Halloween 2010

Happy Halloween!!!

Hike at Lac Guery

Three weeks ago Kim and I took the kids on a hike around Lac de Guery located about 40 minutes away from Clermont-Ferrand. The weather could not have been more perfect for a picnic on the lake and a hike up a rather steep hill to a cascading waterfall followed by a hike back down the hill, over the fields and through the woods. With the crystal clear blue sky and volcanoes in the background, we discovered yet another breathtaking part of France.

Mom.. is this mud or poo?

I still can't believe this is where I live... Beautiful!

Such a boy.. anything is a sword or a gun.

Crossing over the random ladder on a fence in the middle of a field/forest.

A little game of hide and seek...

The waterfall

My little Emily bug..hiker extraordinaire!

Sophia leading the way...

The gorgeous Lac de Guery

Winter Olympics 2025... Here She Comes!

C'est La Rentree - It's Back to School!

Do a little dance...

Sassy-fras

Emily - this is my first day of school - Claire

Les Trois

Waiting for the gates to open... The anticipation building...

Emily and Sophia just found out their teachers... very blessed to have the same loving teachers Josh and Sophia had the first year we arrived. So excited!

Emily and her "Dola" backpack.. she has been dying to drag this thing around all summer.

Josh in his new 1st grade class with all of his friends. No nerves at all as we said our goodbyes - "It's ok Mom.. you can go now."... sniff sniff. :)

St Raphaël, France - Summer Family Holiday 2010

The Massif D'Esterel spilling into the Mediterranean Sea...
this was the view from our rocky beach.

The calendar changes to August 1st and the country of France is instantly in a vacation state of mind. Shops close, doctors and hairdressers take the month off and everyone says their "Au Revoirs" with the addendum of "Bonnes Vacances!

There are many things to love and be thankful for regarding our expatriation to France... new friends, exciting opportunities, great food and wine to name a few... but the amount of vacation given to those who work in Europe... is absofreakinlutely fabulous. So, we enjoyed food, fun, friends and a whole lotta Freddie time the last three weeks in August as we traveled a wee bit south and a wee bit east to the fabulous French Riviera.

First day at the Antheor Plage.. lunch time!

We had access to a sandy beach about 150 meters from our home and this awesome rocky beach where you could swim off of the rocks, board the boat and observe awesome wildlife like sea snails, sea urchins and jellyfish. Freddie and Scott and the Tucker girls did lots of snorkeling.

Daddy and the girls swimming in the Mediterranean Sea... gorgeous crystal clear - and slightly cold - water where, from afar, it is the shade of sea green and azure blue... Gorgeous.

Sassy-fras.


Freddie is snorkeling up there in the center of the picture.


Enya Tucker - une copine de Josh, Sophia et Emily and the sweet daughter of my dear friend Bene.

Annie, Josh and Chloe in the super cool cove they found with the boat.

Dun Dun Duh Duh!!! Its... Snorkel Man!


Another day at the sandy beach....


And... the Tucker/Page family version of "So, You Think You Can Dance?"...



And, I think the answer to that question is "Yes, yes... as a matter of fact, we do."

Stop #1 on Mom and Daughter Day Trip - Chapel at the foot of a hill
in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Sophia Bug in front of a wishing fountain.


View from a hill on our walk to the palace.


The Prince's Palace - Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Spectacular views into the port of Monte Carlo overflowing with million dollar yachts and boats.

Sophia.. striking pose #76

Annie (known by the children as Machi - Bene's sweet Mom), Me and Scott

The welcoming man at the entrance of a... no, not an Anatomy and Physiology museum... but to the Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium... go figure.

Lots of tourists had a ball with this... (no pun intended).

A few of the fishes we saw...

Sophia at the beginning of her Bassin Tactile class where she could touch wildlife that comes from the Mediterranean Sea. She loved this!


And, can you go to Monte Carlo and NOT see the Casino? Beautiful architecture, lots of onlookers and some wicked cool cars gracing the entrance.


MaMo on the steps of the Casino... secretly wishing she had taken advantage of the priceless photo opportunity in front of the "man" at the Aquarium.


And Machi and Sophia...

Both of these sweet women were like surrogate grandmothers to all of my children. Thank you so much Maureen and Annie for all of your help and loving my children like they were your own.

Sophia and Me.. photo op!

Good times!! Above photo of Sophia and I tubing together... she was fearless and I was so proud of her. If you look up close it is me giving the thumbs down sign indicating the need to sloooow 'er down. Sophia was brave but still only liked it going about 1/2 miles per hour. That was a blast! Thanks Daniel for bringing the boat and all of the hard work it took to have it in use for the two weeks.

Joshua and Chloe speeding along... he said over and over again (on multiple days) "This is the best day of my life!"