Charleston Day 1

We took a whirlwind trip to Charleston over fall break. We got there around noon on Monday and left Wednesday morning at 6:30 to beat hurricane Michael home. We had to cut our trip short - we didn't go to the beach or take a planned boat ride- but luckily we didn't receive any damage from the hurricane, and even our power stayed on.

 First stop was the Angel Oak on the way into town:

gelato for lunch:

Waterfront Park:

Rainbow Row:

 Jake and I loved walking around historic Charleston. He said he could go just home afterwards and be happy with the trip.

 The Battery: 

 Walked through the City Market and stopped to play at Tom's Toys:

 hotel pool:

Other things to remember: free samples of pralines, fried peanuts, and key lime cookies; hot but super breezy; Amelia spending her money on a yellow fan at city market; dinner at CiCi's followed by my scary fall in the parking lot; Gavin buying a watch; watching car tv shows in the hotel before bed.

Ready for Halloween

 making spiders:

 Friday the 5th started fall break, we joined friends to play at BK. Baby Ruby is Amelia's favorite:

September

Amelia had visits from the firemen and state troopers at school. She was the first kid to volunteer to look in the back of the trooper's car and found a "dollar' (penny).

Star Wars day at the Library. Gavin was there too but didn't want to be in any pictures.

 Amelia was scared at first of all the characters but eventually warmed up to them and wanted to have her picture taken. Except with Darth Vader, he's too scary.

 Gavin dressed up for picture day:

 Amelia tends to kick off her shoes in the car so the backseat has a semi-permanent collection:

 August wasn't too bad this year. September was hot! And with the weird summer weather the neighbor's tree started losing its leaves early, straight into our pool and carrying little white bugs. It was too hard to keep clean so we closed up the pool in Sept, leaving Amelia to rely on the sprinklers to cool off:

 Looking nice for picture day at school:

I don't think we'll buy these.... 

 Donuts with Daddy at Amelia's school:

End of August

Some days after school Amelia is exhausted:

 1st attempt writing her name - she got it right away

 My parents watched the kids several Friday nights and Jake and I enjoyed peaceful date nights: