The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island

Yesterday Lawrence and his dad took off at 6:00 am to play The Ocean Course at Kiawah.  They had been looking forward to this since we planned our trip, and the day did not disappoint. The bit of rain that had been falling in the early morning cleared out quickly and they had a wonderful day playing on this beautiful course.

Ready to tee off

A beautiful morning...

...but stay away from the gators!

I don't think this was the type of beach Dick was looking for today

In front of the clubhouse

One last drive

The guys arrived back at Wild Dunes raving about how beautiful the course was and about what a great day they had had.  I asked Lawrence if it was worth the money (because courses like that ain't cheap!), and he said absolutely, but that getting to play a course like that with his dad made it priceless.

The rest of us passed the day on the beach and in the pool. 

Lawrence, John and I ventured out to dinner last night while everyone else stayed in to have spaghetti.  We went to a really cool place called The Wreck of Richard and Charlene (known as just The Wreck to the locals) recommended to us by Butch Baird.  It is such a hole in the wall we almost couldn't find it.  It was tucked way back in some trees along a little boat dock. 

A late afternoon storm turned into a beautiful sunset

John and Lawrence ate a 1/4 pound of fried shrimp and a 1/2 pound of grilled shrimp (which legend says comes right out of the water by their dock, who knows, maybe that's true), and I ate some yummy deviled crab.  We then split some key lime bread pudding and dragged ourselves back home before we all collapsed.  Vacation is a lot of work.   

Magnolia Plantation

Yesterday, after spending the morning on the beach, we drove over to the Magnolia Plantation in Charleston.  The Magnolia Plantation is rich in history and boasts the largest public garden in America.  The property (now around 500 acres; it once was several thousand) has been owned by the Drayton family since Thomas Drayton and his wife Ann arrived from Barbados to the new English colony of Charles Towne and established it along the Ashley River in 1679.  I find it fascinating that the property has remained in the same family all this time...through the Revolutionary War and the Civil War...truly remarkable. 

The plantation home

We took a four mile ride through the property and heard many stories about the local flora, fauna and wildlife.  We even saw a few alligators peeking up through the "duck weed" that covered all the swamps (I thought it was pond scum - who knew it was a nutritious form of food for the birds!). 

A ride through the property

There was a street of slave cabins...two families would share this small structure!



John found all this fascinating...I remember going to Mt. Vernon at his age and feeling the same way!

After the tour of the property we went on a tour of the house and learned so many interesting things about the Drayton family.  They were extremely wealthy (obviously!), and this was their "country" home where they would come to go "camping."  Just like our place at Nolin Lake!

Awww, don't we look just like Mr. and Mrs. Drayton?? 

This morning it's a little windy (actually it's a lot windy) and drizzly, and Lawrence and his Dad have headed over to Kiawah to play what is described as the world's most challenging golf course, so the kids and I are going to putter around and see what kind of trouble we can get into.  Even a drizzly day on the beach is a good one!

USS Yorktown and Charleston

This morning as I write this everyone is still fast asleep because they are worn out from our day in Charleston yesterday.  We started at the USS Yorktown, which was such a sight to see.  I could scarcely take in the size of the giant ship and can't imagine what it must have been like for the thousands of men (and I think a few women) who called the vessel their home during WWII. 

The gang in front of the massive UUS Yorktown

The kids got to ride in a flight simulator

Lawrence and his dad on the flight deck

After spending an hour touring the ship we hopped on the water taxi and took a ride over to Charleston.  It was a hot, hot day and the breeze on the water felt good.

Leaving the USS Yorktown for Charleston

Tony and Syd relax on the ride over

Once in Charleston we walked from the water down Calhoun Street until we reached the City Market area.  The day was classically Southern - hot and muggy, and we were happy to sit down at the Noisy Oyster for a delicious lunch of shrimp and grits (and an appetizer of alligator tail).  From there we hopped on a horse drawn carriage ride through the historic district.  I loved this!  Our tour guide did a great job telling us the history of the Holy City and we saw some beautiful architecture and grounds.

The churches are plentiful and one is more beautiful than the next

 

The houses were amazing....and the porches!  Spectacular!

After the carriage ride we shopped in the City Market and found a few treasures.

John loved the pirate shop

The girls found cute sundresses

At around 5:30 we headed back to the harbor to catch a water taxi back to the USS Yorktown.  We were all hot and exhausted, but what does it matter when all you need to do the next day is sit on the beach?

Good bye Charleston - hope to see you again one day!

Boogie Board Kind of Day

Yesterday was another beautiful day on the beach, and the kids had a ball trying out their new boogie boards.  After a few tries they were all pros at catching just the right wave to ride in.

When we weren't boogie boarding there was lots of relaxing, reading, sandcastle building (and sand burying), shell collecting and bocce ball playing. 

 

Late in the afternoon the fellas headed over to the Wild Dunes Links course to play some sunset golf.  Three generations of golfers...what a treat to play together at the beach.

