A Lady In France

Thoiry

I am honored to be writing for World Moms Blog and my introductory interview is here.  I’ll be posting there about once a month.

Sir and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary with an intimate lunch in one of the poshest restaurants in Paris.

Or at least that’s the way it should go, but we took the kids to the Hippopotamus restaurant instead,

before heading over to the Chateau de Thoiry. That’s pronounced Twah-ree. (But of course instead of properly pronouncing the “r” you spit a little bit at the back of your throat).

At Thoiry, you can drive your car through a safari

and see the usual (?) things

and the sad things

and the striped things

a wee bit tame after the safari in Kenya.

But then you can also run through the zoo in the chateau grounds

and see the little creatures

I like to move it move it

and the big ones.

You know those cool aquariums where you can stand on a conveyor belt and be whisked through the aquarium, viewing the funny faces of manta rays from underneath and small sharks in the murky blue distance?

Same concept.

Except with lions.

Oh let this plexiglass hold.

Please let it hold.

Petit Prince is disconcerted

then shrieking in terror when the lion bats at the hand of the kid who put it up to the plexiglass, shaking the entire structure.

These regal creatures are not to be messed with.

Following the lions we headed over to the labyrinth.

Um honey – I forgot to tell you I had to go to the bathroom.

This is how we finally made it out.

Cheating (or giving birth again) (to ourselves).

Happy anniversary love of my life and father to these.

I wouldn’t want any other life than the one I have with you.

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Comments

  3. liz says

    I love how you “escaped”. I feel so bad for the rhino; he just doesn’t look too good.

    It seems so crazy to me that such an amazing home/building sits on a safari park property, essentially.

    • ladyjennie says

      It’s a bit of a reverse actually – the chateau is centuries old, and at one point the owner decided to add the safari on his land for his own and for community interest. Now, of course, it is a source of revenue for the upkeep of the chateau.

  4. Marie@feedingfive says

    Yes, anniversaries are sometimes not what we envision, but it looks absolutely wonderful. I never get too excited about taking the kids to the zoo until we’re there. To see these strong, amazing creatures up close is breathtaking.

    • ladyjennie says

      We got a wonderful anniversary last year for our 10th – a whole weekend away in a gorgeous hotel in Normandy. That should fill me up for the next 10 years.

  8. angela says

    Happy Anniversary! What a gorgeous building amidst all of the animals; I love it (though I would pronounce it all kinds of incorrectly.)

  10. Amy says

    Happy anniversary! We celebrate 11 on Friday 11/4! I’m pretty sure we won’t be in any swanky restaurant, either! I think you had more fun with the animals and the whole family anyway – I know I would!

    • ladyjennie says

      I did have fun with the whole family. Truthfully that in itself is rare enough to warrant a celebration. Happy anniversary! 11 years ago you were in the throes of planning while we were on our honeymoon. 🙂

  12. Claudia says

    Happy Anniversary Dear One. Thoiry is a fun family place what with all the excitement on those little expressive faces. Although; shamefully, I must admit I cant deny the idea of a posh french restaurant!!

    I love the rebirth photo and the idea of it. Also belated happy birthday to your knight in shining armor!!

  13. Caren with a "C" says

    Congrats on the posting over at World Moms! What a fun family activity to celebrate the beginning of your family! I would have been nervous too in that tunnel with the lions!

  14. Mom says

    Wow, chicken pox scars on Petit Prince!
    And Young Lady, an uncanny cross between you and me when we were that age.
    Happy anniversary, Honey.

    • ladyjennie says

      I knew she looked like you too and not just me! I think she has your smile, and maybe more of your shaped face?

      Yes, Petit Prince got it pretty bad, the handsome little guy.

  17. the Advisor says

    Congratulations on your Anniversary and on being a writer for World Moms Blog! We all look forward to reading.
    Thank you soo much for your encouragement for my blog party. Congratulations as you are also one of the prize winners. Please send me your mailing address: liveeverafter@gmail.com

  18. Ameena says

    What a super sweet post! And Happy Anniversary. I had to laugh at Hippoptamus! I’ve seen it but haven’t had the pleasure of eating there quite yet. 🙂

  19. deborah l quinn says

    Happy Anniversary…love that the fancy restaurant got shelved in favor of Hippotamus. No truer anniversary than that…we wanted to take A Big Trip for our anniversary but now it’s looking like we’re going to take that trip to some fancyshmancy resort…with a “kids club” for the little darlings. I guess they call that “sharing the love,” right? Love the pix–and I share the ambivalent expression on the face of the petit prince – those lion’s paws are BIG!

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