yoCoLMMPpA-g/?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">Next day we started at the Tuileries. These flowers were so dang pretty. Why can’t Americans have public areas like this? </font></span></div><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cv2v7WThCNE/UKrlaI1tnZI/AAAAAAAALFg/Z03nfY4ocZE/s1600-h/IMG_9805%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9805" border="0" alt="IMG_9805" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tA4DVIG-hXg/UKrlaumLVRI/AAAAAAAALFo/uWNHppt36qE/IMG_9805_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0Ut2Dk7GK80/UKrlbMy_NLI/AAAAAAAALFw/8GRqXxisies/s1600-h/IMG_9813%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9813" border="0" alt="IMG_9813" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Xn2aoGZy19g/UKrlb78w5kI/AAAAAAAALF4/HPnMQ1kofUQ/IMG_9813_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV0clCdhDQ_ZJcVx598pA2BAWLNXAWj9LDhVxe02j_-ckkx6UJ4nxEfYjsXuDyZAfFuyLvMP099ZDIQO-jSRG6if2SmpeN8nMDhRO07s1IjucjL9uP_ct47gtfVFMGuCfFKIG/s1600-h/IMG_9817%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9817" border="0" alt="IMG_9817" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n3xr0zX2-fI/UKrldQtIW6I/AAAAAAAALGI/l_rTaCF_b8s/IMG_9817_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-olxLqfdQw6M/UKrlee2pqaI/AAAAAAAALGQ/6eYouF_TDHk/s1600-h/IMG_9808%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9808" border="0" alt="IMG_9808" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-A1MjuDfQ0o0/UKrle4LWGrI/AAAAAAAALGY/7So2hN5WXNk/IMG_9808_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sBTEh2_9_yw/UKrlgBGfuNI/AAAAAAAALGg/kSOGARrjeG8/s1600-h/IMG_9822%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9822" border="0" alt="IMG_9822" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Thc0YvNnnf4/UKrlg4d2MPI/AAAAAAAALGo/biObdlWoVes/IMG_9822_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">The Musee d’Orsay – Julie and I both love Impressionism and this is the Mecca for that stuff. Love the museum – and the fact that it is inside of an old train station.</font> </span></font></div><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uT4WsgObKqk/UKrlhyLkToI/AAAAAAAALGw/4Kebd5IFxe4/s1600-h/IMG_9839%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9839" border="0" alt="IMG_9839" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-I4uWb3tWAXE/UKrli9ub3JI/AAAAAAAALG4/pJkOyP9zDTE/IMG_9839_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">Next – walked up the Champs Elysees. And up to the top of the Arc De Triumph. </font></span></div><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-E7i0RmRhAgA/UKrljXYdz8I/AAAAAAAALHA/7lUv5Glp4_c/s1600-h/IMG_9840%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9840" border="0" alt="IMG_9840" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rlzNjts9iDY/UKrlkLzAO_I/AAAAAAAALHI/jFUSjbsHLuY/IMG_9840_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_C3p9vSKsRE/UKrlkjHdqoI/AAAAAAAALHQ/AGWjyWm4HH0/s1600-h/IMG_9843%25255B16%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9843" border="0" alt="IMG_9843" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9JclQITzbMU/UKrllYjGayI/AAAAAAAALHY/H0VNZjhfPB0/IMG_9843_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></font></span></a></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">You can see it was kinda rainy – luckily it was just the first day and a half. But Paris in the rain sure is pretty. Look at all that history.</font> </span></font></div><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SRzpQ4ZlXAg/UKrll4tDb1I/AAAAAAAALHg/VDKthewWGkY/s1600-h/IMG_9848%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9848" border="0" alt="IMG_9848" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MaPepc0xEn8/UKrlmXib5wI/AAAAAAAALHo/TI8CALkWAqM/IMG_9848_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4j7Q-ypLHh8/UKrlnRJ54zI/AAAAAAAALHw/C0AWnOZkxwA/s1600-h/IMG_9856%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9856" border="0" alt="IMG_9856" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BdokRcDq2HU/UKrln3SXEcI/AAAAAAAALH4/U4izTznSuAQ/IMG_9856_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VsS3GqqrOvc/UKrlphKr7cI/AAAAAAAALIA/KEdqxnB_lIY/s1600-h/IMG_9861%25255B16%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9861" border="0" alt="IMG_9861" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g7MNCv_C-XE/UKrlqJuJpsI/AAAAAAAALII/Ae7VYgCCQpM/IMG_9861_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></font></span></a><br><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span></font></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">We then walked (a long way – I thought it was closer from the top of the Arc) to another huge church that I can’t remember the name of, and then over toward the Eiffel Tower. We </font></span><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">walked along Rue Cler and had some seriously tasty Quiche Lorraine. Our friends gave us the advice to avoid the restaurants and just eat street food – we took their advice and would give the same advice</font> <font size="3">to anyone going. There is just so much to chose from, and by sampling here and there, we were quite content.