Coming home.

The biggie was able to be crossed off last night.

To be continued...

Charleston part 4 (the end.)

 That would be me.

Our last day we spent sweltering at Charlestown Landing.

Ours pics from there were nothing special so I won't be showing those...but we had a fun time.

The kids loved the little zoo they had.

But man was it hot that day...

 Later we ended up at the beach to cool off and say goodbye to the Atlantic...

 Sawyer

swoon.

love this shot-sooc too!

Another goofy "family photo"

I think I love it ;)

I look talllll and skinny lol

 Started finding a few jellyfish laying around...

 Love the evening light on the beach...

 Sawyer's footprints over to everyone else...

Sandbar at Sullivan's.

 Finally! 2 sand dollars that could come home with me.

We loved that enormous tidal pool/sandbar area at Sullivan's Island! It was so cool.

Sawyer way back in the distance looking for seashells...

Can't wait to go back. Can't wait.

My new necklace

Oh my goodness-I think I'm in love!

I know it's nothing fancy-but it's just so me...

Simple sterling bits melted into pebbles, slightly flattened with the kiddos initials on them.

So dainty-each are about the size of my pinky nail :)

love love love it!

Charleston~part 3

USS Yorktown

Loved showing the kids the type of ship their Papa had been on for years when he was a Navy diver.

Inside

Future pilot?

Climbing all over that ship and up and down all those super steepsteps brought it all back to me when we used to visit my Dad on his ship.

Submarine hatch

Downtown wandering around

Charleston by the fountains downtown. Forget the name of the area.

I really kinda like this photo of us.



Another try at a family photo near the fountains in some alley.

Sawyer gets a little lost over to the right side lol

There are continuous shots of Travis falling after this one was shot..

Should have posted those instead lol

The best Greek food-p.e.r.i.o.d.

Seriously-melt in your mouth gyro meat-wow.

Run don't walk if you're in the area.

Downtown-Meeting street or King-I forget.

Chloe found a live conch

She threw hiim back of coarse...

But then some other teenage girls found it and were talking about taking it home :(

Sunset.

Sullivan's Island over the tidal pool.

Our last evening...

Breaking for a craft

 Toilet paper roll crafts~

Today's choice was owls.

 Bend the ends in towards each other to create little ears and paint...

 Add a little wedge for a beak

 Some google eyes...

 I used scrapbook paper for wings

All lined up pretty on the window ledge...

 Chloe's

 Gabe's

 Mine

Sawyer's.

He wanted his just like his brothers-lol.

Timewise it was just about perfect-not too long to cause a huge mess but long enough to keep them entertained and not arguing-lol.

We're in the midst of some crazy heat in Illinois so it's been more arts and crafts with the kids and less heating up with the kiln...but I've got some ideas cooking up with my time away from my studio :)

Vacation Part 2

A few from the next day or 2...

 Yes, I'm a foot picture taker...

 Pretty much sums up how all of the group pictures turn out.

Walking around downtown Charleston.

 Hyman's seafood downtown Charleston.

Vanilla Ice and Sandra Bullock also ate at our table lol

Family photo taken at the Angel Tree-John's Island, SC.

 The Angel Oak Tree

This is maybe 1/3 of it?

I've never seen anything so enormous!

1500 years old approx?

 Gabe at the Battery

Sawyer at the Battery

Canons at the Battery

 Unitarian church, downtown Charleston.

The cemetary has always drawn me in-it's amazing.

The biggest onion rings I've ever seen...

Pitt street bridge, Mt. Pleasant~

A beautiful spot for a sunset walk :)

Hung out with this crazy guy and his huge great danes for awhile.

A crab pulled up on Pitt street bridge.

Sunset view from Pitt street bridge~

Gorgeous!

Vacation~South Carolina

I'm a month behind on vacation photos but thought I'd share a few of my favorites.

Background:

We were a Navy family. The bulk of my childhood was spent in Goose Creek, South Carolina-just outside of Charleston. It was an awesome place to grow up-and an awesome place to visit.

I haven't been back in about 16 years-and that time was a quick drive-thru...

It's been 28 years since we moved away...

Honestly this may take me a few posts~just a warning...;)

 Freaky turtles outside of Gilligin's resteraunt

Mount Pleasant

They seriously came if you called them and ate from your hand.

Tons of them. The kids LOVED them of coarse!

An awesome first evening :)

 The best 3 hours of our trip.

My best friend from 1-4th grades-Michelle.

28 years since I'd seen her. She drove 7 hrs from Virginia to visit for such a short time.

So very thankful for the time we had! :)

 My water baby

 The coolest bike EVAH!

I wish I could have met the chic who rode this around.

I bet she would have been interesting :)

I would totally ride this.

So jealous~I want a Wonder Woman for my bike too...

 Sullivan's Island

Home Team BBQ

"Painkiller" special.

No, I felt no pain for quite awhile...

 My brother happened to be there at the same time we were-crazytiming!

He was working for Sister Hazel just down the beach so he ran down to hang out with us for the evening :)

 I LOVE this shot.

So many fun things to find.

Tons of hermit crabs...crabclaws...horseshoe crabs...

*Pinch*



Chloe was pointing to the "treasure" she swore was washed up on the other side of the tidal pool and couldn't wait to get over there to check it out.

(there was no treasure-just a broken wood box-bummer)

But I just LOVE the pop in from the side by my brother-priceless.

;)