Tales of a Peanut and a Sweet Tater: A Charleston Christmas

Finally we made it out of snowy Galax, VA and on to slightly warmer Christmas celebration in Charleston, SC. Fortunately for us, Ella is a really good traveler and the car makes her nap much better and longer than any other day. What a cutie pie!

Sunday morning we went to church with Grandma Lois and Grandpa Joe. Ella tried to come in to service with us, but was being WAY too distracting so Daddy took her to the nursery (which she LOVED, by the way). After church she strutted around in her dress and pink pea coat (from aunt Brandee I might add) for a while.

Here is our group shot after a nice lunch at Rosebank Farms Cafe (props to Lois for taking a great picture!)

Ella loved Grandma's Christmas tree and honestly did pretty well listening when we told her not to take ornaments off or open presents yet. She wouldn't hold very still for a nice Christmas dress photo, because she was so excited, but I did my best.

Grandma bought Ella and her cousin Dylan some dancing characters that play and dance to Christmas songs. Ella LOVES to dance them and push the buttons over, and over, and over. It took Dylan a while to let Ella play with his as well, but that's ok she's a pretty grabby 1 year old so we understood! :)

Grandpa Joe planned an oreo cookie and chocolate milk party for himself and Dylan (and Ella gladly joined in). This was her first chocolate milk experience and I'm pretty sure she takes after her momma in the chocolate lover department.

We spent one afternoon at the Charleston Aquarium looking at all the fish. Ella LOVED the animals and wanted to run around pointing every one of them out to us. Here's a little taste . . .

LOVE that sweet grin!

Playing with Grand Joe

Dylan the penguin

Later that day (or the next, I don't really remember) we drove up to the big, fancy hotel on Kiawah (where the grands live) to see the gingerbread house exhibit. I didn't take any pictures of the houses b/c we weren't that impressed this year :-). BUT we did take a cute mommy- daughter shot on the stairs.

We spent several afternoons at the park on Kiawah as well. Swings and generally running around are always a hit.

One evening we packed into one vehicle and drove to the John's Island lights display. After waiting an hour and a half in line . . . we got through to the lights (which turned out to be worth the wait for both Ella and Dylan). It was all I could do to keep Ella from jumping out the window to look more closely at all the Christmas lights. This isn't our video, but it gives you a good idea how great the lights display is.

Ella's favorite part of the weekend was following her cousin Dylan around the whole house, doing everything he did, and laughing all the time. Not really sure how ready Dylan is for a baby sister at this point, but he did warm up a lot during the visit . . . AND I'm told that he even told his mom he missed her once they were home. Yeah, Ella makes a lasting impression. That's good because we love that little Dylan nephew of ours! :-)

Had to bribe Dylan to sit for me on this picture, but it was worth it because it is such a great picture!