Back to School!

The summer has flown by and although the actual season of summer is over, summer vacation officially ended two weeks ago. In the first two weeks of August, we traveled to New York City and to the Washington DC area to visit family and have lots of fun. I feel this year of 2012 I am perpetually back posting. Although there has been a lack of me keeping up here with our daily life at the Avery House, there hasn't been a lack for wonderful activity. Emma-Carolina and Sophie started off their first day of 2nd grade and kindergarten without a hitch. They were both extremely excited to wear new backpacks and see their new teachers. Although Sophie will not officially start until next Tuesday, the first stagger days of kindergarten have been fun and exciting. The 2012-2013 school year is off to a great start!

 Emma-Caroline chose her Peace, Love, Bearden shirt to wear on her first day of 2nd grade!

 A very excited little girl!

 New backpaack for all of that homework!

 Mrs.. Tarbett, Emma-Caroline's 2nd grade teacher.

 Sophie was super excited to start kindergarten! She wore the same dress Emma-Caroline wore on her first day of kindergarten.

 Sophie's new backpack.

 Emma-Caroline's 2nd day of 2nd grade and Sophie's first day of kindergarten.

 We love Bearden Elementary!

 Ready to start the day!

The Central Park Zoo!

While we in New York visiting family, we also took advantage of the many wonderful things that there are to do there. It always amazes me that you can be right in the middle of such a large city, but also feel like you are in the country side while you are visiting Central Park. On one of the many days that we visited Central Park, we visited the animals of the Central Park Zoo.

 Standing at the entrance of the Central Park Zoo!

 Looking at the baboons.

 Pointing out the turtles.

 Emma-Caroline is always intrigued by the maps everywhere we go.

 Waiting with Ellen to watch the sea lion show.

 Resting in Central Park Zoo.

King of the Central Park Zoo!

Spending Time with Grandma in New York City

Before school started, we are traveled to New York City to see Howie's mother Beverly and his sisters, Rhonda, Bess, and Sherri as well as our nieces Elizabeth, Diane, Lori, and Ellen. It has been a few years since we had brought the girls to the city, so they were both excited to see all of the buildings and people. One of their favorite pass times while we were in the city was spending time with their Grandma Beverly in her garden and across the street from her apartment at the playground. We will have to make another trip soon to see Grandma in New York City!

 Grandma Beverly and her little girlfriends!

 Youngest to oldest, Sophie, Emma-Caroline, Ellen, Lori, Diane, and Elizabeth!

Island Sanctuary

I spent many a peaceful and prayerful morning walking the beaches of Kiawah before, during and after sunrise. On one morning that I was out, I found the most amazing shells I think I have ever discovered on the beach. I saw beautiful oceanside creatures including sea gulls, pelicans, starfish, man of war, fish and more. It was amazing to have that morning sanctuary each day of my visit to Kiawah Island. The walks I had by myself in the midst of God's creation are a treasure that I brought back home with me from our vacation this year. It is a memory that will give me peace as I reflect back on  those mornings for years to come.

A Low Country Summer

Life has been busy here at The Avery House. Summer is not what it used to be with lazy days and lemonade as suggested by the Country Time Lemonade commercial of my childhood. It is, rather, filled with swim practice, tennis practice, swim meets, tennis matches, camp and much much more. It's a fun kind of busy that we have thoroughly been enjoying during this very hot time of year. It leaves me not having too much time to sit down and actually blog, which I miss. I have so much to back post on, however today, I will post about our recent trip to Kiawah Island, South Carolina. We made our 2nd trip with the Taylor's to the beach. We stayed this year in a home on Kiawah and I am already wanting to go back! During our stay, Sophie turned five years old. We celebrated her day with lots of fun on the beach, an evening out to a wonderful restaurant and a look at the many alligators who inhabit the island. Our Low Country summer celebration of Miss Sophie Rose was just perfect for our sweet girl. The photos below are from Sophie's day. I promise to be back soon to post more photos from our trip and to catch up on some happenings in May and June. Until then, Happy 4th of July, y'all!

Angel Oak

On Sophie's 5th birthday, we went to visit Angel Oak the oldest living tree east of the Mississippi. It is said to be over 500 years old and it is quite awesome! Standing under it's beautiful twisting branches, I could not help but think of all this tree has lived through including not only the passage of time but also the many changes this land we call the United States has been through. I feel blessed to have seen Angel Oak on my Sophie's 5ht birthday. It was a wonderful way to celebrate!

Kiawah 2012

I have been to many beaches over the course of my lifetime fro, Florida, to Oregon, from coastal Massachusetts to the beaches of Sunny Spain, from the Caribbean to Coastal South Carolina. I have loved all of the beautiful beaches I have visited. The beaches though that feel like coming home to me are the ones of Low Country, South Carolina. This year we went to Kiawah Island just 45 minutes from Charleston. It was a beautiful sanctuary island that I fell in love with instantly. I hope to take our family there again in the years to come.