</font></span> </font></div><font size="3"> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH_hQa22b0rM3UaJ_33wrPXtwvSZHsDcoRr5_r8R22pjuJC4Wjw_c5icri07FZoOOoY047r2N9_mNOLAyK97_vAdm3XuDTZoomKyGPclvNonhq0zejQvTpj4Dvm2nlqiQPJK-/s1600-h/IMG_9871%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9871" border="0" alt="IMG_9871" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FM8yjVnRHxw/UKrltJGHliI/AAAAAAAALIY/sYKvnw1h9N0/IMG_9871_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">We passed Napoleon’s tomb (on the right below) and a giant inflatable Stone Henge. You could actually go jump on it like a bouncy house.</font> </span></font></div><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZiKxP8UK4hQ/UKrluI9hnWI/AAAAAAAALIg/EKXz5gQDKE4/s1600-h/IMG_9865%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9865" border="0" alt="IMG_9865" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gCbLKgYA-CU/UKrluo_uoaI/AAAAAAAALIo/K4UJhcoVrIM/IMG_9865_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ealaISdcQ9E/UKrlvh9EozI/AAAAAAAALIw/vLPFFL4uSYU/s1600-h/IMG_9885%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9885" border="0" alt="IMG_9885" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YjNEp_yoOvo/UKrlwQKWnXI/AAAAAAAALI4/pmQUGvs32D4/IMG_9885_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">The foggy/rainy weather made for some sweet photo ops. </font></span></div><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br></font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0HE-UeSJxpk/UKrlw-gOGXI/AAAAAAAALJA/-BEppLOEkAA/s1600-h/IMG_9894%25255B16%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9894" border="0" alt="IMG_9894" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uZ8GSeQSKiI/UKrlxpeljTI/AAAAAAAALJI/3PUqTI9wz0s/IMG_9894_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="675"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RG4BIidLSdY/UKrlyC3v3BI/AAAAAAAALJQ/ApC9raO4DU0/s1600-h/IMG_9901%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9901" border="0" alt="IMG_9901" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gZXvRWam5nI/UKrlzU2IQhI/AAAAAAAALJY/VOva_uWlzUA/IMG_9901_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gQeTwczcqZU/UKrl0Dr7LcI/AAAAAAAALJg/MTMNViqivac/s1600-h/IMG_9908%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9908" border="0" alt="IMG_9908" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Gbxd4HB3eNk/UKrl1C2MUhI/AAAAAAAALJo/mGcpT5QNK2A/IMG_9908_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggslarJ_13M5AzCCWVZFyq6aSpsDd2kfsPC5OIn9_-kU8aoqUYYmiw6WEj9GHBNFysEIkGxXRpt4JusplZQZ0pLNsAJ0HdzeoeSEeknkPzKjuvJRDxN3g3Sjrd_j-DdoB_7SLU/s1600-h/IMG_9910%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9910" border="0" alt="IMG_9910" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hJnf9uEUQs0/UKrl3sf1mJI/AAAAAAAALJ4/kC9_B96B9Nc/IMG_9910_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VG50y4ccM1w/UKrl4gVQBNI/AAAAAAAALKA/sfhUEJFV0vk/s1600-h/IMG_9923%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9923" border="0" alt="IMG_9923" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--YD6WcmA_-M/UKrl5UN3UnI/AAAAAAAALKI/rsMDUlMBZjI/IMG_9923_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small"></span> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">After another awesome long day – we walked to the Trocadero (a great spot for photos of the Eiffel Tower) – and stared at the tower for a while and headed back to our apartment and crashed.</font> </span></font></div> <div style="text-align: left" dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"></span><br></font><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_qGP9ae27vrAsymGnrtyoxv3kervaDFwS74b94CBfXVpOdPWwuttuZfzXcEvebpAwJnHHoe1f_nX6PrV8E2MhizlXHSHg863wRvNiIKz-9SGNFUau8vvAVsldvp-up5TnPX3/s1600-h/IMG_9934%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_9934" border="0" alt="IMG_9934" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NJitJcBpo7Y/UKrl7cFkUBI/AAAAAAAALKY/-ncSLvcYW10/IMG_9934_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="724" height="483"></font></span></a><br><font size="3"><span style="font-size: small"><font size="3">Keep an eye out for photos of the rest of the trip. Hopefully it will be up soon. Seriously though, isn’t it awesome that we have a baby girl on the way? We are getting so dang excited. Can’t wait to meet her! Got any name ideas?