We have returned from our anniversary trip to France! It was Katie's first time in Europe, so we hit as many tourist attractions in Paris as we could. We also went on two day-trips, one to Angoulême, where my dad's friend lives part-time; the other to Versailles and its famous palace and gardens. The weather was warm but tolerable (especially when we switched to a hotel with air conditioning mid-week).
Our first hotel was on the Rue Champs-Élysées, near the famous Arc de Triomphe. It had a very narrow elevator:
If you go to Paris and visit the Eiffel Tower, we recommend purchasing a ticket to walk up the stairs to the second level, then riding the elevator to the top. The wait for an elevator from bottom to top looked to be over 3 hours. The wait for the stairs method: None. There are a mere 688 stairs to the second level.
Tokens of enduring love locked to a bridge across the Seine, with the famous Pont Neuf in the background. We were told the city comes by every couple years and cuts all the locks.
Sacré-Coeur basilica. We walked up to the rotunda level and enjoyed great views, as the church is on the highest hill in Paris. We also explored the crypt beneath.
A few more notable Paris sites: Sainte-Chapelle church, the Moulin Rouge cabaret, and the Louvre museum.
We also met up with our high school friend Paul, who works part-time as a walking tour guide while studying for his Master's degree in the city.
Our favorite visit turned out to be the gardens at the Palace of Versailles. Covering nearly 2,000 acres are water fountain displays set to music, immaculate flower beds, intricate tree arrangments and plenty of Renaissance sculptures. You can rent a boat and enjoy the Grand Canal at the center, or rent a golf cart and tour the expanse with haste. We preferred the leisurely route, walking though the working farm on the north side of the property as well as touring Marie Antoinette's portion of the estate.
Now we're back home, improving the back yard and preparing for Benjamin's arrival at the end of October. We look forward to seeing family and friends again this fall.
Russell and I now have a beautiful little son. Apparently I made it too comfy in there while I was pregnant because he had no intention of joining us near his due date. On the evening of Novemeber 6th, 2012, 41 weeks pregnant, we began the process of forcing him out. After a long day and a half Benjamin George Robison was born on November 8th, 2012 at 7:52 a.m., weighing 7 lbs 14.6 oz. and 20 1/2 in. long. He is the most perfect bundle we could have ever asked for! 
Benjamin has already become quite the traveler for his young age. He has flown with us to Wyoming two times to see family and friends and once to Oklahoma to visit Russell's Grandmother and family. He is a wonderful flyer, thus far, but I wouldn't have expected anything less because that's just his little personality. As long as his basic needs are met he is a happy little guy. He's taking his morning nap in his crib as I type this. He's a very good sleeper as well. I'm a happy momma to say the least!
Benjamin is now 3 months old and he has grown a bunch! He's weighing in at 15 lbs. and 24 in. long. He loves to coo and play on his tummy. He holds his head up very steady these days and enjoys sitting in his Bumbo chair so he can look at you. He also loves to play on his play mat where he can bat at the toys hanging above him. He's almost got the grasping thing down. Any day now he'll be rolling over and once that happens I don't think we'll keep him from crawling for long! 
