A Day in Paris

Bonjour, chic friends!

We are back from a day spent in Paris, and are excited to share our adventure with you.

We were inspired to do another family homeschool project, like last year's Downs Hotel. So the idea for "A Day in Paris" was born.

We had so much fun together coming up with ideas, creating our vision, and setting up the house, and the final outcome was something we all felt very proud of.

Like with any make-believe game, everyone took on a character, and played up their role.

Soren and Elsa were immigration officers, checking everyone's passports and bags after their "flight" landed at the door of our house...

And Roman worked the Exchange, supplying eager tourists with play euros...

Because this was a homeschool project, (and since homeschool mothers know how to make a lesson out of anything) we studied passports, customs, and currency exchange.

We thought ahead, and supplied all of our travelers with passports (sticker books that I bought on Amazon) and the kids made labels for the inside cover, so people could fill in their information. Just like in real life!

Nola was a street artist on the Champs-Elysees.

She painted several creations so there would be original artwork to sell to tourists as they passed by.

While researching, we learned that street artists are professionals, and licensed by the city of Paris. It is such a sought-after job that there's a ten-year waiting list for new artists to set up their easels.

Doesn't she look like an accomplished french artist?

While she was busy at her craft, Elsa and I were locals, fresh out of Louis Vuitton, and annoyed with all the American tourists as we tried to catch our taxi back home.

(Notice the labels. 😊)

Roman and Elsa were museum curators at the Louvre...

 They selected two paintings and two sculptures to study and present, (with Mama's supervision, of course, since not all exhibits in the Louvre are kid-friendly.)

Micah was the overall tour guide...

And Soren, oh Soren... had his heart set on being a pick-pocket.

We warned the Americans to watch their belongings carefully, and told them that even though Paris is a beautiful and fun city, there is still crime.

Once we all had our job descriptions, we worked to transform the house.

All you need for a project like this is a little creativity and imagination.

There was a gift shop...

(The Louvre Boutique!)

A French cafe...

Complete with a host station...

menus...

and activity sheets for the kids.

Micah and Roman even constructed an Eiffel tower out of cardboard, paint and glue.

I love that it lights up at night!

My favorite part was the spectacular view of the Eiffel tower from the cafe...

What an authentic experience!

We were very pleased with the outcome and felt the mess and hard work was worth it!

After all, a home's purpose is to provide the backdrop for our family life, and support our dreams and ideas.

My prayer is that my children will cherish these family memories for many years, talking and laughing about it with each other even long after Micah and I are gone.

I also love the thought that perhaps we provided a fun and memorable day for our relatives who joined us!

We are very grateful to have family members who are willing to come over and "play along" with our goofy games and ideas.

Like grandparents who "accidentally" left some cash hanging out of their pockets so that Soren could feel successful...

And those who showed up wearing backpacks and cameras to look like real tourists...

It all was so fun!

(The French Cafe's world renowned chef preparing his cassoulet...)

(Nola, the cafe's chocolatier, along with the wait staff)

Home is the most important place, and we only get one shot at raising our kids. So, stretch your abilities at home. Do a little more and go a little further than what you think you can do.

And best of all, have fun doing it!

"It is a happy talent to know how to play."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Merci for reading, friends...

💐

~ Courtney