This is a mansion that is now a restaurant at a park that I really like. The park has this lake, two playgrounds, basketball court, restaurant, and tennis courts. Eliot likes watching tennis. I'm looking forward to him trying out a racket for the first time!
On Sunday, we headed to the Royal Greenhouses, which are open to the public for about 2 months per year. It was crowded but not too bad. We allowed Eliot to touch plants with one finger (pointer only, not thumbkin), which he found difficult to comply with but he did a good job for a 2-year-old!
The outside of the greenhouses are as nice as the inside. One thing we noted during this visit is that, although these greenhouses were much bigger than those in Chicago, Lincoln and Garfield Park conservatories almost seem as good because they have great architecture and really good displays. Plus they are free and open to the public year-round!
Here is a garden that was off limits to guests, we could only view it down a corridor. Chris got some great flower shots during our tour. Hopefully some will end up on our wall when we have our new home. 
Last Friday there was no playgroup for the Easter holiday, so Eliot and I headed into the city to visit the toy museum, which the guidebook promised would have many opportunities for hands-on exploration. The toy to the left is one such example. There was also a row of toy kitchens and many other games to play over the four stories of the museum. 
Housed in a great building, the museum was packed to the gills with toys of yesteryear. Unfortunately, the toys seemed to have been thrown into display cases and were not well labeled, but I didn't have much time to look around anyway as I had to keep a careful eye on Eliot as he enthusiasticly sprinted from toy to toy.
There were lots of big metal vehicles that kids used to play in. It was amazing to think of the complete changeover to plastic with some wood toys still in the toybox/backyard. Also, this toy maker wisely put in three steering wheels so more than one kid could have the driver role.
Some teddy bear x-rays. The museum has a teddy bear clinic once a year. These are remnants from a previous clinic.
I was on the look out for an appropriately-sized chocolate Easter bunny in Paris, but a couple of the shops I popped into did not have bunnies! I just didn't want to get Eliot something else and kind of gave up. Then, at work on Tuesday, a coworker brought a package with a chocolate bunny and eggs to my desk. Turns out the Easter Bunny came to my office on Friday while we were in Paris. So, Eliot got to enjoy a chocolate bunny anyway. As you can see, he did not inherit his mother's qualms about eating a chocolate bunny's head. (I know it can not feel it, but for some reason I just prefer to start with the feet and perhaps never make it to the head.) He started with the face.
We started out our last day in Paris at one of my favorite Parisian parks, Jardin du Luxembourg. Ever since I first saw this park over 10 years ago (!) I knew I wanted my child to run on its tree-lined, crushed rock pathways. I wanted him/her to see the boats floating in the pond. It would have been nice if Eliot could ride a bike, but at least most of my college-self dreams about bringing a child to this park came true. As it turned out, the playground here probably fulfilled some of Eliot's playground dreams so it worked out well for both of us.
Many trees in bloom made it even better.
After a relaxing morning at the park we headed for the modern art museum which I knew had an exhibit geared for kids 2 and up. Plus, I knew Eliot would love the escalators that run exterior to the building (see the photo album). We actually have such an external escalator at our grocery store since there is a parking deck on the roof. But that is only one level and here there are 5. This photo is of the square just outside the museum, a popular hang out. 
Here is Eliot living it up in the kids' exhibit on an American artist who worked in kinetic art, so to speak.
Day 2 in Paris was Easter Sunday. We lined up to attend Mass at Notre Dame. I forgot my black pants and was a little self concious about wearing jeans until we got there and there were people in quite casual clothes, some rolling their suitcases behind them. I needn't have given it a second thought. It was very cool to hear the bells ring to announce the service. I will post some video. 
Inside it was packed and there were flat screen TVs so everyone could "see" the altar. After about 15 minutes, Eliot was done. (I was impressed he made it that far.) So, we lit some candles, as is now our custom in churches, and left. It was a great experience to hear beautiful organ music and singing on Easter Day at Notre Dame cathedral, which has been in existence since around 1200. Before that there was a different cathedral or worship site (my reading on Paris history has faded rapidly from my mind) in the same spot. I found it inspiring to think of the centuries of people who had celebrated Easter (although probably in a much more disciplined and serious way than we do today) in that very location, the voices that had echoed off those walls. In summary, I like thinking about all the people who have come before me when I visit places with such rich history, and Easter was a great time to do that.
