Florida Trip

Less than a week after returning to Charleston, from Greensboro, the kids and I once again packed up the car and this time headed to Florida. Destination...Omi and Papa's for a few days and then Hutchinson Island to meet up with a dear friend.

I armed the kids each with a roll of quarters for the drive down. I can't take credit for this brilliant idea as it was one my mom used when we were kids. The deal was this - each child got a roll of quarters at the start of the drive and for every, "Are we there yet? How much longer? When will we be there?" I collected a quarter. However many quarters were left in each child's roll upon arrival was theirs for the keeping/spending. Since this was the first time we "played" this game, I did allow for 3 accidental "asks" from each child. Surprisingly we left our house at 9 am, made our first stop about 1, and I didn't get asked any questions about how much further until about 2. It is a 7 hour drive so this was pretty darn good!

Friday we went to the Tampa zoo. What a great place!
















Friday also happened to be my mom's birthday. After a fun filled day at the zoo we dined on pizza and cake. ...it was the birthday girls choice :)






I'm not really sure what we did during the day on Saturday? I think we went to the mall and then swimming. But that evening...let me tell you...what a night we had! It was "Island Party" karaoke night in Lake Ashton. Not only was there karaoke, but there were numerous contests. One was a dance competition for which my mom choreographed the routine. I think Izzy knew it better than anyone else.










At one point Drew had some sort of wipe out and needed to use his island cocktail to heal his head. Ironically with all the drinking I had to do to make it through the evening I was spotted in a similar position the next morning :)


And how sweet are these...Izzy asked Papa to dance with her and of course he couldn't say no.


There are those darn mismatched Crocs again...




Sunday was Father's Day, and after lunch the kids and I headed off for the second part of our Florida road trip.

Next post: Hutchinson Island!

Couple Quick Drew Stories

We took the kids to the beach this past weekend and Drew is beyond a natural in the water (not really a surprise for those that have seen him swim since he could walk). That kid boogie boarded like a mad man, dove through waves, jumped waves and body surfed. He took a few pretty big spills that spun him around and every time he popped right back up for more. Pete and I were so proud of him! He was awesome - and insisted on doing everything that Pete did. What I loved the most (next to see him playing "mini-me" to Pete) was that whenever anyone else caught a wave he would give them a "hang ten" sign or thumbs up as soon as you made eye-contact with him. He would celebrate every one's water victories :)

Today I had to take the kids to the dermatologist. The tables in the patient rooms are the kind with the metal stirrup holders that pull out and flip open. (Ladies you know what I am talking about, right?) Well Drew pulls them out, lifts up the stirrup parts and begins doing "arm lifts" with them. He then says, "These are so cool! Are these so the doctor can exercise while at work?" ...probably one of those things you had to be there for, but it was really funny.

If I didn't know better I would think Drew watches "Jersey Shore" in the middle of the night. When asked a question the other day he answered with a heavily accented "What-evvaaaa".

Upon spooning out a piece of cookie dough from his ice-cream he said "look at the big piece I scored!"

Greensboro June Visit

Since the kids got out of school so early in Charleston we decided to take a last minute trip to Greensboro to finish up the school year there.

Izzy was invited to spend the last couple days at her old school and Drew was able to have some fun playdates with his best G'boro buds as well as attend a MMO program at his old school. And OF COURSE we went back to our old pool (the kids even got to partake in swim team practice). Every night was spent at a different friends home and we had a BLAST!

I could never due a trip this much fun justice with words so I will let the pictures do the talking. Chances are you will find yourself smiling when you see the smiles on Izzy and Drew!

visiting her old class...












old friends...






















and an old pool... (Drew now dives/front flips off the board)














(swim team practice sit-ups - we need some work)






















Thanks G'boro...see you for sports camp in July!

Izzy's Last Day of Kindergarten

I had every intention (and had even begun writing) an "ode to Kindergarten" for Izzy. It was going to be complete with first/last day photos to note the difference in both height and facial features. I wrote super sappy stuff about her start of K in Greensboro, and the end of K in Charleston. I wrote about how much more I loved her Greensboro experience...as well as all the differences between the two schools. I even started to interview her as to what she liked most/least about her K year in general.



When I asked her what she would miss most her answer was "EVERYTHING!"



At this point in the interview I decided to delete what I had pre-typed for this post and just stop. I needed to stop comparing schools and teachers and really just focus on the now. I have a very happy 6 year old who is loving school. When she started school my wish for her was that she would love to learn, and she does. In fact, she loves it so much that she cried when I picked her up on that last day.

A couple days before school ended the class had a pizza party and awards were given.





the assistant teacher


the "teacher" teacher




me and my boy :)




I realize that Izzy will know no different than the experience she is given. While I may want her to be in a smaller school that is not the reality here. The schools are awesome academically and for that I need to be thankful. The schools are top rated in the state, and while it is not the school experience that I had, it is the school experience Izzy will have. ...and she is LOVING it!


(we celebrated with ice cream at Menchies after the last day of school)