We’re so excited for our trip to France so that everyone can meet Sebastien. Much better planning this time and we’ve dropped off both kids to the grandparents so that Mommy can sanely (if that is possible) pack away the entire house. I honestly cannot wait until my kids learn to pack for themselves – that and laundry are definitely high on the list of to-dos. My packing list is ridiculously long – I’m more worried about the fact that the door-to-door travel time is 20+ hours due to a connecting flight and a car ride so I’m packing LOTS of bribe food for my kids in the event they don’t sleep. I think I did pretty good – 2 checked luggages, 2 carry ons, 2 personal items, 2 car seats, 2 kids and 2 adults and HERE WE GO!

Also very good planning aspect of the kids staying at grandparents is that they get as normal of a sleeping schedule prior to the long travel ahead. Enjoy your last peaceful nap kids…

On our way to the airport, Chloe decided to show me her new singing skills from her time at Grandpa’s watching all the Sound of Music she wants.

[wpvp_flowplayer src= https://chezmuirichard.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/20160816_chloe_singing_doremi.mp4 width=540 height=360 splash=https://chezmuirichard.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-video-posts/images/default_image.jpg]

We got to the gate very early and cleared security without many issues. We did have to put the car seats through the luggage x-ray machine – neither I nor Laurent thought they would fit, but they did! And both kids walked through the x-ray machines on their own and I was not harassed for the amount of milk, baby food or yogurt I brought on the plane. Whew! Needless to say, taking everything apart, putting it through the machines and then reassembling it all without losing either kid or entirely blocking up the waiting area was a huge win in my opinion. Sweaty and exhausted, we headed to our gate with 2 hours to kill before boarding. So we let the kids run around as much as they wanted to wear them out for the night flight. Before the cabin lights were dimmed, both were already soundly asleep thankfully (can’t say the same for Mommy and Daddy).

A two-hour layover in France at 7am (i.e. 1am NYC time) means everyone is super tired and so Daddy tries to entertain the kids.

[wpvp_flowplayer src= https://chezmuirichard.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/20160817_carryon_luggage.mp4 width=540 height=360 splash=https://chezmuirichard.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-video-posts/images/default_image.jpg]

The second flight is only an hour and it’s a middle of the day flight so while Mommy and Daddy would like everyone to take a nap, that’s not happening. Poor Sebastien is so exhausted with these deep purple circles under his eyes that he literally falls asleep sitting up in his seat. Chloe is wide awake (probably from the sugar in all the animal crackers she’s eating) and enjoying her window seat with Mommy. The biggest surprise I got was how much fun Chloe had with the box of colored pencils the airline gave out to all the kids. I was disappointed at first because they didn’t write very well and I thought she would lose interest but surprisingly she had almost 30 minutes of interrupted fun just taking the pencils out one by one and putting them back in. I think she’s a type A personality and slightly ADD like her Mommy… oh boy. And then there was her singing to herself on the loud shuttle plane which was fun as well.

[wpvp_flowplayer src= https://chezmuirichard.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/20160816_chloe_singasong_blog.mp4 width=540 height=360 splash=https://chezmuirichard.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-video-posts/images/default_image.jpg]

After packing our luggage and installing the car setas in the rental car, changing outfits for the kids as they’re a sweaty mess from transit, we’re finally on our way to Aunt Helene’s! So glad we’re finally here! I’m pretty sure the kids are having a blast too!

Sebi can’t help himself and stops to pick up literally every piece of gravel down Helene’s driveway. It takes hours for him to go from the house to the garden ha ha.

[wpvp_flowplayer src= https://chezmuirichard.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/20160817_sebi_talking.mp4 width=540 height=360 splash=https://chezmuirichard.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-video-posts/images/default_image.jpg]

And who doesn’t LOVE their own slide?

[wpvp_flowplayer src= https://chezmuirichard.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/20160817_chloe_slide_blog.mp4 width=540 height=360 splash=https://chezmuirichard.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-video-posts/images/default_image.jpg]

And some bonding time with Sebastien and Daddy.

[wpvp_flowplayer src= https://chezmuirichard.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/20160817_sebidaddy.mp4 width=540 height=360 splash=https://chezmuirichard.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-video-posts/images/default_image.jpg]

More photos and videos to come from our vacation in France…