We left North Carolina and headed straight to THIS:
Yes! Beach weather.
(Well, sort of). And that made Young Lady want to do cartwheels,
and Petit Prince to follow suit.
Have you ever seen such a sky in winter?
Neither has Petit Prince. Or such water for that matter, and he’s trying to figure out how to remove that pesky coat so he can go in.
(That’s his Nina – my mom – chasing him away from the water. But she can handle the sprint because she does Zumba four times a week and step aerobics once a week).
I thought that it was my first time in South Carolina (or the “South” in general) so I had my passport and guidebook all ready to observe the natives. Then I remembered I had actually taken a band trip in high school to Myrtle Beach.
However, I hadn’t tried the boiled cajun peanuts until this visit (yum) so it didn’t count.
And I hadn’t noticed just how friendly all these southern people were, probably because there isn’t quite such a discrepancy with unfriendly northerners as there is with the unfriendly French. I mean, look at this! We crept up to the fire truck to have a peek and this guy not only opened the door wide, but made the kids’ dreams come true by letting them wear the fireman helmets!
I wanted to take the fireman home with us, he was just so sweet, but he had his own wife and kid. So we took another picture instead.
Memories of Chaaston.
We went to the Charleston Aquarium and saw da fishies (poisson! poisson!).
The children were quite impressed.
This is Aunt Stephanie (my sister) introducing them to the petting zoo. It’s a baby crocodile (blech), which is right up her alley since she has her own aquatic eco-system going on (you know, snails in the fridge to feed her puffer fish and things like that).
My sister is stunning, isn’t she? She’s married to a German guy and my step-brother to a Scottish lass so we have this international thing goin’ on.
Now, as if petting the crocodile weren’t enough …
they had to go and kiss a snake.
Below the pelican brief.
This is Nina and Opa’s house with the piazza (not a porch, a piazza).
It has a front porch swing, which the kids enjoyed immensely.
And there is a swanky wine shop on the corner, owned by a frenchie, so we stopped in to say “Bonjour!” on our way to the park,
where Young Knight made the pleasing discovery that his Nina wasn’t very “up” (tall) and was therefore within reach,
and where we swung by the gazebo …
to smile and wish everyone a “Happy New Year!”
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
I love these photos … they are so fun! Happy New Year, dear friend! Thank you for sharing your trip with us (and yes, your sister is stunning! and your children … so so beautiful!!!) Happy New YEar!
Great post, sis!
Looks wonderful! I have not been to the beach in the Carolina’s since I was a preteen. It is someplace I plan to take my hubby next year. Bonne année!
Happy New Year!!! Can’t wait to see you!!!
Lovely photos! What amazing memories you guys are making. The Carolinas are gorgeous – especially the coastline. It’s bringing back memories for me.
Happy New Year!! We’re so bummed we couldn’t make it back East this time — we were hoping too to visit and perhaps get a chance to see you guys during that time. Ahhh… enjoy the rest of your trip as you head up north.
Wonderful post.
Gorgeous photos. Happy New Year! x
Happy New Year, my friend. I hope you enjoy our fine southern weather.
And here in the south, it is not boiled peanuts, but “bawled peeenuts.”
I love Charleston. It’s the grand madam of the South. And your mom’s house is so lovely.
South Carolina is dear to my heart… Happy New Year!
The South is most definitely friendly, despite many other perhaps less-endearing qualities. Glad y’all had a great trip! And I must ask, did you have sweet tea with those boiled peanuts?? 🙂
Can you believe that I did not? I’m not sure I could handle the sugar though.
I really like Charleston, but you know what I like even more? These fantastic photo essays you post. Keep them coming. I just love the smiles and the stories and the sights.
Happy New Year!
Awwww, nice! Glad you got out of the snow.
Have always wanted to see Charleston–now I really want to.
Glad you enjoyed South Carolina. It’s beautiful here. Charleston in the spring/summer is breathtaking (and hot).
I totally thought of you the whole time we were there and I kept trying to get to a Chick-fil-A (which I kept pronouncing chick-a-fil for some reason). It just didn’t work out – we were dependent on others for rides so we didn’t get out much on our own. But I asked my friend from Texas and she said it’s really good.
I probably would have trouble finding something though since I’m gluten intolerant (major bummer in France).