So, Spikey’s 5 week birthday was actually yesterday.  Oops.  It’s not that I forgot about our child’s birthday (I talked about it several times), I just didn’t get to the blogging portion of the show until this AM.  Oh well, Spikey knows we love him!

I’d have to say that Spikey’s in the 10th percentile or so for his frond height at this point, but it’s okay.  Everybody’s different – that’s what makes the world go ’round.  (See…I already have my explanation ready to go!)  AND – look at his parents!  We’re no giants and we are perfectly happy.  I use a step stool often for reaching the top two shelves in the kitchen, but it’s sturdy and I’m a good climber – so who cares!  I never hit my head on things, I’m darn good at limbo, I use very little body wash, and I can buy something from the kids section every now and then at Target.  Good trees fronds things comes in small packages (or at least that’s what this 4’11” person has heard all of her life!).

Awww – Gramps and Nana C. with their very first grandchild.  They’re head over heels for our little guy!  Not the best picture of all time (the sprinklers were on), but we tried!

p.s. The four of us are having a little royal wedding party here tomorrow. Think big hats, lots of [fake] jewels, mimosas, and British accents.  Okay, the boys will be simultaneously brewing beer, but they WILL participate.  Pictures will be taken – so get ready!

p.s.s. Thanks for the blog mention, Charleston Daily Photo (Charleston City Paper Best Local Interest Blog Winner 2009 and 2010)!  Much appreciated.  =)

Beach Count: 38

Pool Count: 5

High Temperature: 83º (not bragging about our weather today, with severe t-storms and possible tornadoes looming)

Mom and Dad have been here since Saturday (yay!) and we have been painting the town red Charleston blue.  We decided to do something a little different for Easter Sunday.  Instead of a traditional Catholic church mass, we decided to check out the Easter celebration at Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens.  The forecast looked gorgeous so we decided to give it a go.  We’ve done Easter Sunday in a Vegas church, so why not a Southern outdoor Easter celebration as another notch in our belt?

As you may or may not know, Charleston is known as the “Holy City.”  This is because of the prevalence of churches that can be seen above the low-rise city skyline.  Religion is also very much embedded in Charleston’s culture.  Wikipedia claims that there are over 400 places of worship of many denominations (my fingers wrote DEMONinations 3 times before spelling that correctly – damn darn muscle memory!) throughout the city – holy holiness!  Let me tell you…St. Andrews Church’s celebration did not disappoint!

I’m embarrassed to say that Scott and I had not yet visited Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens until Easter Sunday.  No excuses (it was Mom and Dad’s 2nd time!) – - just hadn’t made it there yet. This beautiful spot is known for many things (rich history, filming of “Army Wives,” gorgeous flowers, filming of “The Notebook”), but the live oak trees draped in moss are what made my jaw drop.  A trip back for a history lesson is indeed necessary.  But the scenery could not have been more gorgeous.

We got there nice and early to make sure we got seats under the tent.  No problem.  The parking was super organized and so was every part of this event.  Volunteers welcomed and wished us Happy Easter along our walk from the parking lot to the tent – all smiling and genuinely friendly.  Before the tent were tables set up with programs, water bottles, and a gazillion bottles of bug spray (very smart).  We sprayed away, found some great seats, and then people-watched for a good 40 minutes while listening to the awesome concert band play.  They were incredible!  Oh yeah, and look at how they handled the kiddies →

Texting if there’s a problem?  How progressive!

The service was filled with amazing music (everyone was singing), beautiful prayers, and a relatable & just right sermon.  What a great decision!  This was St. Andrews Church’s 29th year celebrating Easter at Boone Hall.  I don’t see why it won’t continue for another 29+!  My Dad thinks there had to be 3-4,000 people there.  For good reason, no doubt.  I have a feeling we’ll be there next year!

After the service, we headed to Station 22 for brunch (and – ahem – bottomless mimosas for Mom and I!) and then took a little walk on the beach on Sullivan’s Island.  I wish I took pictures of the food.  Macadamia nut pancakes with banana slices on top?  Um, h e a v e n!  Here are some pics from the beach afterwards.

To complete the day, we went to the pool.  Why not hit the beach AND the pool on Easter Sunday, right?  Mom and Dad met a new friend.

I still don’t know if they’re lizards or geckos or what – but, I still kinda like ‘em.  Wanna edumacate [insert Southern accent] me, anyone?

Gotta go!  The fam is waiting on me on our screened-in patio with a lemon drop martini with my name on it!  I LOVE VACATION!

p.s. Blog coming soon: the adventures of finding boat shoes for Joe C.  WHAT a whirlwind!

p.s.s. Life is good!  =)

Beach Count: 37

Pool Count: 5

High Temperature: 80º (NY, I heard y’all actually saw the sun today – congrats!)

