Day 1 - Dover Ferry and Paris

We woke up very early Monday morning to start our week long vacation in France. We started the trip with a three our journey to the ferry in Dover. Then we got on the ferry and had an hour ride over to the port in France. Emerson thought the boat ride was fun. He enjoyed looking out the window, walking around, jumping on Stephen (who was trying to take a nap), and playing in the little kid area. While waiting to board and throughout our trip we took turns studying/practicing the language. Bonjour, comment talle vous? Wee wee.

We then had another two to three hours of driving before we made it to our hotel in Paris. Emerson and Canyon did a lot of sleeping on the way which was helpful.

After getting to our hotel and getting situated we made our way into the center of Paris. This proved to be a difficult task since none of us spoke the language very well. After a couple wrong turns we finally made it. Just in time for our turn to go up the Eiffel Tower.

These pictures are from the main stop of the tower. The weather cleared up and it was a nice day, so you could see for miles and miles.

Emerson, Joseph and Stephen went up to the very top of the tower. They said that the view wasn't much different then from the middle of the tower. Both parts are so high that it doesn't make that much of a difference. You're up high and everything below is very small. Still it is cool to say that you've been to the very top.

After our trip up the tower.

After the Eiffel Tower we got back on the trains to Notre Dame. The architecture of the building is amazing. Very detailed. The coolest part were the gargoyles.

After spending the afternoon in Paris we made our way back to our hotel. For dinner we had McDonald's and Emerson got his very first happy meal.

Day 2 - Disneyland Paris

On day two we made our way to Disneyland Paris. Before going to the parks we had to go get checked in at our hotel. We stayed at the Davy Crockett Ranch. It was really nice because you had your own cabin to yourself with a kitchen and frig and other amenities. While Stephen got us checked in the rest of us walked around the lake that was at the hotel. Emerson was entertained by throwing rocks in the water.

Our lovely cabin.

We then headed over to Disneyland. We spent the first part of the day going on rides with Emerson. His first ride was the tea cups. He loved them and thought they were so much fun. He really enjoyed helping turn the wheel that made the tea cup spin around faster.

Waiting in line to fly the elephants.

As the day progressed we learned that Emerson is fearless. He was not nervous or scared about anything. He loved it all. Flying, spinning, diving - he was there laughing and smiling. We took advantage of going on some of the bigger rides while Emerson took a nap.

After we spent most of the day at the park we came back home to our cabin and ate some dinner. Stephen and Joseph then went back to the park. It was a lot less crowded at night and they said that there was barely any wait to get on most of the rides. They went on Joseph's favorite ride, Space Mountain, about 4 or 5 times that night.

Day 3 - Disneyland Paris

We got to the parks this morning right as they opened. Stephen and Joseph headed over to Walt Disney Studios to go on a couple of rides while I took the boys to Disneyland Park. While we waited for them we watched old short films of Mickey Mouse. Then when they got to us Stephen and Emerson went on the Buzz Lightyear ride where they battled the evil emperor Zerg. I think Emerson enjoyed himself cause he came back with a huge smile on his face.

Shortly after we got caught in a huge rainstorm that lasted over an hour. Once we all met up with each other we took advantage of the rain (which had scared off most people) and took turns going on the Aerosmith roller coaster. It was one of the only rides in our area that was inside so it was still running. Once the rain finally let up we went over and flew on the carpets and went on the cars a couple times. Everyone was still in hiding because of the storm so we got on the rides super quick and got to go on them a couple times. Emerson was really excited about that, especially when it came to the cars.

I went on these two rides with Stephen. The first one Tower of Terror was probably the scariest ride I've ever been on. You plummet to the earth in an elevator with nothing but a seat belt (the lap seat kind) from ridiculously high. I still had the jitters after it was all over and we were walking outside. The second ride was Indiana Jones roller coaster. It was fun and not nearly as scary, but a little on the short side.

We headed back home after over eight hours at the parks, exhausted and hungry.

After dinner we went swimming. Both of the boys enjoyed themselves. Emerson loved playing in the water. Splashing and making waves, getting thrown up and down. A complete 180 from the last time he went swimming. Canyon had no expressions at all about the water, he didn't seem phased at all. The water was kind of cold so we didn't stay too long. We ended the night with a movie.

Day 4 - Disneyland Paris

For our last day at Disneyland Paris we first went to Walt Disney Studios. There we took pictures with Mickey Mouse and let Emerson go on his favorite ride (Cars) one last time. Joseph and Stephen went on the Aerosmith ride again and then Stephen and I took a picture under an umbrella with the rain coming down (singing in the rain?).

After going on a couple rides and taking a couple photos at Walt Disney Studios we went to Disneyland Park and went on Space Mountain one last time (Joseph's favorite ride) and tried to pull the sword out of the stone. I think Emerson was the closest to getting the sword out. We then grabbed a couple souviners on our way out.

We had to leave the park by 1 so that we would have enough time to get to the ferry in time. When we got there we found out that the ferries were delayed due to weather so we sat around for an hour waiting. The ferry finally arrived and we then made it back to England, though we were a little later then expected. We spent the night in a cute bed and breakfast (which I forgot to take pictures of).