</font> </span><br><span style="font-size: small"></span><br><span style="font-size: small"></span><br><span style="font-size: small"></span><br><span style="font-size: small"></span><br><span style="font-size: small"></span><br><span style="font-size: small"></span><br><span style="font-size: small"></span><br></div></font><span style="font-size: small"></span> <p><font size="3"></font></p> Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-55207790567087880022012-09-16T17:54:00.000-07:002012-09-16T17:59:36.008-07:00hisashiburi <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The other day, my sister called asking me for tips on cooking some Japanese curry for her family that night. I told her I would send some of my favorite Japanese videos from vimeo/youtube to her. It made me nostalgic to watch this one. Man, I love that country - I was so lucky to live there for two years. Japan is full of the most amazing, beautiful, weird, and interesting people/culture. I can't believe I haven't taken Julie there yet (not to mention the fact that I have been home for 8 years). Someday soon...<br />
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This guy captured Japan well in this video:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="400" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/34738647" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="700"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/34738647">Tokyo HD "Echoes" - Canon 5D II, Sony A65, Glidecam, Timelapse</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/blueedenhd">Blue Eden</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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And this really happens. Maybe we should hire some people like this in busy US subways to stimulate the economy.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/b0A9-oUoMug?rel=0" width="700"></iframe><br />
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Want to go to Japan?<br />
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and FYI - hisashiburi is the Japanese equivalent of "long time, no see"<br />
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If you want to be dazzled, watch a few of <a href="http://vimeo.com/search?q=time+lapse" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">these time lapse videos</span></a><span style="color: #073763;">.</span> Here's a cool landscape one.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="400" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/22439234" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="700"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/22439234">The Mountain</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/terjes">TSO Photography</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-11756755595471896182012-07-30T19:09:00.001-07:002012-07-30T19:23:04.020-07:00San Frantastic Day 1<p><font size="3">On our way to Julie’s family reunion we were able to spend a couple days in San Francisco with my sister </font><a href="http://drippingwithpassion.blogspot.com"><font size="3">Charity</font></a><font size="3"> (go visit her blog if you want some awesome insight into the city and living there). It was awesome. She rocks the house when in comes to that city. She showed us such a great time. I have been anxious to get out there and visit her ever since she moved there a couple of years ago. All of the sudden we were there in her awesome Subaru cruising across the Bay Bridge into the city. It had been 10 years or so since Julie or I had been to San Francisco so we were pretty excited. Unfortunately, that city is extremely photogenic so you’ll have to bear with a lot of photos. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Xke_-1GvKm8/UBc92hNYN_I/AAAAAAAAK1U/9bC-x5yrD0Y/s1600-h/IMG_7952%25255B23%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Xke_-1GvKm8/UBc92hNYN_I/AAAAAAAAK7M/UUp4lYUVEqI/s1600-h/IMG_7952%25255B24%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7952" border="0" alt="IMG_7952" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aVoX-QWL1vE/UBc93jH9l5I/AAAAAAAAK7Q/Ce8PKp_lTjo/IMG_7952_thumb%25255B14%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1MYJYKXQ7RA/UBc94pkexBI/AAAAAAAAK1k/3c8kRluRSYE/s1600-h/IMG_7956%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1MYJYKXQ7RA/UBc94pkexBI/AAAAAAAAK7U/QvhKQF_EjW4/s1600-h/IMG_7956%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7956" border="0" alt="IMG_7956" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RaO9VDzpTns/UBc95OtppzI/AAAAAAAAK7Y/Erccx-CertE/IMG_7956_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">The weather was phenomenal. It was in the 80s. We went straight to the Ferry Building for some lunch and wandered around. There was a big farmers market going on selling everything from fruit to really expensive mushrooms. It had been way too long since we had seen Char, so it was so much fun to catch up with her. </font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_lg97VCM6fbWY4me-H4nnIgEGwmfyr37nVqqhffRKOMXAovKIFDZbo8rCs8MzTA_mcHiRbEKgyav5SV2PeKZKL4I8IcL_eAvIuyRzogl9MKqrZCsptinscU4hUBeA1Ljshm1/s1600-h/IMG_7968%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QXEkmpFsgUQ/UBc96JpDHQI/AAAAAAAAK7c/ZmVzMuF2yWI/s1600-h/IMG_7968%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7968" border="0" alt="IMG_7968" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5M6S4XhWQd0/UBc96z2UcsI/AAAAAAAAK7g/LSIRY7OWCn4/IMG_7968_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Next we headed up to see the Full House view of the city. The Painted Ladies were fantastic. As was the diverse group of people soaking up the sun at this park. