Family!

Two Sweet Girls Under the Christmas Tree.

Salt Dough Playdate

I'm not afraid of the word "playdate". I welcome it. It is a product of our modern life. If we can break free of our fear of labels, if we break free of ourselves and embrace the internet communities available to us we can break out of our self imposed isolation stemming from late 2001 and on. In our hyper protective, over zealous parenting, let there be big loud playdates in your homes - full of... salt dough and noise and friends.  Whenever you can, however you can , build your community and celebrate it.

My house was trashed and the kids were loud... but all these wonderful homeschooling families embraced an opportunity for community and when it was all said and done the toys were mostly picked up and the dishes mostly done.  I was only out a few peanut butter and honey sandwiches and salt dough.  Many hands make light work and for those who forget to see this.. this is the beauty of our life choices.

Grandpa times two

Recently we have had a chance to visit with both of the kids living Grandfathers, My dad and Marks dad. (we lost GrandPa Frank last summer).

GMan was an amazing help with GrandPa Bob in the nursing home. Both kids also helped pick Dandelions and we all blew wishes with Bob.

We also had a nice lunch with GrandPa Gary and a big hug goodbye.

Playing at Grandmother

Given our unique family tree I have the opportunity on occasion to play Grandma.  Of course all the Grand kids just call me Amanda, but I get to roast marshmallows and play video games until late at night with them. I get to say good night prayers and tuck in our little believers. Chester the dog gets to bed hog from all the boys


Maybe we have a special dinner, like a MINECRAFT dinner. That would be, before the XBox updates a dinner of Pork chops and Bread followed by Cookies and Milk.

  Now the possibilities include zombie flesh, spider eyes and steak! This last time we played we talked  all about fermented spider eyes and growing cane sugar and mooshroom soup... for Five hours. You might think this is a terrible indulgence and you would be both correct and wrong.  We talk a lot during game play, about a lot of things.  We set goals together, we conquer together, we scream together, we cooperate and we yell at each other together.  I call that Bonding, unique and very important bonding.

 Of course it depends on the grandson. With Tyler it is Lego Indiana Jones Marathon all the way.

  Maybe I get to watch my Son read bed time stories to his Nephew. Or my "Grandson" read to his Uncle.  All of these experiences are very cool.  Very very cool.

We have a drawer with extra big boy clothes deodorant and a tooth brush. We have extra younger boy underwear and t-shirts lying around.  All of these are signs that life here is as we had hoped.

Say it Loud, we are having a great time!

Wrestling with "GrandPa"

They all squeezed up there, having a blast.

The latest from Mommy's cell phone

There may be some duplicates here and certainly some of these photos have been posted to Facebook sometime along the way.

These probably date back six months at times.


This first picture was part of Grady and Cora learning about Native Americans, North America, Wigwams, TeePees and model building too.

Family day for us at Magnolia Plantation.

Dr Jimmy giving Cora an adjustment.

A long board rocker at Pickney's National Park.

(A Declaration of Independence signer)

Cora doing a small household chore.  Nice to give out manageable responsibilities.

Grady pulled an all nighter with a Lego build of the Millenum Flacon.

The famous tires swings at Ambrose farms.

The results of a HS field trip to Caw Caw interpretive center to learn all about Indigo in South Carolina. I believe the memory of the smell will outlast the shirts.

Invited over for a Tie Dye project. Big old beach towels.

Out at IOP I believe early spring/late winter.

"Totems Poles" HS Project

Family HS Field trip to Washington DC and the Native American Museum.

Palmetto County Park, Grady taught Cora to climb the Ropes... teaching her the ropes, he he.

Our favorite restaurant the Glass Onion and a shared Ice Tea.

This spring we made a "Children's Garden" in our back yard and got it off to a fine start.

Cypress Garden with good friends.

We made Ice Cream three kinds of ways with our Friday School HS group and taste tested the results.


One day we also caught up with Nate and his family at Mellow Mushroom.  The kids got right down to catching up with each other... it was lovely as usual.

We have been enjoying our State Parks Pass with many visits to Charles Towne Landing.


And Chester has had a few visits to the dog park at Wannamaker County Park.

Say Cheese!

 Hunting Island is disappearing into the ocean, but we had a magical chance to visit it a few weeks ago and we grabbed some great family pictures while we were there

Grady found a box of Monopoly Junior and it has made a welcomed addition to Family Game Nights.  Great money and counting practice.... counting by 1, 2 3, 4 and 5.

 There is a Blueberry farm in the area that doesn't spray (Champney's) and all they grow are blueberries.  The kids and I picked approximately 8-10 lbs in about and hour for about $11.  We have bags and bags in the freezer now to get us through the summer, easily.

Grady plays in Cora's room, with her newest cardboard doll house.

 Cora is welcome to play in Grady's room and have car town time.




Grady READING to Tyler!  Tyler had his first sleepover here two days ago.

Family visit and some home schooling music, crafts and Native American history.










Jennifer, Lindsey, Pete and the big yellow lab Lucy came to town for a visit. We had a wonderful relaxing time catching up.









Then we had a particularly productive day making a model Wigwam and Teepee and then we paint their bodies in an exploration of the video for the song "somebody that I used to Know" by Gotye.



Jennifer using her Music Therapy talent to conduct a music class for the kids and a friend.

Our 1000 Piece Puzzle was a family week long effort. Lucy Stole a cuddle with her "buddy" Chester, too cute.

If we take our eyes off Cora she will try a few tricks like stacking and climbing Chairs.