We’re on the third and final leg of the Trottier family Charleston tour and boy have we been thirsty!  Johnny T. was here the 13th-20th.  Mom and Dad T. were here 17th until today.  My parents arrive at around 11am today and leave next Saturday.  YAY!  Weather for the week is looking pretty good (thank you Storm Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Rob Fowler – locals, you know the voice!).

Scott’s parents’ flight left at 6:15am this morning.  We brought them to the airport around 4:30am.  Normal people would go back to sleep when they got home.  Or at least attempt.  Rest maybe?  Nope – not us!  We needed to put humpty dumpty back together again.  Check out the productivity that occurred between 4:30am and 9:00am (the time now!)…

• 2 loads of laundry

• cleaned bathrooms

• vacuumed house

• made guest room bed (one of my very least favorite household tasks, FYI)

• dropped off recyclables

• brought back 2 overdue library books (whoops – we’ve been busy!)

• got 2 carts of booze groceries at Harris Teeter ← our grocery store of choice (hello $10 off coupons every single week – hence 2 carts….2 coupons…2 happy people)

• emptied dishwasher

• snuck in a blog!

We still have 2 hours until we have to be at the Charleston International Airport again (our 5th time this month – good thing it’s only 15 minutes away!).  Who knows what we still have in us!  When I told Mom that we may not be able to flip the house in time for their first viewing, she said, “Well then forget it, we’re not coming!”  Haha – what choice did we have?!

So an early night is probably in our future, but so what.  Tomorrow is Easter Sunday and I’m on Spring break!  Many more posts to come with pictures of fun times with family.  Until then, here are some to hold you over from Shem Creek and our patio.  =)

p.s. Farmer’s market downtown today?  If so, I’ll report back!

p.s.s. I think Scott’s family liked their first taste of Chucktown – success!

p.s.s.s. Time for my iced latté, no?

Update: Scott washed both cars, too!  =)

Beach Count: 36

Pool Count: 4

High Temperature: 73°

Wow – longest blog break since I launched the site.  Sorry bout that people! Having family in town (yay!) + Scott having the week off (double yay!) +  me having to work anyway (boo) + not feeling sick since Friday night (double boo) = not good conditions for Miss Bloggerpants.  I’ll make it up to you…promise!

Back to Spikey…

He’s one whole month old today – yay!  Happy 1 month birthday, little one!

Uncle Johnny, Grandma T., and Grandpa T. fell in love with Spikey at first sight, just as we had anticipated.  How could you not?!  They said that we’ve done a great job as parents so far.  We’re naturals!

And at last.  Our first family photo…

Yay!  (Yes, I got me some Spring highlights – hi, Ali!)  People aren’t kidding when they say that once the baby comes along, pictures of you and your husband go by the wayside.  It SHOULD NOT have taken 4 weeks to take this picture.  Awww – it’s a framer!  =)

p.s. How long do you think it takes before our neighbors call on the crazy bus to take us away?

p.s.s. Doesn’t the our red door look extra fab?  Great painting skills, hubby!

p.s.s.s. Gram – thinking of you!  Hope you’re feeling better!!!  xoxo

Beach Count: 35 (this number should spike (ha!) once Mom and Dad C. get their butts down here this weekend!)

Pool Count: 4 (closed on Tuesdays for cleaning? say whaaaaat?!)

High Temperature: 90°? (heck yeah!)

Look at our little sunshine!

I think he’s a little bigger than last week…?  He now has his own personal sprinkler, so I think it may be time for a growth spurt.  Most exciting news for Spikey this week, though?  He’s gets to meet Uncle Johnny!  It’s just about time to pick him up from the airport – yay!  Many posts with pictures and stories of Charleston fun to come for the rest of this month.  Get ready!

Beach Count: 35

Pool Count: 3

High Temperature: 78°

I heard about the World Grits Festival in St. George on the radio last week. That’s right…a grits festival.

St. George is about an hour from Chucktown and is apparently the Grits Capital of the World.  I had to go on the website to get the deets.  I learned that the World Grits Festival started in 1985 as a celebration…the people of St. George had consumed the most grits per person during that year.  (Or so they say!)  In all fairness, I’ve had shrimp and grits a couple of times down here and it is pretty tasty.  Grits has a, well, gritty texture (for those who have never had the pleasure) – but I can dig it.  It’s rich in flavor and can be delicious, when done just right (like at Poogan’s Porch).  So, the 3-day festival had many shall I say interesting events, but it’s all in good fun in order to raise money for local education.  It’s not the “grits sampling” or even “grits grinding” that made me cringe, though.  It was the “rolling in the grits” contest that was true(ly) grit(ty).  Nothing like trying to add as much weight to your body in grits as a way to spend a Sunday.  Check out the mess below (warning: I dry-heaved through it)!