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yUMMpm_V8_I/UBc97nnIGyI/AAAAAAAAK2E/QjkQiKuePNc/s1600-h/IMG_7981%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yUMMpm_V8_I/UBc97nnIGyI/AAAAAAAAK7k/Py0IVPCz_Tk/s1600-h/IMG_7981%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7981" border="0" alt="IMG_7981" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nSX0ofLH5Og/UBc98IFz6bI/AAAAAAAAK7o/oJUL1LNwAxg/IMG_7981_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">I think I could have just wandered for hours taking pictures of all of these amazing houses. I wish we could have gone in and seen what the inside looks like. I love that whoever built these decided that they were going to put so much detail into them instead of just slapping up some cookie cutters. So cool. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8-zajazwGyQ/UBc981MixaI/AAAAAAAAK2U/iAxuCJHI2F4/s1600-h/IMG_7987%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8-zajazwGyQ/UBc981MixaI/AAAAAAAAK7s/l4-vjd3yy8U/s1600-h/IMG_7987%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7987" border="0" alt="IMG_7987" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PwnmLqez6I4/UBc99vDeRAI/AAAAAAAAK7w/jgEcmjHhr58/IMG_7987_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6e6DI_ZGva4/UBc9-L7TRTI/AAAAAAAAK2k/5wf1qFiioQ4/s1600-h/IMG_7990%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7990" border="0" alt="IMG_7990" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2WNTQChxetg/UBc9-kbcX7I/AAAAAAAAK2s/4GjNZMVqfg0/IMG_7990_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="751"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">So fitting for San Francisco. Love the people. Go Green! Eat some organic granola! </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UNQE-SpA6wU/UBc9_ZO5ilI/AAAAAAAAK20/BE7Wsv5_omM/s1600-h/IMG_7994%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UNQE-SpA6wU/UBc9_ZO5ilI/AAAAAAAAK70/Fnn7Nr8f5vc/s1600-h/IMG_7994%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7994" border="0" alt="IMG_7994" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YfOr5lvrd-E/UBc-ALKcCiI/AAAAAAAAK74/qjoRAzBLe-o/IMG_7994_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7JGil0D4TLQ/UBc-A4CnkfI/AAAAAAAAK3E/381NAZ5hjkA/s1600-h/IMG_8003%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7JGil0D4TLQ/UBc-A4CnkfI/AAAAAAAAK78/czMHtqC4Cfs/s1600-h/IMG_8003%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8003" border="0" alt="IMG_8003" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JDmYshg-rc4/UBc-C6MwFrI/AAAAAAAAK8A/uFES3hGE8uw/IMG_8003_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">We wandered down to city hall (I think that is what this is). All the sudden it felt like we were in Paris or something. This really cool sculpture was out front. Isn’t Charity awesome? </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-F_HANjhF6Es/UBc-DcFJxII/AAAAAAAAK3U/mbOVqvuLIQM/s1600-h/IMG_8010%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-F_HANjhF6Es/UBc-DcFJxII/AAAAAAAAK8E/njbThgTk-4o/s1600-h/IMG_8010%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8010" border="0" alt="IMG_8010" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bX4Nfp5y9TE/UBc-D_rRJGI/AAAAAAAAK8I/OCayOAWEpXI/IMG_8010_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Then we headed over to Chinatown to see Charity’s secret fortune cookie factory. She actually owns this place. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GViDrMMkxl0/UBc-EqA004I/AAAAAAAAK3k/C-Mr2TOUsC0/s1600-h/IMG_8013%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GViDrMMkxl0/UBc-EqA004I/AAAAAAAAK8M/1jQuPuO9BZA/s1600-h/IMG_8013%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8013" border="0" alt="IMG_8013" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DF46bN6Z6EQ/UBc-FUlLtUI/AAAAAAAAK8Q/4yn_-e78B8M/IMG_8013_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TSPaQ57JNNE/UBc-GM8nuAI/AAAAAAAAK30/TVX_zisIhkY/s1600-h/IMG_8015%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TSPaQ57JNNE/UBc-GM8nuAI/AAAAAAAAK8U/fkfMD4-m-b8/s1600-h/IMG_8015%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8015" border="0" alt="IMG_8015" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vZ_r_2gds3Y/UBc-G_5KowI/AAAAAAAAK8Y/bEEFnGNJXqM/IMG_8015_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Then on to Char’s secret rooftop spot with the best vista of the city. What a cool city. You have this booming metropolis on one side, and then a huge beautiful bay on the other. