Sweet Days of Summer

Every summer for the last decade, the girls and I have compiled bucket lists of things to do, food to eat, and places to visit to make summer a little more fun!  Do we finish everything?  Nope.  Should every family do a summer bucket list?  No way.  This is not for everyone.  But there may be one or two things that others may glean from and enjoy too!  So here it goes...

✓  Try 2 new ice cream stores

✓ Memorize Psalm 15

✓ Go bowling

✓ Summer reading program

✓ Backyard Movie Night

✓ Pick blueberries and tomatoes

✓ Spend a day at Botany Bay

✓ Baking Contest

✓ Roast smores

✓ Try 2 new coffee shops

Harken (on Queen Street)

✓ Shop for crafts at Hobby Lobby

✓ Eat supper from a food truck

✓ Ultimate Donut Tour

✓ Play tourists downtown and visit the aquarium

✓ Ice cream from Vincents Soda Fountain

 ✓ Night swimming 

✓ Thrift Store Day

✓ Gibbes Art Museum

✓ Freshfields Outdoor Movie &/or Drive In

Our summer basket has evolved from a summer cooler to even a summer "bag" aka Ikea bag.  It marks the beginning of summer with fun things like water balloons, new goggles, snacks, chalk, smores stuff, sunscreen, water bottles, and a volleyball (since someone likes to eat all of ours.)

A Cozy Covid Charleston Christmas

Even though the Christmas season is looking a little different this year, there is still such hope for the future with so many special memories of the past.  Many traditions have been canceled, parties minimized, and family gatherings simplified.  It's ok to mourn the loss of these special events, but also find joy in the original purpose of them.  Do you love the Christmas lights and festivals?  Find ways to still enjoy them!  Do you savor family time?  That can still happen!  Do you love finding opportunities to serve others?  People need encouragement more than ever!  Check out some ideas for a cozy Covid Charleston Christmas...

Things to do around Charleston:

- James Island County Park Christmas Lights (This may seem obvious, but spice it up.  Pack a thermos with hot water, hot chocolate, marshmallows, & disposable cups or everyone's favorite mugs.)

- Breakfast at the beach (Swing by Chick-fil-a or Baguette Magic, grab some coffee, bring a blanket, and watch the sun rise or at least the waves.)

- Drive-in Movies (The Terrace Theater, Holy City Drive In, Hwy 21 Drive In are some of our favorites showing Christmas movies.)

- Christmas Downtown (There are so many beautiful decorations!  I honestly would love to do this twice: once during the day and once at night.  If you haven't been to Christophe Artisan Chocolatier, it's must for a mid morning treat.  The coffee shops are too many to mention.  But we do love Bakehouse Charleston for its taste and proximity to the waterfront.  This year we are going to check out the lights at the College of Charleston one evening, maybe even for a datenight!)

- Also through tomorrow, December 12, the City Parks Recreation have an amazing scavenger hunt in Hampton Park called Holiday Reindeer Bell Hunt.  It's free and a challenge!  Here's the link: https://www.charleston-sc.gov/2477/Holiday-Hunts?fbclid=IwAR2oc-M37XYBHFySwVChMLQPuxP4jefxFjTjiouwLgXGENokGdiHLkHTI6c

                                                 

- Farmers Markets (We are biased, but our local Johns Island Farmer's Market is our favorite!  Through the month of December, they have a night market as well every Saturday.  Check out Sea Island Farmers Market.  https://www.seaislandfarmersmarket.com/

- Ice Skating

Things to do at home:

- Gingerbread Houses (aka graham crackers, frosting, and leftover Halloween candy). This is our favorite Christmas advent activity!  https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a83319/how-to-make-royal-icing-without-meringue-powder/

- Smores outside with a Christmas movie

- Put together a Christmas play (Our girls have had the best time reenacting the nativity story and recording it.  We have some treasured video footage of a shepherd quitting, Mary sitting on the kitchen table, and Gabriel singing the praises of God from our backyard swing.)

- Make Christmas garland (It could be as simple as just threading popcorn and cranberries or adding dried oranges.  Add a Christmas audio book and you can count it as educational!)

- Bake Christmas cookies (Even a simple tube of sugar cookie dough and sprinkles can get you in the Christmas mood.)

- Make Christmas ornaments for grandparents & neighbors

- Make snowflakes for the windows

- Read Christmas books on the screen porch with hot cocoa

Things to do for others:

- Take coffee to our favorite librarian

- Make cinnamon rolls for neighbors

- Leave a box of Peppermint Joe Joe's in our mailbox for the postman

- Leave snack box outside for delivery people

- Fill a blessing box (put encouraging notes on the items)

- Christmas wreath delivery

- Pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru line

Some of these things we've done in the past, some we hope to do, but we never try to do all of these things in a Christmas season.  These are just ideas if you're looking for something new to do or need a reminder of something you used to do.  No matter what, remember the reason for celebrating Christmas in the first place.  If we get so busy trying to do Christmas and forget why we are celebrating, it's all in vain.  

"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Embracing summer when it doesn't feel normal...

Even though this summer has nothing "normal" about it, our children still long for a true summer break!  When tensions are high and activities are limited, there are still opportunities to make memories and provide a calm haven in the midst of this storm of life all around us.  

Every year we brainstorm our "summer bucket" lists.  Some are the same year after year with new ideas sprinkled in.  I'll share a compilation of all of our bucket lists (Sophie's is included on the white board with Japanese practice to the side) as well as a few other ideas that have made this season of summer special.