We walked and walked all day and had this nice sunset view of the Eiffel Tower on our walk home. Many more photos are on the web album I will post. In general, this trip was more about experiencing the city than visiting the museums and historical sites. Chris and I were lucky to do that a few years ago. Now we just wanted to take Eliot to parks and walk around during his naps, which the weather graciously let us do.
We went to Paris over Easter weekend. It was great! Weather was warm but not hot. It was packed with tourists, but not too bad in the places we chose to go. And, although our hotel somehow did not have a record of our reservation (a reminder to always phone first!) they did have a room, that was in fact less expensive than the one I had first booked. Eliot slept overnight in a non-crib bed for the first time and actually stayed in it all night, both nights. He did take some extra convincing to go to bed, though. The first photo is in Place des Vosges, a great hang out on a nice day, which clearly a lot of people think. I had never been here before.
Eliot made a friend at this park, bringing the baby leaves and flowers that had fallen from trees. The baby's parents were getting a kick out of it. Eliot also tried to distribute leaves to pigeons, but they eschewed his efforts, to his frustration.
Eliot and Chris feel the soft leaves of the trees in a different garden.
And, we happened upon this little concert. Eliot is a fan of classical music and especially likes the violin, so he was listening attentively.
Spring has definetely sprung here, glorious and flowery. Here is the tree we see from our windows although it is technically not in our backyard. 
Here are the woodland flowers at a park by our house.
More spring blossoms.
Eliot continues to grow and change and amaze us. He makes these rolls with a teacher at school. I have bought the supplies to try it at home, maybe later this week. He is always so proud of his baked goods and, frankly, they are quite yummy!
Here is Eliot playing before we went to the Easter party at play group. 
At playgroup, where kids were invited to dress up either in fancy clothes or costumes, we attempted a group photo fairly successfully. I do not have a costume for Eliot besides the Irish soccer player outfit so I opted for a dress-nicer-than-usual approach to the party. It was fun to see the girls in their princess/fairy dresses and I really liked the little boy who came as a bunny. (He is seated on the armrest of the blue couch.)
A friend snapped this photo of Eliot and I. Mommies/Daddies were supposed to dress up, too, so I wore what a friend calls my Belgian outfit. Eliot made a little Easter basket as a craft and got some chocolate eggs.
On the way back to Brussels, we stopped in Dordrecht, which turned out to be one of my favorite Dutch towns. Nice canals, nice boats, some interesting shops (all closed, of course). 
Chris took this great photo with the building reflections.
Eliot and I by the boats.
The guidebook mentioned this bridge and said kids love to run up and down it. Ours was no different.
After Keukenhof, we took Eliot up to the beach since he is a big fan. He really enjoyed this hole someone had dug, jumping into it, sliding down the sides of it, and running around it. He was very happy hanging out in the sand. We were a bit cold....
It was very foggy at the beach, unlike at the gardens.
This church looked like it was Spanish influenced and looked neat in the fog.
Eliot playing around in the sand. I can't wait until our summer trip when he can just enjoy the beach in the warmth of the southern France sun!
On Sunday we headed to Keukenhof, billed as "the world's most beautiful spring garden." It was indeed lovely with these indoor displays with many tulips. The outdoor flowers were mostly daffodils at this point. We are coming back to Keukenhof when Andrea visits and the floral profile will probably be different. I am going to post a web album with many pictures soon.
Here are Eliot and I enjoying one of the prototype gardens. I got some good ideas and can't wait until we have a garden of our own.
There was a fantastic petting zoo. I will be posting videos of Eliot's great interaction with the animals. He did so well with petting gently.
After touring the gardens we took a great walk among the surrounding flower fields while Eliot snoozed in the stroller. This field is right by Keukenhof and when we were returning from our walk this field had about 15 people tromping (not tiptoeing) through the tulips for photo opportunities.
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