Getting Caught Up with Life

It has been a month since my last post and almost a month since we moved from Mt. Pleasant, SC to Stafford, VA.  So this will be an update post with mostly pictures, but not a lot of content.  I will try to post some content within the next week (although I am a teacher and this is the beginning of the school year so I might be overreaching a little bit!).

Abigail and Mary on the day before we moved.  The truck was being loaded behind them.

Abigail's last night in her first house.

Before her first night in her new house, Abigail decorated her room with
some of her favorite characters.

Some of you may have seen a similar pic to this one last year, but
Larry launched her about 12 feet higher.  She still keeps her little arms so straight!!

Abigail was dancing at the Farm (my parents' house) one cool evening in August!!

Abigail next to Mt. Zucchini in our new kitchen.

This is Dutchess, Version 42, in the form of a seahorse
during Abigail's first swim in our pool.

Unwittingly, Abigail performed two-thirds of "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" while getting a ride on
her Yinski's shoulders!

Getting Caught Up with Life

It has been a month since my last post and almost a month since we moved from Mt. Pleasant, SC to Stafford, VA.  So this will be an update post with mostly pictures, but not a lot of content.  I will try to post some content within the next week (although I am a teacher and this is the beginning of the school year so I might be overreaching a little bit!).

Abigail and Mary on the day before we moved.  The truck was being loaded behind them.

Abigail's last night in her first house.

Before her first night in her new house, Abigail decorated her room with
some of her favorite characters.

Some of you may have seen a similar pic to this one last year, but
Larry launched her about 12 feet higher.  She still keeps her little arms so straight!!

Abigail was dancing at the Farm (my parents' house) one cool evening in August!!

Abigail next to Mt. Zucchini in our new kitchen.

This is Dutchess, Version 42, in the form of a seahorse
during Abigail's first swim in our pool.

Unwittingly, Abigail performed two-thirds of "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" while getting a ride on
her Yinski's shoulders!

Last Week In Charleston: 2 Days to Go

Sorry, but I have no pictures today.
This morning, I took Abigail back to the aquarium to A) get her out of the house, B) get me out of the house, and C) give Larry some time to pack without interruptions.
It wasn't as awesome as Sunday because there were more people (and day camp groups) there, but Abigail did get to pet a baby alligator and 2 snakes.


When we returned home, our family friend Betty was there helping to pack the kitchen.  Abigail was delighted to have her friend Betty there.  She thought that Betty would be moving to Virginia with us.   It reminds me that I am saddest for Abigail than I am for myself to be leaving a place I have lived almost 12 years.


Betty left around 3:30 (after a futile attempt to get Abigail to nap with her) and I went shopping at the Asian food store for Abigail's favorite snacks.  She fell asleep in the car and everyone thought that the sleeping toddler I was lugging around on my shoulder was dear and precious, though no one helped me with my basket!


Finally, we ended the day with a wonderful dinner with our neighbors this evening, eating Lowcountry Boil and tomato pie (Caroline's is to DIE for-- and considering the 12 pounds of cheese in it, you probably will die from eating too much of it!!).   The kids all played together,  while the adults made easy conversation one last time.  I am so sad to be leaving this street, this neighborhood.

Last Week In Charleston: 2 Days to Go

Sorry, but I have no pictures today.
This morning, I took Abigail back to the aquarium to A) get her out of the house, B) get me out of the house, and C) give Larry some time to pack without interruptions.
It wasn't as awesome as Sunday because there were more people (and day camp groups) there, but Abigail did get to pet a baby alligator and 2 snakes.


When we returned home, our family friend Betty was there helping to pack the kitchen.  Abigail was delighted to have her friend Betty there.  She thought that Betty would be moving to Virginia with us.   It reminds me that I am saddest for Abigail than I am for myself to be leaving a place I have lived almost 12 years.


Betty left around 3:30 (after a futile attempt to get Abigail to nap with her) and I went shopping at the Asian food store for Abigail's favorite snacks.  She fell asleep in the car and everyone thought that the sleeping toddler I was lugging around on my shoulder was dear and precious, though no one helped me with my basket!


