Merlet Girls in Paris

Just spent a few days in Paris with the girls. I tried to pack light and therefore left the stroller behind - I was quite apprehensive about roaming through Paris without a stroller but surprisingly Manolee was quite the trooper, walking everywhere and in general faring well without napping at all.

We took a boat ride through the Seine geared for kids called La Croisiere Enchantee (the Enchanted Cruise) with entertainment provided by two elves who recited the history of the city and the buildings on the riverbanks through song and dance. The girls loved it!

We also took in a magic show, again geared for kids, at a cafe in the Marais called Le Double Fond (the Double Bottom?) - again, the kids loved it, though it was really not to be called entertainment for the accompanying adults. Most of the kids got to participate in at least one trick - except for Manolee, who was the youngest kid there. She kinda felt left out because she asked me why the magician did not ask her to come help out. It was cute but I kinda felt for her because she feels that she needs to do everything that her big sister does... Hana was participating quite actively in the show -kept on interrupting the magician, like "oh that's so easy" or "oh that is not funny" - I was mortified but the other kids loved that. We met up with some friends from London that were visiting Paris - it was great for the girls to see their old friends again.

Then there was the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame, lots of cafes for hot chocolates, the Korean grocery store... but I must end this entry with an anecdote that shows how eerily cunning the little Manolee is:

On our last morning in Paris, I blew up at Manolee because I wanted to run out alone to the train station to exchange our tickets to a later time and Manolee didn't want to stay with Mitzi. So I had a few harsh words with her and she cried and cried until I agreed to take her with me.

Once back home in Rennes, this is the conversation between Manolee and PeeWee that I overheard:

Manolee: You know, papa, maman was really mean to me this morning, she yelled at me a lot. Can you yell at her please?

Papa: She yelled at you?

M: Yes, a lot and a lot, so please can you yell at her?

P:  If she yelled at you, maybe there was a reason

M: She yelled at me a lot and a lot and so I want you to yell at her

P: I can't yell at maman

M: Oh please papa, she yelled at me a lot and a lot, you have to yell at her

Rae: (showing herself from behind the door): What are you saying, Manolee?

M: (with no hesitation, without missing a beat, breaking out the sweetest smile): I love you, Maman!