Isle Of Palms with Newburyporters

Arthur and Erin, Newburyporters living in Charleston (we're taking over down here), invited us to Erin's mom's sweet beach house rental on the Isle of Palms yesterday.  We arrived late afternoon for happy hour on the beach while the kids played in the sand and a brave few (Art, Trent and Currier) went swimming in the brisk sea.    

When the sun went down we enjoyed hot dogs on the grill, shrimp cocktail, cocktails and cupcakes while listening to the waves and breathing the salty air.  Wicked good time!

PJ and Eliza in The Lowcountry

My brother PJ and his girlfriend Eliza came and stayed with us for a couple of nights on their way to Myrtle Beach for spring break.  We spent most of our time lounging by the pool, playing in the frigid water, eating good food and laughing.

Friday night Stacey had us over for a big Lowcountry Boil (Shrimp, potatoes, sausage and corn).  Stacey's sister Kim was also visiting from Newburyport so we had ourselves a little NHS reunion sitting on Stacey's porch drinking beers, saying "wicked" a lot and laughing our asses off.  

For their final night, we went to Red's Ice House on Shem Creek for fresh seafood and a bucket of ice cold beer.  It was a short but sweet visit and I miss them already. 

Growing Goodness

Why try to explain miracles to your kids when you can just have them plant a garden. ~Robert Brault

Easter 2010

We returned home to Charleston the evening before Easter and although the Easter Bunny was exhausted and drunk, she still managed to fill baskets.  Kathy, Christopher, Jonathan and Austin spent the night so thankfully the Florida Easter Bunny remembered to hop up to Charleston to deliver their baskets too!  And the Easter Bunny's awesome husband put together a newly purchased IKEA children's table for the kids to wake to on Easter morning.  Hello Tea Parties!    

It was a lovely, casual and relaxing Easter and it was nice to spend it with the Rohes before they headed off on their spring break vacation. 

What Happens In Las Villages...

Last week we went to Florida to visit Trent's parents for spring break.  Mimi and Papi live in The Villages, a retirement community north of Orlando where everyone gets around by golf cart.  It's quite possibly the most adorable place on earth!  Trent's sister Carrie and her friend Hilde were driving down to Florida from Tennessee and picked me and the kids up along the way.  Trent stayed home to work, take care of Bruco and Paolo and essentially have a week of peace and quiet.  The six hour car ride with Currier's non-stop chatter and Rya's screaming for the last hour earned Carrie and Hilde both VIP seats and backstage passes in heaven.   

The kids have grown so much since our last visit of May 2009.   

We did lots of fun shopping (Ikea!) and naughty eating (Fried Pickles!) during our trip.

We spent one day at Uncle Donald's Farm feeding and petting animals.  Simple fun!

For the past couple of weeks, Currier has been asking to attend horseback riding camp this summer.  I'm not sure where he got this cockamamie idea but we can't afford it so I paid $2.50 for a pony ride at Uncle Donald's Farm and told him that was horseback riding camp and that seemed to appease him.  Sucker!  

     

One evening we went to Spanish Springs for Mexican food at Ay! Jalisco... delicious food, great Mariachi band and many cervezas.  After dinner we people watched and danced to live music in the square. 

Before leaving Mimi and Papi's we had a little Easter celebration by dying eggs and having a little Easter egg hunt in their front yard... because Mimi wanted to see the kids in their Easter outfits.   

We had a farewell dinner and sleepover at Trent's sister Tracy's house in Tampa where Currier and Rya got to see all their cousins... so fun!  The following morning the kids and I hitched a ride back up to Charleston with Trent's sister Kathy and her family since they were headed to Hilton Head for their spring break.  The ride home was much better than the ride down but I still think I'd rather eat cement than take another long car ride with my kids any time soon.  

My Rya

This one still holds the title of "The Messiest Eater on the Planet". 

Egg Skating

While I was upstairs packing for our trip to Florida, Currier took a dozen eggs and smashed them all over my bedroom floor because he "wanted to go ice skating".  I can't even put into words the fury I felt when I walked into this mess but my rage was replaced by fear when I noticed that Currier's entire body was covered in massive hives just seconds after this picture was taken.  So rather than an immediate punishment, I'm on the phone with the doctor giving Currier Benadryl in the shower.  As soon as the hives went away, Numbskull spent the rest of the afternoon in his bedroom while I sobbed and mopped the floor a dozen times.  And a week later my bedroom still reeks of raw eggs! 

Faking It

When you tell your mom that your throat hurts, you get to stay home from school and eat popsicles with your little sister.  When your mom catches you in a dozen screaming matches and a couple dozen giggling fits, she feels like a real sucker! 

Neighbor Gator

Yesterday our neighbor Lisa (Currier's BFF) spotted the first alligator of the season sunbathing on the water's edge by our neighborhood pond and took the kids from our cul-de-sac to go check it out.  It's that time of the year to keep Bruco and Paolo on leashes and away from the ponds.  Eek!

Albino Alligator

Last night the aquarium opened its doors after hours to members only (we're so VIP) to get a glimpse at the newest member of the South Carolina Aquarium. Less than 50 in the world- an albino alligator! We could have stared at this incredible creature all night. So cool.

Chop Chop

After a morning at the park, I took the kids for haircuts. Rya chose a little bob in hopes to even out her bad home haircut and Currier chose a shorter style so people will stop mistaking him for a girl, or Rocky from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, a mini Hulk Hogan or a blond Beatle.

Currier and Rya

I asked Currier if he wanted Mommy to have another baby and he grimaced at the thought and sadly said, "Oh no Mommy, I don't want to get another baby. I want to keep Rya."

Leprechaun Invasion

This morning we woke to muddy and suspiciously tiny footprints on our patio and through the doggy door leading into our house.

We followed the trail of clovers and coins.

To find that leprechauns don't know how to flush.

But they do know how to leave a magically delicious breakfast.

Top o' the morning to you! Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Pink Eye

Rya has pink eye and why not considering we've hosted so many other diseases in our house this season... swine flu, several common colds, horrifying sinus infections, painful strep throat, one double ear infection and a planter's wart... so naturally pink eye showed up just before the end of the winter season. Nice.