Birthday-Minecon-Disney Studios- Oh My!

My baby is 6 today, wait, what?!! I cannot believe that it is Makoa's birthday and he is 6! Yay, happy birthday kiddo!

We had Makoa's favorite breakfast, buffet. When I asked him what he wanted on our trip he replied, 'choose your own breakfast buffet'. Done!

Back in our room Makoa got to open his presents that the Grandma's sent with us. Minecraft, Ninjago, and generous spending money were the themes. Thanks family it really made it special to have presents and you thinking of us!!!


After a brief play with new toys it was time for MineCon. I love that the kids wore their costumes to MineCon! I worked so hard on Makoa's dwarf and Tasiana's Steve costumes. It made me so happy to see them on.





 

They even made it on the big screen!

After the opening ceremonies, some computer play, checking out an Enderman and Minecraft animals,
 

and generally being overstimulated paired with not much sleep the night before meant we had to go home for a nap. Makoa was so mad he pouted, hid himself, and promptly fell asleep - under the bed!

Disney Studios was open for MineCon attendees at 8pm. We did not however, leave enough time for dinner in Disney lines so Makoa's birthday dinner was a fast food cheese sandwich and a Cornetto ice cream cone that he so nicely shared with his sister. Not ideal, but we did sing Happy Birthday.


Disney Studios was SO FUN! I wasn't feeling well though so Don took the kids on every ride, and I took pictures while sitting down saying "please don't be sick, please don't be sick".



Then home to bed . . . at 11pm!

Disney and Minecon Await

Too many travel days on this trip. We could have definitely stayed longer in Paris but Disney and MineCon are calling!

We were ready in Mickey and Minnie shirts on the train.

We are staying at, funnily enough, the Sequoia Lodge. It totally reminds of a place that Grandma Rita would love. Big trees, a giant fireplace, themed decorations ,

and doesn't this just look like a Grandpa Walt Mickey Mouse?!

 We walked to the New York Hotel to register for MineCon then ate at the Rainforest Cafe for Tas. This girl LOVES animals and this was the place for her! She even kept herself busy opening all of our napkins and laying them on the table for us :)

The kids were so excited they couldn't sleep - Birthday, MineCon, and Disney giggles made it hard to let go!

Thursday - A Day in Paris

We got going late but at least we are all well enough to get going! We went to the Cite des Sciences in perfect time for the final kids session. It was similar to the Powerhouse Museum that we loved in Sydney. We were in the kids area where there were experiments for all of the senses. The kids listed, touched, watched, smelled, . . . well maybe not tasted :)


They also built, played in water, blew the dandelions on the screen.

It is nice to be at a kids museum in France where even the display coats where you find your size are stylin'.

And in case you forget where you were, when you open the door you are reminded as the cloud of cigarette smoke engulfs you. Even the teachers walking the school kids out were smoking.

I wanted to see the Eiffel Tower again, and to bring the kids, so we pushed our way way onto several trains to come out of the metro station here!

Across the Seine from the tower, in the cold wind to take some photos.

I bought a toy for 2euro and now the kids are 'bringing' their toys to also visit the Eiffel Tower! I also bought a yummy Nutella and banana crepe that we inhaled before taking 2 more metros home.

Alone in Paris

I am sitting in an 'American' restaurant about to taste my bagel that doesn't look very American. It is a vegetarian concoction named after The Jets. There is American music playing, Dr Pepper and donuts :)

We had a rough night. Tas woke a few times scared when she wasn't with me so at midnight we all took a shower. I laid with them til 2 then went to my own bed. At 4 I heard a familiar sound, only this time it was Makoa sick. Don when to him and he got sick a few more times. I didn't wake til 11 and am just so tired, crossing my fingers I am not next.

I am on a walk around town after washing some yucky bedding and getting Koa to sleep. Everything here is so . . . French! I was excited about getting out in this city. Everyone in their black coats and boots, it is all so stylish even the tweens sitting at the table next to me.

It feels a bit lonely though walking around today. Maybe I have been stuck to the kids, but without them I feel I am missing something. Although it is so nice to sit here in the quiet and not have to rush, I did miss having someone to talk to. Also, there isn't much in English in my neighborhood so it is hard to see what is edible :) I wanted a coffee and a sandwich and find myself having a Dr Pepper and bagel!!

I just found under my rocket salad covered with coleslaw there are potato chips - hahaha!

Tuesday - Travel to Paris

Tasi is finally feeling a bit better. We were up for a bit in the night and I had to wake up the kids in the morning again, but there is some color in the cheeks. I finished packing and we went to the park after checking out. The kids seemed to be having a good time on the swings and sandpit!



I was finally able to take photos of our hotel. We stayed at Hotel Washington on a quaint street in a quiet neighborhood with some crazy, tiny, steep steps up to the 3rd floor.
 
While we were waiting at the train station it was cold, and a group of Indonesian tourists stopped to take photos with Tasi, ah, just like Asia :)

Don met our train an hour further down and he looked horrible. Apparently puking and falling asleep at the train station after he flew in from Poland. Bummer, I was looking forward to handing over the kids. But, we made it to France! I am so excited to be here and our apartment looks great!

Sick Baby Girl

 

I had to wake the kids at 9:30. I hate doing that but I knew it was my only chance to eat today. Makoa was desperate for cold water, so after we ate I carried Tas to the corner store. Tasi made it back to our room then threw up all over the bed. I ran downstairs to get new sheets and towels and when I was putting them on the bed I started to cry. I am sad Tas is sick, sad that she is vomiting everywhere and I cannot fix it, and sad Don is not here with us. Makoa and I did some homework while Tasi slept and then when we showered she didn't want to be far from us. What to do? Put her in a chair and push it to the bathroom door of course :) 

 

 How is that for a scowl?! 

Luckily things were on the mend . . . we are meeting Don on the train tomorrow . . .

Sunday - Sinterklaas Arrived in Amsterdam

We left Colorado on Friday - picking up the kids early from school. They were so excited all week about their new toy, book, and show they got at the airport. Our kids always look forward to flying, but we broke one of our rules to help things go smoothly and had a connection in the middle of the night. The kids had the hardest time getting to sleep, then we had to wake them up to go through customs and switch planes in Iceland. When we arrived in Amsterdam on Saturday morning we could not stay awake so were all mixed up on times and Makoa was up from 11pm to 5am, sheesh. When I woke the kids for breakfast Tasi sat up and puked. Not our best start. I think we have finally caught the bug that was going through school before we left. Tasi kept vomiting so Don went to the store to get medicine and drinks and when he got back Makoa and I ran to catch the arrival of Sinterklaas.

Our friend, whose son is in Makoa's class, used to live in the Netherlands and married a Dutchman and told us we were going to be here with Sinterklaas! Very exciting, but also can be shocking so she warned us a bit :) I will let David Sedaris explain if you care to listen!

It was a bit odd as an American to see kids dressed up with painted black faces as we waited. The parade was mostly Black Pete - Santa's 'helpers' being silly and handing out cookies. Makoa got some to fill his pockets and hood.
 
I did a little research and found that Pete was maybe a freed slave who was so thankful that he stayed with Sinterklaas, but with some racial protest he is now explained as having a black face from going down the chimney. Anyhow, we watched the parade filled with Black Petes as just another cultural learning moment! 
 
Sinterklaas ended the parade on a white horse and looked fantastic.
 
When we got home at 4 Tasiana had vomited a few more times and Don was ready to get on his flight to Poland. He left feeling horrible leaving his sick girl, as she was throwing up while he walked out the door. I was up a few times with her at night, poor girl.