Happy Birthday Mom!

September 1st was mom (LaVelta, Nana's) birthday.  She turned 78!  We had her over for dinner, presents and cake.  We always enjoy having her for Sunday dinner.  On Monday, Jeanne, Amanda and I took her to Joe's BBQ for lunch.  Happy Birthday Mom . . . we love you!!  This first picture was taken of her in 1944.  She was 13 or 14 years old.  Wasn't she adorable!

Emily Leaves for BYU :(

We only got to have Emily home for 2 days before she had to pack up and drive back to BYU.  I was worried about her driving up alone, with her Shingles and her jet lag.  I thought about going with her but she insisted she would be fine.  I felt better that she was caravanning up with a friend from London.  His name is David Lake and his aunt, Jenny Jolley is in our ward and Brad knew his dad in high school.  Small world.  Anyway, they made it up fine thank heavens and we are already missing her again!  I can't believe she is starting her Junior year.

The Second Half

After spending a day in Lucerne, we got on a train again and made our way to Paris.  We took our stuff to a cute hotel that had a view of the tip of the Eiffel Tower.   Then we had the late afternoon and evening ahead of us, so we decided to go strait to Notre Dame.  We decided to travel the city like real Parisiennes and went underground to the Metro.  It was the biggest underground I had ever seen.  Each station seemed like an underground city and we walked and walked a ton.  Anyway, we got to Notre Dame which is beautiful.  Do I overuse that word?  I guess I could say "stunning"!  Brad and I had been there 10 years earlier and our older bodies weren't up to the task of climbing up to the tower this time - so we sent Emily to experience it alone while we wandered in the cathedral.  Afterward we walked around the Eiffel Tower and then had dinner.

Notre Dame

The view from our window

A street named after Emily!

The next morning we got up early, got ready for church and headed over to the Louvre.  We walked and it was gorgeous but kind of chilly.  I had always heard that Paris and hot and humid in August, but most of the time it was beautiful weather.  Well, all except this day, cuz it just got colder and rained and drizzled all day.  I didn't mind, but I was wishing I had brought my jacket.  

We spent a couple of hours at the Louvre.  Emily wanted to be sure and see the Mona Lisa.  It is really an amazing place.  You could spend weeks there and still not see everything!  Afterwards, we walked to church and were kind of amazed that we actually found it!  When church was over we got on a train and went to Versailles.  When Brad and I were here 10 years ago, we didn't make it to Versailles, so I was really excited.  There were tons of people but it was fun to see how the royalty lived back in Marie Antoinette's time.  Everything was so over-the-top.  We saw a bedroom where her husband Louie received visitors and did work in his bed!  And not because he was sick!  The neatest part was probably seeing the "Hall of Mirrors".  We didn't go into the huge gardens that we wanted to see because it was raining so much and the cold was making Emily's shingles miserable.  But we were really glad we went.

Outside the Louvre

After we got back to Paris, we at Crepes in a little cafe and then went to the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.  It takes about 2 hours to get to Versailles, but it is sure worth it!

Our last day in Paris - so hard to decide what to do.  We went to the Pantheon, where people such as Madam Curie and Victor Hugo are buried.  We walked around as much as we could and just enjoyed the atmosphere of Paris.  We all agreed that we love it there and wish we could spend more time.  Brad had to leave for the airport at 1pm, so we walked over to the Eiffel Tower again and then said goodbye.  It was hard to say goodbye to him.  You never know what might happen.  I was so thankful too, for my little "Sherpa"!  He volunteered to lug my cuckoo clock home for me and I know it was difficult with all he had to manage.  Thank you Brad!  

After he left, Emily and I hurried over to the river Siene and took a tourist boat ride.  It was lovely and a perfect way to end our time in Paris.  Then, we went to the train station and rode the Eurostar through the Chunnel to get to England.  Emily had left a big bag in London and she wanted to show me where she lived.  I got to see the outside of the BYU Center and I marveled at her charging through the city knowing exactly what she was doing.  She even got me an Oyster Card (frequent rider) for the Tube because she said it would be cheaper.  We wandered around and she was a little dismayed because there were a billion people and policeman everywhere.  We found out that "Carnivale" had just finished and it is the 2nd biggest in the world!  She introduced me to a waffle with Dulce de Leche on the top - sinfully yummy! 

The next morning we left early for the incredibly long flight home.  We stopped in Charlotte, NC forever and finally got home about 9pm that night.

I feel so lucky and blessed that I got to experience this wonderful trip with Emily and my sweetheart.  I feel very spoiled and I know that I will have beautiful memories forever.  Thank you Brad.  I love you!