Frogmore Stew!

Frogmore stew is a concoction of sausage, corn on the cob, crabs, and shrimp (with salt and pepper). You steam it altogether and WA-LA! Frogmore stew! Jeff, Greg, and Erin's dad, Big Mike, prepared dinner for us that night outside. You drain the water, line the table with newspapers, dump it on the table, and go to town! It was GREAT! Thanks guys for a wonderful dinner that night! And thank you Harmon clan for a fantastic, fun-filled weekend! We had a great time!

Go Gamecocks! Almost....

Saturday involved hanging at the house and watching the USC Gamecocks football game against the LSU Tigers! We all (almost) donned Gamecocks gear (I don't have gear...Jeff and Kenden do!). Unfortunately, the Gamecocks lost to the Tigers, but they put up a good fight!

Kenden ran a fever most of the day this day...no fun. Poor fella.

More Crab and Shrimp Pics

Here are some more...Jeff actually cleaned the crabs...YUCK! That involved pulling off the hard outer shell and pulling the lungs out!! Brutal!

Saturday in Okatie...Daddy and Greg go Crabbing and Shrimping for Dinner!

This was a first for Jeff, too! He got to go crabbing and shrimping with Greg. The two fellas set the crab traps out on Friday for dinner on Saturday evening. They set out on Saturday after breakfast to retrieve the traps and catch the shrimp. We met them out on the dock when they arrived with the catch! There were some HUGE blue crabs in the catch...Greg said the largest they'd seen in a while! They caught a ton of shrimp as well...we'd be making "Frogmore Stew" that night...more on that later...

Here are some pics of us out on the dock bringing in the catch, cleaning the crabs, and the kids in the middle of it all!

The River House

Thought I would include a couple pics of the house and dock! This place was so nice....plenty of room and lots to do!

Day 2 in Okatie...Salty Dog Cafe and Playing with Sarah!

Day 2 in Okatie...we went to the infamous Salty Dog Cafe in Hilton Head, SC. It rained, it poured, but we still had a great lunch and a fun time running through the rain to get to the Salty Dog gift shop!

We also enjoyed playing outside with the kids. Sarah and Kenden had a fun time running all over the place at the house.

1st Day in Okatie, SC with the Harmons! Kenden's First Boat Ride!

We arrived safe and sound in Okatie, SC to see the Harmon Family on Thursday, September 20th! Plane ride was successful (see previous post) and all was well. While Erin and I went to the grocery store to get the necessities, the "men folk" stayed back with the kids and decided to take them for a boat ride! Kenden had a ball and the only part he didn't like was the life jacket. Oh well.

The weather left little to be desired (cloudy and/or rainy pretty much the whole time), but that didn't stop us from having a great time! Kenden was also pretty sick the whole time (fever, diarrhea, coughing, runny nose...lovely), but he didn't slow down too much either. Enjoy the attached pics!

Plane Ride Success!

Kenden's first plane ride went off without a hitch! He did so good on the plane....we boarded about midway through the boarding process each time we got on the plane, which was twice. Both times, we made sure to talk to Kenden about the Pilot's Rules (staying in his seat, no running on the plane, no kicking the chairs). Jeff and I took turns holding him both times and he did great. Thank God for the portable DVD player, that is all I have to say. Bob the Builder saved the day! As long as he had binky, blankie and Bob (the 3 "B's") we were good to go...and the occasional snack. Kenden also made sure to announce to most of the people on the plane that he was "going to see SAWAH" and made everyone laugh. He also did this as he exited the last plane in Savannah, GA and entered the concourse....screamed it to about a dozen people waiting at the gate!

Needless to say, our trip here to South Carolina was a good one...safe and sound. We have really been enjoying ourselves here with the Harmons, aside from the fact that Kenden is fighting off a mean cold and/or teething. He had diarrhea most of the day yesterday, and a fever today. His nose is running like crazy, too. Looks like we'll be heading to the doctor once we get home. Of course, none of this has slowed our Little Man down. We've also been very blessed that he is sleeping so good here, too. Hopefully, he'll be over the worst of this when we leave tomorrow AND hopefully little Sarah won't get sick either!! Be sure to check back soon, as I will update the site with some great pics and stories of our time here. Kenden has had a lot of firsts this weekend...first plane ride, first boat ride, first real vacation, first time catching shrimp and crabs....we've had great fun!!

I Gave Birth to a Rooster!

Who knew!? I was walking down the hall today to get Kenden up from his nap (he'd been awake about 30 minutes, but I had to finish my shower)....as I got closer to his door, I heard these strange noises coming from his room. I approached with caution, only to realize he was LOUDLY crowing like a rooster!! Rrrr, rrr, rrr, rrrrrrrrrrr!! Over and over!! I stood there outside his closed door for a good 2 minutes, laughing my butt off (quietly), to see how long he'd do that. When I walked in, I got crowed at! What a greeting!

Hairy Blue MONSTER!

