Chaleston- Day 2

Our day started out by going over to Chuck E Cheese.  The kids LOVE playing all of the video games!  It is a real treat since we don't have one here in Cookeville.  We don't go for the food, but for the play!  hahaha

picking up the beloved tickets

After Chuck E Cheese, we headed over to the Ice Palace in Charleston.  Of course, the kids have never ice skated before (or even roller skated), so why not give it a shot?!  They did a wonderful job!  I was proud of their determination not to give up through the falls.  I think it was a little frustrating at first, but they soon got the hang of it.  Overall, the boys really liked it and definitely want to give it a try again sometime.  I'm sure if they skated regularly, they would loose the ice walkers pretty quickly.  Mercy on the other hand wasn't too keen on ice skating.  She went around twice holding onto my hand and also to the walker.  She whimpered a little but made it around.  I think the slipperiness of it scared her some.

Mercy in her skates

And Aedan is off!

Mercy on the ice!

oops!

Mercy sat with me while we watched the boys.  I couldn't resist taking a picture of her little skate.

 



 

 

 

After skating, we headed back to my dad's for lunch and then headed out to Folly Beach.  (Yes, this is all still the same day in case you are wondering! hahaha)  We fed the birds, played football with the birds, and the kids got in the freezing water!

Catch it, sea gull!

 

A little video showing seagull football:

Charleston- Day 1

We made it to Charleston in the afternoon!  We did a ton of stuff during our visit.  We did so much that I am breaking up the visit on different posts by the day.  We started out by going to the small ponds out where my dad lives.  The boys like to look for alligators, but unfortunately, they have all moved out. (Or taken by force, probably.)

 

Later that evening, we headed to the playground just up the road.  The kids had fun playing.

Josiah has become quite the expert swing pumper!

Aedan sliding on a slider bar.

sliding together

no hands!

 

 

Day 2 coming soon....

pit stops

The kids and I headed to Charleston during spring break.  We went during the second week, mainly because of the Pass It On consignment sale at Algood.  Our first stop along the way was in Asheville.  My cousin, Carla, moved there not too long ago so we stopped along the way and spent the night there.  I hadn't seen Carla in 5 years!!! So, I had never met her sweet little boy, Thomas.  Thomas is six months younger than Mercy (almost to the date).  The last time we saw each other was at Kecker's funeral.  Every time we were in Charleston, she wasn't and vice-versa.  We had a great time catching up and chatting!  Hopefully, we will be able to see each other more since her home is right off the interstate as we head to Columbia or Charleston, or back home to Tennessee.

 

Josiah reading to Thomas. 

showing the pictures

And once again, more reading.  I am sure Thomas is paying close attention.

Carla and Thomas (and Josiah)

All four kiddos together

time to color...with Korean crayons, of course.

Carla and I

Carla and Claude

After our night in Asheville, we headed south and made another pit stop in Roebuck, SC.  (close to Spartanburg)  My friend, Jo Ellen, from college lives right off the interstate.  I have thought about stopping for a visit for years, but it always seems like I am traveling to get somewhere at a certain time, or it's just not convenient to stop.  Thankfully, our schedules lined up and we were able to stop.  The kids had so much fun playing together!  I am so glad we stopped, even if it was for just a couple hours!

the kids eating lunch

Allie with chips!  She was Mercy's little buddy.  They are just three months apart!

Josiah with Kate

All of the kids!
Yes, 5 girls total!  Jo Ellen is blessed with 4 beauties!

JoEllen and I

my flower girl dress

Mercy is finally big enough to fit into my old flower girl dress, which I wore at Donna's wedding.  She looks fabulous! :)

 

 

And for old time sake...Here's Kathy (Donna's sister) and I at Donna's wedding.  Yes, I am wearing the pink dress in the picture! :)

 

March snow

Yay!  It finally snowed some.  Better late than never, I guess.  The kids were so excited to use their new snow boards.  They did pretty well with them, although I think they needed just a little more snow to make them glide a little better/faster.  We'll see.  Maybe we'll get some good snow next year.  Here are some pictures:

Posing with their boards.

Going down the hill.

Trying to figure out what to do next is the hardest part.

Boom!  There he goes!

Adjusting the straps

The goal winning pose!

Another goal winning pose!

Who can forget our princess?

A couple of videos: