Knifemaking 101 - Thiers, France

Freddie, deciding to make the All Saint's Day long weekend even longer, took a vacation day on Friday and we hopped into the car and headed to Thiers, France - famous for it's knife making, anything from cutlery to  daggers.  All of us enjoyed the day, but it was mostly appreciated by the male presence in our family... I learned that Freddie and Josh are to knive stores like Jennifer is to a fabric store.  Eyes were twinkling as we peeked into the shops selling all kinds of knives.  We toured the Musee de la Coulleterie where we learned that the people of Thiers have been making knives since the 16th century and, even today, 70% of France's cutlery is made in Thiers.  We also were able to see a knife making demonstration and experience the working conditions of knife makers of the past.

 

Page Family Summer Vacation - Part 3 - Isle of Palms

Following our fabulous week at the beach with my family in Florida, the children and I packed up and headed east and then north to the beautiful Isle of Palms off the coast of South Carolina to vacation with Freddie's family.  It was a wonderful reunion with Nana and Papa, Aunts and Uncles and oodles of cute cousins where we played in the sand and sun, ate lots of good food, had mani/pedis, visited an old friend, went crabbing and Josh had birthday celebration number two. 

 Canon Jay

 Sweet Baby Reese and Sophia

Smile Sophia.. it's a massaging pedicure chair!

 Here are some smiles!

 Awww.. Aunt Sandy and Reese... adorable!

 All finished - polished and pretty.

Gotta love facebook.. I was able to reconnect with a school friend from Bainbridge that I had not seen in 12 years or so...  Emily and I met her and her two sweet little boys at Cupcake in smokin' hot Charleston.  Lots of yummy fun!  Did I mention that it was really hot in Charleston?  My mantra that day - Oh.my.gosh. It's so hot!

  Ohhh the Isle of Palm beaches.. beautiful!  When the tide went out, little streams of water would be left behind creating neat tide pools where we found star fish and other awesome sea creatures.. and the kids could safely play in the warm surf.

 Canon and Emily.. birth year buddies.. born 3.5 months apart.

 Date night.. whoo hoo! :)

 Riding the waves with my little love dumplin'. Love  her!

 7 years old.  Wow.  Love him!

 Uncle Josh, Em and Little Josh

 Rain, rain go away...

 Rainy Day?  Never fear.. Monkey Joes is always here!

Big cousin Sophia.. love you!

Have you seen anything cuter!!?? Can't wait to hug you again Reese. :)

Birthday Fun in the Sun

 

Three days after we returned home from our fabulous cruise around the Mediterranean, the children and I flew to the States to start part one of our 5 week holiday at home with our families.  We flew into Atlanta where we were surprised upon arrival by my sweet sister-in-law, Sandy, who drove two hours to see us, well, see the kids.. who am I kidding?  She was an angel in disguise helping me with luggage and taking care of the kids while I got the rental car. She spent the night with us in a hotel and then we had to say our goodbyes the next morning as we left for South Georgia to visit my Mom and brothers.  Stop #1 along the route?  Chick Fil A for a chicken biscuit and american coffee.. Yum!  The kids were very well behaved and the trip to Mom's was without a hitch.  We stayed at her house for a few days then we drove a short 2 hours to St. George Island on the Florida Gulf Coast... home to my favorite beaches in the whole world.. and, yes, I say that even after visiting beaches in the Mediterranean and France's Atlantic Coast.  Our darling Joshua turned 7 while we were there and we had a birthday bash to celebrate him.  It was special because it was only the second birthday where his Uncle Matthew and Aunt Jackie have been able to celebrate with us.  We also had some friends, who are like family, there with us, as well. 

This week spent at the beach was incredible... favorite beaches, most of my favorite people in the whole word, hot weather, refreshingly lukewarm water, sun, pool, good food... a little slice of heaven.

 

 Introducing.. Abigail Grace.. she is my niece, my youngest brother's daughter and the only cousin of my children on my side of the family.. she also happens to be only two days older than Sophia.  They had fun getting to know each other over the week.

She and Josh really enjoyed playing together, as well.. together they made quite a mischievous team. :)

 Such beautiful water.. such gorgeous and silky sand.. did I tell you that I love these beaches?

 Every day we went to the beach and after every hot and sandy beach session we took showers outside and jumped directly into the refreshingly cool (80 degrees F.. but who's counting?) pool.  We played marco polo, categories and practiced underwater handstands for hours.  Lots of fun introducing my kids to the games I used to play as a child. I am really enjoying the ages of our children now... we had a fun summer together.

 Happy Birthday celebration for our sensitive, kind, inquisitive, handsome, super hero and Pokemon loving son - Joshua Bryant.

 Meme and the Crew

 The guns.. Joshua, I couldn't not get a picture of this adorable Josh'ism.. for memory's sake.  You may not love it now or at 16 when I show your first girlfriend but it will be fun to look back at 30. :)