Daddy and Braeden in Myrtle Beach February 2013

For our birthdays Braeden, Joyce and I went to Myrtle Beach for the weekend. Joyce and I took Braeden to the Pirate Adventure Show. It's similar to Medieval Times but with pirates instead of knights. Braeden loved it!!! The food was great and show was even better. There were pirates, pirate ships, sea lions, and they personally wished Braeden a happy birthday.

 Braeden took a picture with the two lead pirates from the show.

 On Saturday Joyce took Braeden around Myrtle Beach. I was throwing up all day - Happy Birthday Me. Joyce and Braeden went on the Ferris Wheel and went to an arcade. I'm so glad they were able to have fun while I was not feeling well.

 Joyce booked the perfect room. We were ocean front on the 11th floor. It was nice to go to sleep and hear the tide come in.

First Weekend of March 2013

This weekend was the first time in a while that the sun was out. It was not particularly warm but at least it was not raining. Friday night, Braeden, Joyce, and I went down town. This past weekend was Art Week so all of the art studios were having showings. The festivals in Charleston are amazing. Braeden's new interest is karate so he was doing a karate routine through the streets of Charleston.

Saturday, Braeden and I went to one of our favorite spots - Cypress Gardens. They were also hosting an art festival so there were art and craft booths set up everywhere. The 3 alligators ("our buddies", as B calls them) were out sunning themselves. As we walked through the swamp we saw an alligator laying on top of a log sunning itself - this one was out in the wild, not like our buddies who are in an enclosure.

 Can you see the alligator on the log?

 "Our Buddies"

 Turtles sunning themselves on a log

Braeden March 2013

A Day At Cypress Gardens (The Swamp)

 Cypress Gardens is a park built on an old rice plantation in Goose Creek. It is one of my favorite spots in the Lowcountry. Many scenes from The Patriot were filmed here and it is a famous wedding destination. There are alligators, exotic birds, a reptile house, turtles and a ton of events held throughout the year.   

 These 3 alligators were completely submerged when we first arrived at the gardens. If fact, we only saw two. The trails around the swamp have warnings about alligators being on the walkways but we've never seen them.

Over the weekend Cypress Gardens held their Halloween Party so we were able to see all the decorations. We also saw an alligator pull itself out of the water to sun itself. It was in the low 70s today. We could not have asked for a better day.

 

Braeden was making his "spooky" face at all the decorations.

Columbia Zoo with the Clarks

Braeden and I went to the Columbia Zoo with Uncle Jim, Aunt Alice, Jordan, and Brandon. It was a beautiful day and the zoo was worth going back so I bought a membership. The nature walk is worth the trip alone. Braeden loved seeing the Tigers and Hyenas. 

The giraffe exhibit was amazing. We walked on top of a platform and the giraffes walked over to be fed. In this picture Braeden did not realize the giraffe was so close until it leaned over and breathed on him. It was too funny. 

 

Freke Family in Charleston - July 2012

Mema, Pepa, Uncle James, and Aunt Kristin came to Charleston to visit. Braeden had a blast because he was able to spend an entire week at a "Pirate" hotel. We were able to go downtown, the beach, the market, on a harbor tour, and enjoy the lowcountry summer.

 Beautiful day at Folly Beach.

 Mema, Pepa, and Braeden at the Folly Beach Pier.

 Braeden refused to put his shark in the net for a photo because the sign read, "NO SHARKS IN NET." He is a rule follower.

 Braeden and Aunt Kristin at the Battery. We were lucky enough to see dolphins in the harbor.

Spring Break in Chicago

Braeden and I traveled to Chicago for spring break. Braeden was able to go to Brookfield Zoo and Cantigny to see the tanks. We had a blast but it went by too fast. Braeden was not a fan of driving through Indiana. He kept asking me in the car, "Are we still in Indiana?". Then he would say, "Indiana drives me nuts", as he was crossing his arms and "making angry eyebrows."

We were also able to go to the Field Museum and Braeden was able to see two of his favorite things: dinosaurs and mummies. Cant wait to go back during Xmas.