kiawah

 A perfect blend of nature, trails, cute shops, the coolest grocery, great beaches and a short drive from Charleston are just a few of the things that we love about Kiawah Island. It seems every time we go we find a new trail or a new section of the island that we have not explored.

Fresh Fields Market

 South Carolina beaches are very different from Florida beaches, they have crazy tides that makes these perfect size pools of warm water where the boys can swim and play in the calm water. The hard packed sand allows us to play, dig, and ride our bikes right by the ocean.

 ice cream truck 

the bat cave

 cards on the beach 

 I am so blessed with a wonderful family that I love spending time with. My grandmother has been such a great example to all of us girls and I am so thankful she is able to help me raise my kids and go on fun trips with us and make so many memories.

I don't know why it is fun to cook on vacation but we have found that we love to have different themed nights and a different chef each night. We enjoyed a luau, pizzeria, burgers, and a seafood night. 

luau - chef grandmother

sauerkraut burger - chef Wendy 

 pizzeria - chef Lane 

Seafood - chef Benita & Sarah 

When vacationing with kids I have learned that even though we enjoy getting up slowly and reading in our pajamas on the deck and losing track of time, they do not.

 I tried to plan and pack small morning activities. I chose simple things that we do at home, but they felt different at the beach.

They found a new love for play-doh on this trip and of course messy paint is always a favorite.

One day the boys had had enough of the beach so we headed out on a mini date. We headed into fresh fields and hit up the old fashioned soda shop. Kase & I enjoyed sharing a burger and a float and playing a round of gold fish as we waited. Knox had a different idea, and enjoyed his nap in the booth.

What boy doesn't love pirates and a good treasure hunt?  I decided to pack a few treasures and set up a hunt on the beach for the boys. After throwing a map together the boys went out on a hunt. I put numbered flags that led to the beach for the boys to find and follow. That of course led them to a big X and a couple of shovels, they were so excited after just a few digs they dropped the shovels and decided to dig like a dog.  I hope this becomes a beach ritual because it was really easy and fun for all.

On a rainy day we dodged in & out of the rain from shop to shop on Kings Street. Of course that included 3 different candy stores along the way. The little guys got tired of walking & shopping so we jumped on a carriage ride to learn some history about Charleston. 

 They seemed to catch a nap whenever and wherever they could. 

We had a great week and did not want to leave but we were very ready to see Scotty, the boys missed their daddy & were very excited to see him. 

the big apple (in pics)

Wiping noses, settling wrestling matches, singing the theme song to every super hero cartoon, dressing & undressing the boys in various costumes, filling 3000 juice cups a day, picking up toys, buckling and unbuckling car seats & explaining over and over why you can't jump off of tables and tall objects, were all things I left behind. Even if it was for a few short days it was a part of my routine that would not be going with me to New York. 

I was trading these things for long adult conversations, shopping with no strollers, laughing at things and not having to explain what I was laughing at, and only dressing one person a day. It was a great trade off but at the end of the trip I was more than ready to slip back into my old routine with my boys. 

I  hadn't seen these girls in a while and we had not been all together in a really long time, but as soon as we stepped off the plane and were finally all together again it was like nothing had ever changed. It was like we weren't any older than we were in college and great conversations picked up right were they left off. We loved experiencing NY together

water taxi

 chelsea market 

 stomp

This picture is poor quality and crazy but it is my favorite. Only in NY can you act like fools on the street and it doesn't matter and we took full advantage!

 little italy

 streets of NY 

 It was a great trip and I again learned how much I miss these girls and am so thankful for their amazing friendships. No matter how many different towns and cities we live in we are just a phone call or plane ride away.