Twins
Charleston: Historic Aiken-Rhett House
Ready to visit Charleston’s Historical Aiken Rhett House!
The Aiken Rhett House was the final house on our house tours through Charleston that day. We finished with this house last because it was the closest one to the parking garage and we made a full circle around downtown Charleston. It was a fun day of learning and exploring some amazing places in Charleston. We look forward to visiting other houses and historical sites in the Charleston area in the future. Who knows were we will be exploring the next time around. Thankful for some extra time with the girls.
The original owner of the Aiken-Rhett house was John Robinson who was a shipping merchant. A few years after the house was built John lost several ships at sea and had to sell the house due to financial hardship. William Aiken Sr. purchased the home from John Robinson in the late 1820’s. William Aiken was an Irish immigrant who was a Charleston merchant. Originally William and his wife, Henrietta Wyatt Aiken, used the house as a rental property. William Aiken died unexpectedly in a carriage accident leaving behind his wife Harriet and his only son William Aiken Jr.
When William Aiken Jr. married Harriet Lowndes they decided to make this house their main place of residence and started renovating the property. William Aiken Jr. was known as a prominent businessman, rice plantation owner, politician, and the Governor of South Carolina. When William and his wife made trips to Europe the would bring back beautiful pieces of art and furniture. William’s put his cousin, Joseph Daniel Aiken, in charge of overseeing the building of an Art Gallery to house these fine pieces. The Aiken’s more than 2000 volume library that they acquired on their travels throughout Europe is now in the care of the Charleston Library Society, the majority of the books were published in the 1800s. The back yard of the Aiken-Rhett house contained the kitchen, laundry, carriage and stable house, outbuildings, and slave quarters.
This house was unique to tour because they took a very different approach to preserving its history. They have done very little updating or restoration to house so it looks much older than some of the other ones we toured because it still had a lot of the old wall paper and items in the home. Instead of having a guide take us through the house they gave you an audio devise and headphones that took you through the house and yard. No pictures were allowed in the house, however, we were able to take a few pictures outside the house. Probably my favorite comment from the girls was “This is really neat seeing how the house looked so many years ago, I can even smell the history!”
This picture is taken in the backyard near the servants quarters. The yellow building is the house and the gray with green doors is the stable and carriage house.
Beautiful trees in the backyard. The girls thought this picture was cool because the sun shining through the tree looks like a star burst.
Brina and Karlie checking out all the buildings on the property. The one they are currently in was the original privy (yes, bathroom). Thankfully it was clean and no longer in use. They had two in opposite corners at the very end of the yard (one for the men and the other for the women).
Walking through the back yard while listening to the audio history facts. I got the thumbs up from Karlie.
A view from the stables side of the yard. This picture faces the back of the house (yellow building) and the kitchen and servants quarters.
Enjoying a breeze and a cool view of downtown Charleston from the Aiken Rhett balcony.
Listening to the audio history while joggling for a few minutes on the balcony.
Charleston’s Historical Aiken-Rhett House at 48 Elizabeth Street!
Charleston: Historic Joseph Manigault House
Visiting Charleston’s Historic Joseph Manigault House!
Another neat Historical house we visited one time when we were in Charleston was the Joseph Manigault’s House! This was one of the few houses they allowed pictures inside the house so we have a few extra to share with you. We arrived a few minutes before the tour of the house started so we got a chance to explore the gardens and area around the house. We learned a lot about this house during the tour.
Joseph Manigault a French Huguenot descendent was the original owner of the Joseph Manigault House. He had this house built during the antebellum period in the lowcountry. Manigault was a rice plantation owner, businessman, and politician. His wealth was inherited from his grandpa, who gave him several rice plantations and more than 200 slaves. Joseph Manigault first married Maria Henrietta Middleton. Maria’s father was Arthur Middleton who was signed the Declaration of Independence. His second wife was Charlotte Drayton. Joseph and Charlotte had eight kids who spent time in this home.