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tlzqZqXxxSc/UBc-HayC4cI/AAAAAAAAK4E/Liptsdqf_pg/s1600-h/IMG_8045%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tlzqZqXxxSc/UBc-HayC4cI/AAAAAAAAK8c/GYv8lMObyN0/s1600-h/IMG_8045%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8045" border="0" alt="IMG_8045" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-c-HIQDBlWlM/UBc-IMrJJfI/AAAAAAAAK8g/5vlLCbiXhw8/IMG_8045_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Wouldn’t be complete without a jumping photo. The best part about these photos (jumping pictures in general) are the awesome facial expressions that people make. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5gvpXj6Oy0o/UBc-IrD4ASI/AAAAAAAAK4U/Dl3WwKTJcks/s1600-h/IMG_8054%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5gvpXj6Oy0o/UBc-IrD4ASI/AAAAAAAAK8k/yTwUANTCV9Y/s1600-h/IMG_8054%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8054" border="0" alt="IMG_8054" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IImBjbNxJwo/UBc-LENCB7I/AAAAAAAAK8o/5R9xBzrcLPc/IMG_8054_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-N2K5qHWeonQ/UBc-L7cwE-I/AAAAAAAAK4k/RCnCNHs5r44/s1600-h/IMG_8056%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-N2K5qHWeonQ/UBc-L7cwE-I/AAAAAAAAK8s/cWdGObzONEg/s1600-h/IMG_8056%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8056" border="0" alt="IMG_8056" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfykQGdgloKXJVVhaww0qMEeej5h7wFnvOE27C1LGv5SiYVH-xxxPTA-7HGmxTCU2g4rSY_nfLE4wS3cgG1FuPy67Wgy_QCztEIiAVFXzt_oyB6qk3fTPS5kLOIYE8eOElmqkD/?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Lombard street. Those hills are STEEP! I felt like we were back in Hong Kong. You would be in good shape if you lived on that street (physically and financially). </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BMS952Rb6dA/UBc-NNXdpmI/AAAAAAAAK40/C-T9Qezx66Y/s1600-h/IMG_8076%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BMS952Rb6dA/UBc-NNXdpmI/AAAAAAAAK80/yuVftBQa-I8/s1600-h/IMG_8076%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8076" border="0" alt="IMG_8076" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YFWUF7jvb78/UBc-N-oNB4I/AAAAAAAAK84/oNnHd-4KXoQ/IMG_8076_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Seriously. How cool are these houses? </font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxePy_7mAYIE9wlkpmesyxsyVpt48kriEhHgXkAoDHS8DOo5wv19dhg-o0qhcVSNu1OM2xXAptZ5e-Xx_XNt7ZI4Di7KICi6tkp3aWniJ109hkOj35Tgg4cHeo0qsig-HlsjfK/s1600-h/IMG_8092%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ye3mBCviPJI/UBc-ObUkpqI/AAAAAAAAK88/9LkEBsyDers/s1600-h/IMG_8092%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8092" border="0" alt="IMG_8092" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vKssQJH6Djs/UBc-OyVDUsI/AAAAAAAAK9A/rJk_t3PDvUU/IMG_8092_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">At the Palace of Fine Arts. There are endless cool spots in that city. This place has a cool story. Google it. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tRpDMALWUdo/UBc-Pm1K7VI/AAAAAAAAK5U/X1nLqDQcRhQ/s1600-h/IMG_8106%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tRpDMALWUdo/UBc-Pm1K7VI/AAAAAAAAK9E/vEa2J7TGUJQ/s1600-h/IMG_8106%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8106" border="0" alt="IMG_8106" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HxXC_FH6JHc/UBc-QBV24CI/AAAAAAAAK9I/XQnb-BlQmBo/IMG_8106_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">My favorite stop of the day was probably here. We got there just at the golden hour was starting. The light was amazing. Charity was telling me this is like one of the 5 or so most recognizable things in the world. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NK-YvxJawdU/UBc-Qpq3K0I/AAAAAAAAK5k/pUxtz-mgdEo/s1600-h/IMG_8110%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NK-YvxJawdU/UBc-Qpq3K0I/AAAAAAAAK9M/T-OfWnAM59o/s1600-h/IMG_8110%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8110" border="0" alt="IMG_8110" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-spHLhJfCC0E/UBc-RGfDbpI/AAAAAAAAK9Q/TDRKg_BLwdU/IMG_8110_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3">Then we drove a little further and hiked up to this place. Holy Cow. You’re telling me this like a 20 minute drive from the heart of the city. Again. the light was amazing. The ocean is so majestic. </font></p> <h2><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-r1b6VlZ5Vfc/UBc-RuXYTfI/AAAAAAAAK50/6Rjar9iRLvI/s1600-h/IMG_8127%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-r1b6VlZ5Vfc/UBc-RuXYTfI/AAAAAAAAK9U/OWCAzc04L5U/s1600-h/IMG_8127%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8127" border="0" alt="IMG_8127" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-T5gHlVaT-kM/UBc-SfIvsrI/AAAAAAAAK9Y/l3hIdj1065k/IMG_8127_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-X8aF9nGZhJk/UBc-TLV6axI/AAAAAAAAK6E/MPmDzTxfdic/s1600-h/IMG_8119%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-X8aF9nGZhJk/UBc-TLV6axI/AAAAAAAAK9c/JCRnNHekFfo/s1600-h/IMG_8119%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8119" border="0" alt="IMG_8119" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-L5rUUaHfUuo/UBc-T1b1v_I/AAAAAAAAK9g/rocNgq5Fvp4/IMG_8119_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a></h2> <p><font size="3">Of course these beautiful wild flowers are blooming right here. I want to go down to that beach. