Some Summer Fun!

 The girls just started riding horses again for the summer.  Their teacher Karleen moved to a new barn and they loved it.  They got to chase and catch chickens, cats and play with ponies...but the best part is riding horses!

 Tristan has been begging for months to take out his shelves so he could climb under his loft bed to make a tent so we finally let him make his tent.  It even extends all the way under his bed behind his dresser.  Of course they had to sleep in it too. 

 To start the summer off we went on a quick trip to Lake Powell with Grandpa and Grandma Potter. We were able to stay on their house boat and enjoyed the lake.  It was hotter than normal which made it pretty hot and miserable..but you could always jump in the lake to cool off.  We were able to attend church at the Ticaboo Branch.  It is so amazing the church is the same all over the world even at Lake Powell. 

Dillan and Tristan on the kayak

Melissa skiing

Melissa Skiing

We just wore him out!

Tristan on the kayak..

 We stayed on the houseboat hooked to the buoy so the kids could kayak and swim all around the houseboat.  We would take the ski boat to shore to play on the beach and we just had to go to the marina everyday for a ice cream cone!

Kayla caught a cat fish.  She and Mariah love fishing.

Mariah skiing..first time up behind the boat

Our Captain!

Kayla on the whale board

Kayla and Tristan made a "train" out of a kayak and two knee boards.  They played for hours on this.

 Unfortunately once we got home we all had motion sickness from staying on the houseboat on the buoy...it rocks more than if anchored into shore.  I don't think we will do that again.  Especially since I haven't stopped rocking for the last 10 days.  Here's hoping that a cold and congestion could cause my swaying feeling and a decongestant can relieve the pressure on my inner ear so I can feel like I'm no longer in a houseboat at lake Powell. It's been a long motion filled week.

And it wouldn't be summer without swimming lessons and some summer mustache fun!

Paris, France

We went on a tour of the Versailles Palace our first afternoon in Paris.  We arrived early that morning about 3:00 am so we slept in and then had to return our rental car, which can be a feat in a foreign country that you don't know the language.  Trying to navigate in horrible traffic and call the company to find a return location, etc took a really long time. 

Palace of Versailles

 

 

Throne Room

Versailles Palace

Hall of Mirrors in Versailles...most of our pictures did not turn out due to the fact our camera is on deaths door step. 

Versailles Gardens and Hall of Mirrors

Weird Tree Sculpture in the gardens

Back of Versailles

Another weird tree sculpture in Versailles gardens.

After our tour of Versailles, we headed over to Notre Dame Cathedral.  It was amazing but it was closed due to a political uprising.  There were cops and swat teams everywhere.  You can read the article here:  http://www.expatica.com/fr/news/french-news/far-right-writer-kills-self-in-paris-s-notre-dame-cathedral_265356.html
 

Gardens around Notre Dame...

 After a hour or so of eating dinner they opened the Cathedral for prayers so we went into have quick peek around...aka pray. After leaving the cathedral we headed over to the Eiffel Tower...it was really cool once we got up there.  You have to wait in line for a while if you don't get tickets ahead of time online.  Unfortunately they were all gone by the time I looked before our trip.  While we were on the Eiffel Tower the light show went off.  It was spectacular...but man was it cold. 

Arc de Triumph

 The next morning we meet up with Patrick's first cousin Nicolette Bundy to tour some more of Paris.  It was so fun to catch up with her over breakfast.  Then we headed of to Sacré Cœur.  It was so beautiful  from here as it sits on a hill.  The shops and the area were just wonderful as Nicolette told us all about how the local people live, etc.  She knew this area really well since she lives up here. 

Melissa and Nicolette Bundy

Melissa, Nicolette and Patrick

Nicolette and Parick

Sacré Cœur

View from Sacré Cœur

Sacré Cœur

 Next we took the subway over to La Sainte-Chapelle....'Holy Chapel', in the courtyard of the royal palace on the Île de la Cité was built to house Louis IX's collection of relics of Christ, which included the Crown of Thorns, the Image of Edessa and some thirty other items.

 It has amazing stain glass windows on the interior!

 We only had a few hours left after touring the two churches so we walked along the tourist area of Paris down to the Louve along the Seine. 

 For couples visiting from all over the world, these locks were symbols of their everlasting love.

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Oblique in Place de la concorde, Paris, France

Louvre

We had to leave about 5 pm to head to the airport for our 8 pm flight...it takes a while to get anywhere in this city and the airport is outside of town.  Flying is cheaper between London and Paris but the chunnel/ train system is much easier and more accessible.  We took a taxi to the train station that would take us to the airport...saying goodbye to Nicolette.  She was a awesome tour guide and just fun to talk with about Paris and everyday life there.