Visiting the Lee's

We went to visit my cousin, Laura, and her wonderful family this week. Since Laura and I are both only children, we are more like sisters than cousins.

Anna, her daughter, was in Columbia staying with her grandmom. So she rode back home with us. She was very good in the car sitting between Hunter and Jordan watching movies. We left after I got off work Friday night so we didn't arrive at Laura's house until after 11pm.

The next day we all went to the beach. As you can see below, the kids had a great time playing at the beach. The water was so warm. It almost felt like bath water.

Playing at the beach

Saturday night we got a babysitter for the kids and went to a wine tasting at Brookgreen Gardens , Vino Lantino. We tasted 10 white wines and 10 red wines. We saw some of Laura and Sean's neighbors that we had met during our last visit. And I met the CEO of Brookgreen Gardens who is an extremely nice man.

Sampling the wine.

The next morning Thomas left for boy scout camp. Sean drove him to camp which was about 2 hours from their house.

Laura, Anna, Larson, Chris, Hunter, Jordan and I headed to Broadway at the Beach. The kids were very excited about playing at Magic Quest. Chris was nice enough to go with the kids to Magic Quest while Laura, Larson and I shopped.

The kids at Magic Quest with their wands

After Magic Quest, we ate at Joe's Crab Shack. They played fun music and the waiters all danced during certain songs. Larson loved the disco ball.

Larson

The next morning Laura had to work. We went to Brookgreen Gardens. I always love Brookgreen Gardens. When I was little, I would go there with my grandmom. It reminds me of her. Laura suggested the "shady tour" which included a boat tour, the butterflies and the zoo.

Brookgreen Gardens

We went on the boat tour. It was a wonderful tour of the rivers around Brookgreen Gardens. We saw several turtles and an alligator. I would highly recommend the tour.

Hunter, Chris and Jordan on the tour

Next we went to see the butterflies. This is a new exhibit at Brookgreens which is only open certain months during the year. There were butterflies everywhere. They even had an area where you could see a butterfly come out of its cocoon.

Butterfly

Next we toured the zoo. We went with a tour group in which the leader fed the animals. We got a close look at them since we had the food. One of our favorite animals was the otter. They also had beautiful bald eagles. Jordan wanted to know since the bald eagles are our country's bird why weren't they red, white and blue.

Bald Eagle

Since we were on the "shady tour" we didn't see that many statues. The gardens are full of amazing statues.

Diane

Here is Jordan in Oak Allee. This is the same place we had the wine tasting Saturday night. The brick walls are lined with beautiful poetry and statues.

Jordan

This is a more recent addition to Brookgreens. The statues look so lifelike. One of the children even has the wrong hand over his heart.

America

Every time we go to Brookgreen Gardens we have our picture taken next to this lion. I have tons of pictures taken over the years of me with the lion and now it is the boys turn. I would love to frame them in a lion collage.

The boys and the lion