Charleston, SC Trip to visit Elder & Sister Gibson

 

April 5: 3 separate flights Boise to LAX to Dulles to Charleston... we survived! Here, Ellie was actually playing a game on the iPhone... 

 

April 6: Lunch at Waterfront Park by the Pineapple fountain.

 

 On the horse carriage ride... Ellie was T.I.R.E.D.!

April 7: Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC. Although we toted our big camera bag around on the stroller, we never got the camera out! These were taken on our little point & shoot. Too much to keep track of I guess! Also, no pictures of Grandma & Grandpa--we do have them there on video though.

This trip to the park by Mom & Dad's place was well documented... These photos represent probably 5% of all we took there!

 

April 8: Aquarium of South Carolina... watching the otters swim around was one of Ellie's favorite things.

 

Fort Moultrie.

 

 Gavin earned his Jr. Ranger badge--he had to watch the movie in the visitor's center & complete 3 activities in a workbook. He was very proud of the badge.

 The beach at Sullivan's Island. We were here last on June 4, 2007 just before Gavin's 1st birthday.

And here we are on April 8, 2011.

 

Gavin loved it then,

and he loves it now!

 

Ellie, not so much.

 

The racing between Grandpa & Gavin begins, while Mom & I examine dead jellyfish.

 Grandpa said later that Gavin gave him a run for his money... He's not usually a sprinter!

 

Miniature golf--18 holes!

 

Gavin's Jr. Ranger badge actually fell off at some point during our game... He discovered it when we got to the car, so we went back to look for it. Darin narrowed it down to the last 4 holes by looking through the photos on the camera, and then Grandma found it--face down in the wood chips. Amazing!

April 9, 2011: Charleston Farmer's Market. A hot day! Ellie & Grandpa were having quite the conversation in the shade while Gavin jumped in a bounce house.

 Once Ellie got out of her stroller, there was no getting her back in!

Angel Oak in Johns Island, SC. It's either 1500 or 400 years old... sources differ. But we marveled and enjoyed the slightly cooler temperature there!

Cooper River Bridge... Gavin was especially impressed!

April 11: Charles Towne Landing.

 

The replica trading ship.

 

Ah, the glow of freshly applied sunscreen.

 Bowling, 17th century style.

 These could come in handy for time-outs.

 

Gavin was battling some aggressive flies here... in his words, "These bugs are awful!"

April 12 (last day). We went to the Children's Museum of the Low Country before our afternoon flight. The kids really had fun being with Grandma & Grandpa on this trip, and we appreciated them letting us invade for a whole week. They are an inspiration, & I'm so thankful for their example of service and devotion. Six months (er... less than a year) to go!  Love you Mom & Dad!