Parc des Buttes Chaumont et 14 juillet!

Guess what? Brian had another holiday this weekend! Bastille Day gave us an opportunity to "fait le pont" and make a long weekend by taking Monday off as well!

Yesterday, we took the opportunity to sleep in, watch Wall-E, and explore another small park in Paris, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.

Would have never guessed that pirates of the 19th century served Japanese, Italian, and French cuisine all at once did you? Well fear not, you can get it at Parc des Buttes-Chaumont:

A more standard park picture. Here is the gazebo at the top of the park:

It provided some nice views of Sacre Coeur, but that was about it. It was windy up there so we stopped to cool down, explore the gazebo and eat our lunch of beef jerky, Tyrell's chips, fruit compote, and cookies. I wasn't super prepared. Michael eating and playing in the dirt ring:

And picture of Mommy and Michael at the pond in the park:

They also had a waterfall, but it's barely something I would mention in this blog. But I did, so there.

All in all, an interesting venture to the 19th and the metro stop called "Ourcq." Doesn't that just sound like a place where you pop out of the metro stairs and find yourselves staring at an army from Lord of the Rings? Luckily, it was just the 19th and not Saruman and his forces.

On Sunday, I did a photoshoot at the Luxembourg Gardens and Brian and Michael met me afterwards! I know it is a touristy place, but I love this place. I love it. I've loved it since I first saw it and couldn't tell you why. It's just my place. And on Sunday afternoon, it was hot, sunny, and beautiful:

Michael rented his first boat Sunday! He picked out a boat with a fish on the sail:

He loved pushing it around the pond, but he was more impressed with getting to hold a gigantic stick: Then, my little photogenic son sat down to pose for a picture. Do NOT ask me why I did not pull my reflector out for this one. Would have helped a ton. I love it anyways:
And Michael took this picture. I love sharing a hobby with him!