Here is a few pics of Kenden in this crazy blue monster costume Grammie bought for him about 6 months ago! I thought it would be funny to put him in it and let him run around. He is going to be a pirate for Halloween, but if preschool has a party, I am probably going to send him in this b/c he thinks he is Cookie Monster!

Off to Columbia, SC tomorrow!

We leave for 4 fun-filled days in good ole' Columbia, South Carolina to visit our good friends, Greg, Erin, and Sarah Harmon! We are so excited, minus the plane trip that we are dreading. This will be our first time flying with Kenden, so it should be interesting to say the very least. Kenden is very excited about being on the "big plane" and going to see "Sa-wah"! We've talked to him about sitting on mommy and daddy's lap on the plane and watching Bob the Builder on the DVD player. We'll see how that goes.

Be sure to check back on Monday, as I am SURE we will have TONS of pics to post! We are staying at their river home, going crabbing, shrimping, boating...you get the point....I am sure the kids will have a blast!!

My Son is a NUT

Kenden has been fighting off a bit of a cold (cough, runny nose) and has been a piece of work the last few days (that is the nice way of putting it...he has been quite the pain in the booty to be honest). So, because of this cold, he has not been sleeping good...short naps, waking in the middle of the night, getting up way early....you get the point. Needless to say, when he doesn't sleep, I don't sleep, and worse, he is in a MOOD. Last night, he decided that 4am was a good wake up time...4am. He was a very busy man. Playing, tumbling, screaming, "READY, SET, GO!" and jumping straight up in the air and landing on his butt on the mattress. This went on for an HOUR. I am pretty sure he fell back to sleep. I did. Only to wake again at 6 to the same craziness, but worse because he'd pushed all his binkies out. I went in there with juice (I never do this, I was desperate) and a binky and told him to be quiet since it was not wake up time yet and when I came back, it would be time to get up. This worked...for a bit. This is not good for a kid who is used to getting a good 12 hours in at night with a good nap during the day. So he has been really acting up. Hopefully, he will get this out of his system SOON because we are flying to South Carolina to see friends on Thursday, and if it is bad here, it will be worse there....which means Mommy will be miserable. Great.

Tonight, I put the little beast to bed and he was throwing everything in his bed out...I could hear things hitting the wall, the door, the floor, and Lord knows what else. I finally went in there and gathered everything and piled it on the middle of the floor, despite the fact that he wanted it back...yeah, right...more pitching practice. I told him to knock it off and get to bed.

Tomorrow will be a better day, REPEAT...tomorrow will be a better day, REPEAT...

All Smiles! FOR REAL!!

Along with a smile and a wave goodbye today! No tears at all upon drop off! Needless to say, I was thrilled and was able to relax, knowing he was not pitching a fit. He got so comfortable with school today, that he had 3 poops there! God help the teacher! I guess we know he is relaxing and enjoying it...haha! He even decided to do art today, which is a change since he has sort of been protesting that since he started there. When I picked Kenden up, he was having his diaper changed, AGAIN, and was ready to go...outside that is. He wanted me to take him out to the playground there. I explained that it was naptime for everyone, even friends at school. It helped that the nap mats were being put out there. He is currently napping away now. I am happy to finally report a good school day! Go Kenden!

Baby Buggy!

This is so funny...Kenden is just a little too big, but while we were at my mom and dad's house this past weekend, Kenden had a great time on the front porch with Papa! Papa decided to put Kenden in the wicker baby buggy, and run back and forth across the porch...well, as fast as that buggy can go. I am sure there was a degree of strain invovled for the poor buggy!

Mommy's Old Toys

Maybe I shouldn't use the word "old" because you know what that means for me! Anyway, he is Kenden playing with some "lovingly used" toys that my brother and I used to play with! He loves the Sesame Street playhouse, Firehouse, and Fisher Price Farmhouse. He puts them on the coffee table and plays away!

All Smiles!

Okay, so maybe drop off wasn't all smiles, but pickup was!! HOORAY! Kenden was very upset when I dropped him off at Big Boy School, but at pickup, he'd finished all his lunch, with the exception of the grapes and watermelon mix (but hey, he ate all his dried apples!), and was laughing and smiling when I came in! He greeted me with, "Mommy, where are my goldfish!?" I keep forgetting that he wants goldfish in his lunch, so when he saw Bryce's, his teacher, Miss Dawn, told him to ask me where his were! He asked all the way home....over, and over, and over...you get the point. Hopefully, drop off will start to improve soon, but I was happy to hear he'd had a great day otherwise...he also didn't have his binky for most of the time, which is good for him at Big Boy School..he needed it the whole time both days last week...

Our weekend

Kenden and I took a trip to Hopewell on Saturday so that I could go to my best friend, Hilary's, baby shower. Nanny (Jeff's mom) was wonderful enough to watch Kenden for me so that I could go to the shower. Kenden and Nanny had a terrific time! Kenden played with matchbox cars, ran in the field beside the house, drove the cars up and down the tree trunk, and ate all kinds of goldfish and cheetos! He and Nanny had some great bonding time and Kenden couldn't wait to go back and see her today before we came on back home to see Daddy!

