Europe (Part 3) ==> Paris

TJ and KFalk relax on the non-OSHA-approved staircase soon after our arrival in Paris.

TJ frightens the locals.

Best playground ever... a high ropes course for kids 6+.  The maturity, concentration and joy of these kids was amazing as they moved around the course without any direct adult assistance.

The family enjoys a pic-a-nic at a giant suburban park.

Octopus slide!

Our first evening in Paris was spent walking from home, past Notre Dame to a spot on the river from which we could see the Eiffel Tower.  By lucky happen-chance, we got to see the 5 minutes of each hour when lights twinkled like pixie dust.

HOLE!!!  This small but deep hole in the courtyard outside S&K's home fascinated TJ.  Every morning, he would shout "shoe, hole", wanting to put on his shoes and venture out to peer into the hole.  The best part was that his pronunciation of "hole" sounded like "whore".   SHOE! WHORE! ...  SHOE!  WHORE!  tee-hee.

TJ enjoying a kick-arse French playground near the Louvre.  (well, okay, Shoe and I had to test the toys for a while to make sure they were safe.  I think we let TJ play on them a bit later... for a minute... or two... before we had to leave.)

TJ does his "Cowboy Small" imitation.  Yee-haw!

We believe the kid on the right was explaining that TJ was under-age for this spinny-thing, but since his French was too well developed for KFalk to translate for us, we rode on it anyway.

Monument(al) nap time.

In case you were wondering, TJ is letting us know that the eternal flame at the Arc De Triomphe is "hot".

TJ became fascinated by boats on the river.  We had to stop and watch every boat passing... which still wasn't enough of a deterrent to have us take any route that wasn't along the river.

TJ takes his favorite Parisian girlie on a romantic sunset walk near the Eiffel Tower.

iTouch = Toddler crack

I don't know how they make these (one part butter, one part sugar, two parts cloud), but the French know what they're doing.

TJ gave a so-so grade to Notre Dame...

...but an A+ to the playground adjacent to Notre Dame.

TJ and Tay-Tay.

Everyone loves Camper brand shoes.

We are sorry to report that TJ broke (bobblehead) Greg Oden's arm and that he will miss yet another season to injury.

TJ waved "Hi" to an officer at the Toronto airport on this vehicle.  The officer whipped around, turned on his lights and sirens for show and then let us take a picture.  It was really sweet.  Damn I love Canada and Canadians.

Travelling with a toddler?  A balloon is absolutely the best toy to pack any time you're hanging out in airports or plazas or anywhere that can handle some crazy running around joy.  I can't begin to tell you how many people smiled and kicked the balloon back to TJ as they were passing through or seated nearby.  As Tree said, he really was our "sunshine spreader" for the whole trip.