Kinley's 1st Birthday!

Hey guys! 

It's been awhile since my fingertips have graced the keyboard in the form of a blog...AKA long time no see! A couple of exciting things have happened in our lives since the last time I blogged and I decided I needed to document them here.

Towards the end of last month we celebrated my niece's 1st birthday! I flew into Austin and was able to spend the entire weekend with my family celebrating our sweet Kinley. 

The day I arrived, she decided she wanted to go through my wallet. She pulled out and examined every single card I had in there.

We spent that day/evening baking and icing cupcakes and her cake, making signs, and resting up for the party. Mom cooked spaghetti and garlic bread for everyone and we spent several hours visiting. It rained all day so Alyssa decided to move everything into the garage. She had planned on having the party in the backyard so the kids could play outside and everyone could enjoy the fresh air, but was a good sport about having to change her plans. You can't control everything!

Spaghetti face! (And bib, and arms, and hands...)

Putting her to bed and taking selfies!

The morning of Kinley's birthday we all got up as soon as we heard a peep out of her on the monitor and sang her happy birthday complete with showering her with balloons! 

This picture warms my heart so much because she had just woken up and was probably wondering what we were all doing in there singing to her, but look at that little grin! 

All dressed and ready for her birthday party! Her party was Alice in Wonderland themed...she was Alice!

Time for presents!

Cake tiiiime!

Still haven't stopped laughing at this picture!

Group picture!

Fresh and clean and playing with one of her new stuffed animals with her PawPaw.

That evening we had dinner at Papadeaux and were all in bed pretty early. The next day, Sunday, we had lunch and mom and dad headed back home to Sweetwater while Alyssa, Kinley and I headed to the mall.

I got the cutest little floral dress for K!

Monday it was time for me to head back to Denver. We had lunch at Pluckers, one of my faves in Austin, and couldn't quit giggling at this little one's hair! She took the bow out of her hair which left it looking like this...

* I wanted to share my favorite memory from the weekend so that I don't forget, even though her little face in this moment is forever in my heart.* I was putting her down for a nap one of the days I was there. We were in Alyssa's rocking chair and Kinley had her bottle as I rocked her trying to get her to fall asleep.  Her eyes were fighting to stay open. All of the sudden she opened her eyes, looked at me and grinned real big. I said, "What are you doing silly girl?" She grinned and rolled over onto her stomach and laid on my chest just grinning. It was the most precious moment!

I am so thankful that I got to spend Kinley's first birthday with her and my family! Kinley is such a sweet and precious little soul and I love her so much. I can't believe she is already one! She is definitely a blessing and has made this past year so much fun and filled with love.

Vincent & a Sparkly Eiffel Tower

Hiiii! 

Yes, I realize it has been almost 3 months since my France trip (don't remind me) and that I am still blogging about it. When I first started this recap I had no idea how long it would take, especially when I only blog every week and a half! So, to those of you who are still reading anything I post, THANK YOU and I swear it's almost done! 

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Sunday, August 24th

One of the optional excursions on our cruise was a visit to Auvers-sur-oise (don't ask me how to pronounce it) where Vincent Van Gogh spent the last days of his life. As you may remember, I am a little intrigued by Van Gogh, so of course we chose to do this excursion. (Thanks mom!)

One of the first things we saw was this gothic style church that he had painted in 1890. Right next to it was a copy of his painting. It was really awesome to be able to look at the same church Van Gogh had looked at to paint, and then to compare it to his painting.

After looking around in the town, we took a walk to the cemetery. Van Gogh, and his brother Theo, are both buried here. It was crazy to see Van Gogh's grave! It was in a normal cemetery, nothing special, with no guard or anything. For some reason that surprised me.

I had always heard and read that Van Gogh had shot himself, but during this tour we learned another theory. I won't go into detail, but basically it just goes that he was shot by someone bullying him and died from that. That would be crazy, and story changing, if it were true. 

After the cemetery we went back to the town and saw the tiny room Van Gogh rented and where he passed away after his gun shot. Of course we weren't allowed to take pictures, but there really wasn't much to it. It was a tiny room with nothing but a small window and chair in it. Kind of sad.

Little Van Gogh.

Another building he painted with his painting near it.

That night we headed back into Paris for our last night of vacation. While I was so excited to see Paris again, I wasn't ready for it to be over! Our captain said he was going to show us a special "treat" on the way back, and we stopped in front of this miniature Lady Liberty. America gifted her to France after they gave us the original.

After dinner mom and I went up to the top deck and saw the Eiffel Tower. At night, every hour on the hour, the Eiffel tower sparkles! It looks so pretty!

We decided to leave the ship and walk closer to the Eiffel Tower before the next hour struck so that we could see it sparkle a little closer. Next time I am in Paris (yes there will be a next time) I'd like to be right up to it when it lights up. It's so pretty!

 

One more short post and then my France recap is over! Looking back through these posts and pictures makes me miss it so much. Why does travel have to be SO expensive? I am ready to go back ASAP. If I could spend my entire life traveling I swear I would.

Byyyyee. ; )

France Day 7: Les Andelys

Saturday, August 23rd

Today was a day full of cruising and a short stop in Les Andelys.

After docking, we had the option of roaming around the small town on our own, or doing a guided tour up to the castle. Mom chose to go and see the castle, I chose to venture around the town on my own. I mean, the castle was a major uphill walk and I wasn't in the mood to get sweaty. Plus, like I said before, roaming around a town in France by yourself is pretty cool.

Like every other town we visited, Les Andelys was breathtakingly gorgeous.

Chateau Gaillard, the castle mom hiked to. This was King Richard the Lionheart's castle. He feared an attack from the king of France, so he built this in 1196 for protection.

Les Andelys Church

While waiting on mom to return from her tour, I decided I might as well stop at the local bakery. Nothing like eating an eclair while staring out onto the Seine.

Look how cute these tiny, fuzzy, French baby birds are!

Our boat!

View from the castle of our boat and Les Andelys. #nofilter

On our way to Conflans!

There were so many swans in the river.

Going through a lock. If you are like I was and have no idea what a lock is, it's basically just a way to raise/lower boats to match the differing heights of the river at certain points. We went through several of these.

On board drink and dessert. : )

Tomorrow is Van Gogh's town!