Happy Place

Our family has been vacationing on Kiawah Island, South Carolina for just shy of 20 years.  

This was the place where our kids' feet first touched the ocean - before either had reached three months of age. It's no wonder they're so at home in the water.

For an amateur photographer, like myself, it's a great place to experiment with light and depth, expanse and detail.

Mysterious swamps, wide ocean views, amazing sunsets, fishing holes, winding paths, and Spanish moss laden live Oaks makes it a wonderful place to just breathe.

Throw in the Nature Center activities, a kids camp... 

...and the fact that it's 25 minutes from downtown Charleston's history, shopping and fabulous dining...

 

 and it's almost paradise.

No wonder it's one of our happy places.

My world-famous...

...chocolate chip cookies.  

Of course they're world-famous because they're the Toll House recipe from the back of the Hershey's semi-sweet morsels package.

I do add my own little flare, however, that includes using unsalted butter, Kosher (ONLY Kosher) salt and real Haitian vanilla.

I also cook mine a little longer so that they're flatter and a little caramelized, so they have a great crunchy, chocolaty, hint of salt taste.

We are crunchy chocolate chip cookie people. No "soft batch" cookies found around here.

The kitchen was a little tight during this particular bake, as everyone, including Chewie, wanted in on the action.

My type A personality requires that all ingredients are present and accounted for in their proper proportions before anything gets started :)

I find it so much fun having my kids help in the kitchen.  And even though I don't really cook that much - or that well - I do happen to be darn good at cracking eggs and some of the other basics. 

It's much more fun teaching them something that I actually know how to do well.

Time to start mixing.

Are we the only ones that could sit and eat a bowl of the sugars, vanilla, butter mixture?  

Taking turns slowly adding the flour, baking soda and salt mixture.

 Round and round it goes.

Holy chocolate chips, Batman!

Second best part of making cookies!

Why, yes, they do look scrumptious, don't they?

"Hey Will, how're the cookies?"

I think those eyes say it all.

Friday Nights are...

...camp out nights in Will's room.

One with the new Lego magazine and the other, Highlights.

I love that they are each other's best friend.

Yeah, I So Saw This Coming

Remember this post about Scott's television technology obsession I did back in October 2010?

If not, take a quick look.  I'll give you a few minutes.

Okay, so today?  

This is what Scott brought home.

55 inch LED HD 3D Smart TV (already playing Sponge Bob, no less!).

22 months after the last one.  

Of course a few weeks ago he informed me that he was "doing research" on 3D TVs.  

"Doing research" is Scott's code for "gonna buy something soon."  Of course he asked if I was okay with it.  Like I would say no.

And here were the kids 30 minutes later.

I have to admit that the Direct TV 3D channel is pretty darn cool.

But really. Really?! Really.
Technology.  It is his obsession.

"Daddy, I Want a Fort"

A couple of weeks ago Will announced that he wanted to build a fort in the back yard.  In an effort to humor him, Scott told him to go draw up a plan and materials list for what he had in mind.

And he did.  

With labeled sections and lengths for the wooden boards. 

Rather impressive for a six year old, eh?

So.

Two weekends, 3 trips to buy mostly scrap wood from Home Depot and a lot of sweat later, Will's fort was born.

Take a look - it's pretty cool!

Surveying the materials

Affixing brackets

Teaching Will the greatest lesson in carpentry: measure twice, cut once.

A boy and his drill

 Frame is up!

Putting down the decking

Building the ladder

Cover going on

All done and ready to play in!

Way to go, honey, in making our son's dream a reality!  Will, Eliza Grace and the rest of the neighborhood kids thank you!

So Remember...

...that time earlier today when Eliza Grace didn't get off the bus and, when I asked where she was, the bus driver said she didn't get on the bus and then drove away?

And then remember when I finally caught up with Will - who had run home despite my shouting to him to stop -and asked him, he said that she had gotten on the bus. And then when I called the school, they told me she was not there either?

And remember when seconds later - and in typical Jacque fashion - I COMPLETELY FREAKED OUT?! Yeah, all my neighbors witnessed that lovely scene.

So, thankfully, Eliza Grace HAD gotten on the bus, but fell asleep in the back and the bus driver had still not noticed this fact until she returned to the school (where I had driven posthaste!). While I was inside demanding the school call the transportation office,  Will saw the bus pull up and ran to tell the driver that Eliza Grace was still on the bus.  Meanwhile, Eliza Grace was just waking up and wondering why she was at the school and the only one on the bus.

All's well that ends well, but I think I have had my heaping dose of panic for the day, thank you very much.

Here we go again!

After a nice five week summer break we started school again today. 

(Yes, really.  In July. Year round schools. And yes, we love it!)

When I asked Eliza Grace what she wanted to wear on her first day of school she said (as is typical), "I don't care."  But then she said, "Oh wait, you always take a picture on the first day so I guess it has to be kinda decent."  

Okay then, we're shooting for 'kinda decent' around here.

Anyhoo, I do take a picture every year. In this case, pictures.

Let's start with the basic "sister arm around brother" pose. 

 "What should we do next, Eliza Grace?"

 "Oh wait, I know!"

"We dance!"

*Rolls eyes, "Brothers. What can you do?"

"C'mon, Eliza Grace.  Let's dance!"

"Oh well, if you can't beat 'em"

"Put your hands in the air like ya just don't care!"

And then, the inevitable digression into bunny ears.

Hope you have a great day at school, my very silly (& very cute) 5th and 1st graders!