Christmas in Paris: 20 done, 10 to go

The view out of our hotel room the first night. It was Christmas Eve and the snow was swirling all around us.

We drove up to the north of France on Christmas day and stayed two night in a castle in Sedan. The next day we drove over to Belgium just because we were so close. We bought lots of chocolate, ate mussles, and walked around the quaint little town.

This was our castle.

Notre Dame in Reims was surprisingly more grand and impressive than Notre Dame in Paris. But it was very cold inside so we did not stay long as my gma couldnt handle the cold.

The hall down the side of the church.

Some of the stained glass had a very modern feel to it.

Nan and I under the rose window. She was cold.

Denette and I walking down the streets of Paris with our baguette just like all the other French people.

The Garnier Opera house in Paris. We saw the bartered bride.

The artwork on the ceiling of the opera house.

The hall of mirrors at Versailles.

The outside gate of Versailles after the lights came on.

Napoleon's apartments at the Louvre museum.

The glass pyramid entrance at the Louvre.

Nan and I with the Venus de Milo.

The street that our apartment in Paris was on.

Statue on top of the opera house.

Rose window on the front the Notre Dame in Paris.

The rose window from the inside.

The Eiffel Tower between two lamp posts. I feel in love with all the lamp posts.

Sun shining through the tower.

The back of Notre Dame in Paris.

Nan and I in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Ornate bridge.

Christmas lights in front of the mall.

Nan being serenaded by an accordion player.

City hall.

Notre Dame of Paris at night.

A beautiful stroll by the river Siene.

The river was flooded due to the snow so I couldnt walk down next to it.

The city streets all decorated for the holidays.

The arch at the end of our street.

The street we lived on.

The Arch De Triomphe.

View of the Effiel Tower from the Arch.

News stand.

Sacre Coure.

The gargoyles.

Inside Sacre Coure.

Entrance to the metro, which I learned how to use pretty effectively.

Notre Dame and the city by night.

Number 1 on the birthday list is done...vacation in another country. Christmas in Paris, what more can a girl ask for?

19 done, 11 to go

Avery and I started reading the Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman about a year ago. We read the first book, The Golden Compas, last spring. Then read the second book, The Subtle Knife, in the fall. We started the first few chapters of the third book, The Amber Spyglass, before Christmas break, but it was like pulling teeth. Really. Avery has grown out of reading aloud together. Being a teenager, he provides me with plenty of opportunities for battling, but reading is not a battle that I'm willing to fight. He does plenty of his own reading without me needing to drag him into a reading situation that makes him dislike reading. So, I have chosen not to fight the 'read aloud' battle and have waved my white flag. I am going to finish reading the last book on my own because it is a good series and definitely worth finishing. Since we did, in fact, read most of the series together and I am going to finish it on my own, I am counting Number 21 on the birthday list complete.

18 done, 12 to go

It's my birthday list so I'll count it if I want to, count it if I want to, count it if I want to...

Number 7 on the Birthday list is to take a family photo. I didnt get around to taking an official family photo (which would have been of just Avery and I because he's really my only immediate family), but I did take this picture the other day. I like it so much that I am going to put it in a frame after all. I love, love, love this pic, so I'm totally counting it as being our family photo and I'm crossing Number 7 off the list.

17 done, 13 to go

My birthday is coming soon so I have to try and wrap this list up in only 2 weeks. I have a feeling there might be quite a few carry overs onto next year's list. Oh well.

For now, number 22 on the birthday list is complete: Ban (almost) all Christmas spending. I really did not BUY anyone (except Avery) a single Christmas gift this year. I did send out some Alaska Bird calendars as gifts to some people, but those were free :) I didnt even send Christmas cards. I know that some of you might be thinking "Ba humbug", but really it is about time I banned Christmas spending. It was getting out of hand. I would much rather go somewhere (Paris) and do something (ok, lots of things) and enjoy the company of the people I love (gma), than spend a bunch of money on stuff. So, this year instead of spending a bunch of money on Christmas stuff, I took my grandmother to Paris instead. Post to follow soon, because that was number 1 on the list.

Merry (belated) Christmas everyone. I hope you got to spend yours with the people that you love rather than the stuff that you got. Joyeux Noel!

16 done, 14 to go

On my way back to Alaska this year, I brought home some of my stuff from Ohio. Number 14: Ship more of my belongings from Ohio to Alaska is complete. I brought a couple suitcases and a box filled with the important stuff. So, what made the cut?

All of my purses (about 10)
My cordless drill
My good camera
Champagne flutes
Wine goblets
Another coat

Yes...Important stuff.