we've moved!

We left France (months ago now) and have embarked on new adventures stateside. 

Please visit us here!

la grande finale...

Brittany

...our final farewell to la vie Française...

There is no excuse for the four full months it's taken me to finally close out this photo journal of our magical year abroad.  Suffice it to say that in December, we were overwhelmed with preparing to come "home," and since we made it back to the USA, we have been busier than ever with a long visit to Arizona in January, Brook starting his new job, settling into our stateside routine and of course Max's exciting 2 year-old life and preparing to meet our new addition in June.  Still, no amount of time passing could diminish the impact our year in France had on us.  As I look back at these photos to post them now, the friendships, memories and experiences bring tears to my eyes (cliché but true!).  INSEAD, Fontainebleau, and the friends we made have left indelible impressions on us.  We are so fortunate to have had this opportunity.  It was simply incredible.

Once classes ended in mid-December, we - along with four other families - packed up for a final trip together.  We spent five days at our friend Arnaud's family's summer home in Brittany.  Their property is spectacular, on the water with a lot of land but also tucked right in the middle of a charming village, and the weather was great for December on the coast of France.  We took walks, cooked lavish meals and enjoyed the last days we would share in this way for a long time to come.  The goodbyes were heartrending, but it was a beautiful way to celebrate the extraordinary year.

The husbands (with Valentine)

The wives (with Tanya & Adrien)

the Rosenbaums

Click here to see the photos.

Thank you for keeping up with this blog...

Au Revior!

in retrospect...

Before I compose my final "Rosenbaums' in France 2008" post, I realize that I neglected to post our general monthly reviews for November or December.  Here they are now.

November

Grams' visit, Rafa's 2nd birthday party, Thanksgiving, 

a visit to Musée D'Orsay and Max at Cité des Enfants 

(Paris' version of a children's musem)...

click here for the photos.

December

INSEAD Children's Holiday Party, 

Paris by Night (a little trip Brook and I made to see the 

City of Lights all decked out for Christmas), 

the final Friday "coffee" (moms & kids), 

au revior to Tunde - Max's babysitter and first love -

and an unexpected dusting of snow...

click here for the photos.

ex·pect·ing...

v.   tr. 

1. 1. To look forward to the probable occurrence or appearance of:expecting a telephone call; expects rain on Sunday.
   2. To consider likely or certain: expect to see them soon.  
2. To consider reasonable or due: We expect an apology.
3. To consider obligatory; require: The school expects its pupils to be on time.
4. Informal To presume; suppose.

v.   intr. 

1. To look forward to the birth of one's child. Used in progressive tenses: His sister is expecting in May.
2. To be pregnant. Used in progressive tenses: My wife is expecting again.

Baby Rosenbaum #2 - mid-June!

'tis the season...

Things are really wrapping up at INSEAD... so on Wednesday we took the opportunity to celebrate the holidays with the children.  We had a wonderful party with an old fashioned sing-along, some Christmas tree ornament decorating, and a visit from Santa!  It was great.

Here is the tree that the kids helped decorate...

Max & his mom waving at the camera...

An incredible Dutch Santa...

The chaos...

Santa with two children (who happen to be his own)...

Max was a little suspicious...

...but he enjoyed getting a gift!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

far from home, but still ever so grateful...

We are sorely missing our family and friends at home today... 

Wishing you all a warm and wonderful feast!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hosted a Thanksgiving dinner chez nous last Saturday night for our INSEAD friends.  It was a very special night as none of our guests had ever celebrated Thanksgiving before.  We cooked a 12-pound turkey in our tiny oven, baked pumpkin pies, and had all the standard sides.  It was a delicious meal and a touching evening as this France Adventure officially starts to wind down.

Here are some photos...

The table

The Chef & the "Bird"

Carving...

Some of our friends...

All of our love to you today and always,

-The Rosenbaums

PS - Max says hello!!!