Rocking the blue, white and red

Bonne Fête Nationale Française everybody! It was a loud and busy day on the streets of Paris today. We took the kids out this morning to see the military parade. People were lined up 30 deep along the Champs-Élysées but even getting out of our apartment was a challenge - we live just 4 doors down from where Nicolas Sarkozy lives so our street was closed to traffic and foot traffic was very restricted. The girls enjoyed the parade but Jacqui was disappointed to learn that the soldiers in the tanks would not be throwing candy out to the spectators! This is different from any parade we've ever seen too - it was strictly a military parade with all the related pomp and circumstance. After the parade, the military guys (and gals) hit the streets and enjoyed celebrity status with people approaching them to thank them for their service and snap a picture.

After lunch and a pastry from Fouchon, a quiet afternoon at home and a homemade dinner, we took the kids back to the Tulleries to hang out until the fireworks started. While there, we took the huge ferris wheel and enjoyed a bird's eye view of the city. (and who got off right before we got on? ... none other than Richard Simmons, inexplicably wearing purple, feather-trimmed wings?!?) We had planned on letting both of the girls stay up late to watch the fireworks but Charlotte pooped out around 9:30 - even after being temporarily buoyed by the effects of a sugar crepe . Jacqui easily made it to 11:00 though and was so excited for her first real fireworks display. Luckily, we had a front row seat from our apartment window so we could enjoy the spectacular in the comfort of our pj's. She said, 'it looks like they took a really special crayon and painted the sky'. Admittedly, it was pretty spectacular.

It was nice to spend a day close to home. Tomorrow - attempt #2 for Jardin d'Acclimatation - no sign of rain in the forecast so we should be good!