Charleston 2014 Part 1

This was the 2nd year that we did our 2-week trip to Charleston.  This year we got to spend a few more days and I was hoping it wouldn't fly by so fast...but it did anyway! Thank you to Mammy and Doo Da for letting us invade your house and take up the whole upstairs!!! :-) We left on Friday (June 27th) and then Alston stayed through July 6th.  The weather was great, so we could really enjoy being outside and doing everything we wanted to do...we had a great time!!! Just hated seeing Daddy go back home to work for the second week, however we loved knowing he was coming back the next weekend! And then we all flew home on the 14th, such a fun trip with lots and lots of FUN memories!!!

• Ella asking where everyone was after they left ("where are the grandchildren", "wheres Travis", "wheres Bessy", "wheres Doo Da's car"....and the list goes on and on!
• Callie started really pulling up while we were in Charleston.
• Callie's first trip to the beach!
• Staying in a hotel (first time for Callie) and sleeping in a big bed with Daddy (Ella)!
• Many morning and afternoon park trips with Mammy!
• Ella learning to jump off the side of the pool to Mammy. (She was a little scared of the pool when we got there due to just having swim lessons but she came around pretty quickly.
• Callie and Ella were obsessed with the cats...Callie would wave and say "Kit-y" and Ella would chase them around...I know they are glad we are gone! ;-)
• Callie started saying "Uh Oh"
• Callie learned "where's Callie" and "where's Mammy"...she will sometimes do "where's Mommy".
• Ella loved riding in the "Alligator" as she called it...(elevator).  She knew the real word but loved to call it the Alligator. 
• Callie learned how to "give 5".
• Ella wanting to know who everyone was in all Mammy and Doo Das pictures...especially Mammy's mom, and brothers and sisters.
• Ella loved her green watering can!
• Ella loved eating Doo Da's plums! 
• Callie turned 11 months! 

Waiting patiently to board the plane!

We got in later in the evening on the 27th and it was raining so it took forever to get our bags (and our bags got soaked).  Once we got to John and Debbie's we pretty much put the girls right down. Saturday morning Alston and Travis played golf and then we hung out in the pool that afternoon.  That night we went to dinner with some friends.

Tbone and Callie!

Travis, Callie and Ella

Callie Ballie

The clan by the pool.

The next day we all (except Travis) packed up and headed to Greenville.  One of the cool things about coming to Charleston for 2 weeks is it allows us to go see family in Greenville/Spartanburg...so the girls got to see some of their great-grandparents and other extended family!  We stayed in Greenville Sunday night and then headed to Spartanburg the next morning. In Greenville we saw Meme, Papa, Tim and Andrea and then went to Debbie's sisters house and saw Terry, Trina, Linda and Jerry.  That night Lori and Greg and Jake and his girlfriend (Keri) meet us at the hotel for dinner.

Meme and Callie

Ella helping Meme water her tomatoes!

Papa, Alston, Ella and Callie

Andrea, Callie and Ella

Terry, Callie, Debbie and me

Cousin Lori!!

In Spartanburg we saw Mama and Papa, Pat, J and Emily and Laylous and Sam.  It is always a whirlwind when we go but I am so glad we do it! I love that the girls can meet some of the extended family! We drove back to Charleston after spending lunch in Spartanburg.

Me, Ella and Emily

Emily and Callie

Mama and Callie

I LOVE this picture!

Mama and Ella!

J and Ella

Emily and Ella

Emily and Callie

Emily playing with Ella and love how Callie is "looking on"!

Laylous and Sam with Callie

Sweet Ella giving everyone hugs goodbye!

Pat and Callie

The girls were over pictures at this point!! :-) 

Tuesday, Alston, Debbie, the girls and I headed to the beach for the morning before Callie's nap.  This was Callie's first trip to the beach!  Mammy gave the girls the adorable floppy hats with their initials on them! Both girls loved to wear them throughout the weeks we were there! Ella loved having Mammy jump the waves with her and Callie hung out on the beach.  That afternoon Alston, Travis and I met some people at a bar on Shem Creek called Reds to watch USA play in the World Cup, unfortunately they lost but it was such a close game!

Beach babe!

Sweet Callie

Daddy and Ella

Callie checking out the beach!

Daddy and his girls.

Jumping waves with Mammy!

Wednesday, we hung out by the pool in the morning and then in the afternoon Alston and I got massages at our favorite place, Urban Nirvana!  They were great!

Sisters! "Relaxing" in the adorable chair that Tiffany and Travis gave Ella.

Thursday, Hurricane Arthur was just off the coast of Charleston, thankfully we didn't get a lot of rain or wind! Alston, Ella, Travis and I went to the historic Pitt Street Pharmacy that has this little diner you can get sandwiches/ice cream and had lunch (Alston used to go there as a little boy!). That afternoon after things cleared up I rode 18 holes while Alston and Travis played golf at Bulls Bay Golf Course.

Mommy and Ella at Pitt Street Pharmacy!

The boys playing golf. 

Friday, the 4th of July, we hung around Mammy and Doo Da's pool, grilled burgers and hotdogs for lunch and then ate BBQ for dinner.  Alston, Travis and I went to Shem Creek to watch fireworks that night.

Splashing with Mammy

Getting daddy!

Doo Da and Callie

Doo Da made a diving board for Ella to jump off of!

Travis and Callie

Selfie!!! 

Happy 4th of July!

Saturday morning we all went to the petting zoo so we could see and feed some animals!  Ella loved it last time we went so it was something we didn't want to miss doing.  There are deer, goats, chickens and ducks to feed and then lots of other animals to look at.

Feeding the deer...he also wanted to eat Ella's bow! 

...and Callie dress! 

Peacock! 

Callie trying watermelon!

Group photo! 

Sunday, we ran to the beach one more time before daddy left!  It wasn't great weather, it was really windy, but still had fun!

Wagon ride to the beach!

Callie taking a dip in the ocean!