Live Oaks, Fried Green Tomatoes, Moonshine and Gators

(If that's not a Southern title, I don't know what is!)

We spent our Spring Break week at one of our family's favorite spots, Kiawah Island, SC.

Every year I keep hoping we can learn to travel by car a little less like the Griswold's.  

Clearly we are not there yet.

At least Chewie got to come along this time and he did really well in the car and throughout the whole week. More importantly, the kids LOVED having him along for the fun.

We woke each morning to the tropical-like beauty of South Carolina's low country.

Despite the chilly temps, we did some bike riding and beach walking.

But, truth be told, many mornings were spent pajama-clad doing this:

And we were all OK with some TV and "device" time. It was vacation after all.

We did venture out to drive along the Live Oak and Spanish moss canopied roads to see the sights.

We visited a local winery and distillery on Wadmalaw Island, about 20 minutes from Kiawah.

Scott and I did some sampling of the Muscadine wines while the kids enjoyed a little iPad/iPhone game time.

In between the wine tasting and the distillery, the kids got to harass check out some farm animals.

Eliza Grace stalked one particular goose around the pens until the rooster shown below decided she had gotten close enough.

Meanwhile, Will was enjoying things that let him move, because, well, he's a boy.

(Charlestonians love their joggling boards.)

Next up was the distillery, a mere 50 feet from the wine tasting room.

  
The Peach moonshine.  Seriously good, I kid you not.

We left the distillery and headed to another Wadmalaw Island destination: the Charleston Tea Plantation, the only tea plantation in the entire U.S.A.

Eliza Grace got to ring the bell on the trolley and then it was off to learn about tea.

Fields of tea bushes -  I had no idea they looked so much like boxwoods.

 I loved this graceful old pecan tree on the property.
Eliza Grace gave a thumb's up to the tea, although, like the true Southerner she is, she added sugar to the sweet tea. 

Later in the week, we took a trek into Charleston proper to have a yummy meal at the Dixie Supply Bakery and Cafe (as seen on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives!).  

Scottie had the shrimp and grits.

I had the fabulous bacon, lettuce, shrimp and fried green tomato sandwich.  Oh my word, it was good.

The kids had some baked goods and then we were ready to check out some history.

This time we toured the Nathaniel Russell house, which boasts a fabulous flying staircase and beautiful gardens.

(I love this photo because they're holding hands)

After that, we let the kids burn off some energy down at The Battery before we headed back to Kiawah.

No trip to Kiawah Island would be complete for our kids without attending the Reptile Roundup at the Nature Center.  After all, it's not every day one gets to hold turtles, snakes and a 7 year old alligator.

(This little fella headed right to Will's warm armpit)

We did a little fishing for good measure...

and called it another great week at Kiawah Island!

Truth.

I was crunching away on a Blow Pop and a sharp piece of candy cut the roof of my mouth.

I went in the bathroom and did the two mirror thing so I could see the the cut. The longer I looked at it, the more it bled and the more it hurt.

When I shut my mouth, it didn't hurt as much and the bleeding slowed down. It felt better and healed more quickly with my mouth closed.

I realized that the more my mouth was open, the more pain I would cause. But when I shut my mouth, it allowed healing.

And, oh my, ain't that the truth.

The Photo Wall

We have this big empty wall space above a couch in our living room. We had hung one picture up there but it was just too small to really fill the area right.

I have wanted to decorate it with a photo array for years. Today, thanks mostly to Scott's handiwork, we finally pulled it all together!

Here's the progression.

  

 

 

And the final product:

View from the stairs: 

A close up on the Family Rules text:

I love it!

Perpetual Motion

Practicing before school on a rainy Friday morning.

Eleven.

How?  Wha?  When did she...?

As usual, I am nearly speechless that our little girl is another year older today.

Happy birthday, sweet Elizabeth Grace!  

We are so proud to be your parents.  It is our privilege to love you, help you learn, and watch you grow into the amazing woman we know you are destined to become!

Welcome to 2013 (and Just Where Are Those Flying Cars Anyway?)

Welcome to a new year.  

As I look back at our lives in 2012, I am, thankfully, able to see more triumph than tragedy.

 More success than failure.  

More beauty than darkness.

Much, much more good in my life than bad. 

I know untold multitudes on this planet cannot say the same. I do not take for granted the quality of my life.

I thank God everyday for blessings beyond what we deserve and, selfishly, humanly, pray it continues that way.

Here's to 2013: may we all know good health, peace that passes all understanding, the abounding joy of blessing others and the choice to love and be loved.

Oh, and those flying cars they've been talking about for ages would be nice, too.