Vastine inVasion!

This was the trip Chris had been planning for months, and it was finally here!  His sister Mary and twin brother Jerry arrived in Brussels on September 21st.  Although Oktoberfest was their main destination, we were thrilled to have them with us for a couple of days in Brussels.

Yes, Mary came out in her dirndl dress.  She is much braver than me!

 We took the Vastines to the house to show them around.  Jerry had been here before (for about three hours on a layover), so we showed Mary around.

The harsh reality of European sized....everything!

No rest for the weary....we set out to have a look around Brussels.  The first stop was lunch in the Grand Place.

Moules and frites of course! Tis the season!

Drooling over the local vehicles.

Manneken Pis was our next stop.  Jerry said, "Oh my God, he's so small!"  That's pretty much the reaction everyone has.  Paris has the Eiffel Tower and we have the Pis.  

First waffle in Belgium.

 After our trip to Brussels, we picked up Allison from ISB.  She had been at the Hague (Netherlands) playing soccer. It was so good to have her back.  And, it was just in time for Thomas's soccer game.

Trying to be as tall as Aunt Mary.

Coach and Thomas

This is where we get a bit mean.  As if Mary and Jerry aren't already exhausted....we put them in the car and made them ride for three hours to Paris.  I so desperately wanted them to see the Eiffel Tower at night, and this was the only way it was going to happen.

On the road again...

Mary said the Eiffel Tower at night was her favorite part, so that made it all worth it.  I was so impressed they were still awake.  I could not have done it!

 The next morning, we had the most delicious breakfast at a café along the Seine.  I still pinch myself when I write sentences like that.  

The boys loved the croissants.

Thomas thinks Uncle Jerry is hilarious!

Then we were off to Notre Dame!

Good Morning Gorgeous!

One of my favorite things to do in Paris is to go to the top of Notre Dame, so we waited in the line.  It wasn't too bad.  Just over 30 minutes.

Passing the time....

What a view!

It was their first time to the top.

And, this one is from the VERY top!

 Next stop was a walk around the Louvre.  Jerry and Mary did not want to go in....our kids were thrilled! :)

I'm so glad Mary likes to take pictures.  I have several family shots now.

Because you have to, and I had never done it before!

Me with my favorite people in the Tuileries.

Enjoying the beautiful day!

A stop at the Arc du Triomphe.

Wow!  Is that dude naked??  Deep conversations....

 We took a nice long boat ride down the Seine with a stop at the Eiffel Tower after.  Someday our kids will make it to the top.

Professional metro rider

 We made our way up to the Sacre Coeur and Monmartre.  Well, not all the way to the top.  Everyone was pretty much exhausted, so we admired from here.

And, that concludes our whirlwind visit to Paris.  We arrived back home at 9:30 PM.  The kids went back to school on Monday morning (7 AM soccer practice for Allison) and Chris, Mary, and Jerry left for Munich.  More on that in the next post. Au Revoir Paris!

Until next time,

Wendy