Finally, we ended the day with a wonderful dinner with our neighbors this evening, eating Lowcountry Boil and tomato pie (Caroline's is to DIE for-- and considering the 12 pounds of cheese in it, you probably will die from eating too much of it!!).   The kids all played together,  while the adults made easy conversation one last time.  I am so sad to be leaving this street, this neighborhood.

Last Week In Charleston: 3 Days to Go

Tuesday:


Today we returned to the beach, this time with family friends. 

This is Abigail sweetly holding hands with Julie

Julie's mom, whom Abigail calls "Shugga' Momma", helped
Abigail play with sea snails, take "Giant Steps" and laugh a LOT!

Last Week In Charleston: 3 Days to Go

Tuesday:


Today we returned to the beach, this time with family friends. 

This is Abigail sweetly holding hands with Julie

Julie's mom, whom Abigail calls "Shugga' Momma", helped
Abigail play with sea snails, take "Giant Steps" and laugh a LOT!

Last Week In Charleston: 4 Days to Go

Today the packing began on the difficult rooms:  the garage and the bathrooms.
Thank goodness we had Abigail's help for this task!

Last Week In Charleston: 4 Days to Go

Today the packing began on the difficult rooms:  the garage and the bathrooms.
Thank goodness we had Abigail's help for this task!

Last Week in Charleston: 5 Days to Go

Sunday

This morning I took Abigail to the aquarium as soon as it was open.  (I told her I was taking her somewhere that was a surprise and I gave her 2 hints:  I showed Abigail her Dori toy and her Nemo toy.  She thought about it and said "We're going to the AQUARIUM!!"  I love how she thinks through things.)  


Anyhow, on a Sunday morning, the aquarium is pretty empty for the first hour or so.  For the first time in a while, Abigail was brave and bold and she wasn't shy.  She proudly showed her membership pass at the front, held our tickets and then presented them at the upper entrance, volunteered to pose and smile for the souvenir photo, and didn't want to be carried the whole time.  She smiled and talked to people, went into the lemur exhibit, and spent a lot of time with "her" alligator.  


After about 75 minutes she said "Too many people here.  I want to go home now."  On the way out, she wanted to touch a frog statue that has terrified her in the past and then we played on the Riverwalk before going back to the car.  In the empty parking garage, she discovered the echo effect and had fun yelling and giggling at her sounds.  It was a great morning and I was thrilled at how easily Abigail played and explored the aquarium and came of her shell for awhile.


(A few months ago I never would have though Abigail would be in a "shell"!)

Last Week in Charleston: 5 Days to Go

Sunday

This morning I took Abigail to the aquarium as soon as it was open.  (I told her I was taking her somewhere that was a surprise and I gave her 2 hints:  I showed Abigail her Dori toy and her Nemo toy.  She thought about it and said "We're going to the AQUARIUM!!"  I love how she thinks through things.)  


Anyhow, on a Sunday morning, the aquarium is pretty empty for the first hour or so.  For the first time in a while, Abigail was brave and bold and she wasn't shy.  She proudly showed her membership pass at the front, held our tickets and then presented them at the upper entrance, volunteered to pose and smile for the souvenir photo, and didn't want to be carried the whole time.  She smiled and talked to people, went into the lemur exhibit, and spent a lot of time with "her" alligator.  


After about 75 minutes she said "Too many people here.  I want to go home now."  On the way out, she wanted to touch a frog statue that has terrified her in the past and then we played on the Riverwalk before going back to the car.  In the empty parking garage, she discovered the echo effect and had fun yelling and giggling at her sounds.  It was a great morning and I was thrilled at how easily Abigail played and explored the aquarium and came of her shell for awhile.


(A few months ago I never would have though Abigail would be in a "shell"!)

Last Week In Charleston: 6 Days to Go

Saturday

We took Abigail to the Melton Peter Demetre Park on James Island.  We went at lowest tide, which was a mistake because in Abigail's words "This beach is pee-yoo."  It is much better to arrive just after high tide when the water is going back out, leaving all of the cool shells, but before the smells begin!  


At least I snapped a cute pic with the Cooper River Bridge in the background before we went home.

