Easter Monday at Versailles

It’s becoming a bit of a tradition, but we love going back to Versailles (and look forward to the day when the girls can rent bikes with us!) and wandering thru the gardens on Easter Monday. It’s another holiday in Germany & France, so there are usually tons of people there, but as it is such a huge park it doesn’t really matter.

However, given the vastness, we should have used the stroller earlier… Sophia was often 100 yards/meters ahead of us, and Alexandra had her own pace. She still has really short legs… and while Sophia took off up the hill, Troy ended up carrying Alexandra most of the way up, tickling her to get her to stay in his arms.

Then we had a snack break, where most of the snacks fell on the ground due to the spinning legs on the marble benches. And then back down to meet up with the Marc & Kate & their kids…

And then back for some play time on the balcony.

Versailles on Easter Monday

We spent the day with friends in the gardens at Versailles. Although the day started out a bit cloudy, we had a wonderful morning - lunch at the cafe next to the canal, lots of running on the paths, lots of do not walk on the grass signs.

Phineas & Alexandra sharing a private joke...

Sophia teaching Constance to play "chase the camera", her favorite game on a Sunday afternoon

Dads & Kids - so hard to get everyone to look at the same time!

Moms & Babies - Alexandra at 11 months, Phineas at 9.

Trying to keep Alexandra from eating the rocks was a day long challenge. It will (I shudder as I say this) be a bit easier when she is actually interested in walking, instead of scooting along in the dirt. But when she really knows how to walk I'm going to be in big trouble!

Biking at Versailles

Biking at Versailles
Video sent by moyamz

Last day in Paris

Sophia showing off her new gloves (look at my fingers!) and hat... It was a cold day on the bikes...

To make sure that our last day in Paris was fun & not full of tears (sob) we took a drive out to Versailles & spent the day in the gardens, soaking up a little sunshine, a bike ride, and time on the boats...

What an amazing time we have had in Paris, and we can't believe it is over. I know that Munich is wonderful & the lifestyle will be great for a family (green grass that we can run on!), but we'll miss Paris.

The Garden at Versailles

We continued our garden theme with an afternoon at Versailles, walking along the great canal, over to the Grand Trianon, thru the forest & up to the chateau for a wonderfully lazy afternoon. Sophia loves going out there, loves to run on the grass, and picks up endless amounts of rocks for little mountain collections she makes all over the place.
It was great to be able to show mom & dad the gardens without fear of freezing, the last time they were there, in Jan 06, we couldn't get ourselves out past the gate because it was snowing, & with the wind up the canal it felt like we were in the great siberian north.

Bikes at Versailles

Sophia in her seat at the end of the lake at Versailles (the Chateau is in the sun...)

Troy driving Sophia...

Sophia & her chocolate ice cream reward for going the whole day without diapers!!

Running off the ice cream...

Hanging out in the sun.

We had a great morning in the gardens of Versailles, although somehow we managed to arrive before the bicycle rentals had opened & ended up drivng around - thru the gardens of Versailles! - until we found a rental shop that was open.
Sophia loves being on the back of the bike, apart from the really big tree roots across the path, and sang almost the entire time we were riding around.
Afterwards we walked around by the lake & had lunch at the cafe next to the boat rentals. Maybe next time we'll actually rent boats!