Summer Taycation

Summer is my favorite season.

Sure, it’s hot, really hot some days, but I just love the sunny sun and warm rain, flip-flops and sunscreen, beach trips and bathing suits, and the slow-rolling weeks from May to September.

This summer was especially fun with our daughter, Taylor. She’s two and a half, which means that she is constantly learning new things and amusing us with her emerging personality. But she also has “terrible twos” tantrums and practices selective listening and makes us repeat ourselves to get the point across and makes us repeat ourselves to get the point across and makes us repeat ourselves – oh, wait, sorry – you get the point.

Whether we were playing with Taylor or scolding her, we were all about Taylor this summer.

We had a lovely summer Taycation.

Here are the highlights…

Little pool parties in the front yard with two blow-up pools, hose flowing, music mixes, popsicles and snacks, and folding chairs for adults (usually me and Gigi and Sarah, but also the Wolfsons one day – yay!).

Ten day beach trips to Isle of Palms (in May and August): giant drip castles and homemade tide pools; playful dolphins waving tail flukes and swimming close to shore; shell-collecting in the cool shade of dusk; endless wave-jumping; Taylor’s first (pretend) surfing with her feet on the kick board while we held her up and skimmed the board across the waves and sang the “Wipe Out” tune; fun beach days with Gigi, Nana, and Kassi; favorite meals at The Wreck, The Boathouse, Dunleavy’s, and Andolini’s; chai at Kudu, French-Asian fusion at Fish, and late lunch at Magnolia’s – all with dear friends; long beach walks; and rainbows.

Fish fountain fun at The Green uptown with Taylor and one especially fun day with Anna, Emma, and Will Johnson.

Sunny afternoons at OP kiddie pool with Taylor’s turtle float and swimmy suit, a random gathering of shared pool toys, and time to watch Taylor gain confidence in the water.

Discovery Place days, where we crossed the rope bridge over the rainforest, stared into aquarium microcosms of vibrant undersea life, pet a skink, and saw a 3D sea turtle movie - twice (Taylor’s first movie with 3D glasses!).

Strolling to Starbucks for scones and chai and vanilla milk and apple juice, a place to cool off, relaxing music, a small collection of children’s books, and good friends Brooke and Adam! 

Taylor’s first bike ride around the block on her big wheel bike, pedaling (as she would say) “All by my big self”.

Dancing and singing and playing in the house when it was just too hot to be outside.

Day trips to Columbia to visit Gigi, Dale, and Kerri; and an afternoon swim with Uncle Dale in Gigi’s pool.

Fourth of July - with Nana and Pete and Andrew and Sarah - watching uptown fireworks from the park.

Overnight Atlanta trip to see amazing tennis (a Taylor-free trip), and almost-close-enough-to-touch-the-stage standing room at the Jack Johnson concert with Sarah (also Taylor-free).

Slide n’ Seek game: driving around town in search of slides and stopping to try each one.

Gigi slumber parties, Suzie lunches, Tuesdays with aunt Ashley, Sunday brunches at Terrace Café for “whooped” cream, and weekend visits with Nana and Pete.

After such a fun-filled summer Taycation, I can’t believe September is only a week away.

Pool days will soon become school days…

So, let the autumn adventures begin!