Self Potty Training

I think she's trying to tell us she's ready for the big girl potty!? 

Raising Readers

Currier and Rya are plugging along in the library's summer reading program.  This morning they received free karate lessons and ice skating passes for completing phase two.  Very proud. 

The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.
-Dr. Seuss

The Perfect Storm

Wednesday night we had a little impromptu BBQ/Beer bash and invited all our Massachusetts friends living in the Lowcountry.  I promise you there's not a sarcastic wise ass in the bunch! 

Amici da Sicilia

Our good friends from Sicily, The Whippins, were in Charleston for a few days.  We were honored to have Maureen, Tom and Dawson spend a night with us.  I met Maureen at the base gym and we became fast friends when we discovered that we had boys the same age, a similar twisted sense of humor and we lived in the same neighborhood in Motta Sant' Anastasia. 

We kicked off their visit with happy hour on the beach and then we ate a big Lowcountry boil dinner at the house and stayed up late catching up and laughing.  It was a great visit and it made me a little homesick for Sicily. 

Gift Bag Art

I had the kids paint plain gift bags with their artwork to jazz them up a bit.  Aren't you dying to receive a present from us now?

Fishing and Crabbing

This weekend we went fishing several times off Lauren and Craig's dock.  We didn't catch any fish, but we did catch a whole bucket full of these...

Who's coming over for dinner?

Kaelee's Geburtstag

This weekend we went to our German friend Kaelee's birthday party at Marrington Plantation.  She had a pirate theme because she's a cool chic. 

On the way home, Currier told me that one day he's going to marry Kaelee.  Sweet.

Friday Favorites- The Haunted Flashlight

Behold the haunted flashlight!  About ten years ago while living in Germany, Trent got deployed to Bosnia for six months and my cousin Cheryl came to check up on me keep me company for a few weeks.  One night we were lying in bed together with a flashlight.  I'm not sure why two grown women were in bed together with a flashlight, but that's not the point of this story so I digress.  After making the light dance on the ceiling, I paused and we both saw the image of a little boy's face.  THERE IS A DEAD BOY IN THIS FLASHLIGHT and it petrified us.  Cheryl and I love to mess with each other so we've been sending this flashlight back and forth to each other for ten years now.  Right now it's in my possession and I can't stand the thought of it being in my house.  A care package is being put together today and this spirit is being shipped off to Massachusetts.  Watch your back Cheryl Lee.  Watch your back.

Allison's Farewell Girls' Night Out

My friend Allison is moving to Alabama next week so the girls and I took her out for one final Girls' Night Out in Mount Pleasant.  We had a nice dinner at 17 North Roadside Kitchen. 

And then we took the party to the classiest place in town- Richard's biker bar on 17 where we drank too much beer, played pool (very poorly), did shots and danced with dirty old men... Good times!  

  

I'm going to miss Allison stupid amounts.  I'm not only losing my favorite workout buddy (she's a motivating and inspiring machine at the gym!) but I'm losing a really good friend.  Good luck Allison! 

Sushi With The Rohes

Trent's sister Kathy, her husband Christopher and their kids Jonathan and Austin came and spent a night with us on their way from VA to FL.  As a tradition, we ate a boat load of sushi together! 

And the adults laughed and caught up while the kids horsed around.  

 

In the morning, Austin and I went to Dunkin Donuts and got donuts for everyone (another tradition!) and then they hit the road.  As always, it was a blast and so good to see the Rohes. 

You Can Take The Girl Out Of Malden But...

You can't take the Malden out the girl!  My cousin Sherri came for a week long visit and we had so many laughs and a few cries reminiscing about growing up in Malden, Mass.  Sherri lived down the hall from me in an apartment building filled with my mother's side of the family.  She was there beside me during the most painful time of my life.  After my mom died I moved to Newburyport and although I drifted apart from much of my mother's family, I always remained close with Sherri and adore her like a sister.  

We kicked off her visit with lunch at Red's Icehouse on Shem Creek where we had fresh shrimp and watched the dolphins swim by... so perfect!   

One evening we went downtown for a Girls' Night at Poogan's Porch for some yummy fried green tomatoes and pan-seared jumbo scallops.  Poogan's Porch is famous because it is haunted by a woman named Zoe.  I caught a glimpse of the ghost in the bathroom and snapped this picture of her!  Sherri was so petrified she wouldn't even go to the bathroom alone.  Wuss! 

For 4th of July, we stayed here in the hood for our annual cul-de-sac potluck party.  It was great old fashioned fun... sack races, three-legged races, great food, lots of laughs, cold beer and a firework display. 

The rest of Sherri's visit was spent at the pool, the beach, relaxing at home, working out at the gym and giggling like a crazy person with me!  I loved this visitor and I hope she comes back really soon.