Paris

What can I say but Ooh La La Paris was wonderful!  We stayed just down the road from the Eiffel Tower.  We could actually see it from our bedroom window.  The first night there we got there in the evening so we only walked around a bit and got something to eat close to our hotel.  The second day we all got lots of exercise walking all around Paris.  We began the day by having pastries at a wonderful deli.  They were soooo goood, The line at the Eiffel Tower was very long so we decided to purchase tickets online for the following day.  We walked on the other side of the river to Arc de Triumph which sits right in the middle of a round-a-bout and you have to walk thru the tunnel that goes under the road to get there.  The view from the top of Arc de Triumph was beautiful.  After that we did lots more walking, ate lunch, walked around a Christmas Market, and then headed back to the hotel and out for dinner.  The next day we went up the Eiffel Tower.  It was rainy and foggy, but the view from the 2nd level was nice.  We took a taxi over to the Louvre Museum and walked around there for hours seeing things like the Mona Lisa.  I was surprised by how small it was.  After the Louvre we decided to walk over to Printemps to see the shops and the street window displays which were beautiful.    After that we had dinner and headed back to the hotel.  Then it was back to the Eurostar Train the next day to head back home.

 

Daddy Daughter Date

One night, Aaron wrote a letter to Elisabeth and slipped it thru the mail slat.  The envelope said "secret" where the return address should be.  As she read the letter it became clear to her that it was from her Daddy.  In the letter he was asking her if she would go on a date with him and they could both dress up.  About a week later, Elisabeth and her Daddy went on their dinner date.  They had a great time.  Aaron Michael and I went out to dinner as well, but to a different restaurant. 

International Families Day

Every year the Defence Academy holds an International Families Day where students from 43 different countries organize a booth where they will have samples of food from their country.  Last year there were 1600 people in attendance and I think it was pretty close this year.  Aaron volunteered to be the organizer for the American booth.  We had pulled pork bbq, popcorn, jack daniels and other fine whiskey's from the US with coca cola, and hershey's candy.  We had to decorate our booth and provide some kind of entertainment.  We hired an Elvis impersonator to perform.  The booths were all well decorated, the food I sampled from all over the world was amazing, and the costumes some of the countries had on were beautiful.  It really was a very nice day. 

American Booth, obviously!  Aaron and Tasha

Nepal Booth.  Samrat, Aaron, Elisabeth

Pakistan

Australia

India

Canada

Kuwait

Sweden

Our Elvis Impersonator

Saudi Arabia

Spain

Our Sponsors

All International Families

Mike, Aaron, and Ryan

Field Trip to @Bristol

Aaron Michael's class went on a field trip to Bristol to a museum called @Bristol.  It was a very fun trip where they also received a class on push and pull forces.  I volunteered to chaparone the field trip.  We had a lot of fun!

International Cookery

I think I may have mentioned that I am in an International Cookery Club.  November was my turn to host a dinner, so I decided to do an American Thanksgiving Dinner for the ladies in my group.    I think Aaron and the kids are glad that it's over with because I was really stressed over trying to make it perfect.  I made a really nice place setting complete with handmade place cards and centerpiece.  It was my first time roasting a turkey or anything in the bottom section of my oven.  I have to say the turkey came out very nice and juicy.  I also made homemade stuffing (thanks to Lori and Phil Valenti for their recipe), sweet potato casserole (which came out way too sweet), gravy, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie.  Everyone seemed to really enjoy the food. 

Parliament Tour

I went to on an organized trip to London to visit the House of Parliament and Westminster Abby.  It was an amazing trip.  I don't really have very many photos because we were not allowed to take photos inside either building.  I have to say it was very educational and amazing. 

Trick or Treat

On Halloween, Aaron took the kids around the neighborhood trick or treating.  Believe it or not, the participation for trick or treating was high.  I stayed home and passed out candy.  Of course, since it was my first time staying home to pass out candy I decided to really do it up.  I placed a couple tables out front and had nicely decorated halloween cupcakes, a craft making glass jack-0-lanterns, had goodie bags full of candy, and played halloween music.  So many kids and adults said it was their favorite house they went to.  I had a lot of fun.  Elisabeth dressed as a Fair Maiden Princess and Aaron was a Ninja.  They looked so cute.