Travel Highlights Vienna and Paris 2010

Wow.  Our vacation was fantastic.  We had such a great time visiting with M and K and seeing the sights of both Vienna and Paris.  L did wonderful on all of the flights, with the time change and with all the excitement.  She was so interested in all the new sights and sounds (thank you everyone for speaking German and French to her!) around her. 

First Train ride into Vienna, from airport.

Highlights:  Having M and K see L for the first time and watching them fall in love with her during our trip, carrying the stroller up/down stairs, L's face while watching the Eiffel Tower 'sparkle', Der Mann hot chocolate, all the attention from strangers that L received (she attracted smiles, peek-a-boo, handshakes and kisses from all variety of people, young/old, hipsters/business men, children/flight attendants, the Austrian's especially love babies, it is beautiful), brunch at Cafe Gloriette overlooking Schonbrunn Palace and Vienna, coffee/wine/dessert in the restaurant on the Eiffel Tower, family photographs on our first vacation, L's new jacket, coffee at Hotel Sacher, talking/sharing/planning with M and K, four course dinner in Paris while L slept in the stroller at the table, the crazy drunk at the Paris Metro who was telling everyone "SHHHHH the baby is sleeping", seeing Vienna through the eyes of a child at the zoo and library, and so many others...

Smiling for a pic on M's phone.

K and K with L sleeping during one of many walks through Vienna.

Family Picture in front of Notre Dame Cathedral

Riding the lift down from Sacre Coeur in Montmartre Paris.

Family Pic in the Louvre...have to love mirrors so we can all be in the picture.

Der Mann with the Bread, The Man with the Baby.

Waiting at a cross walk.

L sitting up on the steps of Mozart's statue.

Photo Fun!

One thing I absolutely LOVE is taking pictures.  My  new favorite subject is, of course, L!  Here are a few of my most recent favorite shots.  Would love to have new ideas and hear what others think looks good in a photo as I am constantly trying to improve. 

First Family Christmas 2009

Our first Christmas as a family was really special.  We had lots of time with family and friends and all our events were set to a beautiful back-drop of falling snow.  It made driving a bit more complicated, but the beauty of a fully white Christmas was magical for L's first!

Wien and Paris

We are taking a trip to Europe; all of us!  Are we crazy to travel abroad with an infant?  We think not.  Our reasoning:  L is nursing still, so no need for food or bottles (less to pack and worry about!), she isn't crawling yet, and loves being in the baby carrier, so should be easily portable, she is fasinated with hands (hers and ours) so no need for lots of toys or other entertainment and if we don't go now it will probably be 10 years before our family is at a point where we can all travel abroad together (I think travelling with a toddler or a toddler/pre-schooler and another baby (sometime in the future) would be much more difficult!) 

We are staying with friends in Vienna for most of the trip (Hi M and K!) and can't wait to have some face-to-face 'real-time' together!  Skype is nice, but nothing beats being together in person! 

I am also looking forward to listening to real people speak French!  I speak French to L at home some of the time and we do a lot of reading books and singing songs in French.  I'm hoping to attend a few library events and/or other children's events while in Paris to learn a little more about how real French parents speak to their children (common phrases, words, etc. that are not easily learned from a textbook or my college french classes!) 

Should have lots of pictures from the trip to share!  We are going for the last half of the month of February!

Roots

I want to share stories and pictures from our daily life with family and friends.  Would love to hear comments on what you find interesting as I get going!

Why the name, Of the Oak Tree?  Our last name in French can be loosely translated "of oak" and I love the quote "Mighty Oaks from Little Acorns Grow" (a 14th century proverb).  Hopefully this blog will detail our growth as a family (J, K and L; Roxy Pup may make some appearances too!)  For now, the first family picture to share with everyone.

(Photo Credit:  RJ Photo -Roz)
Here we go...