Last Week In Charleston: 6 Days to Go

Saturday

We took Abigail to the Melton Peter Demetre Park on James Island.  We went at lowest tide, which was a mistake because in Abigail's words "This beach is pee-yoo."  It is much better to arrive just after high tide when the water is going back out, leaving all of the cool shells, but before the smells begin!  


At least I snapped a cute pic with the Cooper River Bridge in the background before we went home.

Wordless Wednesday: 4th of July Bike Parade

Wordless Wednesday: 4th of July Bike Parade

Virginia Visit, Pool Time, and Doggie Doors

While we took care of some business in Virginia (like putting a contract on our new house :) !!), we stayed at Aunt Steph and Uncle Jim's house for 3 days this past week.  Unfortunately, neither of them could be there (having fun in Italy, Jim?).  


But that didn't stop Abigail from enjoying their pool.














Or from enjoying the ease of use and freedom provided by Huxley's doggie door.

Virginia Visit, Pool Time, and Doggie Doors

While we took care of some business in Virginia (like putting a contract on our new house :) !!), we stayed at Aunt Steph and Uncle Jim's house for 3 days this past week.  Unfortunately, neither of them could be there (having fun in Italy, Jim?).  


But that didn't stop Abigail from enjoying their pool.














Or from enjoying the ease of use and freedom provided by Huxley's doggie door.

My 100th Post: Life on 'The Farm'

A 100th blog post needs to be special, like a 100th episode in a TV show or something, right?


Well, it has been a special week.  We have spent it on "The Farm" where my parents live after surprising my Dad on Father's Day.  


The most unusual thing about the week was that Abigail suddenly fell in love with her Unicorn Hobby Horse the morning we left home.  It isn't very cuddly, but she wants to be with it all the time, including in bed.  She is so peculiar with what she likes and when she likes it.
  

Abigail enjoys picking blue berries almost every day at The Farm.  She is actually a very good helper because she holds the bucket for people and only picks the blue ones.  

A trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo was exciting, but very hot.  Abigail loved the animals but she was not interested in walking, which made for a long and hot morning.  

In the evenings, Abigail has enjoyed playing with "sparklers" with Gramma.  

One evening, Abigail was pretty worried at bedtime.  After asking her a few questions, I discovered that the one thing she was worried about was that she missed her old teacher Ms. Sharon and she also was worried that she would never get gum again (since Ms. Sharon gave her gum behind our backs to keep her from napping 2 hours per day!)  So Abigail got her first pack of approved gum to chew in the car!

Other fun activities this week have included riding a Belgian draft horse at the neighbor's horse farm, making an outdoor camp fire with Yinski and helping him select the right sticks for the project, and swimming in the pool.


Abigail is never going to want to go home!!

My 100th Post: Life on 'The Farm'

A 100th blog post needs to be special, like a 100th episode in a TV show or something, right?


Well, it has been a special week.  We have spent it on "The Farm" where my parents live after surprising my Dad on Father's Day.  


The most unusual thing about the week was that Abigail suddenly fell in love with her Unicorn Hobby Horse the morning we left home.  It isn't very cuddly, but she wants to be with it all the time, including in bed.  She is so peculiar with what she likes and when she likes it.
  

Abigail enjoys picking blue berries almost every day at The Farm.  She is actually a very good helper because she holds the bucket for people and only picks the blue ones.  

A trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo was exciting, but very hot.  Abigail loved the animals but she was not interested in walking, which made for a long and hot morning.  

In the evenings, Abigail has enjoyed playing with "sparklers" with Gramma.  

One evening, Abigail was pretty worried at bedtime.  After asking her a few questions, I discovered that the one thing she was worried about was that she missed her old teacher Ms. Sharon and she also was worried that she would never get gum again (since Ms. Sharon gave her gum behind our backs to keep her from napping 2 hours per day!)  So Abigail got her first pack of approved gum to chew in the car!

Other fun activities this week have included riding a Belgian draft horse at the neighbor's horse farm, making an outdoor camp fire with Yinski and helping him select the right sticks for the project, and swimming in the pool.


Abigail is never going to want to go home!!