What's new with m&m&k?: Summer vacation (week 2)

After all that chilly rain and wind in Westport we were relieved to get off the plane in Charleston, SC and step out into the hottest air we've felt in years! Over 90F and not a cloud in the sky. We felt like we had come to the right place to warm up and dry out. Best of all, we could do it while visiting with dear friends in a beautiful house on a lovely marsh. What more can three Alaskans looking for a warm vacation ask for?

We drove out to meet April, Jeb, Marit and Torin who were waiting for us on Kiawah Island. Big thanks to Jeb for finding such a great spot. Here's the "back yard" of our rental house. While we were there the coast saw record breaking high tides that inched up to the back corner of the house. When the tide was out we often had a nice show of wildlife out in the marsh grass from egrets, deer, and raccoons...out the front door we had a great view of a half dozen really BIG garden spiders. I liked the view out the back better.

This is looking out the same window at low tide with a couple of morning visitors right outside the kitchen nook picture windows. Not a bad view to take in while eating breakfast!

Kiawah's beaches are beautiful and perfect for the kiddos. As the tide goes out shallow tide pools form in the depressions and warm in the sun creating excellent playing pools for the little ones. You can see the wrack of reeds that was deposited by the extraordinary tides the day we arrived. They were once removed for the convenience of the visitors but are now left in place as they protect the dunes from erosion.

Little Miss Marit modeling the latest in adorable beach wear for the preschool set. She knows what to do at the beach and she was happy to show Kieran the ropes (most of the time).

Max and Marit working on the drip castle. Max knows what to do at the beach too.

And what do you do with a sand castle? Destroy it!! Raah!

Now if that isn't cute I don't know what is.

Auntie April hanging out in the shade with little Tor, aka "Tordy". He knows how to model the latest in infant eye protection. What a couple of hams in this family! Too cute!

The dads took the kids one morning so the moms could have a couple of hours in the shops...our mission was to find replacement sandals for the ones Kieran grew out of in Westport. Everything grows faster when it's warm, I guess. Anyway, with the moms away the dads found a cool spot to chill with the kiddos and enjoy pool-side bar and restaurant service. Perfect. The kids had a FAN-TAS-TIC time and from the look of it, Max and Jeb had a pretty good time themselves

The main mode of transport on the island is by bike. Kieran wasn't so sure about his helmet but he soon forgot about it and enjoyed the open air rides on the back of Max's bike.

"Does this make my head look fat?"

Max enjoying a little bike time without his back seat rider.

Jeb and Marit out for a cruise.

Kiawah really is an ideal place for families with small children and we enjoyed it so much that we were talking about returning again next year even before we left. It would be a great tradition to start with wonderful friends whom we think of as family.

April warned us of Jeb's low country "ear rings". I think the halo effect adds a mystic ambiance to the moment -it was caused by low country humidity condensing on the camera lens.

Our time in Kiawah seemed all too short as we were just getting into the groove of the place when we had to pack our bags and head north. We'll look forward to a return trip in the future and another great visit with April, Jeb, Marit and Tor. It was hard to say goodbye.

Our next stop was Charlestown, RI to visit with Grandma and my side of the family. Unfortunately, for this part of the trip Kieran was suffering a bit from a virus he caught somewhere between Charleston and Charlestown and pictures weren't a high priority much of the time. Nonetheless, we had a great time and a fun visit with Grandma and Kieran's aunts, uncles and cousins. Here's Kieran with his cousin Maggie, just a few weeks his senior. They got along well, in the stroller and out. Here they're enjoying kicking back and re-hydrating after a busy morning of splashing in the water.

Kayaking on the salt pond with Kieran and cousin/nephew Graham. Kieran wasn't a big fan of being in such a wobbly boat so close to the water. Our trip lasted less than 10 minutes.

Our last beautiful evening on the Charlestown beach. Max was out snorkeling while Kieran and I played in the sand and enjoyed the quiet of the beach after most of the day's visitors had gone home.

Say mom, can I have a turn with that camera?

After RI we drove inland to visit with Grandpa and Grandma Lee at the farm. Grandpa gave us the keys to his cart and we took a leisurely tour around the fields. Kieran was pretty excited about our mode of transportation.

We stopped to give the early corn a taste test. Kieran thought corn came from boxes at the grocery store. He must have been surprised to see them hanging on these tall plants.

We sampled the cucumbers too. There's nothing like eating your way around the farm.

Kieran took his cuke for a walk through the greenhouse.

We had a great visit with our farm family and even had a surprise visit from Kieran's third(!!) Auntie Heather right before we had to leave. So nice to see you all!

Bushka and Grandaddy happen to live in a very convenient spot for quick visits to and from Logan airport so we were able to see them on three separate occasions on this trip. Here you see that Kieran is just fine with that. The more time with his Bushka, the better!