• Drive-in movie theater
• Bike to watch the dolphins (porpoises)
• Make sea glass pictures 
• Smores with friends

• Go to the beach ALOT!
• Glazed Donuts
• Kona Ice Truck

• Summer reading through the library (best prizes!)
• Sunrise at Folly
• Zoo
• Beardcat at Sullivan's Island

• Try two "new to us" ice cream spots
• Dance in the rain
• Boat ride 

• Farmers Market
• Make fruit smoothies
• Chalk entire driveway

• Blueberry Picking
• Mom & Dad take each girl on a date
• Supper from a food truck

(Waterproof cards given to us by friends!)

• Visit 2 National Parks
• Go to Tanger Outlets
• Visit 2 State Parks 

• Breakfast on the beach
• Sandcastle contest
• Paddleboarding

We adopted the "Summer Basket" idea from Alicia Hutchinson a few years ago and it's been a fun addition to the start of summer.  It's never too late to add a surprise!  

The girls surprised us this year with our "parent summer basket" full of our favorite snacks, gum, air fresheners, and aloe lotion for all those beach days!  They are the best!

The last idea is to keep a container, basket, or bag of snacks, plates, napkins, and utensils for those last minute hunger pains or spontaneous picnics (even if it's just pizza on the beach!)

A Different Easter

A dear friend wrote this after erasing every activity from their family calendar.  Every activity and holiday, but Easter.  Easter can never be erased.  "He rose, He is risen, and He will come again.  That has not changed.  He has not changed.  And maybe He wants that for all of us during this time:  To watch our plans being stripped away until only He is left.  With room to ask Him to fill all the other days with ways He want to transform us into a blessing to share that eternal hope with others." - Ali

We are all missing the traditions from years past: the matching Easter dresses, the community Easter egg hunts, gathering with family for meals, even going to Target for Easter basket gifts.  But this Easter will be different, one that we will never forget.  It's ok to mourn the loss of the ordinary and expected, but to then turn the mourning into joy!  We have been given a gift of time, time to focus on the greatest story ever told!

Here are some links to ideas on how to celebrate this Easter season with joy!

If you are local and would like one of these Easter guides, I'd be glad to drop one off!

 - A Printable 15 Day Guide for Easter that we've used in years past

 - A Printable 2 day guide for this Thursday and Friday

 - Resurrection Eggs with a printable

 - Homemade Resurrection Rolls with a great explanation

 - Resurrection Rolls (with Pillsbury crescent rolls) 

Easter baskets may or may not be feasible or doable this year for some families, but if you're searching for online ideas, these are two of my favorite bloggers with great lists.

 - Preschool Easter Basket Ideas with Naptime Kitchen

 - Easter Basket Ideas for Outdoor Imaginations 

    with Over at Alicias

May your Easter be full of hope, full of joy, and full of expectation of what's to come!

Traveling Away the Winter Blues

All teachers know that January, February, & even March can be the longest months of the year.  As homeschoolers, we aren't exempt from wanting to throw in the towel and just watch every documentary possible on Disney +.  But over the years, I've found one of the perks of homeschooling is traveling (or day trips) when you just need to get away.  Last month, we took a Friday (Marty's day off) to drive two hours south to Savannah just for the day, but we squeezed as much history, good food, and bookstores as we could into a day.  

This post will cover a few of our favorite day trip places and some local spots along the way.  My biggest encouragement to anyone is to start exploring now.  Don't wait till you have enough money (don't go into debt either), don't wait until the kids are old enough or easier, and don't think that it's too late!  Seize every opportunity to explore, even your own city.  We took our girls on long car trips when they were toddlers.  Was it easy?  No way!  Was it worth it?  You know it!  Traveling to Japan when our girls were 5, 8, & 10 was our trip of a lifetime.  Hopping trains around Philadelphia & New York City will always be some of our favorite memories.  

But big trips aren't always in the budget, so day trips are the next best thing!  1-2 hours is the ideal travel time to allow plenty of time for exploring, but far enough away to make it feel like a vacation.  Here's our thoughts on Hilton Head, SC, Savannah, GA, and Beaufort, SC.

Hilton Head

This past summer, one of our bucket list goals was to visit or see all the lighthouses in SC.  As admirable as this may sound, it did not happen.  But we did visit a few, one of which was Harbour Town Lighthouse on Hilton Head (Heads up: There is fee to get into the resort where the light is located as well as a fee to go up in it.)

Hilton Head Spots: (all in the same shopping area)

- Frosty Frog Cafe
- Carolina Coffee & Crumbs
- Frozen Moo-Coligny

If you travel south on Hwy 17 to any of these locations, you must stop at the Carolina Cider Company & Clockwise Coffee!  The pastries, bottled drinks, and coffee are worth it, plus the ambiance is the cutest!

Savannah, GA

Wormsloe Plantation (1.5 mi avenue of live oaks)

Little Duck Diner has a great variety while still providing healthy options.  Such a fun diner feel!

One of the two bookstores we visited: The Book Lady Bookstore & E. Shaver Bookseller (next door to a tea shop)

I can't continue without emphasizing that taking these day trips as a family has been some of our best memories.  Even when Marty has yard work to do or ministry to prepare for, he still chooses to check out all of these new places along with us and I am so grateful!

Other Savannah favorites:

- Coffee Fox

- Leopold's Ice Cream

- The Paris Market (shop/coffee/dessert)

- Wright's Antiques

- Savannah Bee Co.

- Goose Feather's Cafe (breakfast/brunch)

- Davenport House & Museum

- Treylor Park (lunch/supper)

Beaufort, SC 

(pronounced Bee-yu-furt, as in beautiful)

Beaufort is one of the quaintest towns I've ever visited.  Not directly on the Atlantic coastline, it has a calmer presence.  Some of our favorites were the knitting store, Southern Sweets Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop, McIntosh Bookstore, The Chocolate Tree, and not to mention exploring the Kazoo Factory and Hunting Island Lighthouse.