Santa 2015

We took the kids to see Santa this evening although neither of them believe in him anymore. Currier asked for Xbox One Skate 3 and Lego Dimensions (especially cyborg) video games and The Golden Dragon Ninjago Lego set. Rya asked for a camera and an American Girl Doll bed, clothes and glasses.

Peach Picking

The kids and I went peach picking this afternoon. A first for all three of us. Now we're trying to decide what to do with all these peaches?

Springtime in the Lowcountry

I got this great shot at Boone Hall Plantation just as the earth is waking up from it's winter nap.  Thanks to my great friend, Ella, for using her Photoshop skills to lighten up the image and give it that dreamy background.

Blizzard of 2014

School was released early yesterday and cancelled today in anticipation of an ice/snow storm.  We got plenty of ice but just a dusting of snow.  Regardless, the kids are thrilled with our Southern Winter Wonderland!  

Birthday Camping

Per Rya's request we rented a little log cabin on a lake at the camp site down the street from our house.

We took the dogs and walked the nature trail, we rode in a paddle boat around the lake, we visited a nearby Plantation via hayride, we fished, we told spooky stories, we sat by a fire and enjoyed the fresh outdoor weather.

The whole family really enjoyed this mini getaway.  But I think Rya loved it the most.
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On November 17, Rya woke to a birthday breakfast that we cooked over an open fire.

Happy 5th Birthday my lovely Rya D.

Raising Readers

We curbed some of the summertime boredom with weekly trips to the library. 

 

By the end of the summer the kids earned reading medals, free tacos and ice cream and a brain full of awesome knowledge and silly things!

Boone Hall Plantation

Finally!

It's been an abnormally chilly and dark spring but it's finally starting to get bright and hot.  Hearing the ice cream truck music for the first time this season made my heart smile. 

Boone Hall Plantation Pumpkin Patch

We met Rya's best friend, Riley, and her mom and baby brother at the Boone Hall Plantation Pumpkin Patch this afternoon.  The kids climbed on tractors, jumped in jumpy castles, fed goats and bunnies, posed with pumpkins and braved a haunted hay ride. 

Rya and Riley weren't interested in doing the corn maze so Margaret watched the girls while Currier and I giggled our way through the maze and surprisingly found our way out in less than a half hour. 

I had hoped to get traditional photos of the kids sitting on pumpkins with autumn leaves sprawled about but it was hot and sticky and everyone was dirty and uncooperative so that didn't happen. Instead here's a filthy, cranky Rya D.  Still beautiful nonetheless. 

Today a Reader Tomorrow a Leader

Currier and Rya were both awarded the South Carolina Reading Medal this morning for completing the summer reading program at the Mount Pleasant Library.  I'm so proud of my little readers!

Fun with Aunt Carrie

Aunt Carrie came for a quick 2 night visit on her way down to Florida.  We squeezed in as much fun as possible including but not limited to mini golf and go-cart rides at Blackbeard's Cove.  Good times as always with Aunt Carrie. 

Chaos Cubed

Last weekend Stacey took us out on her boat, which they appropriately named Chaos Cubed.  

  

She took us the long way to Capers Island so we could have more cruise time.  The kids absolutely loved it. 

Once we got to Capers, we ate a picnic lunch, drank beer and poked at dead jelly fish in the sand.  Before heading back home, Stacey blew up the tube for the kids to ride.  It was a perfect boating day and we feel fortunate that we were invited along.

Friday Favorites- Sushi With Friends

Now that I'm a full-time working girl I don't get to see my workout buddies as much anymore.  I've resorted to waking up at 5AM to workout with the rest of the half asleep working moms of Mount Pleasant.  The gym isn't nearly as fun without these ladies sweating by my side.  Jean and Ella met me after work for sushi, cocktails and serious chit chat last night and it was so good to play catch up.  Giggling over sushi and drinks with these two ladies is certainly one of my favorites.  And I highly recommend the crunchy roll at Fugi.  It will make you want to go off and be by yourself for a little while.  Happy Friday!

Good Bye O'Brion's

I worked my final shift at O'Brion's Irish Pub this past Tuesday.  If you haven't been keeping up on facebook, I got a full time job at Arcadia Publishing as an Acquisitions Editor.  Although I have enjoyed my time at O'Brion's and made some great friends there, I gave notice because I need to be home in the evening for my kiddos if I'm not going to see them all day.  For my final trivia night shift, Joni and I chose Saturday Night Live as the theme and we had a total blast being Mary Katherine Gallagher and Gilly.  So long O'Brions.  What a send off!

