South Carolina

Who knew South Carolina had such nice beaches!? I didn't. Lucky for us, Anne organized a one week beach house for her family (3 year old and newborn), a German friend/family (1.5 year old) and us right on Edisto Beach. Edisto is a sleepy town of retirees and second homes with a few seafood restaurants and a piggly wiggly and not much else. Houses are all in stilts (legs says Kaiya) and boast cutesy names like "Sew Guilty", "not my fault","high maintenance" and "tuckered out". The week started out a little rough as Kaiya and Leyla were pronounced "frenemies", but we slowly got the hang of things and soon enough we were lounging at the beach, building sand birthday cakes, eating freshly caught fish (whiting!?), and having arts and crafts sessions.










The kids enjoyed eating together, singing songs, taking baths,
and watching cartoons so the adults could cook/talk/sit down for a second.


















The beach was gorgeous and filled with shells. The water was calm and cool. Kaiya raced in day one and first off a wave went right over our heads. She agreed she had "eaten waves for lunch" and "they were not yummy" and she rarely ventured back in.















A highlight was an afternoon boat trip down the river where we saw a ton of dolphins. Kaiya counted them all and then politely asked the captain where the alligators were.

Kaiya and Leyla had the funniest arguments. This is how the cushion goes! No this is how! Then tantrums. I want that paintbrush! No it's mine! Tantrum. That's my seat! No it's mine. And so on. You can't come in my room! I'm dancing you can't! And on and on.

We had some nice outings to nature preserves and were amazed at the lovely scenery and colors. Kaiya saw a stingray, snowy egrets, and many turtles.









All in all a really fun trip away from the hustle and bustle. And Kaiya couldn't wait to get home to Brook-a-lyn.

DC adventure!

Kaiya and I embarked on a girls trip to visit unkie Jer (it's not uncle, it's unkie!!) for the weekend and had a great (fast!) time.

First was a rest stop for BK fries and ice cream. I was hoping for a food coma but Kaiya talked the whole way there.



When we got to our room K exclaimed, is this our house? Is that your bed mama?









We immediately went to see Jer and take a dip in his amazing pool. Then back to the room for some intensive puzzle time.


Kaiya slept through the whole night, first asking why her crib had mesh holes in the side and asking if this was Washington. The next morning we went for a quick pick me up:









Then to a friend's party:






And then back to the hotel for another swim. Kaiya did a great job blowing bubbles and floating and kicking away from the jer froggie chasing her. Then rest time (I'm not tired! One more thing!) and then a cultural outing to the FDR and Lincoln memorials. Kaiya loves the rocks and fountains and made friends at every stop.
























Back to Jer's for noodles and a catch in the living room and then crashed at the hotel exhausted. (I want to sleep at unkie jer's house!)

Then a visit to see Kiran and her two kids. Kaiya loved baby Rumi (aw! She's so cute! She's a little one! In a little bigger one!)






Then on the road for a nice nap, lots of conversations about trackers and bulldozers and which was which (no mama, that's a truck!) and listening to music and a rest stop for a quick stretch:



All in all a great trip. Again!

DC adventure!

Kaiya and I embarked on a girls trip to visit unkie Jer (it's not uncle, it's unkie!!) for the weekend and had a great (fast!) time.

First was a rest stop for BK fries and ice cream. I was hoping for a food coma but Kaiya talked the whole way there.



When we got to our room K exclaimed, is this our house? Is that your bed mama?









We immediately went to see Jer and take a dip in his amazing pool. Then back to the room for some intensive puzzle time.


Kaiya slept through the whole night, first asking why her crib had mesh holes in the side and asking if this was Washington. The next morning we went for a quick pick me up:









Then to a friend's party:






And then back to the hotel for another swim. Kaiya did a great job blowing bubbles and floating and kicking away from the jer froggie chasing her. Then rest time (I'm not tired! One more thing!) and then a cultural outing to the FDR and Lincoln memorials. Kaiya loves the rocks and fountains and made friends at every stop.
























Back to Jer's for noodles and a catch in the living room and then crashed at the hotel exhausted. (I want to sleep at unkie jer's house!)

Then a visit to see Kiran and her two kids. Kaiya loved baby Rumi (aw! She's so cute! She's a little one! In a little bigger one!)






Then on the road for a nice nap, lots of conversations about trackers and bulldozers and which was which (no mama, that's a truck!) and listening to music and a rest stop for a quick stretch:



All in all a great trip. Again!