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-C-O7mrQV4_E/UBc-Uo8x96I/AAAAAAAAK6U/QnN2W0lyQOI/s1600-h/IMG_8131%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-C-O7mrQV4_E/UBc-Uo8x96I/AAAAAAAAK9k/82DbPqX3GB0/s1600-h/IMG_8131%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8131" border="0" alt="IMG_8131" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1pFjK8Kd1Ok/UBc-VYMEC_I/AAAAAAAAK9o/cMTYEnHK6Y8/IMG_8131_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">The light just kept getting better and better. We stayed there until the dusk overtook the light. It’s hard not to feel alive and happy when you experience something like that. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3N_7f1c4CUM/UBc-V92POeI/AAAAAAAAK6k/spqQQ19hNh0/s1600-h/IMG_8147%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3N_7f1c4CUM/UBc-V92POeI/AAAAAAAAK9s/Dl2WkgNjBiQ/s1600-h/IMG_8147%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8147" border="0" alt="IMG_8147" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EQx1MPKvdYk/UBc-XLVhAVI/AAAAAAAAK9w/L-IQFldHAEc/IMG_8147_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="725" height="483"></a></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">We finished off the night with a trip to a full-on authentic Japanese curry house. Just one little row of seats and the curry masters cooking it up right in front of you. Part 2 coming soon. </font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-670578882801007752012-05-18T12:39:00.003-07:002012-05-19T14:15:31.933-07:00Education is a passion of mine.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">After roughly four years of working for <a href="http://www.imaginelearning.com/" target="_blank">Imagine Learning</a>, I have developed an incredible passion for education. In particular, the education of children in urban areas. I spend the vast majority of my working life in district offices and schools that are either overseeing or offering public education to urban students. It is amazing to see first-hand some of the absolutely amazing work that is being done in the classroom. The news media makes it a point to make us all think the public education is horrible, and if we don't have our kids in private or charter schools then we might as well just give up. It makes me so sad. While there definitely is still much improvement that needs to be made, the strides that are being made are pretty awesome. It makes me sad to see families leave one school district for another. We need the parents to form the PTAs that help administrators turn districts around and make them amazing. You might be thinking I am crazy as you read this, but this is what I see first-hand every day. The schools where the parents are involved are making huge gains and you can feel it in the school. I look forward to the day that I send my kids to public schools and have the opportunity to work with and help out at the school. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is a definite change that is taking place in many schools. A shift in the way that teachers teach, and the way that children learn. Below is a really cool piece by Sir. Ken Robinson, a British guy who I think has a lot of fantastic ideas for changing the way we teach kids so that students can really focus on their passions and maintain high levels of creativity. It might be a little over the top in some areas, but overall, very fascinating stuff. Watch it when you get a minute. People in America need to get more involved in education. Instead of constantly complaining about our schools, let's get in there and help them in this transformation. Also, here are a couple of cool books I am reading by Ken Robinson. </span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Out-Our-Minds-Learning-Creative/dp/1907312471/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337369664&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Out of Our Minds:Learning to be Creative</span></a></b><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Element-Finding-Passion-Everything/dp/0143116738/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1337369664&sr=8-3" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Element:How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything</span></b></a><br />
