Tuileries Garden & Hot Chocolate

We are getting close to finishing up Rebekah's school work, Jacob is done & Ryan probably has another week to get it all done after all our explorations & having 5th grade work.  We are trying to spend most of the morning getting school things done & then off on an adventure.  We are so grateful for our school & so thankful that we have this opportunity to come to France for 7 weeks!!  Thank you, Live Oak!!! I hope to post a belated post of our visit to the Louvre.  I was amazed at things the kids knew & were teaching me about.  I have a few fun stories to share.  :)

This afternoon we hopped on the metro & went to the Tuileries Garden for some playtime.  Mimi & I could tell the kids needed to get some energy out - so off we went.  When we got there - they could see the wide open spaces & wanted to just take off running.  So we made up a game because they couldn't just run off in the park (because its so massive) all by themselves.  They had to listen & then I would say a landmark they could run to and then run back.  They loved it!  We stopped by different statues along the way & did lots of people watching as we made our way around.

(I thought this was a cool picture - but a bit eerie.  Doesn't the man's face look real -
I didn't notice until we got home but wow!!)

*OK - while I was letting the other photos load - I just read the inscription on the statue - it's Charles Perrault, the French author.)

The kids kept asking to go to a playground we had seen online immediately upon arriving at the garden.  I kept telling them to enjoy the walk & we would get there sooner than later.  What they didn't know was there was a trampoline park around the corner.  I didn't tell them because I wasn't entirely sure it would be open in the winter.  In the Tuileries Garden, they have 8 trampolines lined up in two rows, each about the size of a twin bed.  You pay for a handful of minutes & each kid gets to pick one trampoline to jump on.  They had so much fun & were super excited!!  So was I - they needed that so much to get their wiggles out. ;)

It looks like Jacob is standing on the side - but really - he is in the air!

If only I could post all the poses Ryan made in the air - it was impressive!!
Oh to be able to do that!

After our jumping time was over, we walked through the park a little ways more & found the merry go round.  So dreamy - something out of the movies... The man was so kind & let them ride twice for one ticket since no one else was there to ride.

After the merry go round, we walked a little ways more & found the playground.  They had such a great time climbing, running & hanging out together outside.  Check out the smiles....

Here is pretty Mimi - look at the beautiful smile!!

Here she is texting my dad who comes in two days!!  He arrives Thursday morning.

Here I am too - having fun & climbing the playground equipment to get Halle to the tippy top.

Here is a youtube video I found online of the playground, the trampolines, & the merry go round.

This lady on youtube also posted one of the Luxembourg Gardens playground - so I will post that too!  That one alongside the park today have been our two favorites so far.

When we now talk about hot chocolate it is almost in reverent tones.  That is a bit extreme - but after the silver carafe experience of last week - its something to be explored & find the best hot chocolate around.  So today.... we went to what is known to serve the best hot chocolate in the world... Angelina's.  

Now we are learning not all chocolat chauds are created with the same love & devotion as others.  And not even put together the same as our amazing cup last week.  We ended up passing on Angelina's today after peeking inside and seeing that a cup is 7 euros each.  Now in retrospect - we should have gone right on in & split a few cups.  This we found out after trying a smaller, less expensive place & had to smile politely and thankfully for its contents.  Jacob looked at me & said - "mom, I'm really grateful for my hot chocolate but do I have to finish it?"  It started off well - you can see by the picture below... But I have to agree - its hard to drink a full cup of something that just tastes bizarre and has zero nutritional benefit. 

(Chocolat Chaud on left & Cappuccino on the right)

In case anyone is interested, I found this post about the "best" hot chocolate spots in Paris:

Paris Hot Chocolate Address book

I also found a recipe for Chocolat Chaud on the David Lebovitz blog:

Parisian Hot Chocolate
Four ‘Parisian-sized’ Servings

2 cups (.5l) whole milk
5 ounces (130 g) bittersweet chocolate, (best-quality), finely chopped
optional: 2 tablespoons light brown sugar

1. Heat the milk in a medium-sized saucepan.
2. Once the milk is warm, whisk in the chocolate, stirring until melted and steaming hot. For a thick hot chocolate, cook at a very low boil for about 3 minutes, whisking constantly. Be careful and keep an eye on the mixture, as it may boil up a bit during the first moments.
3. Taste, and add brown sugar if desired.
Serve warm in small demitasse or coffee cups.
Note: This hot chocolate improves if made ahead and allowed to sit for a few hours. Rewarm before serving. I also like to add a few flecks of fleur de sel, the very good sea salt from Brittany.

Photo by www.davidlebovitz.com - Le Chocolat Chaud

We have been making our way through the Christmas movies this last week at night - we have watched White Christmas (annual family favorite), Home Alone 1 & 2, & tonight Polar Express.  Here's a little clip in honor of our hot chocolate explorations....