Like a lot of the other houses we visited in downtown Charleston this was his city house. Although, during his time this house was considered to be located in the country because it was outside of downtown Charleston. Now it is considered downtown Charleston. The house contains a beautiful spiral staircase in the entryway with a gorgeous chandelier. The furniture is not from the original family, however, they have acquired pieces that fit that time period and the decorations as well as the paint match the original colors from that time period.
Outside they had the kitchen, slave quarters, stables, privy, and a gate temple. The outdoor buildings (with exception of the Gate Temple) have been taken down, but foundations can still be seen with signs describing what was once in the various spots around the yard. It is a beautiful yard to walk through on a nice day or to sit and relax on the porch. One side the house faces the Charleston Museum and the other side faces downtown Charleston.
The girls enjoyed visiting the various houses in Charleston.
Exploring the gardens around the Joseph Manigault house.
Hanging out in the shade at Gate Temple.
Spiral staircase and chandelier in the foyer of the house.
One of the circular side balconies faces the street. The balconies were often open allowing a nice breeze to flow throughout the house.
Charleston’s Historical Joseph Manigault House located at 350 Meeting Street.
Charleston: The Charleston Museum
Standing beside the replica of the H. L. Hunley outside of the Charleston Museum!
The girls have been wanting to go to the Charleston Museum ever since they saw the replica of the Hunley sitting outside in front of it. On one of our recent trips we got a chance to explore the Charleston Museum. The girls were very excited to check out the museum. The Charleston Museum was America’s First Museum founded in 1773 with the purpose of preserve the culture and history of Charleston and the Lowcountry.
Checking out the Hunley replica before heading into the Charleston Museum.
Oh yes, they found a cannon!
Look above the girls! That’s a huge whale skeleton hanging from the foyer of the Charleston Museum. That whale was one that came into the Charleston Harbor many years ago.
Checking out the display!
Soaking in all the history!
Brina enjoyed going through the animal displays.
Goofy Karlie….
Hanging out with two Southern Belle’s!
Dressing up in some fun clothes!
The dresses are not the most perfect fit, but we had fun!
Brina having a grand time!
Charleston: Historic Edmonston-Alston House
Ready to tour the Historic Edmonston-Alston House in Charleston!
The next historic house we toured in Charleston was the Edmonston-Alston House. We arrived a few minutes before the house opened so we were able to grab a picture and relax a few minutes. On the side porch they have a place for you to sit, get a refreshing glass of water, and relax. We enjoyed a few minutes of relaxing and chatting before heading into the house. We were not allowed to take pictures in this house either so most of what you are pictures the exterior or porch.
We have passed the Edmonston-Alston House many times on the way to the Battery Park. It is only a short walk away from Battery Park and overlooks the Charleston Harbor. Several notable historical figures were present in this house. It was on the balcony (or piazza as they call it in Charleston) of the Edmonston-Alston House that General P.T. Beauregard saw the bombardment of Fort Sumter at the beginning of the Civil War. General Robert E. Lee used the Edmonston-Alston as a safe haven from Charleston’s 1861 fire.
The house was built by Charles Edmonston who was a shipping merchant, however, due to economic hardship in the mid 1800’s Charles Edmonston sold his house to Charles Alston. Charles Alston was a predominant rice planter. It was Alston who added the balcony on the third level of the house and his family’s coat of arms on the balcony along the roof. The house has been through many historical events in Charleston from the Civil War, Charleston Fire in 1861, Earthquake in 1886, Hurricanes, and more.
An heir from the Alston family still lives in the upper level of the house, but generously allows visitors to take tours. A lot of the furniture, silver, and other items in the house are actual the Alston family heirlooms which make this house more unique. It was really neat to see items that have been preserved and kept within the family for over 150 years. The Middleton Place Plantation actually manages the Edmonston-Alston House and if you are looking for a neat place to stay in Charleston you can stay at the Edmonston-Alston Bed and Breakfast.
The lady who led the tour for the Edmonston-Alston House was our favorite. She was very personable, was excited to see the kids, made the tour interesting, and great learning experience for all of us. She die an interactive scavenger hunt with the girls throughout the house and they got a little prize at the end too. The girls got to experience the joggling board for the first time at the Edmonston-Alston House. We have seen several, but they had never sat on one. They loved it! Such a fun experience!
