On Sunday morning Austin, Dave and I got up early and went and met the married kids to send them and Austin off. We met at the metro station and said good-bye, and also got their apartment key. Sunday night Dave & I and the 3 younger kids had to stay at their apartment because we needed to stay in Paris for 1 more night, and our apartment was rented out to someone else. The big kids made it to their flight just fine, and home as well.

We moved our food over to the other apartment before we went to church, and then after church we gathered up our things and moved it all. That apartment was so small!! It was fine for 1 night, but would have been quite inconvenient for any longer! 

The pastry shop near our apartment that we stopped at for treats a few times.

In the mid-afternoon we went back to Notre Dame to see Jesus' crown of thorns. It's kind of hard to see, but it's encased in the red glass container below. It was obtained by King Louis IX, along with some other relics of Christ's atonement, or "Passion", as they call it in the Catholic church. It's pretty amazing that it has been preserved. It was a privilege to see it. 

On our way to Notre Dame we saw a whole bunch of police motorcycles. Dave asked what was going on, and apparently they had had a police parade earlier.

We ate dinner at our squishy apartment and took it easy in the evening. We went to bed a little bit early, as we had to wake up really early on Monday morning to catch our flight. As my head hit the pillow at 10:15, I realized that I had left our passports at the other apartment!!! I quickly called Marie and we were able to meet over there and get them from the people who had moved in after us!!!!!! Holy cow, talk about a panic moment!!! I'm so glad I realized it when I did, and not in the morning, or we might have missed our flight!! And I'm so glad that Marie answered her phone so late!

Saturday Nov. 28th was our last day together in Paris. We first went back to Notre Dame to go up the towers. Brooke's knee was still bothering her, so she and I went to Saint Chapelle church while everyone else did the Notre Dame towers. I was glad that I went to Saint Chapelle with Brooke. It is so beautiful! I loved it.

A few amazing facts about Saint Chapelle from Wikipedia:

Begun some time after 1239 and consecrated on 26 April 1248, the Sainte-Chapelle is considered among the highest achievements of the Rayonnant period of Gothic architecture. It was commissioned by King Louis IX of France to house his collection of Passion relics, including Christ's Crown of Thorns—one of the most important relics in medieval Christendom.

Along with the Conciergerie, the Sainte-Chapelle is one of the earliest surviving buildings of the Capetian royal palace on the Île de la Cité. Although damaged during the French Revolution, and restored in the 19th century, it has one of the most extensive 13th-century stained glass collection anywhere in the world.

While there, we learned that Christ's crown of thorns is now held at Notre Dame! 

These first pix are from the towers of Notre Dame:

Saint Chapelle: (The pix aren't too great because we just had my cell phone.)

The lower chapel 

The upper chapel where the king and his family could worship. Each panel of windows depicts stories of the Old Testament, the Savior's life, and the New Testament, as well as the acquisition and delivery of the relics of Christ.

Statue of John the apostle. There was a statue of each of the apostles around the room.

Where the queen and other royal family members would sit. Across from the king's side. 

The rose window. Depicting scenes of the future, as prophesied by John the Revelator.

Walking along the Seine to find a boat tour:

Boat tour along the Seine River:

Some of us were freezing so we went downstairs. Dave and these 3 toughed it out.

Those of us who wanted to be warm. + Skyler

Once the boat turned around so that we weren't going into the wind, we started to make our way back upstairs.

Notice Austin talking to the cute tour guide.

Notre Dame

The boat tour docked at this bridge full of locks. There are a number of "locks of love" bridges in Paris. We thought, "What the heck, we're in Paris, let's do it." Dave and I locked our lock to the bridge, and then Brooke and Skyler, and Jess and Seth locked theirs onto ours. Then we all threw our keys into the river together. How romantic! :)

Kebabs for lunch again, mmm mmm mmm.

Next we visited Victor Hugo's house. He had a large apartment in this square.

Then we took the Metro to Galleries Lafayette. It was absolutely packed full of people!!! We went up to the 9th floor to see the great view. It was decorated prettily for Christmas.

When we got back to the apartment we ate a dinner of ravioli and bread and cheeses, and then played Fazes. It was great fun.