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<br /></div>Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34359671.post-39036448128174757992012-05-06T08:32:00.001-07:002012-05-06T08:36:02.157-07:00Springtime<p><font size="3">We have had some fun over the last couple of months: highlighted by a much anticipated trip to Palm Springs for the BNP Paribas Open. One of my best friends from growing up and his wife met us there and we had a great time watching tennis, playing tennis, catching up, and enjoying the beautiful weather. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4GVS-l05O2w/T6aZIl8H6MI/AAAAAAAAKik/XtNZXPhlAi8/s1600-h/IMG_7765%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7765" border="0" alt="IMG_7765" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBCmOzYqbo3AOBWYF9sp-WGWt72BPqxCcoag8kc_2X0JLiriPl7jFYYuH15-kAzgAKj4KWQ5_uuj2Tr30nq2JenP3Ymwaxhtu9Q5U4P14v_mf-ICsNwymF9N5LxTeGQflTAW0/?imgmax=800" width="720" height="480" /></font></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-htXESbVgAIM/T6aZJwxP0aI/AAAAAAAAKi0/R2eAOFuRygw/s1600-h/IMG_7759%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7759" border="0" alt="IMG_7759" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g1QsdxSSHrQ/T6aZKYXgMII/AAAAAAAAKi8/7PGzzANJNIU/IMG_7759_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="720" height="480" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">We stayed right on a beautiful golf course in a great condo that Josh found. We utilized the BBQ and cooked up some tasty stuff. It was so fun to catch up and reminisce about old times. It was also fun to meet their little boy for the first time. It is always interesting to see people as parents for the first time...these guys seem to have it down already. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-H7b2THf5Irc/T6aZLNl0JxI/AAAAAAAAKjE/8G2bC0NtsBE/s1600-h/IMG_7767%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7767" border="0" alt="IMG_7767" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Df4C1fEZozU/T6aZMJuLO9I/AAAAAAAAKjM/4kQ_KGVe6U8/IMG_7767_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="720" height="480" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">One of the nights, Noah and Yadira (a family friend) came up from San Diego for the night matches. Yadira is one of Rafa’s biggest fans, so it was especially exciting to see Rafa play that night. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Pvzv4cmMAj0/T6aZMy8DKyI/AAAAAAAAKjU/SjGdvzdnvDg/s1600-h/IMG_7771%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7771" border="0" alt="IMG_7771" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hOvLu8QYkeA/T6aZNpx4gPI/AAAAAAAAKjc/PqxXfflvt-k/IMG_7771_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="720" height="480" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">The California desert is about as different from the East Coast as you can get, but it was extremely beautiful. Especially at that time of year. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2JBrdvHIVBU/T6aZOYfjCMI/AAAAAAAAKjk/Rt8sbBvtoL8/s1600-h/IMG_7775%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7775" border="0" alt="IMG_7775" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3XapTrJnNMs/T6aZO8vKEdI/AAAAAAAAKjs/h3K2PfJmhFw/IMG_7775_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="720" height="480" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">It was a tennis players paradise. With all the different surfaces. There were also a lot of old people there. We were usually at least 30 years younger than anyone else around. Old people like warm weather I guess. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Bb3C9htIZmM/T6aZRuw7pJI/AAAAAAAAKj0/HNkyAB10IM4/s1600-h/IMG_7781%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7781" border="0" alt="IMG_7781" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y8SxqnelWNg/T6aZSDurJsI/AAAAAAAAKj8/w8xighocVpI/IMG_7781_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="720" height="480" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Here is the car I rented while we were there. It was fast. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-q2khsxy4GTI/T6aZShrSIRI/AAAAAAAAKkE/ocrtmGaMa4o/s1600-h/IMG_7789%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7789" border="0" alt="IMG_7789" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUM7uorAaXCoLJGfXc6RuwkUqoZSlkOQSOh1dedszgoEvbUwsGOBO-0nca8hsRS-pRgWp6hzQgkK7kKR2PzsWjskv6xqq2OpPoKWO-qCvl4-TUNpfWNR6deqDjULIVLTEokgyT/?imgmax=800" width="720" height="480" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">We made it back to DC just in time for the Cherry Blossoms! It was a very warm early spring, so the blossoms came out early. Those things never cease to amaze me. The amount of beauty that they give off, and the amount of people that that they attract. Wow, that is a lot of people. