Bryant called me last night on his way home with Reeves to tell me that from 162 he saw smoke that he thought was coming from John's Island. As he got closer, he realized it was West Ashley, then he saw it was Sofa Super Store. 
He and Reeves parked at Babe's to watch. He had the camera with him and got some good shots. The whole time this was going on, I was thinking that was a nice little bonding time for them. 
Reeves loves to watch a big fire burn, and Bryant said he was jumping with excitement. Maybe it's hereditary. Mom said Grandmother and Poppa had taken her down to watch St. Matthews Lutheran burn when it went up in flames all those years ago. There's just something mesmerizing about a fire. No harm, no foul, I thought. It's just a warehouse fire. It stinks that all that inventory is lost, but everyone's OK, so let's just watch it burn and enjoy the show.
Then they got home. Reeves went down, and we turned on the TV and saw the news ticker. The fire didn't seem so nonlethal then. There were firefighters missing. I don't know why it hadn't occurred to me before that this was a distinct possibility. I suppose I just thought that since it was a warehouse, there was no one inside to save, so why not just let it burn. I didn't see that there was any reason for a firefighter to go inside. 
But there were two employees in there. And these guys were firefighters. And that's what they do. They fight fires and save lives. And that's what they did. And tragically, nine of them lost their own lives doing just that. I am so emotional over this today. When we turned on the news this morning and saw that nine brave men had died in that fire overnight, tears began streaming down my face. I can't begin to imagine what their families are going through. I hope I never have to.
I think we're all hugging our husbands and children just a little bit tighter and a little bit longer today. We're all saying our prayers with heavier hearts today. It's a tragic and terrible event. And it's something you always know can happen, but it still shocks you, particularly when it happens in your own backyard. God bless all those who give their lives to save ours. 
They are truly heroes.
He and Reeves parked at Babe's to watch. He had the camera with him and got some good shots. The whole time this was going on, I was thinking that was a nice little bonding time for them. Reeves loves to watch a big fire burn, and Bryant said he was jumping with excitement. Maybe it's hereditary. Mom said Grandmother and Poppa had taken her down to watch St. Matthews Lutheran burn when it went up in flames all those years ago. There's just something mesmerizing about a fire. No harm, no foul, I thought. It's just a warehouse fire. It stinks that all that inventory is lost, but everyone's OK, so let's just watch it burn and enjoy the show. Then they got home. Reeves went down, and we turned on the TV and saw the news ticker. The fire didn't seem so nonlethal then. There were firefighters missing. I don't know why it hadn't occurred to me before that this was a distinct possibility. I suppose I just thought that since it was a warehouse, there was no one inside to save, so why not just let it burn. I didn't see that there was any reason for a firefighter to go inside. But there were two employees in there. And these guys were firefighters. And that's what they do. They fight fires and save lives. And that's what they did. And tragically, nine of them lost their own lives doing just that. I am so emotional over this today. When we turned on the news this morning and saw that nine brave men had died in that fire overnight, tears began streaming down my face. I can't begin to imagine what their families are going through. I hope I never have to.I think we're all hugging our husbands and children just a little bit tighter and a little bit longer today. We're all saying our prayers with heavier hearts today. It's a tragic and terrible event. And it's something you always know can happen, but it still shocks you, particularly when it happens in your own backyard. God bless all those who give their lives to save ours. They are truly heroes.
This was my first layer. Thank heavens for left over batter. This layer got tossed. It was like trying to ice a bucket of dirt, without the bucket. The rest was baked in a variety of not-intended-for-baking-a-cake dishes. A Corian small dish, a Pyrex bowl, and a small creme brulee ramekin. What a mess! The icing of these layers was only slightly more successful than the first horrific showing, but this was all I had, so it had to work. 
Luckily, I have an icing bag, so I just filled that up and covered the cake as well as I could. Reeves seemed to like it OK, but, of course, he's only 2! Like I said, "Poor Reeves!"
Maybe that's why we don't really remember much when we're very young. Or maybe that's just why there aren't any pictures of my birthday cakes from that age. Could it be that practice truly does make perfect? That maybe my mother started out with poorly decorated cakes for me, and by the time Reeves is old enough to remember these cakes, they'll actually be something worthy of sharing with anyone other than family? I can only hope. In the meantime, I'll just pray that he outgrows his allergies and learns to focus more on taste than presentation. 
The best was when we were in the country, and Daddy was across the gutter at the boat. You took off down the road to be with him. In the interest of your safety and to avoid your stepping on snakes, Grandy followed to get you in the golf cart. As soon as you realized what he was doing, you turned around, stuck your hand out and said, "No, no, no!" and kept walking. This happened about 3 or 4 times. We all just kept laughing harder and harder. It was like looking at that Chinese student facing off against the tanks in Tianamen Square, you know, without the evil communist overtones and humanitarian nightmares. Just you and your grandfather and a green golf cart. 
