A Trip Back to Charleston

This past weekend we all packed up and headed down to Charleston for the ASU/Citadel game. For the past couple of years Drew's Uncle Marshall and Aunt Kris (my mother-in-law's sister) have picked an away game and treated us all to a huge house to stay in. There are about 25 of us in all including 7 children 6 years and under. They rented a beautiful 9 bedroom house on the Isle of Palms complete with a swimming pool and putting green. It was incredible! Most of us arrived on Thursday afternoon. Daphne and I stopped off at the SC State Fair on the way down for a picnic lunch and, you know, to ride a few rides. Doesn't everyone do that? :)

Friday morning I took all of our chil'uns downtown for a tour of mommy's old stomping grounds. We started off with a tour of the College of Charleston campus. When we got to the Cistern, we had to get out and run around!

Mary Fran wasn't quite sure she wanted to romp around but Evie and Ward gladly had their picture made.

From there we headed down King Street doing a little window shopping and I just had to take them through the Charleston Place Hotel.
We couldn't get through there without snapping a pic in front of the horse fountain.
We then proceeded to go through the Market where Evie and Mary Fran each bought themselves a little something with their own money. By this time we all needed a break for lunch so off to Waterfront Park we went for a picnic.

Some generous tourists offered to take our picture in front of the pineapple fountain. I don't consider myself a tourist...I used to live there! :)

Friday afternoon we thoroughly enjoyed the pool. Aunt Daphne gave Evie and Ruthie swimming lessons, Mary Fran enjoyed herself on the steps, and...

...Fearless was everywhere. He wore his "swim muscles" for a little while but they proved to be a bit cumbersome. This fella was jumping off the side of the pool to me and wanting me to take him all over the pool.

Everyone went out to eat at Jestine's Kitchen downtown that night and, oh, it was so good to have some real, Lowcountry cooking in my stomach. Dessert was a must from Kamisky's and then we headed back to wait for Drew, Winston, and Dustin to arrive. Somebody has to work!

Saturday morning Uncle Bill and Janet treated us all to some very yummy omelets. One of my favorite foods! Our family then went downtown to walk around again since Drew wasn't able to be with us the day prior. I am ashamed to say that it has been eight years since we have been to the Holy City. We've been to Edisto but not Charleston since Grayson graduated from El Cid in 2003. It was a beautiful day and after walking a while (our kids were such troopers!) we headed on over to the game.

Our seats were in the sun, of course, so after the first half and watching the Summerall Guard perform at halftime, the children, Daphne, and I headed back to the house for naps and a little more swimming. A big dinner of steaks and shrimp was shared by all after an App State win and the rest of the night was spent playing some rather fun and interesting games.

On the way back we stopped off at the Fair again for lunch and a short "leg stretcher." Granddaddy had never been to the SC State Fair and we just HAD to show him!

The merry-go-round is a must!

Cade even got in on the action. He wasn't sure about the horse yet, though.

We had such a wonderful weekend and really loved being back in Charleston. Thank you sooooo very much, Uncle Marshall and Aunt Kris, for allowing last weekend to be a possibility. I have married into SUCH a wonderful family and was reminded again just how blessed I am.