Mom took a picture of Cam with Buzz Lightyear at Disneyland Paris while Jeff and I were riding Space Mountain. Actually, I think we were in line waiting to ride SM before it broke down. We got to ride it later, but spent a looooong time waiting. Anyway, here’s Cammy with his hero, Buzz.
Edited to add this last picture because Cam wanted one with both faces in it that he could see well.
Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue! July 24, 2006
Still hot July 23, 2006
It was hot today, and strangely not sunny. The kids still had a great time playing in the little pool and helping their dad clean the garage.
Yesterday, we took care of Collin while his dad was at work. Collin and the kids loved it! Collin and Paige ended up taking their naps at the same time, together on my lap. It was so sweet.
Paige is still working on potty training. Today she peed on a chair and came and to me and told me about it. She knows it doesn’t go there, and she loves to sit on the toilet, but the excitement seems to stop there. Her favorite thing to do is to sit on the toilet, rip up a bunch of toilet paper, put it in the pot and flush. Silly baby! I like that it’s nice enough for her to run around naked though. Her buns are pretty cute.
I have a cold and I’ve worked all day today so I’m off to bed. Good night!
Cammy is a good brother July 20, 2006
Cam and Paige are in the kitchen making themselves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Mostly, they are making a big mess, but it’s fun. Paige started screaming because she got jelly on her hand (reminicent of Cammy with the mud on his hands!) so Cam grabbed a towel and wiped it off for her. I told him that was very sweet of him to help her and he got all grouchy about it. 
He’s helping her still. Paige thinks he is just the best thing ever.
I forgot.. when we were in Paris, Paige sat down in my seat while we were waiting for a train and there weren’t any more seats, so I told her to move over because that was my chair and she said “NO!!” I said, “Paigie, let’s share the chair.” She replied “NOOOOOOOOOO I FIRST!”
Pee on the pot! July 18, 2006
I like being back at work, but it’s a bummer too. Vacation is way more fun!
Today, for the very first time ever, Paige peed on the potty! She asked me to take off her diaper because it was wet and then she started to have an accident and then went into the bathroom, sat on her little potty and filled it up! Cam and I cheered and cheered for her. She was proud of herself too. I hope it’s the beginning of something new. I’m really hoping she’s easier to potty train than Cammy boy was.
I’m still a little depressed about being home from vacation, even though I’m happy here. I think the kids and I will go out to a park or something in a bit.
Sunday at home July 17, 2006
Today was kind of weird. It kept feeling like it was a lot later than it was. Even now, it’s only 8:00 and I’d have thought it was midnight if it wasn’t still light out. Cam has been asleep since 5:30 or so and Paige has been asleep since 7:30. I’ll probably go to sleep soon too because I’m tired and I need to go in to work extra early tomorrow.
Jenn had her pancreas and kidney transplant today. I don’t know anything except that it was successful and the pancreas is already working. Jenn, if you read this, I’m thinking of you and praying for you. I can’t seem to get ahold of anyone close to you, but it’s not for lack of trying So glad your new organs are working already. Happy new birthday.
My mommy and daddy tags came while we were on vacation and I just love them. The kids keep wanting to wear mine, so maybe for Christmas or something, I can get them the kid tags that go with ours. They’d make good grandparent gifts too!
Jeff doesn’t feel good. I’m not sure if it’s a cold or allergies yet, but he’s pretty miserable and tired too. We just can’t seem to adjust past that last couple of hours of Paris time. We are just hanging out in between Paris and Seattle time.
Good night.
Cars! July 16, 2006
Last night, we drove to Wenatchee. Jeff and Dad got up at 3:00 am to go fishing and the rest of us slept until 4:00. I guess we are getting closer to the 6:00 wake up time. No fish were caught, but that’s okay because I don’t really want to eat any fish anyway. They saw a lot of salmon, but they were too smart. Go Fish!
This afternoon we went to see Cars with the neighbor kids, Gracie and Nolan. It’s really cute. There was a preview for Pixar’s next movie which is about a mouse in Paris. I’m totally excited to see that one. I have a whole year to wait. Cam is out for the night – he has had an exciting day with no nap. Hopefully he’ll sleep all night. Paige is sitting on her Papa’s lap reading a book. Jeff is crashed on a chair with his arm over his head Poor guy has bad allergies over here and he’s SO tired.