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8tpfWHEM5Fo/T6aZT0-Qt_I/AAAAAAAAKkU/YwGpVZxht3c/s1600-h/IMG_7799%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7799" border="0" alt="IMG_7799" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ejCP-h9hFiA/T6aZUESKgOI/AAAAAAAAKkc/CA5SfwVp0pw/IMG_7799_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="720" height="480" /></font></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RDdgf735riA/T6aZU6nXPsI/AAAAAAAAKkk/vBGXzHd2BbU/s1600-h/IMG_7814%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7814" border="0" alt="IMG_7814" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tHNB8wlrhw8/T6aZVWrDd6I/AAAAAAAAKks/G--s1skehWQ/IMG_7814_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="720" height="480" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">The blossoms came out just in time for a visit from my parents. They were in town for a speaking engagement and because the blossoms were early, they saw them at the peak of blooming. We happened to randomly run in to my college roommate’s parents amongst the droves of people that were there. They are also old friends of my parents, so it was fun to see them and catch up. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-47gNuRBw6EA/T6aZWJlSDYI/AAAAAAAAKk0/0-GM7Cz6yqg/s1600-h/IMG_7815%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7815" border="0" alt="IMG_7815" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YjTI7re2GAw/T6aZW5ImoFI/AAAAAAAAKk8/dpM7nnx8ndo/IMG_7815_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="720" height="480" /></font></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0Z3s7RV9lmE/T6aZXd54NbI/AAAAAAAAKlE/ypmwYIyrHPA/s1600-h/IMG_7820%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7820" border="0" alt="IMG_7820" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3naBwanb-EQ/T6aZX8UsvcI/AAAAAAAAKlM/Ks1K0-yUsjs/IMG_7820_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="720" height="480" /></font></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MSEMr_rhZYE/T6aZYprNNRI/AAAAAAAAKlU/l06Re9UVHNs/s1600-h/IMG_7826%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7826" border="0" alt="IMG_7826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4mdNT6FBzv8HBw6xGkyhCZ75OjMT1WYBNN95W119Ke1EpZKh2QWPwioLlo2NEXjzRxF5huKk9nnCJgeDrbYkScJxfy6kpyiY3CzM3CJANnbs7R62kOCB4SFbqeFJN4WN8AuX/?imgmax=800" width="720" height="480" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Julie’s birthday came and that meant some wicked awesome Strawberry Pie. Mike, another of my college roommates was in town for work, so he got to enjoy the pie with us, along with Steve and Jesse. We had pie and then went to the 10:45pm showing of Hunger Games – which conveniently opened for Julie’s birthday. We went to the Uptown Theater (this huge beautiful art-deco theater from the 1900’s) and waited in line for an hour or so to get it. It was a night to remember. They did a good job with the film. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6z-nm9E2Zd0/T6aZZyTg8NI/AAAAAAAAKlg/vFfx1ow-AvM/s1600-h/IMG_7830%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7830" border="0" alt="IMG_7830" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iKDLkfHlt7Q/T6aZaggHhPI/AAAAAAAAKlo/2IXCNu6p_-g/IMG_7830_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="720" height="480" /></font></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-P3KWr0Wqn1g/T6aZbaZMPaI/AAAAAAAAKlw/MIePxZ-MOD8/s1600-h/IMG_7842%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7842" border="0" alt="IMG_7842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLHP-rbTFo-o6IchQ2G-cM4f5rLi5ecT0wK3OXvn_nuh1jOLsVovwEewF3rp882ZSKgqZX4TDfswCUtRAyics1ehpf6aMHkevy_2LJ0IPWWGxG9n5OWrN1JGp1gJ3obbxsnWQ/?imgmax=800" width="720" height="480" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">We also had the opportunity to get up to NYC for the baby blessing of our new niece. It was so special to be there for that and to represent the fam. Me and Tal are the only east-coasters right now. Man, I love that city. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GCHRyXRD5OQ/T6aZcYw2FpI/AAAAAAAAKmE/cAVo7EwXaDc/s1600-h/nats%252520game%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="nats game" border="0" alt="nats game" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XzGfx1KNsgk/T6aZc942TyI/AAAAAAAAKmM/vvlPqRWF4BU/nats%252520game_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="481" height="481" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3">And last but not least, Baseball season started. We have ourselves a great team playing a couple of blocks away. Watch out for the Nats this year. They are legit. It has been fun to see them gradually improve each year we’ve been here, and then to see them really emerge as a playoff contender this year. </font></p> <p><font size="3">So, Julie is in Hawaii right now having a blast. I am hanging out here alone. Luckily Shawni and Dave have been in town for the American Mother’s conference so it has been great seeing them and catching up. Happy Sabbath!</font></p> <p><font size="3">P.S. I didn’t really rent a Ferrari while we were in Palm Springs. </font></p> Elihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905633717480862948noreply@blogger.com3