We also got to see Grammie and Papa, and had tons of fun with them. Papa helped Kenden "mow" the lawn and Grammie let Kenden water her plants outside..with the hose....which was some wet, messy fun!

As always, we had a great time and were exhausted when we got home. Not to mention, we missed Daddy, who decided to stay home to see the football games! When Kenden got home, Daddy took him and Kaz for a walk to the park around the corner, and Kenden loved being with Daddy and Kaz!

What a great weekend!

Big Boy School.....TAKE TWO!

Day two of big boy school...drop off did NOT go well. He was hysterical, but I did not draw the process out and I left. When I called 15 minutes later and talked to his teacher, he was playing and doing fine. I called one more time about an hour and a half after the first call and talked to the aide. She said that he was fine, but would go through spells where he would cry. He did NOT want to paint for art today...oh well. However, to my pleasant surprise, guess who was eating lunch with the class today!!?? KENDEN! They grabbed me on the way in and told me not to go to the room because he was eating! Hooray! I waited for a bit, then went and peeked, and there he was with the rest of the group, eating away. They were all so darn cute! And, he didn't cry when I came in to get him today..whimpered a bit, but then cheered up and washed his hands and was ready to go!

Of course, I worried about him the whole time, but it is nice to get some stuff done and have some "me" time. I know that in the long run, he will LOVE being in school. I really think once the cold weather hits, he will enjoy getting away and out of the house, too!

Funny...I have to add that when I dropped him off, he was saying, "No big boy school, no big boy school" and I said, "Yes buddy, you will have a wonderful time with your friends" and he immediately said, "NO WONDERFUL TIME!" To hear a kid who isn't even 2 say the word "wonderful" clear as day is hilarious...even the teacher had to laugh at that one!

Bathrobe!

Last night, I put Kenden in the Bathrobe that Grammie and Papa gave him for Easter! Too funny...I told Jeff he was in his "smoking jacket"!! Of course, he better not EVER EVER smoke, but it was still funny!

First Day at Big Boy School!

I dropped Kenden off this morning at 8:45 without a hitch. He whined a bit as he saw me getting ready to go, but calmed down when I told him he'd be fine and to go play with the trucks. I called one time at 10 and checked and they told me he had his binky in his mouth and had only had one minor "meltdown". However, when I picked him up, he was over it...binky in mouth, carrying blankie and NOT eating lunch. Miss Dawn told me he'd had a few meltdowns, but when lunchtime came, he really lost it....But, he sat right down with me once I got there and ate his lunch with the kids, then was ready to go. He told his teachers bye bye, and left with a smile. I guess this will get easier as time goes along, but it is never easy to come get your kid and see that he is unhappy (although I know he wasn't like that the whole time). I think Kenden will really get to love Big Boy school over time. Hopefully, he won't go nuts during Thursday's drop-off. He did talk about Big Boy school the rest of the afternoon before I put him down for nap, so I think he did like it, but just needs to adjust!

Funny, a bunch of my friends also had their little ones who are Kenden's age starting preschool today, so we all met for coffee at 9:30...it is nice to have friends feeling the same as me...uneasy, not sure what to do with our time, a little sad, yet happy at the same time! Now, I can honestly say I know how my mom felt sending Tim and I off to school when we were little....change is hard, but necessary and good at the same time. Despite knowing the Kenden was a little upset here and there, I still feel good about the whole experience and I know he's in good hands....

Tomorrow is the big day!

Well, tomorrow is the big day...for Kenden and I! Kenden starts "Big Boy School" tomorrow (aka The Goddard School) for 2 half days a week. I am a little anxious because, although I have left him before and he's done fine, tomorrow will be for 4 hours, so I am not sure how he'll do. Hopefully, all will go well...mommy might have a harder time than Kenden! I will be sure to update everyone tomorrow on how things go...for both of us! HAHA!

Visiting the Walkers!

On our way home from Hopewell yesterday, we stopped to visit the Walkers, Barry, Jeany, and Haygen! Barry owns Walker's Gym in Hopewell, where Jeff used to lift and they have always been so wonderful to us. They have built this beautiful home on 52 acres of land out in Prince George! It is awesome...Kenden ran all over and got to see their chickens, chase their cat, and pull the garden wagon all over the place! Daddy did some playing of his own yesterday and got to shoot a gun for the first time! I had to take pics of course! I have never heard a gun shot before, and boy, is it LOUD! Kenden said, "Dada went BOOM BOOM!" haha! It was so great to see the Walkers and we loved their home....hope we can get back out there to visit again soon!

Happy Birthday Cousin Amanda!

We went to Hopewell on Saturday, September 1st to celebrate cousin Amanda's 9th Birthday (which really falls on the 6th)! We got to go to WoodDale Swim Club and swim, have cake, ice cream, and help Amanda open all her wonderful gifts! Kenden was very excited to see his Nanny, cousins Michael and Amanda, his Aunt Vickie and Uncle Bart! He did great in the pool with Daddy...jumping in to Daddy, going under, and giving very wet hugs to Mommy and Nanny! We had a great time and hope Amanda had a super special birthday!