Calvin goes shopping

Tonight we had strawberries. Calvin wanted whipped cream. So he went his first shopping trip to the corner store on his own. Cash in hand and courage to shop in French. 

"It was a maze, but I figured it out. I talked to the guy in French a lot. I didn't understand one question. It was fun"

Kids club

Another fun edition of the kids club. Learning about Canada.

Sunny rooftop lunch

Anyone who comes to visit...I'm taking you here! Rooftop at the Old England building, now the Musée des Instruments Musicales. 

Hallerbos

Today we walked through the magical bluebell forest. The weather wasn't ideal-overcast and rainy. The kids thought the flowers were boring and resented not being able to run off into the woods to play. But we salvaged the walk and found  the bluebells before heading back to the car for snack.

Spring

Girls' weekend in Lisbon

This weekend was a quick little trip to Lisbon for a girls' weekend. 

We explored the moorish castle in Sintra on a misty day. While the view was absent, the mist lent an air of mystery to the site. 

Another highlight was a tour of the bullfighting ring. Bullfighting is still a big part of the culture, though they do not kill the bull in the ring any longer. Each bull fights once and then is brought to slaughter for meat. I'm not sure how I feel about this, but it was an interesting part of the culture. 

And I learned how to bullfight with the trainer bull.

And we ended the trip with an evening of Portugese cuisine and Fado music on the pink street by the waterfront. This street, now a trendy club spot, was once the red light district one street up from the docks. 

Avenue des cerisiers (cherry trees)

The kids review Disney

Calvin's top three:

1) Jedi training. It was cool because you got light sabres and you got to go 1 v 1 with Darth Vader.

2) I liked the Cars ride. At first we thought it was bumper cars but it was two circles that went round and round and when you did one circle you moved to the other circle and it went around and around 

3) I like the Slinky Dog roller coaster. It was funny because it was Slinky Dog chasing it tail and I couldn't get how a Slinky Dog would chase his tail because he is a slinky and can stretch out.

Emily's top three:

1) meeting the princesses. It was really really hard to be brave. I was shy because I didn't get used to meeting princesses. 

2) I liked when we wanton the flying carpet ride. We went so high. 

3) I liked getting my face painted because I liked being Jasmine.

Sam's top three:

1) I liked the flying carpets. We went so high that I had to hold my breath

2) I liked the Dumbo ride. 

3) I liked the Slinky Dog roller coaster. 

Weekend at Disneyland

The last weekend of mid-term break and we took off to Disney! 

Someone was excited! (Well, everyone was...)

The first day we barely even made it out of Fantasyland! So much to see and do...and line up for 

Emily bought herself a face painting 

The parade was a hit

And Jedi burgers for dinner

On day two Em lined up to meet princesses

And Cal got to be a Jedi

The last day we explored Walt DisneyStudios  park...

And Sam got to watch the stunts show

And more super fun rides. 

We topped it all off with design your own light sabers. 

I think we'll be back...