It's a boy - c'est un garcon!

On 27 May (22 weeks) we had a sonogram. The obstetrician confirmed it was a boy. We are thrilled! Our baby is due the last week of September.

Paris, France - 19-21 May 2008

Notre Dame Cathedral (sans Hunchback)


Here are the gardens - in the foreground is the Hotel des invalides and the Eiffel Tower.


We visited the Rodin Museum. The grounds include a statuary in French style gardens. We photographed the original "Thinker" (Le Penseur)




The Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889. It was meant as a temporary monument and built to be taken apart. It was initially protested. Here's an excerpt:

"...in the name of the underestimated taste of the French, in the name of French art and history under threat, against the erection in the very heart of our capital, of the useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower..."
http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/documentation/dossiers/page/debats.html


Detail of sculpture on L'Arc de Triomphe.


L'Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon I to celebrate his military victories. To be able to see the whole monument, we took this photo about 1/2 kilometer away on the Champs Elysees.


The Marriage at Cana is in the same room as the Mona Lisa. The painting spans an entire wall. Conversely, the Mona Lisa is the size of standard poster.


Philippe outside the Louvre. This was formally the royal palace until Louis XIV decided it was not glorious enough. He subsequently built Chateau de Versailles.


We traveled by TGV (High Speed Train) while in France. It was an especially scenic way to travel. This is the station in Paris. (Gare de l'Est)

Alsace Region, France 15-18 May

Philippe's Aunt Anne-Marie & Uncle Guy showed us a nesting place for storks - it will be a long flight across the ocean to bring our baby.


We visited Strasbourg, capital of Alsace, and took a tour on the Ill Canal. There are thousands of years of history represented in this city. The term "Alsacian" refers to the region's unique cultural heritage. The dialect is a Germanic/Franco mix. It's geographically in the center of Western Europe. It's placement and history were significant determinants in choosing it as a site for the European Parliament.



Philippe's Uncle François hosted us while we stayed in the Alsace region. We visited several sites significant to both parent's history. The above photo is of his Grandmother's birthplace. When we visited the graveyard in Leimbach where his great-grandparents were buried, I was astonished to see so many markers with the name Lemble. (In Montreal, Philippe's immediate family is the only listing in the phone book.)



Thann, France where Philippe's Father went to school.

Toulouse, France 12 -15 May 2008

Basilica Saint Sernin - began in the 5th Century, 13 May 2008


Dinner with Philippe's childhood friend Jerome. 12 May 2008


We visited the AirBus plant in Toulouse. In production is their largest aircraft ever - the A380. It's two full stories and requires special airport adaptations to land and load. Pictures of the actual plane were considered a security breech. 12 May 2008.

European Vacation - Barcelona, Spain - 9 May 2008

At the Picasso Museum.


This picture was taken while waiting to enter the Picasso Museum. The rain in Spain fell mainly in torrents. (It ultimately flooded Nelly's car!)

The museum was fascinating. We enjoyed seeing a fuller representation of Picasso's works. The museum included early traditional studies as well as the later works with which he is more popularly associated.





"La Sagrada Familia" Cathedral Facade by Gaudi. This modern cathedral (1882) is under perpetual construction. 10 May 2008


"Tapas" in Barcelona, Spain with Nelly & Hubert. 9 May 2008

Family Dinner in Sparks, Nevada - 19 April 2008

The top photo includes siblings, in-laws and adult nephews and nieces. Thomas and his family were unable to make the commute from Idaho. John is in the Navy. Brian was recovering from eye-surgery. Philippe is missing me in Montreal.

The bottom photo includes nephews & nieces posed on the staircase at Mom's house.

My newest old piano - 14 April 2008

Valentine's Dinner - 15 Feb 2008

We ate "raclette" a Swiss specialty for Valentine's dinner. You can't go wrong with melted swiss cheese.

Carriage Ride with Dad in Downtown Montreal - 5 Jan 2008