Article about the World Grits Festival

That is hardcore.  I have to say it – ONLY IN THE SOUTH!  Now I need some a drink some Tums…

p.s. We got soooo much done around the house today.  The Trottier Bed & Breakfast will be open for business this Wednesday through the 30th of this month.  First up – Johnny T.!  =)

p.s.s. I can’t stop looking in my closets.  I have a crush on them right now.

Beach Count: 35

Pool Count: 3  <new feature>

High Temperature: 78°

Southern Thesaurus — Entry #3

Sneakers = Tennis Shoes

This is a pretty well known synonym, I know.  I also know that its usage is not exclusive to South Carolina.  Still hate it though.  What about those of us who DON’T play tennis?  Seems like a silly name for any old sneaker.  According to Wikipedia, other names used for sneakers are athletic shoes, sandshoes, gym boots, joggers, running shoes, runners, gutties, gym shoes, tennies, sports shoes, sneaks, tackies, rubber shoes, or canvers.  Canvers – really?  Yikes – I guess I shouldn’t complain too much about people saying tennis shoes, huh?!

What do you call your “sneakers?”   Which name do YOU hate the most?

Speaking of tennis…we went to our first ever tennis match last night at the Family Circle Cup on Daniel Island.  What a gorgeous night and what a great event! (Small detail – there’s not much talking at tennis matches.  Very. intense.)  We missed out on seeing Caroline Wozniacki, the top seed, but instead saw Julia Goerges and Elena Vesnina duke it out.  Elena was the grunter.  Julia?  Not so much.  The grunting seemed to work for Elena Vesnina though, as she made quite the comeback to win!  I won’t attempt giving any more tennis-specific details because I would just make a fool of myself and make knowledgable tennis fans angry.  All in all – it was very cool to watch.  Definitely not the best event to attend for people who want to let a little loose on a Friday night after another “one of those” weeks, though.  Oh well – we kept it together!  I’d love to go again next year, too.  Here are some pretty pics from our seats way up high.  I look forward to going to a concert at this stadium.  Not a bad seat in the house!

p.s. If the layout of this post looks odd, I apologize.  It’s acting funny today.

p.s.s. 4 days until our April company starts filtering in – yay!

Beach Count: 35

High Temperature: 89° (!)

Awww!  Whaddya think…my eyes and Scott’s nose, right?

Ha!  No, for reals.  Spikey’s grown a teensy bit which makes us very happy.  Oh, and take a good look…he’s not naked anymore.  He’s got a skirt of pine straw around his lil hiney.  So glad!  Hopefully our big rainstorm from the other day filled up our baby’s growth tank.  Only time will tell!

p.s. Little known palm tree fact – the “leaves” on a palm tree are actually called “fronds.”  I’m not in love with that word, but okay.

p.s.s. Don’t tell Scott, but the fronds can take 3-5 years to fully mature.  That’s 156-260 weekly picture updates for y’all.  Wowzers.

Beach Count: 35

High Temperature: 71°

This is the type of artist I am…

Sad.  So sad.

I’m creative, but not the least bit artistic when it comes to actual drawing/painting/sketching/you get the idea.  So this is where I ask for your help!  WILL YOU PLEASE HELP ME???  My plan is to make a thing of this blog. I’m not totally sure what that means, but I’m trying to give it a go.  (“Make a thing of it,” “give it a go” – so descriptive – ha!)  Basically this blog is here to stay.  =)

SO, I need 2 things.  I need a logo (to fancy up the actual letters of “Charm of Charleston” with maybe a sweet background or little picture within the words) and I need a favicon (a little picture that goes to the left of the “http://charmofcharleston.com” in the address bar above).  I can think of 2 specific people in my family who are amazing artists, but I won’t name your names (Jon and Samantha).  Oops – sorry, guys (love you)!  BUT I know there are many talented people out there who are up for this challenge – can YOU help a sister out?

This is a contest.  The prize is getting to see your awesome work on this blog if not forever, but for a long time.  I don’t have a monetary prize or other tangible way to repay you.  I will sing your praises from the rooftop (preferably the rooftop at The Pavilion Bar), announce your awesomeness on the blog, and give you lots and lots of hugs til kingdom come.  Capeesh?

Deadline: 7 days from today…April 12th (if that’s not enough time, then take a little more)

Can’t wait to see what y’all come up with!!!

Beach Count: 35

High Temperature: 71°

COTTON!

…with FORT coming in as a close second.

What’s the most Southern name you’ve ever heard?!

p.s. On Saturday night, I dreamt that an alligator got my legs!  I was face down on my belly (stiff as a board) waiting for something to happen as I screamed, “HELP!” desperately.  I woke up with my legs asleep.  T-E-R-R-I-F-Y-I-N-G!

Beach Count: 35 (been to the pool the past 2 days, though!)

High Temperature: 83°