The joggling board was first found during the Antebellum period in the South. It is a long board that is supported on each end by wooden stands that can rock back and forth. The board is springy and the people sitting on it can bounce up and down as well as rock back and forth on it. There are a couple stories behind the purpose of the joggling board.
One theory – it was developed because C. Kinloch’s sister, Benjamin Kinloch Huger, had rheumatism which made it impossible for her to go for horse and carriage rides. The joggling board was put outside on the porch for fresh air and exercise. It mimicked the motion of riding a horse or in a carriage. Soon the joggling board became a staple piece on many porches in the Lowcountry and was a great way to relax while sitting outside.
Another theory – was that the joggling boards were created as “courting benches” for young couples. Per the legend if you sit on a joggling board with a young suitor you were considered engaged. The man would start on one end of the joggling board and the women on the other side. As the couple joggled they would slowly move to the center of the joggling board. Once the young couple was in the middle of the joggling board they could briefly sit together and have a conversation.
I have heard the second theory several times, but the first one made more sense. You hear stories of the lady of the house or one of the maids rocking babies on the joggling board before putting them to bed too. The girls were ready to get one for our porch they thought it was so much fun.
Charleston’s Historic Edmonston-Alston House at 21 East Battery!
Charleston: Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry
Brina having fun at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry.
On one of our visits to Charleston I asked what the girls would like to do and they requested to go to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry. We spent the morning playing, exploring, and being creative at the museum. This was our second time visiting the Charleston’s Children Museum. Some of the rooms and displays were the same, but several were new so that made it entertaining for the kids. Thankful for a fun rainy morning inside with the kids!
Karlie doing the climbing wall.
I see Brina Bee!
An airplane seesaw!
Brina walking the plank! She seems pretty happy to walk the plank!
Karlie having a blast in the water room!
The water works room is always a fun one!
Brina hanging out in the pirate boat!
Karlie the pirate!
Brina having a blast at the museum!
Look out they are driving the fire truck.
Brina painting her master piece at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry!
Charleston: Historic Heyward-Washington House
The girls hanging out by the kitchen at the Heyward-Washington House. The kitchen house contained all the cooking, washing, and upstairs it has a servants quarters.
The girls and I visited The Heyward-Washington House when we were in Charleston recently. We got there a few moments before the tour so we were able to spend some time walking through the Heyward-Washington House kitchen and gardens. It was nice to take a walk through the gardens first thing in the morning. We were so excited to explore we didn’t get a picture of the front of the house.
Thomas Heyward, Jr was the owner of this house. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and was in the militia during the American Revolution. During President George Washington’s stay in Charleston he stayed at the Heyward-Washington House. In the late 1700’s the house sold to John F. Grimke. Grimke served in the Revolutionary War and the father of Sarah and Angeline Grimke. Sarah and Angeline were known for speaking out against slavery and were asked to leave Charleston. Earlier this year the Brina had done a research project on Angeline Grimke so that was really neat to find out her family lived in this house. It was Charleston’s first historic home that was turned into a museum.
Girls in the kitchen. It must have been a super busy kitchen many years ago.
Touring the gardens of the Heyward-Washington House.
Walking through the gardens checking out all the plants.
Brina in the garden. She is very concerned we are going to miss the tour because we are walking through the gardens! She was good about keeping track of our time!
Beautiful purple flowers in the garden.
Touring the Heyward-Washington House! The girls were the only kids and the tour guide had them do a scavenger hunt looking for various items throughout the house. It made the tour a little more of an adventure for the girls and they earned a free gift at the end!
A neat house to explore! The Heyward-Washington House part of Historic Charleston!
Heart Reflections: Raising My Girls
Sweet Brina Bee!
I am so thankful for my girls! They are growing up too quickly. It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago when they were little ones crawling around the house. God chose to bless us with these girls. It has been a fun adventure raising twins! Not everyday has been perfect, but we have so many reasons to be grateful for these two blessings. They have made me grow more as a person. They bring more love and laughter into my life than I ever realized was possible.
My sweet Karlie Kool Kat is always game for a road trip!
