Magnolia Gardens

While Ben was working all day in Charleston, I did some exploring with the kids. I took them to Magnolia Gardens hoping it wouldn't be too crowded (it was Martin Luther King, Jr Day) and knowing they would love the petting zoo. We pretty much had the place to ourselves and the kids loved all of the aggressive animals in the petting zoo. The deer ate all of our admission stickers right off our coats. We walked around the gardens and the swamp. I spotted some tulip magnolias starting to bloom and still hope I can make it to these gardens in the spring or summer some day. It wasn't quite the leisurely stroll that I enjoyed with just Ben a few weeks earlier. Simon was being quite difficult to manage and my pregnant self just didn't have the energy to keep up with him. Luckily Amelia stepped right in and helped to keep him moving in the right direction on the trails, even giving him a ride on her back for a while. I was so glad she was willing to help without even being asked. I think she saw my patience quickly vanishing.

Back to Charleston.

The kids had a few days off of school in January and Ben had to be back in Charleston that same week so we took advantage of his hotel and joined him. We arrived in the evening, just in time to walk around the waterfront and historic district and see a beautiful sunset. It was much colder than our visit just a few weeks before. The cold didn't stop Simon and Oliver from playing in the fountains. Simon thought one fountain was just a giant drinking fountain and was laughing hysterically when it would spray him in the face. Everyone was happy to stop at a Belgium waffle shop to warm up with hot chocolate and a hot waffle. We picked up delicious sandwiches from Artisan Meat Share before making our way to the hotel.

Everyone looked up when the church bells started to ring. 

Odds and Ends with Grandma and Grandpa

We loved getting to spend several days with Grandma and Grandpa. We went to the park one day. Grandpa and Elsa put together a magic show one evening. And I got lots of help putting away all the Christmas decorations. Grandpa made some of his banana oatmeal cookies and Oliver has demanded that we make them several more times since then. I'm always happy to oblige.

My mom crocheted this adorable nativity set for us!

Grandpa telling the boys about the year his dad tried to sell Christmas trees at his store.