Sunday, December 20, 2009

Gracie Turns 9 and Visits a Bunch of Fish and Reptiles!


Jack and Katy helped me decorate the hotel room after Gracie fell asleep to give her morning a little more festivity.




Good morning 9 year old!


7am and everyone has their smile on.


After we sent John off to work I took the kids to the South Carolina Aquarium.

This was the perfect place to celebrate our little biologist's birthday. Grace said herself it could have only been better had we been able to find a whole museum devotely solely to insects. The rest of us appreciated that South Carolina doesn't have one of those and that we had to settle for mostly fish!


Mr. Turtle here weights 250 pounds.

The girls talking with the playful otters.




We decided that both the girls could fit in the belly of a Great White Shark. Scary!


Ellie and an Emperor Penguin model.

We ended her birthday celebration with dinner at olive Garden. Happy Birthday baby girl!

Friday, December 18, 2009

The Carriage Ride


Dad got to join us after work.

Our guide was a South Carolinian and gave us a very informational tour. His history of the Revolutionary war and Civil War varied quite a bit from the history I've learned. Apparently Carolina was the richest, biggest, and brightest colony. They had a better Tea Party because they just stole the tea and kept it for themselves. They fought more battles and sacrificed more than any other colony. Apparently Texas and California once belonged to Carolina as well. The Civil War or "The War of Northern Aggression" was a great indecency done to the south. He even said that slavery wasn't that bad because slaves had the freedom to fish and hunt after their chores were done. Interesting. The arrogance and pride that came from a man who drove a tourists carriage for a living was unbelievable to me. Very interesting nonetheless.


A passing carriage.

You can see the architectural influence from the people who came from Barbados in the pretty pastel-colored homes.


The 200 year old Live Oaks are also a favorite of mine.




I love the laterns!

Not exactly a historic sight, but classic in its own special way.


Notice the gas laterns on the walls of the buildings. They are lit 365 days a year all through the city. It makes for a beautiful romantic city but has a funny back story. The city is all piped for natural gas, but the plans of the pipes were lost long ago and so, to make sure there are no explosions from pockets of gas build-up, everyone has to burn natural gas year round.

A tavern down this alley has a chair at the bar that no one is allowed to sit in ever, because George Washington once sat in that chair!

Some of the headstones in this church cemetary dated back to the 1700's.

Another gas latern in the portico of a beautiful church.

Jack and Katy enjoying King St.

The end of a great day. Pizza and monoploy await us back at the hotel room.

More Charleston...


So part of our day we just explored downtown seeing the sights and kinda killing some time until John could get off and join us for a carriage ride around the city.


This is the Old Slave Market, called that not because slaves were sold here, but because the slaves would bring thier masters' wares here to trade and sell. It is now full of vendors selling cheap trinkets, artwork, and our personal favorite baskets. Women sit down in the vendor booths weaving the most beautiful baskets from local sweet grasses that grow. This is a skill that  the peoples captured in Africa and brought over as slaves to the Americas brought with them.


Taking a little break.

The girls showing off their big purchases.



Some high quality art. Grace named her the Cowalisa.

A classic moment in the moment in the Moffatt family. Jack trying to explain one of his hilarious jokes to his sisters. Notice how much they are enjoying his humor:)

Jack enjoying his own joke.
Ahhh...a moment into my life. This is what I get endure...I mean enjoy everyday. Awesome.