This is what our youngest son wanted to wear to school yesterday: UPDATE: this is him doing his homework yesterday

The week before Susan’s mom left we hiked up in the Chartreuse mountains – and went up by la Grande Chartreuse monastery.   We stopped along the side of the road for a pic-nic on our way.  Micah insisted on a picture ‘of just the boys’  For those who are starting to wonder if this…

Well –  Grandma is on her way home again. We had a great time with Susan’s mom over the past few weeks. We have all loved having the chance to spend time with her and Susan and I have been spoiled by her help.   We know that living this far away from all of our family…

Our little Alma is two months old already. We took her for her 2-month appointment last Friday – and she is continuing to bulk up nicely.  5.5kg  – so she has gained more than 1kg again this month. She continues to eat well, sleep well, and bring much more joy into our family than you…

Day 4 we went to la Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle.  It’s a pretty impressive museum that was opened the same year that the Eiffel Tower was built – 1889.  The museum is actually in a huge park where there is a zoo, huge gardens, and other museums. We spent our day in the main gallery…

Day 3 we went to the Château de Versailles.  We were incredibly fortunate to be staying at our friends house – just a 15 min drive from Versailles, so we headed over in the morning.  We decided that the Château itself may be a bit much for the kids, seeing as you can’t take a…

For our second day in Paris we decided to first head to the Louvre.  We wandered through some ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman stuff – then Susan sat down by some 2000 year old marble sculptures to feed Alma – and the kids were on a mission to find the Mona Lisa.  They found her…

The kids are currently on their Toussant holiday -a one and a half week vacation that gets pegged to All Saints Day (Nov 1).   Since I have a flexible schedule -and Susan’s mom is here we decided to drive to Paris for a few days. Don’t let any one say that Paris is not…

that is all.

There are  a few signs that have caught my attention since arriving here in France a bit over a year ago – allow me to share some of my favourites with you: Sign No. 1 Found:On the wall in a TER (regional train that I take to school)   Nothing too funny about this – I…

Seems strange but it was one month ago that our little Alma was born.   It is strange to think about how someone who really does nothing brings so much joy into the lives of others.  The kids are still just as infatuated with her as when she first came home, perhaps more.  She is a great…

This past weekend we drove across the valley to watch some of the Coup Icare. It bills itself as “The most famous paragliding and air sports event in the world, attracting 70,000 to 80,000 spectators annually”  –which I have to agree with, for I know of no other paragliding and air sports event in the world, which…

It seems hard to believe that our baby was born two weeks ago – but it other ways it also seems like so long ago.  But then again, just writing a sentence like that one above makes me sound like a sentimental middle-aged hopeful dramatic novel writer – so perhaps we should just get to what you…

Look Familiar? (Answer: Yes) Some time when Heather & Aaron & their girls were here (yes -that’s as accurate as I’m going to get) we went for a hike up in the Chartreuse mountains, and to the monastery of the Chartreuse Monks, past the chartreuse-colored moss in the canyon (anyone detecting a theme)   If you look VERY…

Every thursday during the summer there were free concerts in the parc just down from us in Uriage. We took in a few of them -and even got into a bit of a routine of picking up Pizza across the street then sitting and having a picnic supper in the park just after the concert.…

So as many of you know – Jonah was also born here …almost ten years! (great – now I feel old. Next you’ll tell me it’s my 20th high school reunion next year.) In some ways it has been amazing to be in the same city, same hospital for our first and last child to…

Well – our little Alma is one week old today. Susan and Alma came home from the hospital on Monday – and we’ve had a great week at home as a family. My Aunt Nora got to see her beforeshe left earlier this week.  My mom is still here for a few more days –…

… she has eyes.  never mind. back to sleep

Here are some more pictures of Alma from her first full day (don’t worry – I won’t keep up daily photo posting for her entire life)

Our precious baby girl Alma Hope was born this morning – September 9th at 6:15 (CET) at Clinique Belledonne here in Grenoble (technically St Martin d’Heres) France She weighs 3.42kg (~ 7 lbs 8 1/2 oz) and is 49cm (~ 19″) tall. Everything went great – all the mid-wives and the doctor were amazed at…

The top station of the boulles téléphérique that runs from Grenoble, over the Isère River and up the Bastille fort.Téléphérique is French for ‘cable car’ I like to pronounce it “tele – freak”

My mom and Aunt have been here for about a week now and we’ve done quite a few things since they got here:  the kids have had multiple scavenger / treasure hunts.  (which is kind of funny as I remember Auntie Nora having them for me and my siblings when we were their age) went to the…

This summer we were checking on our friends place – one day I went to ge the mail and this is what had come that day: That would be: 2 separate flyers from the local branch of le Parti Communiste Français 3 separate  letters from the electricity company PLUS a notice about a meter reading a JW flyer about the end…

The kids had their first day of school today.   It went pretty well for all of them.  We were a little worried about how Micah would adjust to full days – but he did just fine.  They all seem to like their teachers – and Micah and Matea – sorry Matéa – are in the…