CAROUSEL

Walking down from the chapel we came across a carousel. Interestingly enough, we found carousels all over Paris – just randomly interspersed with the high-rises, shops, and hotels. Rather strange.

We spent an amazing day at the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa (of course!) as well as thousands of other works of art. This palace is HUGE! After 7 hours of gazing at paintings, sculpture, Egyptian exhibits, etc. our brains had been inundated with about as much artwork as we could take in one day.

RIVER BOAT TRIP ON THE SEINE

My sister, Michelle, and her husband, Daniel, rode the chunnel over from London and met us at 5 pm outside the Louvre. We joined them for dinner and then took a riverboat ride on the Seine that night. We had the exhilarating experience of a big, brown, furry rat running alongside us as we ascended the dark, damp, moss-covered stone steps from the river to the streets of Paris. And yes, we screamed – well, the women did, at least.

NOTRE DAME

Our last day in Paris began with a trip to Notre Dame. If we were to choose our very favorite activity of the week, this would be mine. What a magnificent structure! Every detail, inside and out, a work of art from the stained glass windows to the statues and carved panels depicting the life of Christ, to the architecture of the building itself. Everything meticulously crafted to perfection. Such artistry. 170 years to build? I believe it! I must say; however, that everything inside Notre Dame was so dusty! I wanted to grab a dust rag and some pledge and spend a week or two in there just cleaning all the statues, carvings, tables, hearths, and other bits of furniture. Perhaps the dust helps preserve things, I'm not sure. Or maybe there's so many nooks, crannies and artifacts that people just got tired of all the dusting required and gave it up for lent.

NAPOLEON'S TOMB

Our final tour was of Napoleon’s Tomb located at a place Known as Les Invalides – a hospital for wounded soldiers. What a remarkable tribute to Napoleon. Marble and beautiful stone everywhere! Gorgeous beyond description. It was a whirlwind trip, but we certainly made the most of it. The weather was windy and chilly, and occasionally rainy, but that’s to be expected of Paris in March, I’m sure. Next time, I think we shall go in the summer so we can see the beauty of the gardens.

HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY TO SARAH

A quarter of a century!!! What a momentous occasion. I just think it’s so awesome that Sarah turns a quarter of a century right after her mom turns half a century. How cool is that?!



I flew up on Friday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of my eldest daughter’s birth, and we had a glorious weekend together. Sarah picked me up at the airport and we headed right into SLC to view an art show where one of her fellow WSU classmates was exhibiting his photography. Remarkable artistry. Unique compositions – every one. Then we met Josh at the Desert Star Theater where we were delightfully entertained by the silly show: “Home School Musical” as we gobbled enormous bowls of Farr’s ice cream.



Sarah and Josh have been taking snowboarding lessons at WSU this semester and were eager to display their prowess at the sport. They are AWESOME snowboarders!!! Ed was unable to join us Friday evening, due to a previous announcing commitment, but he flew up to spend a glorious day on the slopes with us.

Sarah and Josh showing off their adorable funky ski hats.

The Birthday Girl all ready for a day on the slopes of Powder Mountain.

This is Josh disguised as a Snow Walrus!

It had been years since either Ed or I had been skiing, but it only took a couple of runs to be right back in the groove. The fluffy clouds had dumped several feet of snow on Northern Utah just a few days before our arrival, and the slopes were perfect! The day was sunny and warmish, there was a light skiff of powder on the hard-packed surface, and I realized how very much I have missed skiing these last 15 years since moving to St. George.

Thank you, Sarah, for inviting us to your fabulous birthday weekend. Happy Birthday, my wonderful daughter!

Happiness is skiing with your best friend!

JURASSIC PARK

I was visiting Sarah a few weeks ago for her birthday. One evening, while she was busy with a project (she’s the editor for a WSU annual arts publication and the deadline was fast approaching), I decided to take a walk along an enticing trail just a block from her home. It was late afternoon, the air was crisp and wintery and snow blanketed the Ogden world with it’s stark, sparkling beauty. The trail wound through a park, then along the Ogden river right up to the mouth of Ogden canyon. The banks of the river were dotted with trees stretching their bare limbs towards the baby-blue sky. It was such a beautiful day for a stroll and I was soaking in the splendor of being healthy, happy, and loving the wonderful earth that Heavenly Father has created for us, when suddenly I saw TEETH coming at me from the side of the trail. AHHH! Dino-breath! And right in the neck of Ogden Canyon. Who would have expected that?! Thankfully, the predator didn’t appear to have seen me, so I quietly journeyed on. A few meters later, though, there was another dinosaur – and yet another one! Apparently I had stumbled upon some prehistoric stomping ground. And since I had reached the end of the path, and the sun was quickly setting, and I was now miles from Sarah’s home, I turned myself about and rushed hurriedly back the way that I had come. As I approached the turnoff to Sarah’s place, I saw that the trail stretched for potentially miles in the opposite direction that I had journeyed that day. Hmmm. I wonder what I might find in that direction? I shall simply have to pay my daughter another visit and find out. But next time – I’m NOT going alone!!!