Charleston (Part One)

Matthew had a week break in between his Duke externship in the PACU and the beginning of his last semester of nursing school, so we took off to Charleston, South Carolina for a nice family getaway!!

On our way to Charleston, SC, we spent the night in Wadesboro, NC with Stephen and Stephanie Shytle. Stephen graduated from Divinity school with me in May and was placed at a 3-point charge near Wadesboro, NC. They have transformed the parsonage into a nice to place to live, especially as they welcome a little baby into the world in December!
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit!!

On the way, we stopped at a cute little BBQ place to eat, and the following pictures are taken at the quaint little restaurant near Clarksville, SC.

We got into Charleston and worshiped at Trinity United Methodist Church
before taking a carriage ride around the city.

Our carriage was pulled by horse was named 'Dakota.'

;

We loved walking around the city. We visited King Street and the Old Market. Mariel loved being carried in her sling!

Mariel was plum-tuckered-out, so Daddy built her a little bed.

Our second day we spent the morning touring the harbor.

The houses lining the perimeter of the Charleston peninsula were beautiful, and we got a great view of the Fort Sumter.

Mariel loved roaming the inside part of the boat.

This is a picture of the Arthur Ravenel Junior Bridge.

To Be Continued ...

Love to all,
M3

Thursday (Part Two)

Everyone loved the ice cream at Mapleview Creamery, where you can see the cows across the street that produced the milk to make the amazing ice cream!! Even the girls loved the ice cream!!

Then, it was playtime at home, and we gave sweet Avery a little haircut!

And then, BATH TIME!! One of our favorite things to do!

Moree, Aunt Jenny, and Cousin Avery, thanks for coming to visit. It meant so much to me and my mom for you to make the trip! We had soooooo much fun with all of you!!

Love to all,
M3

Thursday (Part One)

On Thursday, we woke up early to go blueberry picking, see the farm at Camp Chestnut Ridge, and then have a picnic and eat ice cream at Mapleview Creamery.
It was such a wonderful day!!



Mariel in action ... She's determined to pick and eat blueberry right from the bush.

Mom and Jenny showing off their Daytripper shirt, and my mom and I swinging after picking blueberries. It was a hot and sweaty day.

We got to love on the animals at Camp Chestnut Ridge Community Farm.

Mariel loved the cherry tomatoes; that was a first!

Love to all,
M3

Wednesday

On Wednesday, we woke up and went to story time ... oh, how we love story time!!!
I look forward to it every week, so it was so special for me to share the time with my mom, sister, and sweet Avery.

Then, we headed to Foster's, one of my favorite restaurants in Durham. Sara Foster was the assistant to Martha Stewart before starting this restaurant, and she is frequently in and out. We enjoyed brunch with Laurel and Hudson!

Then, we went and all had a wonderful haircut with mini back massages
before heading home for playtime!!

More to come ...

Love to all,
M3

Tuesday

So, my MOM, SISTER, and sweet AVERY came to visit the last week of July!!
We had so much fun spending time together. They got here Monday at noon, but these pictures start capturing our trip starting on Tuesday!!

We took a stroll to a nearby neighborhood park. The girls had fun, but Avery was not the biggest fan of the swings.

Aunt Jenny's swinging Mariel.

Then, we all had a picnic at Duke Divinity School. They mat Momma Jo, who makes all the fun hats!!! (Unfortunately, I didn't get a pictures of the picnic, but I did get a few others at Duke.)

And then, we came back to cool off and play on our living room floor. Avery and Mariel are learning to play with each other. By the end of the trip, they were "besties" and even learned a few things from each other.

The rest of the trip will continue ...

Love to all,
M3

Caught in the Act

I turned the corner and found that sweet little Mariel was eating handfuls of sweet sugar...

Oh Miss Mariel.

Love to all,
M3