France Trip Day 8 - March 18

This was one of my favorite days!!

Some of us woke up early and went running again. I couldn't keep up! I have some good runners in my family, it was embarrassing. We got ready for the day and checked out of the hotel. Walked the streets and found a little market place and watched this guy make us some delicious crepes. He said he was only there for us tourists. Americans are the only ones who eat crepes for breakfast, apparently. They were so dang good. We had a savory one made of buckwheat with egg, ham and cheese. Also sweet crepes too with nutella and fruit, etc.

 Then we drove to a museum about D-day, saw some exhibits and watched a film. What made this place so significant for us is that Kenny has some great war heroes for grandpa's. Both served valiantly in WW2, but his Grandpa Phillips (his mom's dad) was instrumental in this day. We had been reading his stories before coming. Kenny's brother and SIL put together books about both of their grandparents. they are so well done and we learned a lot about their lives. So it was cool to come to Utah Beach, which was named after his Grandpa! He was a communications officer in the 101st Airborne Division. His Lt. Col. was asked to give a code name for the beach and he said to name it "Utah Beach". Grandpa Phillips said, "he told me later that he thought I had always been a pretty lucky guy and he hoped the name would give the beach luck, too." Pretty dang cool! He was here on this day, not on the beach exactly but in the towns. He and the other paratroopers, their planes were getting shot down so they landed miles off-course. His higher-ranking officers in his unit had been killed or injured during the drop so he ended up leading the group. As other lost soldiers gathered in small groups and kept finding each other as they moved, his group grew from a half a dozen to 254 that he was now commanding. Their job was to clear Utah Beach for the 4th Division to come ashore. Led by the Spirit, he stopped at a Frenchmen's house who helped show him where the Germans were at. In his words they got in "five combat battles, destroyed an artillery piece, and captured a 1943 Ford." Once their mission was accomplished they got their radio working and sent a message back to General Eisenhower "that the 82nd and 101st had landed and gone into action". He was one tough dude and it was especially meaningful to be here and visit this site.

We first went to the American Cemetery and Memorial. Then drove to Pointe du Hoc. You can still see how heavily bombed this area was by all the many massive craters still in the ground. Walking in those bunkers there was something else. I can't even imagine what these men went through that day. War is such a terrible thing.

We then went to another museum about D-day and Utah Beach specifically, then walked out onto Utah Beach where Kenny collected some sand. It was the one thing his mom requested for us to bring back. So many incredible stories of bravery, courage, and sacrifice. It was so humbling and moving to be here. I have such a deep love for our country and for those who fight for freedom, whether it's on our own soil or abroad.

From there we continued our drive up to Mont St. Michel!! One of my most favorite places. It's just so dang cool. Funny story about this is Kenny had no idea what it was or where we were going. All of this was so new to him, obviously. So we're sitting in the car everyone's talking and he all of the sudden looks out the window and says "Wow look at that! what do you think that is?" And we all laughed and I told him that's where we're going! That's Mont St. Michel!! It was so funny. :)
We checked into our hotel and took a bus/shuttle up to the city. We walked around it and the boys played some sort of version of football (with a small mentholatum container I believe haha) while we waited for the restaurants to open so we could eat dinner. Kenny ordered escargo (snails) I think just so he could show the kids haha. It was a lovely evening up there. We came back to the hotel and all played in a room together the game "who, what, where, when, why". I don't know what the real name of the game is but we used to play it ALL the time on family road trips. It kept us busy for hours. You decide which thing you want to do and all have to ask a question, starting it with "who... or what... or where... etc. then you fold your paper down to cover your question, pass a couple to the right or left, then write the answer to your own question on someone else's paper. Then pass again and read them. Inevitably it makes for some hilarious Q and A's and we were all laughing so hard!! Good times.

Trying to hold it in his hand :)