Coastal Cupboard Cooking Class

Trent and I took a cooking class at Coastal Cupboard for our date night on Friday.  We learned how to make Shrimp and Grits 3 ways: BLT Shrimp & Grits, Country Ham and Red-Eye Gravy Shrimp & Grits and Traditional Shrimp & Grits.  And for dessert: Peach & Grits Parfait.  Everything was delicious and the evening was so fun.  We're looking forward showing off our new cooking skills for our next out of town guests.  Who wants a taste of the South?  

Searching For Shark Teeth

The temps hit the 70's over the weekend so we spent as much time as possible outdoors enjoying this glimpse of spring weather.  We spent an entire morning at Cove Inlet searching for shark teeth and found this beauty among many cool shells.  I love mornings like this! 

Happy Birthday Papa and Rya

Incredibly, Rya shares her birthday with both of her grandfathers.  Papa Currier from Massachusetts came down to Charleston to celebrate Rya's 2nd birthday and his 72nd birthday.  I didn't have anything special planned to celebrate since I wasn't sure of my dad's energy level after surpassing 50 chemo treatments this year.  However, his spirits were high and his mood was terrific so I threw together a celebration at the Yamato Japenese Steakhouse on a moments notice.  Our good friends the Healys, the Buelks, the Woods, the Hudsons, the Maczkos and the Broadhursts all gathered (making a party of 26) around the hibachi to watch the chef cook, to chat and laugh, to eat and drink and most of all to celebrate the lives of these two special people!  For a spontaneous evening, it was just perfect.

Balentowski.o

My cousin Cheryl came for a week long visit.  She arrived on my birthday, Saturday evening, and we kicked off her visit with class and rented the horror film The Human Centipede.  The movie was so incredibly disturbing that it took me hours to fall asleep that night.  I highly recommend it! 

Sunday afternoon we drove up to Columbia to check into the Hilton for the night and see our favorite comedian Daniel Tosh Live.  I scored great seats front and center and Tosh was so funny our cheeks and stomachs hurt from laughing!  

After the show, we ran into Daniel Tosh at a club and got our picture taken with him.  He looks completely different in person. 

On Tuesday we took the kids to Kiln Time to do ceramics.  Growing up in Newburyport, my grandmother and Cheryl's great-grandmother, Mimi, owned a ceramic shop so this was one of those sweet nostalgic moments that made us feel special for passing on our family craft as well as our family lunacy. 

  

Wednesday evening we did Bottles and Brushes.  The painting was Sunset Over the Battery.  We wore our Fugu Tour t-shirts to support our cousin Dickie's art tour- "Fugu and Beyond, The World Tour".

After the art class we kept it classy by going to the local biker bar, Richard's, for a few drinks and a few twirls on the dance floor.  We left our mark on the women's bathroom door! 

On Thurday we took the kids to the Scary'um Aquarium and got to pet a baby alligator! 

After our morning at the aquarium, we went to Poogan's Porch for a lovely Southern lunch.  Named after a dog, Poogan's Porch is famous for being one of the most haunted restaurants in America.  We had no run-ins with any ghosts but the Gouda Macaroni and Cheese and the Fried Green Tomatoes more than made up for it! 

For Cheryl's final day, we made Mexican Sugar Skulls in preparation for the upcoming Day of the Dead and we just felt like we needed to keep with our crafty theme of the week. 

We ended her visit with cocktails on the dock, followed by Skittles vodka shots, beer, more beer and then more Skittles vodka shots.  It was a fantastic week fueled by booze and giggles.  I love me some Cheryl.  One day I hope we marry and adopt Chinese and African babies together! 

Final Dock Days

Last night a bunch of us Massachusetts transplants (picture excludes Erin and Trent because they're not Massholes) hung out on Lauren and Craig's dock for possibly the last time.  They bought a house in another community and although we're happy they found a new beautiful home, we're so sad to see them leave our neighborhood. 

The sunset was one of the prettiest I'd ever seen... making it even harder to say goodbye to this place. 

Pumpkin Patch

This morning we went to the Boone Hall Plantation Pumpkin Patch as part of my promise to do a fun Halloween activity everyday this week.  We picked a pumpkin, went on a hayride and jumped on the jumpy castles.  The weather was perfect (mid 70's) and the kids behaved.  It's simple and fun days like this that make me so thankful that I am a stay-at-home mom.  I have the best job in the world!