Lowcountry Lessons

This weekend was spent South of the Border... South of the North Carolina border that is! Matt, Ava, Mimi, Poppy and I spent the weekend in beautiful Bluffton, SC. We visited family, we went shopping, we saw where Matt and I plan to retire (seriously, check out the website... created by none other than my husband!) and we celebrated my sister-in-law's 30th birthday!

We laughed, we loved, we learned. Here are a few of the lessons learned during our trip:

Lesson #1: After a long car ride to The Ussery household, there is nothing better than cuddling on the couch with cousin, Finn.

Lesson #2: Rolling a basketball back and forth with cousin, Jack, is necessary before bedtime.

Lesson #3: Reading a book with Aunt Erin & Finn is the best way to start the day.

Lesson #4: Island Playground (a local bounce house) is awesome.

Lesson #5: Ava loves bouncing with the big kids, especially if basketballs are involved.

Lesson #6: Ava will not grow up riding horses like I did. This Radio Flyer horse must suffice.

Lesson #7: Ava is a big girl, capable of going down big girl slides. She loved going down the slides so much, and so fast, it was hard to get a picture to focus.

Lesson #8: After speeding down the slide, Ava had a hard time stopping. She reached the bottom and rolled, similar to how stunt doubles roll out of moving vehicles in the movies.

Lesson #9: Racing down the slide 100 times + rolling at the bottom of the slide = crazy face and hair.

Lesson #10: Sliding down the slide with 2 nephews attached to my back may or may not have turned out as planned.

Lesson #11: Ava loves her Uncle John. For some reason though, she makes him work for her affection.

Lesson #12: Going to a Japanese steak house is fun. Going to a Japanese steak house with 3 kids is hilarious. 

Lesson #13: The next time we take Ava to a Japanese steak house, one of us needs to get a picture of her FACE during the flames.

Lesson #14: Jack is awesome at basketball. He is the one in the middle of the picture, hands up and ready for the rebound.

Lesson #15: There's nothing better than cousin lovin'.

Summary of lessons learned? We had a great time and can't wait to go back soon!