I noticed it has been awhile since I wrote to you all, to keep you up to date on our goings on. We had quite a end of the month in February and it took a week for us to rest up after it all. As some of you know, we had a bit of a scare with Drake's two day stay in the hospital. It was quite an event and the first time I really missed something in the US, that is our wonderful Children's Hospital. As nice as the staff was it isn't as warm and fuzzy as the hospital in San Diego. Poor Drake all hooked up, his veins were so shot from dehydration they had to try multiple times and places to get the IV in. He was such a trooper, never cried once. So, we broke him out after his overnight stay (no they released him the next evening) and we whisked him of to are already planed trip to Paris.

Now Paris was a real adventure! We missed the first plane, they were nice enough to let us take the next (not exchangeable tickets). After a two hour wait in the airport we did have a really nice flight on Swiss International Airlines, they have all leather seats, free champagne, legos and games for the boys to keep, it is a real first rate flight for only 75chf! I have been told that European air travel is quite nice compared to US and I can see that now.

So we land in Paris, get our 3 day metro pass and make our way to the maze Paris calls public transportation, A NIGHTMARE. There is no rhyme or reason on how to get anyplace. We muddled our way through it, telling ourselves that it is an adventure! Finally find the right stop, lugging a very small bit of luggage, that was starting to feel like everything we owned, . We then surface the dungeons they call the Metro, to find it pouring rain. Peter is lugging all three totes, Drake is too weak to carry anything, Davis is too small and I have a tote full of all those things your never sure why you brought. I only brought one umbrella, the boys had hoods, Peter's hands were full so I got it and Peter got drenched. We walked about a mile in the rain, yes we got off at the wrong stop, go figure??!! We get to our hotel that was recommended by a friend to find that the French idea of a deluxe double is way different than the US. Our room was sooo small that we could hardly turn around in it, let alone house 4 people for 3 days. We asked for a bigger room, they are all the same size, another room was out of the question, even if they had had it (which they didn't). With Drake just getting off of breathing treatments and IV's the evening before the last thing I was going to do is have him and Davis sleep in a separate room. So we made Davis a "nest" on the floor and Drake, Peter and I snuggled together in a VERY double bed.

The sight seeing was really fun. The boys loved the Catacombes with all the bones and The Arc de Triomphe. Drake and I went to the very top of the Tour Effile. The only snag in the whole sight seeing part was the 3 hour walk around Paris looking for some toy store that was suppose to be soooo grand, and what a task it was to find, and a let down once we did! The only plus was that it was located in the Fashion District and I got to walk by all the couture houses, Way Cool and would have never got to do it if we were not on the quest for the ultimate toys store.

We also went to visit some friends of mine, and that was indeed, the best part of the trip! The boys had a ball playing with a "real French boy", although mom is from San Diego, he has never lived there. We had a wonderful Parisian supper, tried red wine for the first time!!! Not bad! Met another couple who lives in Paris and husband works for IBM. It was a wonderful night. Then Denies' husband (he is French) had the taxi driver take us on a romantic night drive though Paris and all the lights, OH WOW, so beautiful!!!

Our trip back was more eventful then the trip there, if that is possible! We left for the airport almost 3.5 hrs early. I wasn't going to take the chance of missing another plane. So, back into the bowels of Paris to face the Metro!!! We get on the train that is direct to CDG airport. HAHAHA! At the major junction they change their minds, empty the train and tell us to get on another train. This too is direct to CDG. Oh but no it's not, when the train gets to the junction that should take us to the airport it take another rout!!! We are now going the wrong way! So, off at the next stop, yes in the rain, and turn around to back track. Go back where we came, get off and wait for the next train to CDG. We make it there with only 20 min to spare and the stupid airport doesn't have our flight on the screens. So we have to guess where to go. Get to the spot (don't ask me how) to be told we have to go back down stairs to check in first, now 15 min to go. Get down there just in the nick of time to be hustled onto a bus to catch the plane to GO HOME!!!!!!

Ok so that was our first big trip out of Switzerland. You might think our last????? Nope, next stop Austria to ski in a couple of weeks, but we are DRIVING. Then the Matterhorn in April and Milan, Italy in the same month. We are coming home to San Diego in the end of May (or at least that is the plan) and off to Monte Carlo in the beginning of June. We are spending two weeks in July and August in Greece and Italy, traveling all through it by train and boat. Then we are hanging out and will try for England, Scotland and Ireland in the fall. Ok, I'm exhausted just writing this all!