Summer 2014

It's been awhile since I've posted and I have a million pictures to share. Some highlights of the summer so far: Braeden's kindergarten graduation, Braeden's trip to Chicago, and our trip to Savannah.

Braeden has been a huge help this summer. He helped me pressure wash the patio and walk-way

We managed to find our way downtown few times

 

Trip to Savannah

 

Tired guy after our Savannah trip

Edisto Beach - During Hurricane Arthur - The waves were huge but the weather was great

Late Summer - Early Fall

It has been a very warm fall so far in lowcountry of SC. Most weekends Braeden and I find ourselves downtown or at the beach. Grandma Clark has been staying in SC for the last few weeks and I am thankful that Braeden and I have been able to visit with her. Braeden knows that Grandma is Mema's mom and that Grandpa Clark drove a fire truck in Chicago. Him being able to make family connections with such a large extended family is amazing.

 Braeden and I took a sunset walk downtown one night. Braeden loves to walk around downtown as much as I do. He could probably give a very good tour of downtown Charleston.

Braeden showing Grandma his drawing of a fire truck. 

Last Week of Summer Vacation

Braeden and I have had a very busy week. We have gone to the beach, the swamp, the museum, the bridge, B helped me out at school, and we are going to the zoo today. The weather has been great this week so we have spent a majority of our time outside. Trying to get everything in before him and I go back to school. Braeden starts kindergarten in two weeks. I can't believe it.

 Braeden, Joyce and I played around at Guitar Center

 B said he was playing Roadhouse Blues

 Cypress Gardens

 We spent the day at the museum. This is B standing in front of a replica of the Hunley.

Braeden and Joyce helped me in my classroom for a couple of hours. B colored Ninja Turtles on the board and made me some pictures to hang around the room.

 B painted that picture earlier in the year and was excited to hang it in my class for the big kids to see it. I can't get over how big he is.

 B and Miss Joyce

 B doing some hard work

My favorite picture.

Videos of Braeden

This blog is not very video-friendly so I have attached a link to youtube where I have downloaded some videos of the little man.

http://www.youtube.com/user/freketimothyJ

Kayaking Trip

Last week Braeden and I rented a kayak on the Isle of Palms and launched on the island marina. We started our trip on the intra-coastal waterway but the current was too strong. We turned around and continued through the marina and into the tidal creeks. In the marina the houses and boats were amazing. We even had to stop and wait while golfers teed off over the creek.
The kayak we rented was a sit-on-top. It was a little more cumbersome than the sit-in kayak. Braeden didn't realize the difference seeing that he sat in front and told me to "paddle faster."

 After kayaking we ate lunch on the rooftop of a marina restaurant.

My tired guy "resting his eyes".

More Summer Pics

One hot day Braeden and I went downtown and he played in the fountain.

We went to Uncle Ben and Aunt Megan's house to watch the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals. Uncle Ben, Daddy, and Braeden ended up singing "Roadhouse Blues" by the Doors before we left. Braeden has been singing that song since he was about 2 years old. He also loves songs by Pink Floyd and other classic rock bands.

 Tired dude. He was asleep before we pulled out of Ben and Megan's driveway. He kept everyone entertained that night. 

Joyce, Braeden and I have gone to Middleton Place a few times this summer - or as B calls it, "The Big Swamp". One particular day we saw 5 or 6 large snakes and a bunch of alligators. Middleton Place might be my favorite place to take Braeden. I bought a membership about a year ago and we go a few times a month. 

 

During one of our many walks downtown, Braeden and I stopped at a cemetery that has signers of the Declaration of Independence buried there. Braeden has begun to ask questions about death so we were talking about graves and how when people die they are buried. He looked confused and finally said to me as he was looking at a gravestone, "I don't hear anyone talking down there."