Charleston...

Chris and I were lucky enough to spend the entire weekend away in Charleston, South Carolina!  We had a wonderful mini vacation and are so grateful to Keith and Marta for watching the boys for us so we could do so.  We had so much fun and I know the boys did too!

We totally fell in love with the city.  It is absolutely perfect...

Our hotel was beautiful and overlooked the water.  The best part (aside from the concierge upgrading us to the Penthouse Level!) was that it was entirely free since Chris used our Marriott points.  Yippee!

We tried to check out as many bars, restaurants, shops, and hot spots as we could during our stay.

Overlooking the city from The Vendue Rooftop bar...

Heading back to the hotel on Friday night...

On Saturday we got up early and went for a 5 mile run along the water...

Relaxing and enjoying a cup of coffee at the hotel...

One of the best parts about the weekend was the 2 1/2 hour nap we took after our run on Saturday.  I'm telling you what, it was fan-tastic!  Which meant we were totally rested for our second night out on the town.

Drinks on the rooftop of The Pavilion...

This was such a cool spot!  I'd love to go back...

Chris trying on my sunglasses.  They look good, don't they?

On Sunday morning we drove around ogling the beautiful homes... (All of these pictures are taken from the car with my iPhone... there are so many gorgeous ones I missed.)

Before saying goodbye, we enjoyed breakfast at a quaint little spot called The Meeting Place.  Delicious!

It's pretty much official.  We can't wait to move to Charleston!  :)

Every morning...

Without a doubt, the highlight of Peter's day is watching the bus come (and go) with the big kids.  I wish I could've caught the moment he saw the bus rounding the corner... he literally lights up and skips with excitement!

Isn't that funny?  And did you hear him squealing at the beginning?  As Cortney pointed out, it's like he prides himself on a job well done as the bus leaves.  He struts with a sense of confidence... like, "Yeah, I said my goodbyes.  The bus has my permission to go forth."

Family Reading Night...

Last night I took the boys up to Family Reading Night at James's school.  It was actually a lot more fun than I was expecting it to be.  Probably because it was the first time I've ever been in a library without a librarian "shushing" me or my kids.  (Well, that's not entirely true.  There was one crazy-ish librarian who followed Peter around shushing him.  But anyway...)   They even had pizza you could buy to eat there!  Crazy, right?

James and his teacher, Mrs. Sanders

Taking an AR Test (Advanced Reading Test--
the children have a specific reading goal each quarter and
take individual, computerized tests for comprehension after each book.)

The little boys getting in on the action...

This craft table was more their speed.
Here Gabby, Henry, and Peter are making bookmarkers.

Henry loves doing puzzles.

Nico and James looking for books...

Pete and Gabby enjoying the night!

On the way home I realized we didn't actually read any books while we were there.  You know, at the Family Reading Night event.  Well, I suppose it gives us a goal for next time.  I was prepared for lots of shushing, less reading.  Ha.

Pete's well-baby visit...

Peter had his 18 month check up today.  He weighed in at 32 pounds (95%) and is 36 inches (over 99%).  Whoa. That's a big baby!

By comparison, at the same age,

James was 31 lbs (so 1 lb lighter) and 35 inches (1 inch shorter)... which I find just amazing since James has always been ridiculously tall!

Henry was 29 lbs at this age (which means he was 3 lbs lighter than Pete, 2 lbs lighter than James) and 34.5 inches (almost the same as James but still an inch and a half behind Pete).

Unbelievable!  I suppose it makes sense considering how much money we spend to feed them!

Petey was completely tuckered out by the ride home...

God bless these sweet, sweet, BIG boys of ours...

Visit to MD...

We had a perfect weekend visiting my mom in MD.  The only thing that didn't go well was that it went by entirely too fast...

We arrived on Friday afternoon and went up to Mom's elementary school to check out her classroom...

The PTA, parents, and friends donated a bench in Dad's honor!
It sits directly outside of Mom's classroom door in "her" courtyard. 

Mom and the "home" she's lived in for the last 21 years!
She is an incredible teacher!!

Rachel Carson Elementary School was just named a National Blue
Ribbon School-- the highest honor a school can receive!

Henry and Cleo, the pet newt

Chris standing next the promethium board.
Can you believe this is how mom teaches everything now?!

On Saturday we took the boys to Black Hills Regional Park.  It was beautiful...

Pete kept catching bugs.  Yuck!

A frog pond... right up Henry's alley!

Looking for tadpoles...

A butterfly garden

It was beautiful...

On Saturday evening, mom watched the boys so Chris and I could go out to dinner alone...

And on Sunday we celebrated my cousin Anthony's baptism...

The beautiful mama, Andrea, and new baby

Andrea, baby Anthony, and my cousin Eric

My cousin, Laura, and her hubby, Keith

The boys had a blast playing! 

James, Henry, and Keegan

Some of the younger cousins! 

It really was a great weekend... just way too short.  We're already looking forward to our next trip home!