Happy Birthday Julianna!

Happy 30th  birthday to my beautiful wife!  I love you so very much.  Sante to the last 17 years…

Enjoy Geneva, Switzerland.  You deserve the world!!!

Bon Ap!

The happiest place on earth…debatable.

For years now, I have sworn that I would never visit another Disney park.  I always said they were “NOT the happiest place on earth”!  The crowds, the lines, the expensive food, blah, blah, blah.  Well…I lied.  It was a moment of weakness–I was feeling sorry for myself and Daniel that we wouldn’t be in Arkansas for Christmas–and the words “Do you want to go to Disneyland Paris” actually flowed right out of my mouth.  Daniel, having never been before, thought it was a great idea.  And so a plan was born.  Christmas 2010…me, Daniel, Disneyland Paris.  Damnit, we were going to feel like little kids on Christmas! 

Honestly, it turned out to be a very good diversion from not being home for the holidays.  We woke up Christmas morning, opened all of our presents like normal, had breakfast (a cranberry breakfast bar instead of the usual sticky buns), a little Diet Coke (instead of the normal Grasshoppers), got dressed in triple layers and got on the RER A to Disneyland Paris.  1.5 hours later, we arrived.

Apparently, they had gotten even more snow at Disney and it isn’t customary to shovel the sidewalks here (no worry of lawsuit I guess?).  So, in our little sneakers and thin socks, we walked on in (after we paid the enormous entrance fee of course).  Everything started out great:  great rides, great food, great time in general.  THEN, hypothermia started to set in.  Our feet were wet, it was the coldest day here so far, and the crowds were getting to be a bit much. 

So, at the end, it was time to head back to our little apartment in Suresnes.  When asked, “Would we go again next year?”, Daniel and I both answer “No”, but it was truly great and we had a blast with a few setbacks along the way.  But, that seems to be normal here.  If we don’t have at least one setback every time we venture out then something must be wrong.  Right?

Enjoy the pics and we hope you had a magical Christmas wherever it led you this year…Bon Appetit!

Oh, and to the future grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins of our children.  If you would like them to EVER see Disneyworld/Disneyland, then we invite you to take them.  Their parents will be doing no such thing!  Consider this warning!

Now THAT is a real Christmas Tree!

Meet my little boy, Daniel!

Ratatoille! C'mon...we are in Paris, we HAD to try it on!

If it had only FIT my head, I might have purchased...

 

 

 

Thunder Mountain

And the Haunted Mansion...

Awwww...Sleeping Beauty's Castle (our favorite as you will see)

Genie in a bottle!

Ratatoille was my obsession for the day!

Chip...no Dale...no Chip and Donald!

You know who he is and if you don't, then we aren't friends anymore!

THIS is how cold it was. Lovely...dontcha think?

Sleeping Beauty's 3 Fairy Godmothers...

Blown Glass...seriously.

And now for the price tag: $25,000 (Euros)! If you like Disney this much, I believe you have lost your ever-loving mind!

Santa closed out the Christmas parade...of course!

Tinkerbell, or "Tink", as I like to call her.

I wanted my fingers in the pic to make sure they were still there (because I sure couldn't feel them)!

Prince Charming (he's all mine ladies!)

Officially lost it...

Mickey and Minnie wanted us to wish you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Did Santa Come?

Yes is the answer…Santa did come!  Thanks so much to our family and friends (and Daniel, you too!) for making Christmas pretty darned special over here in ol’ Paris.  We woke up early, got some fun stocking stuffers, got some great presents and then headed off to Disney.  Before we show you pics of the WHOLE day, here is our Christmas morning.  Wish you were here, we missed you all, but we did OK on our own!

I am seriously a small child! Here I am waiting to open presents. "Daniel, put the camera down and get over here!"

The beginning of a glorious relationship...gourmet chocolat from France. To die for!

Thanks Mom and Dad for the stockings...we love them!

 

 

I bought Daniel some "french lingerie" and he thought they were hilarious!

Christmas in Paris 2010

Would Christmas be complete without a "Go Hogs" ornament? I think not!

Snow shoes...You have no idea how useful these are going to be!

Boots! A girl's best friend over here!

Don't worry....it's FAUX.

Bon Appetit!

City Lights…

Two stops down, on the Metro (or as I like to call it “The Germ Express”) you will find a cute little town called Puteaux.  Every time we were on our way home, we saw some great Christmas lights.  So, what else do you do when you are a tourist?  You STOP and take photos.  Here goes nothin’:

Waiting on The Germ Express to arrive...

Wouldn't you have stopped too?!

You're starting to think that I only wear 1 thing over here, aren't you?

Me and my hunny bunny!

Bon Appetit and Joyeaux Noel!

Christmas Carolling…(via Skype)

It’s true…this is what Christmas wishes have come to.  No longer can I do these petty things in person…I have to do them on Skype now.  Below are some FANTABULOUS photos of my Christmas Carolling session with See Spot Run Productions (aka:  work).  We were in the process of putting together our Christmas video for clients and I was…you guessed it…present on Skype.  Gotta love technology!  Thanks Darla and Gerry for making magic happen!

I thought it was important to have the Christmas tree in the background. Here goes nothing...

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

Say "cheese" Gerry and Darla!

Now, check the whole thing out at:  http://www.gwladvertising.com/merry_christmas.php

Bon Appetit!  And Happy Holidays!

Christmas Village Post #903

I know….I have posted a LOT of stuff on Christmas villages, but bare with me…they make me feel the Christmas spirit!  So, here is Christmas Village post #903:

Our little town of Suresnes had a Christmas village too.  Just as cute, but a lot smaller.  This time, I thought Mary Poppins would pop out at any moment.  It was so cute and it was my first Nutella Crepe–and you know how I feel about Nutella (have you gone to get yours yet?).  Here is our little excursion through Suresnes.  Bon Appetit!

Seriously? Mary Poppins.....where are you?

Nutella + Crepe = YUMMY to my TUMMY!

What Christmas village is complete without motorized fake animals?

 

Bambi!

And the 3 Bears!

And here--exhibit A--Nutella Crepe + motorized animal. Good times!

Champs Elysees…

The Champs Elysees was a shopper’s paradise!  Not this shopper…but a richer, more famous shopper’s paradise!  I have a bit too much of a budget to be shopping in those hoity toity stores! 

AND, the highlight of the evening:  we headed to the Hard Rock Cafe for some good ol’ American cuisine!  Man o man was it good.  They even had RANCH dressing.  Thank God!!!!  I keep asking Daniel if we can go back every weekend.  Apparently, he thinks I need to experience more French food.  What does he know anyway?!  Bon Appetit!

Arc de Triomphe

For you Ashley Boes...a die hard fan of Sephora!

Disney...that's where Daniel and I will be on Christmas Day--Disneyland Paris!

And dinner at the Hard Rock. So good....

My nephews want to wish you a Merry Christmas!

My sister took my newphews, Augustus McCrae (aka Goose the Moose) and Charles Wellington III to PetsMart for a little Santa time.  I always get a huge kick out of these two with Santa.  I hope you do too.  Merry Merry!  Bon Appetit!

Charlie and Gus

 

Let me introduce you…part two.

Since I have formally introduced everyone to my not-so-neat washing machine.  Let me introduce you to the non-existent dryer.  This is also my office.  I hope you will be great friends as I have come to be with my “dryer”. 

In all seriousness, I forgot just how much of a booger drying racks are.  I haven’t used them since the Tri-Sigma house in college, and…since my Big 3-0 is on the horizon (hint, hint:  8 days people!)…that was quite a while ago!  Thank goodness for laundry softener, that’s all I have to say!

For my future guests:  please do NOT bring your laundry.  Thank you, Management!

Bon Appetit!

No “Bah Humbug” here!

Come December, all kinds of Christmas villages pop up across the city.  Last weekend, we headed to La Defense to check theirs out.  It reminds me of the War Eagle craft fairs accompanied with hot wine (instead of hot cocoa) and lots of fresh baked goods and stinky cheeses.  Really, the best of all worlds if you ask me.  From the Christmas Market, we headed into the mall to check out those decorations.  Way to go Paris!  I love the festive spirit.  Keep up the good work!

Complete with red carpet...

And the brasserie (bar) had a great little German Oompah band!

Bird's eye view...

Can you see the Arc De Triomphe in the distance?

Two of Santa's little elves...

The main arc at the Christmas village. Also, home to my French lessons. No, I still haven't learned much of anything. Sorry to report...

And welcome to the mall...

I wonder if this would fit in my living room? Oh wait, it is taller than me!

Even our little bakery is decorated for Santa. Daniel took approximately 15 pictures of this, so I am going to do you all a favor and post ONE. Good job on the photos though, Babe!

Merry Christmas Y'all! Love, The Barnetts

Bon Appetit!