#2 &14

We're not so slowly working our way through our summer bucket list.  #2 was go to Patriot's Point (a WWII air craft carrier turned military museum), which we did last Friday.  My mom came into town and we all drove down for a fast weekend in Charleston together.  My dad was working there for a few weeks so we met up with him down there.

On our way we stopped at the Columbia temple.  Two out of 10 temples visited for the summer.

 We went straight to Patriot's Point when we got into Charleston.  Mom met Dad outside and then went and looked at houses while the rest of us descended into the seventh circle of hell for the afternoon.  Seriously, it was hotter than Hades in that aircraft carrier, and I had a fussy Henry strapped to the front of me the whole time.  But Rex and Alice were troppers, especially considering that we had no stroller--sailors don't really worry about things like that so didn't bother putting a whole bunch of elevators on the ship.

Looking down one of the ladder staircases. Alice made Greg carry her down all the stairs, but Rex conquered his fear of just about everything and went up and down like a champ.

Testing out a cockpit

In the briefing room, getting ready to head up to the flight deck

Pumping up the crew for the flight--funny thing, I have pictures of me and Greg doing the same thing when we visited for our 4th wedding anniversary.

Kid heaven: buttons to push

Greg being super safe and sticking his head in a jet engine

And then he put Alice in one

On the flight deck looking at the Ravenall Bridge

Fly into the danger zone! (It's an F-14.  The plane Tom Cruise flew in Top Gun)

First time to the dentist.

After dinner, we took the kids back to my parents' hotel, and Greg and I went on a haunted Charleston tour, which is on my life long bucket list.  So fun.  Totally recommend it.  Not too gimicky.  Not too stupid.

Saturday, we went to Folly Beach.  #14 on our bucket list. And I was super excited--you know how people talk about the beach--just relaxing, listening to the waves, swimming, playing the sand.  I forgot that sand is literally the worst thing on the planet.  I hate sand.  And then to have to sit in it all day long...but we had a lot of fun.  For my West Coast family and friends, here on the East Coast, the water is actually warm so swimming is enjoyable and gets you out of the sand (temporarily--or until you get knocked over by a wave and roll around in it for a while trying to get to shore or was that just Mom who did that).  My parents joined us a while after we got to the beach (they were looking at houses again).  My parents belong on the beach.  You should have seen those two frolic in the waves.  It was precious.  And they both lost their sun glasses in the water.  Good thing Mom's were from the dollar store; Dad's on the other hand...well, he has good insurance.

Due to the amount of sand at the beach, I left the real camera in the car.  I also didn't want to mess my phone up too much (water + sand + children = no good) so I didn't really take any pictures.

Henry literally chilled in the tent the entire time.  I did want a sun-burnt, sandy baby.

 Alice joined him after a while.

 The kids also enjoyed the hotel.  I don't know what it is about hotels, but I also really enjoy being in one.  Maybe it's because I only have about 100 square feet to maintain and the housekeepers make the beds.  I don't know, but we had a lovely trip to Charleston and I vote my parents move there so I have an excuse to visit more often.