The Beau Chateau

After having traveled thru the Loire Valley for her birthday trip, Sophia finally opened her last present last night & walked into her room to find her very own castle. She immediately lined it with her friends & decided she wanted to sleep inside.

Sophia & friends in the Chateau
Video sent by moyamz

Sophia turns 3!

Sophia waiting for cupcakes with Ava & Nana

Blowing her own birthday horn with a head full of bubbles...

Celebrating with our friends Constance & Marc (Constance was only 1 month old at Sophia's birthday party last year!)

Sophia riding her new scooter with her Hello Kitty princess Mirror (it's hard to give up one toy to play with another on your birthday.)

Her first party with Taki (opa) the greek bear, Tiger, and Flora.

We decided to spread Sophia's birthday celebrations out over a few days. We had a party with friends on Sunday afternoon, and then Monday night had a family dinner with more presents. Then Troy was traveling on Tuesday, so she had to have presents to make up for the fact that daddy was gone, then more on Wednesday because it was Nana's last day. Over all I think she is left with the fact that you can have presents or treats for any reason at any time. That is a very powerful thought for a 3 year old to have in her mind.

We always notice when we go to the states for a vacation or holiday that Sophia goes thru a language explosion while we are there. I think not having the competing languages & just being able to concentrate on one allows her mind to absorb everything she hears. After the visit from Nana the last 2 weeks I think we can safely make the same assumption about visits from our family. Today we were having discussions about where we all were traveling to (a huge fascination since Nana left - Where did she go? How did she get there? Where is she now?) and Sophia announced that she was going to be traveling to London (to Buck Palace of all places), and daddy would be going to Germany. When I asked where I would be going, Sophia told me I would be going to "Spanish" of all places. Given the tapas restaurant we were at last night I thought that was rather appropriate, and with the weather the way it is now (Seattle-ish with lots of rain & wind) I wouldn't really mind going to Spain, even if I have to go by myself.

Sophia & the jump-o-line

At the jardin d'Acclimatation with Nana earlier today, Sophia had to show off her jumping abilities...

Sophia jumping the day away...
Video sent by moyamz

Sophia's animal party

Before the other (live) guests arrived, Sophia had a private VIP birthday party with her friends Taki (aka Opa), Tiger and Flora.

Sophia's animal birthday party
Video sent by moyamz

Sophia's birthday cupcakes

Just a little video of the birthday girl with her cupcakes. She could hardly keep her hands off them! Enjoy!!

Sophia & the cupcakes
Video sent by moyamz

Azay-le-Rideau

So an interesting thing to keep in mind when visiting some of the chateaux in France, they close between 12:30 & 2pm, so the workers can have a proper lunch. Makes it a bit difficult if you are a visitor, but one of those cultural things you just have to deal with.

We dropped Brehan off at the train station in the morning so he could hop back to Paris, and we went to one of the more intimate chateau, Azay-le-Rideau, and village. It was amazing because the grounds of the chateau were huge, quiet, and intimate all at the same time, but it was in the middle of the village.

And you could see how the chateau basically supported the rest of the village thru the years. Indentured servants, serfdom, slavery, however you want to call it; it is a fascinating period to look at now. It was an amazingly creative period in the world, and you can still see the beauty in the artists creations...

Chambord continued...

The center spire on top of the spiral staircase.

Moya, Troy and Sophia on the roof of Chambord.

The view toward one of the surrounding canals.

Brehan on the roof of Chambord.

A windblown Sophia at the base of the chateau.

Chambord

Brehan, Nana, Sophia & Moya in the grounds of Chambord.

Troy, Sophia, Moya & Nana in front of Chambord.

Sophia & Brehan making angels with their legs in the rocks against the chateau walls.

The tri-color flying above the entrance.

The Chateau of Chambord, the largest in the Loire, was our introduction to chateau life and it is amazing! over 400 rooms, and 360 fireplaces to keep it warm because it was a winter hunting lodge for the Royal family. There were only 80 rooms open to see, and that was plenty!
It was such a beautiful day we were able to go out on the terraces & walk all over the roof. The chimneys are so elaborate, one guidebook even described it as an over-crowded chess board.

Sophia was great, was able to run thru all of the rooms, and up the stairs. It was crazy...

Nana & Brehan in Paris

After anticipating Nana's visit to Paris for over a month now (Nana's coming, then it's my birthday, and I get BALLOONS and PRESENTS!) Nana finally arrived to much fanfare, and lots of dancing. Then before we really woke up this morning, Uncle Brehan arrived as well. We spent a beautiful day wandering around Trocadero, and over to the Rodin Museum where we ran in circles around the garden, and sat in the window overlooking the House of Invalides... Mom & Brehan were able to enjoy the sculpture...

When only Nana will do...

Nana, and only Nana
Video sent by moyamz