Notre Noël en France

Our Christmas in France was a time full of family, friends, fellowship, food and fun!!

Here are some pictures highlighting this most wonderful time of the year...

Happy family of FOUR!!

IKEA...starting him young (4 days old!!)

Reindeer cookies to share with friends

Homemade ornaments to decorate our tree

Giggles with friends after the children's
Christmas program...Noah's ark

Penguin "peck" on a lion's cheek!

Père Noël

Live music downtown
(Store = "book-aholic")

Will likely add more to this posting later but for now we're happy to succeed at partial postings!!

Loving the busy life as a family of four learning French,

DDG&S

Nana & Papa en France!!

Just before Christmas, we were blessed to spend 3 weeks with Nana & Papa (Dianna's parents).  God was gracious in the timing of their arrival and Siméon's birth -- they got to Albertville about 18 hours before he was born!!

Here are some pictures highlighting our time with them in France:

Nana meeting Siméon on Thanksgiving Day

Big sister's first (of many) kisses

Papa has his turn, too!

Celebrating together!!

Papa & G built a snowman to welcome us home!
Sims' first snow at 48 hours old

A common evening sight in our apartment : )

Exploring Beaufort, FRANCE
(yummy cheese town from previous posting)

Beaufort Creamery Museum
(One of Dianna's favorite activities for visitors)

Watching the men at work making Beaufort Cheese

Papa & G enjoyed a film about extreme skiing
(definitely NOT to be tried at home!)

Papa entertaining G & her friends with balloons...
they are waiting for the launch so they can chase
the balloon around the room

Decorating our Christmas Tree!!
le sapin de Noël

Early in December the city of Albertville held a special evening celebration to "light downtown" - basically the first night for all the Christmas lights.  And it turned out to be quite the spectacle...

G saw her teacher at
while waiting for Père Noël

Costumed dancers on stilts with lighted blimps and fireworks!

Family picture...look closely for Sims
nice and snug in his favorite spot

We visited Annecy for a large "le marché de Noël" -- Christmas Market

G enjoying a large, soft pretzel

Taking in a few sights while shopping...
behind is an old prison in the middle of the canal

Sims "shopping"

Pony ride in downtown Annecy

Roasted chestnuts...yum!

Who can resist a big fuzzy teddy bear??
OR a blonde-haired cutie??

Ahhhh...

Strolling along to get a look at the lake

We also were sure to visit Conflans -- the walled medieval city that overlooks Albertville

G enjoyed a doing "projects" (a.k.a. crafts) with Nana & Papa...cookie cutter ornaments for the tree, edible reindeer cookies, snowflake ornaments, presents for Mommy & Daddy, etc.  One of her favorite projects was an attempt at making ice balloons...

Filling balloons with water

G doing it "by myself"

We hoped the water balloons (which had food coloring inside) would freeze overnight so the balloon could be removed and a colored ice ball remain but unfortunately they never froze all the way through...oh well it was a fun try!

And we were able to celebrate Christmas a little early

Joyeux Noël 2014

before saying "goodbye for now" at the Geneva airport on Dec 18th...

À bientôt

Thankful for fun time with family!!  Looking forward to making more memories with the Kubaczs scheduled to come in early Spring and other friends as well!!

Thanks for visiting, we miss you!!
DDG&S

Siméon est là!!

He's here!!

Siméon Thaddeus Kubacz made his debut early Thanksgiving morning, and we have not stopped thanking the Lord for this precious gift!!

Bises from big sis

Most of you know the back story -- the painful loss of 3 children, the lack of medical explanation, the application for domestic adoption, and the PRAYERS of many.  So, last April when we learned baby K5 was on the way, we were hopeful yet guarded.  Over the ensuing 8 months, it became increasing clear that the Lord, indeed, was entrusting us with another little one to love and to raise here on earth.  What better day for this sweet child to arrive than on Thanksgiving Day!!

As if that were not enough, God's grace abounded...

Siméon waited for Dianna to complete her A1 exam -- labor started 12 hours after she finished the final section (which she was allowed to take 2 days early given the circumstances).  Also he waited for Nana & Papa to arrive -- they made it to Albertville just as Dianna finished her exam.  AND he did not dawdle once he decided to come -- less than 5 hours after contractions started we were holding him in our arms!!

We could not have written a better birth story for our son.  God gives GOOD gifts!!

And our desire is that this child's name reflects the story of his birth:

Siméon: heard of God

Thaddeus: praise God

Born 3:54 AM on November 28, 2013

Weight 4.02 kg

Length 53 cm

La grande soeur et le petit frère

Meeting Nana & Papa

Visiting hours at the hospital

1st bath...he likes being IN the water

1st snow at 48 hours old!

Heading home...

Welcome to the world and into our family, sweet Siméon Thaddeus -- you've captured our hearts already in the short 5 days that we have spent with you!!  We are looking forward to many, many more!!