Strikes and Back to Paris

 The next day we had train tickets to go back to Paris to meet my mom and brother with his family.  We were all really excited to see them.  It wouldn't be a proper Europe trip without encountering some strikes.  Ha.  We knew that all public transportation was going to be on strike that day and we did receive the official train cancellation notice the day prior, so we had to look for some alternatives.  We were about 2 1/2 hours from Paris and the only option we found was a private van transfer.  Not quite the same cost as the train, but it definitely was convenient to go door to door.  

We had a few more hours Bayeux before our pick up and we strolled down the streets and stopped at some more bakeries and stores one last time....

If you take these selfies on my phone, you have to be prepared for me to post them :)

These tools were made out of chocolate

My brother and moms train was cancelled as well, so they rented a van for their trip to be able to fit everybody.....we got this picture in the morning of them starting their journey!

Then it was our turn. We were happy to have this option and make it back to Paris to meet the rest of the  family  

I booked an Airbnb that was large enough for all 11 of us.  It was in a really good and quiet location.  Once we got checked in and settled we had to walk back towards the Eiffel Tower, so that everybody got a good view again :)

A little cousin time......all 6 of my mom's grandkids in one place.  Evan is surrounded by 5 girls, but thankfully he is used to that :)

I had to get the Eiffel Tower in the background of this picture

Then Evan wanted to buy everybody a Macaron, so we walked to a store that we had gone to the prior weekend.  Evan loves Macarons!

Nora and Annabelle at dinner

The next day was Disneyland Day!

This girl was pretty excited.....

My mom with almost all of her grandkids....at the happiest place on earth :)

We had done some research and read some articles and Blog posts about Disneyland Paris and everywhere it said that the crowds should not be that high this time of the year (Europe was not on Easter break yet).  Well, we did not find that to be true.  It was really crowded and long wait times, but we made the best out of it.

The first thing Evan discovered was Mickey Mouse Macarons....but I wouldn't let him get one yet!

.....and I guess there is nothing better than a giant Mickey Mouse cookie for breakfast!

I didn't get many picture throughout the day.  

 Some of the bigger kids went to ride Space Mountain again and Annabelle and I stood in line to ride Orbitron....

Some of us weren't feeling great and left the park a little early to head back to the apartment (and it was a lot of standing in line for the younger kids). I am happy to report that me and my brother and 3 of the kids were the last men standing!!!! 

Photo edit by Evan

Evan and Nora picked a Macaron to end the day and then eat it on the train ride back

We got caught in a pretty good rain on the way out of the park back to the train station, but that didn't damper our mood.  The train ride back was quite entertaining and everybody was acting silly!

Vera took a great selfie of all of us at the breakfast table the next morning.  We don't get all get to be together that often, so this was very special.