The girls held down the fort on the beach until almost 7:30...we didn't want to come in!  We had such a relaxing afternoon, and we were exhausted when we came inside (what is it about sitting around all day that is so tiring??).  MT made a yummy salad and lasagna and the kids barely made it through dinner.  They were begging for their beds!  This morning we are heading to Charleston for a day of sight seeing and fun. 

Young Family Getaway

This morning I am writing from the beautiful Isle of Palms, where we have landed for a week of fun and relaxation with Lawrence's family.  We all took off from Louisville on Friday (us in the afternoon...Dick, MT, Tony and Sydney at around midnight) and made the 10 hour drive to the coast of South Carolina, specifically Wild Dunes on the Isle of Palms. Because we've spent our last six or so family vacations out west, our kids haven't had the recent joy and privilege or a road trip (nor have their sometimes not so patient parents), but we all did great, and Lawrence and I enjoyed having long talks and control of the radio during the ride while the kids slept and watched movies. 

Loaded and ready!



Dramamine is wonderful thing to give an energetic 9 year old

 We stopped for the night in Clinton, SC and after a quick breakfast at the hotel we were back on the road.

Fueling up...now let's get to the beach!

MT, Tony, Sydney and Dick drove through the night so they beat us to the beach.  We have condos within the same complex at Wild Dunes...we are staying at Seagrove, within the Wild Dunes resort on the Isle of Palms (yeah, it confuses me too).  We made a quick pit stop in their condo because ours wasn't ready yet, changed into our suits and hit the beach.  What a beautiful day!  The weather is spectacluar...in the 80s with a constant breeze (I told Lawrence it's like you have a fan on you the whole time, which on the beach is a wonderful thing).  The kids (and grownups) had so much fun in the ocean, which is wonderfully warm right now. 

MT and Sydney walk out to the waves

Tony takes a go at the skim board

Lawrence snapped this of Sarah and me after making us pose for a nice picture before this wave hit us!

Tony and Dick relax under the tent

After a great afternoon at the beach we headed over to a nearby shopping center to have dinner and pick up some more groceries.  We happened upon a great little place called Gilligan's that was offering all-you-can-eat shrimp, which sounded like the perfect way to kick off a beach vacation.

The gang at Gilligan's

One of many plates of shrimp!

This morning dawned clear and bright.  I think Dick was the first one on the beach, but it wasn't long before the clan made their way down to join him.  I've been savoring one of my favorite vacation rituals...an endless cup of coffee with several magazines (and I must say enjoying it from the deck while watching the ocean makes it just about perfect).

Mmmm...heaven.

We are set up for day...our comfortable tent, kites flying, kids playing.  Looks like it's going to be another great day!

The view from our deck

A Whirlwind Weekend!

This weekend went by in a flash.  We started the fun on Friday night with what was supposed to be John's championship baseball game.  We almost made it through the first inning before the rain came, and after another false start they called it for the night.  Luckily, the Hamiltons had come to watch John play so we just took the party over to BJ's for dinner.  Claire and Bruce came home with us to spend the night, and then we were on the road Saturday morning heading to Russell County for the Antle Family Reunion (sans Lawrence and John, because they had to stay for the make up ball game - I hated to miss it!).  


After swinging by to see Grandmother we went over to Columbia and spent the afternoon at Laura and Mike Harris's house (Laura, aka "Lolly", is my dad's first cousin).  We had such a nice afternoon visiting with three generations of Antles.  We had great food, fun on the trampoline, swimming in the pool, trailer rides and got to play with their new black lab puppies.  It was a wonderful way to spend Father's Day with my dad.

Bruce, Sarah and Claire get their "bounce" on

This is fun!

...and some more!

Joe and Dad visit

Claire gets some puppy love

Sarah wanted to bring this one home!

Mike takes the kids on a ride around their property

I love my dad! 

On Sunday morning John and I got up early and made Lawrence breakfast in bed.  In Sarah's defense, she didn't know we were doing this...I was letting her sleep in, but she was actually up visiting with her dad in our room when we brought it up.  

Mmmm...black bean omelet with his beloved caffeine free Diet Coke

John is psyched to surprise his Daddy

John had made Lawrence a card with a little poem, which made him laugh.

He's laughing at what John wrote...

...because there's no way they can go the whole day without fighting!

Sunday afternoon we had a swim and dive meet.  I can't really say that's the most relaxing place to spend Father's Day, but Lawrence says his is happiest watching his kids play, so that's what he got.

Now that's a back flip

Sarah pumps up the little swimmers.  The little girls love her.

After the swim meet we headed over to celebrate Father's Day at Dick's.  Mary Taylor made a yummy meal and the kids had a ball playing with the Young cousins. 

Ultimate frisbee 

Syd goes for it

John and Badoo play lawn darts (Badoo won)

Now THAT's a happy father's day - Badoo with his three favorite people

Badoo with four of his five grandkiddos (Taylor had to work!)

Oh, and I almost forgot - John's team had their make up game on Saturday and they won!  The Red Sox had an awesome season this year...they were the regular season champs AND the tournament winners - it doesn't get much better than that!

Celebrating a job well done

Lawrence and I literally crawled into bed last night....we had to go back to work today to get some rest!