Father's Day 2010

Since Daddy likes the beach, we took him there for Father's Day.  (Mind you, this had to be the Saturday before Father's Day, as Daddy has his standing game of disc golf with the guys on Sunday mornings--Father's Day included.) 

We spent a lovely day at the Isle of Palms, soaking up the sun, digging big holes, building sand castles, collecting sea shells, and playing in the water.  After dinner at Poe's Tavern on Sullivan's Island we ended up in Charleston for gelato at Paolo's. Yum.

Summer Reading Club

As in summers past, we joined the Summer Reading Club at our library.  After a frenzy of reading and constant reminders to Milo to actually write down the many books that he breezed through, I took the three book lovers to get their reading medals (as well as the accompanying other prizes:  bookmarks, tatoos, iron-on transfers, coupons for a free Wendy's Frosty, etc.).  We then caught the rockin' Kid-Hop show by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo in the Children's Room at the library before we jetted off to swim class. 

Flash Forward

Yeah, I cannot help but imagine my little Zola as a teenager when I look at this photo.  I don't think Justin is going to let her step out on a date until she's about 30.  Ha ha.

Camp Bienkowski

On Memorial Day Milo and Calder drove up to New York with Gramma and Grandpa for the week!  There's nothing like a week with grandparents. 

Milo and Calder had so much non-stop fun doing all the things they enjoy:  building a "chaos machine" with the help of Grandpa and Uncle Justin (think a "Rube Goldberg" type machine), watching Diet Coke spout into the air with the addition of Mentos candies, art projects galore, sewing pillowcases for sick children with Auntie Alli, wading in the pool of water at the bottom of the waterfall in Ithaca, many trips to the playground, playing with a much-longed for castle and knights, a visit to the Corning Museum of Glass, cavorting with three dogs, and exploring a new place.  The boys (and Zola!) cannot wait until next summer!

Memorial Day Weekend

We kicked off the summer vacation with a visit from Gramma and Grandpa.  They joined us for our inaugural visit to the Fort Jackson water park, as well as our first water fight of the season, and much other boisterous fun.

And maybe a nap or two . . .

Strawberry Picking

As usual, we went strawberry picking.  This year, Daddy joined us for the first time!  Zola ate so many strawberries that her face was stained red. 

Sadly, this was our only strawberry picking expedition of the summer.  Cottle Farm's strawberry season was shortened greatly by the crazy rain we had down here.  So we ended up with no strawberry jam this year. 

Field Trip to the Zoo

At the end of school Calder went on a field trip with his class to the Riverbanks Zoo.  Zola and I tagged along and got to observe Calder goofing around with his buddies, like Regan above. 

Mother's Day 2010

Yes, I know it's August, but I am about to play catch-up for the whole summer, now that I have a new computer that I can actually use and edit photos with.  So here goes.

We spent Mother's Day doing one of my favorite things:  a long hike!  I dragged the family on a four-plus-mile hike at Harbison State Forest down to the Broad River where we had a picnic lunch.  We found a snake swimming in and around the rocks on the river bank and found some shedded snake skin on the trail too, as well as a little toad hopping around.  A woodpecker made music for us as we trekked up the rolling hills.  It was a lovely day with the family.

Still Crazy After All of these Months

It has been a while since we last posted anything on the blog. We hope to catch up on some old happenings and report on some new ones, but in the meanwhile, here's a picture of Calder wearing a fire truck for a hat. Lady Gaga's got nothin' on him.