Paige and the potty July 14, 2006
Paige is showing interest in the toilet! No action yet, but she takes off her diaper, sits on her potty and then get toilet paper, puts it in the pot and flushes. When Cam poo’d this morning, she ran in, said “I poo’ and sat on her pot. It’s so cute! Silly Paigie.
Disneyland Paris, Catacombs and the trip home July 14, 2006
Tuesday was Cam’s day. Paige enjoyed it too, but Cam made most of the decisions. After we got up, we hopped on a train and rode out to Disneyland Paris. The park is really beautiful – they have done a great job with landscaping. Cam loved the Buzz Lightyear ride. I think it was his favorite. You sit in the little car and then use your laser to shoot at Zurg and other aliens. We went on The Pirates of the Caribbean and Cam liked that one until we went down a little water fall and it kind of scared him. He survived it, but didn’t want to try it again. He liked the haunted mansion and really liked Star Tours! Grandma took him and Paige on Buzz Lightyear for a second time while Jeff and I went on Space Mountain 2. Talk about scary!! It is a roller coaster in the dark and it’s much scarier than the original Space Mtn. It seemed darker and it went upside down three times. Sometimes I couldn’t even tell which way was up. It was great fun. Overall, we enjoyed it, but the CA one is a lot bigger and the public in CA is way better. For some reason, the visitors at Disney Paris didn’t bother standing in line or giving personal space. They would just cut in front of you and if you challenge them, they’d say they were there first or just ignore you. You had to really pay attention and keep your spot. I got tired of being agressive about my place in line. The only thing I really loved was Space Mt 2.
On our last day, we got going rather slow and then headed off to the Catacombs. They only let a certain amount of people down there at a time and we were the last of our group allowed in so we had a lot of time all by ourselves which really added to the experience. It’s about 30 meters deep and then you walk a long way down a dimly lit stone hallway. It used to be a quarry for stones used to build the city. Later, bones from cemetaries were moved down there and stacked and labeled by cemetary. It’s sad that they are all piled together so they can’t be identified, but it was done respectfully and it was very interesting. Definitely worth seeing. Again.. pictures to come.
Thursday morning, we headed off to the airport. The nutty lady at the Air France desk could not figure out how to issue us proper tickets and boarding passes. We arrived at the airport 2 hours early and she ended up taking so long we actually made the plane late. When we got to the gate, I handed all the papers to the gate check people and they told us that Cam and Jeff did not have tickets and therefore we would not be allowed on the plane. At this point, we were quite upset at that crazy lady out front. Someone made a call to headquarters and it was squared away and we got on the plane. I don’t know if the passengers were happy to see us board or not. Two crying kids aren’t too thrilling to everyone else Eventually we arrived home and Mom had to be wheeled off the plane in a wheel chair because her foot was so swollen and painful. It seems better now though. It’s nice to be home.
Speaking of being home, our house is CLEAN! Everytime I turn around, I see something else grandma Patty cleaned while we were away. The shower is cleaner than when we bought the house, everything is vacuumed, the fridge is sparkling, the pans are shiny (how did she even do that?) The garage fridge was washed because something sticky got in there. it is so beautifully spic and span! That was so kind of her. I totally love it!
Miss a Papa… July 10, 2006
For this whole trip, every time we ask Paige where Papa is, she gets all sad and says ‘I miss a Papa.’ It’s very pathetic and adorable at the same time. She snaps out of it when you ask her where Cammy is.
Oh yea. July 10, 2006
I forgot.. we went out last night to be in the middle of everything after the World Cup game and it was really crazy. The entire Champs Elysees from the Louvre to the Arc was full of people. There were fireworks, screaming, crying, cheering, chanting… everything. Riot police were out in full gear to break up the few fights between the Italians and the French and there were police guarding the Arc. Some people threw fireworks into the crowd which was actually pretty scary to me. I’m not sure how dangerous they were, but people kept running from them, so I’m guessing it’s not exactly recommended. The riot police were very effective at breaking up fights so overall it wasn’t too scary or dangerous. Just loud and exciting to be a part of. People really liked us because they thought Jeff was press with his great big 200 2.0 lens.
