Eliot turns two!

Eliot had a great birthday on Dec 9. He took two cakes to school to share with his classmates. For all the photos, see the web album. At home, we sang to him - he loves the candle! Then we opened presents. Eliot now understands what presents are and has also requested "HapBirthtoyoo" and "Candle" since his birthday. Tonight we did the birthday song and candle routine three times before I suggested an alternative activity. :)

Some videos below. Did Grandma Carol give us one of those trick candles?

Eliot enjoys the Galeries Lafayette Window

I took a lot of video of these windows and Eliot's enthusiastic reaction. Here are just two. If you want to see more footwork and more of the cool videos, visit the our youtube channel.... http://www.youtube.com/user/jenmbdunn

Eliot on the carousel at Sacre Coeur

Here's a video of Eliot and I on the carousel at Sacre Coeur in Paris. I loved the French music. A little bit of bliss. At first I didn't realize Chris was taking a video so I am posing for a photo....

Videos from Eiffel Tower

Here are some videos from the Eiffel Tower excursion.

A few more family photos

We ate at a quaint pizza place. Eliot enthusiastically requesed, "Pizza!" until it arrived. Here he is with Christian and Heidi.
Tina and Linda. The song, "Sisters" could have been written for them.
Chris and I. Happy together for 7.5 years.

Family photos

A group shot on the streets of Monschau.
Eliot, oblivious to the care Tina and Linda are taking to put on his mittens, which he promptly removed. Last year he would not wear a hat, so we are making progress in winter warmth one body part at a time.
Family photo in the square. Eliot becoming very tired. He had a nice snooze in the car on the way home and slept for over 12 hours last night. What a weekend! Family love, St. Nicholas, and a trip "abroad."

Monschau, Germany

After a brief stop in the Jubelpark area of Brussels, we hit the road with the Schulzs and drove to the Christmas market in Monschau, Germany, a very cute town seemingly destined to be the site of an extremely popular Christmas market. It was, in fact, the Christmas of greeting cards, snow globes, and Christmas ornaments. I'm glad we went although it was quite a drive. Again, I am thankful that Eliot is a trooper!
The crowd at the market.
We ate at a restaurant overlooking the main square. We did not know we'd be serenaded by the pair at the bottom of the photo. The woman sang and the man alternated between the harp and the guitar.
Here is the square after nightfall. Too quaint for words.

Brussels Plaisir d'Hiver

The Schulzs and I set out for Brussels' winter festival on Saturday night. A portion of the old city is in full costume for Christmas. Here is a nativity scene set up in the Grand Place.
Here is a shopping street with lights.
Here is the Christmas Market in Brussels. It was packed and I was glad Eliot was snug in bed and not in his stroller ahead of me being forced through the crowd. I don't know how anyone could buy anything at the booths because the crowd had a unified will to move forward.
Lights by St. Catherine's church.

The best part of this festival is the lights show at the Grand Place. I have some video I will post.

URS St Nicholas party

My company had a St Nicholas party on the day named for the saint, December 6. St Nicholas is more important in Belgium (and the Netherlands) than Santa Claus. This was evident in the excitement of all the kids (about 25 total) at the party.

Here is a sign on the door at my office. Note Eliot's name on the right hand side near the bottom.
While the kids waited for St. Nicholas they played with toys someone thoughtfully had ready.










Once a certain song started playing on a stereo, all the Belgian children knew St. Nicholas's arrival was imminent. The lined up and waited expectantly and excitedely. Eliot and I are in about the center of the picture. Once St. Nicholas arrived, Eliot eventually recognized him since I have been reading him a book about St. Nicholas and pointing him out in all the store window displays. I have to start showing him Santa Claus now. I'm sure it must be confusing to him - how are these men in the red suits different?


Here is St. Nicholas. Video to come. Eliot did not get his chance to meet St. Nicolas because the party was actually during his nap time and he grew more and more tired as the party progressed. Eventually we new it was time to leave and give Eliot a great St. Nicolas present - sleep!

The party was a great cultural experience and it was fun to meet the children of my coworkers.

The Schulzs visit!

My family, Tina, Linda, Christian, and Heidi Schulz came to visit us this weekend. Eliot always has lots of fun with them! He first met them when he was nine months old. Here he is with Tina and Linda at a Christmas tree vendor at our local market.
Eliot hangs out with Tina and Christian.
Linda plays with Eliot and the new blocks the Schulzs gave him for his birthday.
Chris and Christian engaged in some Christmas crafts.

Competition for Marshall Field's.... Macy's I guess

Our last stop in Paris was the windows at Galeries Lafayette department store and it proved to be well worth it! These were the best lights we saw in Paris. I will be posting videos of Eliot watching the dancing ducks, bunnies, babies, etc.


The windows were filled with puppets that danced to catchy music that Eliot loved! The store had little platforms for kids to watch the windows from and Eliot mingled with Parisian kids (and other tourists, I'm sure).

La Tour Eiffel

We took Eliot to the Eiffel tower. He was entranced by it and the light show (see videos to come). He really wanted to ride the "choo choos" that go up the tower's legs. We decided to go up to only the first platform because it was so windy and wet!


Eliot impatiently waited for the elevator to arrive and then excitedly got on with Chris. Here they are waiting to ride up, up, up!
Father and son on the Eiffel Tower.
Paris at night.

Paris dressed up for Christmas

We were a little early to see many Christmas decorations but those we did see were very nice. Here is my favorite - Notre Dame with a real Christmas tree. This cathedral has been around since 1200 or so and it always amazes me to think about worshippers coming here over the centuries. Although I guess it was used essentially as a barn during the French Revolution. A live nativity of sorts.
Here is a store on the Isle St Louis - decorations were just going up and being delivered from a van sitting out front.









Decor on this shop was finished and lovely.

Walking around in Paris

Paris is beautiful - I am biased because I took French in school and we learned all about Paris and how great it is. Here are some photos of Paris landmarks - the Louvre are museum and the Eiffel Tower.