Both girls are very different, yet perfect and gifted in their own special ways. I pray that God will give us as parents the wisdom to raise them into amazing young women. I know I will make mistakes as their Mom along the way, but hopefully they will overlook those mistakes and know that I love them despite those not-so-good-moments. It is my prayer that they will seek God’s wisdom and direction in their lives.
I want to go through life focusing more on the good memories and letting go of the little things that get my feathers ruffled. Life is too short to not have fun, smile, and enjoy the blessings God gives us everyday. For those of you who are new to my blog these two girls were the inspiration for my blog, Blessings Multiplied. They continue to amaze me with their creativity, learning, talents, and their love for life! I look forward to many more awesome memories with these two sweet girls and seeing how God uses them to make an impact in the lives around them.
House Building, Ice Cream Floats, Birds, Cats, and Crab Apples!
Fluff was such a good sport and let Brina carry her around!
We had a grand time in Kansas visiting family. Our time went by too quickly, but we were able to pack in a lot during our time in the area. We spent time with Great Grandparents, Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts, Cousins and more. Thankful for family and the moments we get to share.
We brought ice cream floats to the guys who were working on my brother Josh’s house! Ice cream floats are a rare treat for the girls since we have one that has a dairy allergy so they were very excited!
Karlie enjoying her ice cream float!
Brina relaxing and sipping her float!
My brother is currently building a house so we got to watch the process and help carry a few boards. He is getting married later this year so he has a deadline! It will be a nice place for the new couple!
Checking out Great Grandpa Verlyn’s birds!
They always love going out to see Grandpa’s birds!
Some of the chickens!
And a turkey!
The girls wanted to help Grandpa collect the eggs, he had already done it that morning, but they had laid some more!
A few more eggs, some big ones too!
Grandpa Verlyn gave the girls some of his Crab Apples! He warned them that they were tart, but they insisted that they wanted to try them anyway!
Karlie thought the crab apples were great!
Brina loved the crab apples too! I thought the crab apples were a little too tart, but they both thought they were awesome! There are very few food items especially fruits and vegetables that they don’t like!
Pampers Gifts to Grow – 50 Free Points
You can receive another 50 free points from Pampers with a new Gifts to Grow code!
This code is different from the previous codes I have given.
- Use Code: 50WICFSCL201415
(Did not see an expiration date, but I would enter this big one as soon as possible!)
You can save up the rewards to purchase gifts! For more information about the Pampers Gift to Grow Program and how you can start earning Pampers “Gifts to Grow” Rewards for your family go to Pampers Gifts to Grow!
Fun with the Animals
Walking the animals!
At Grandpa Russell and Grandma Penny’s house they had two dogs, cats, pony, and a horse that provided a lot of fun entertainment for the kids. Everyday they played with the dogs, cat, and did something with the horse and pony. Sometimes they went for carriage rides, combed them, rode the horse and pony, or led them around the pasture. The girls enjoy anything to do with animals so these activities were a big hit!
Karlie playing with Aunt Renelle’s dog!
The girls love animals and are always game to spend some extra time with any animal. When we were in Colorado we stayed with at my cousin Renelle and Eric’s house. They have two dogs and two cats that are in the house so the girls thought that was awesome. They had a blast playing with all the animals (well, except for one of the cats who booked it as soon as he saw us bringing our suitcase inside the house.
Brina petting Renelle’s dog!
Buzz and Misty were very excited to see the kids back in Kansas and came running (of course they were with Grandma Penny and carrying a bucket of treats too).
Brina carry a halter and a bucket of treats for Buzz and Misty!
Heading to the pasture with Grandma to spend time with the animals!
Brina leading Misty around.
Karlie was giving Buzz some exercise too!
The dogs thought it was a great game and were running back and forth as the girls walked Misty and Buzz!
Enjoying some time with the animals!
Brina loves Misty! Such a sweet pony!
Buzz and Misty did really well being led by kids and a lead rope!
Brina would spend hours in the pasture if we let her!
Switched! Karlie is now leading Misty and Brina is leading Buzz around the pasture!
Going for their last walk of the evening!
Beautiful Kansas sunset! Taken in the front yard at my parents house.