Gams loves to see you get a little attitude. I think this is because maybe I might have given her a sometimes, but rarely, slightly less than perfect attitude myself. But I think it probably only happened once or twice. I was really the practically-perfect child. I'm sure she would agree. Truth be told, you are pretty precious when your face transforms from Happy Reeves to Why Are You Trying To Ruin My Life Reeves. Now that you have mastered the leaving the ground with both feet, you usually throw in a few jumps along with the tantrum. Frustrating as they are, we know they are just a part of your growing up, and occasionally, they bring us a few giggles. I am hesitant to write this because I am sure there will be repercussions, but you generally keep the major breakdowns for the privacy of home, and we really appreciate that.
We have said our prayers together everynight for as long as I can remember. Normally, I think you are just spending that time waiting for me to put you into bed, but now I know you have been paying attention. You now put your hands together for prayers, and when we are finished, you repeat "Amen" after I say it. Of course, true to your Gullah accent, you have somehow made it so that Amen has 3, sometimes 4, syllables and I think there is a breath in between the first and second. Last Saturday night, Daddy, you, and I had dinner with Pops and Phil. (Gams was out globe-trotting). We sat outside, said blessing over our fried shrimp and fish, then those of us not an Almost Two Year Old started to eat. Not you. You wanted to say another blessing. We did. Then you wanted Daddy to say a blessing, then Pops, then Phil, then Mommy. It was too cute. We all folded our hands and said Amen after each blessing. You then proceeded to entertain us by pointing out each roach that ran by as we were enjoying our dinner. Yeah, thanks for that. That's what outdoor dining in Charleston is.
I think you must know you are turning two and growing up because just in the last month, you have moved from Brown Bear, Brown Bear as your favorite book to The Children's Beginner Bible. This is a book with actual text and stories. We have always had it sitting beside the chair, but previous attempts to read it were met with a less than enthusiastic reaction on your part. Then one day, you pointed to it. I picked it up and started reading it to you. You put your hands behind your head, lay back, and loved it. Everynight since then, we read a few more pages. 
Daddy and I are amazed. And it's a good thing for the whole family because while you are being introduced to these Bible stories we all grew up with, we are revisiting and remembering them. Now, if only we could do church as consistently as we do this.
Thank you, Amen, Ma'am round out your repertoire of intelligible words, and then there are the numerous words you have made up for things. They don't necessarily sound like the correct word, but you use them consistently, so we have learned. We still try to make you repeat the correct pronunciation. I must admit, I am a bit worried, but then I talk to so many people who say their children's vocabulary exploded after they turned two, or when they went to school, or some who didn't even really talk until they were three. And then, of course, there's Pops. Part of me thinks you'll start when Duece gets here, but since that will most likely coincide with your first day of school, I guess we'll never know the catalyst.
We headed to Sandy Point - first time we'd been there. It's really a neat beach, right at the end of Kiawah. Putting much more faith in our depth finder that I, B pointed out that the drop off off the beach was like 53 feet. I have trouble believing that. 
Luckily, the tide was coming in, and the dangerously deep drop off kept getting farther and farther away from our play area, so we were all happy and relieved. Haha! It amazes me that these children don't seem to mind having their life jackets on. I remember hating it and wanting nothing more than to free myself of its hot, itchy confines. But, as Nancy and Aileen pointed out, we were also allowed to crawl freely through the car while it was in motion and ride in strollers without straps. These children are used to being strapped in, and at least they could move around with the life jackets. These are also the children who already know to look on the back of the camera the instant a picture is taken rather than waiting a couple of weeks to get the prints back, so I shouldn't be surprised. We all tried for some family portraits, but between the life jackets riding up, the sun, and the numerous distractions, it wasn't an easy task. It's a good thing the subjects are all so cute!
Not sure why, but the term, herding cats kept coming to mind - at least for those with more than one to wrangle. I could pretty much get Duece to do what I wanted.
We stopped briefly to eat lunch, and I put this in only to mention (brag) that I was so proud of Reeves. He actually ate his bologna sandwich like a sandwich, rather than as two independent peices of bread and two pieces of bologna. For some reason, this really made me realize just how fast he's growing up. Do I really need to chop up his food anymore if he can handle a sandwich like this? I think he was even proud of himself as he was more than happy to show it to Daddy when he took this picture.
Big DuBose entertained the now fed and life-jacketless children with super tall drip castles. They loved it. I think Eliza here is reminding the boys that she is in charge of this beach, thank you very much.
I love this picture only because Mills stood like this, with two fistfuls of mud high above his head, waiting for me to take the shot, the action shot. He would not drop them until he saw the flash. It was too funny. Nancy, you've trained him well! He poses like a pro!
Reeves fell sound asleep only minutes into the ride back, so we cruised the Abbapoola. It was nice and relaxing, and the perfect cap to a wonderful Boat Day!! Thanks for putting this together. We can't wait to do it again!
Not only did they have to say their names, they also had to each give a quote from All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarden. For the record and posterity's sake, Preston's line was, "Flush the toilet every time you go to the bathroom." He had kept this part of the show a secret. I think he knew we would all laugh when he delivered it.
