Christmas in Columbia SC {2020}

Much like when we lived in Raleigh, NC, we wanted to experience Christmas in the capital of our state. Columbia is the capital of South Carolina and has a beautiful old Capitol building. One Sunday before Christmas and after church and lunch, we decided to take advantage of a particularly beautiful day to walk around the Capitol. Quite a few other folks had the same idea even with professional photographers taking their Christmas family pictures. We had taken our own family pictures at home, but we couldn't pass up an opportunity for some shots around the Capitol building.  Seriously, the weather turned foul right after this, and there was not another good weekend for picture taking before Christmas.  We hope this will become a new tradition for our family.

Daddy and his boys in front of the State House (what South Carolina calls its Capitol building) and the big Christmas tree.  Next year, we hope to visit during the actual tree lighting ceremony.  It was a particularly bright and sunny day which did make picture taking more difficult.  

All of my pictures with the boys here had sunspots so I had to pick the best option.  

Here, the sunspots were over Brody and Grayson and a little on Evan. 

The boys enjoy some shade by the Confederate war monument. Yes, I am glad our state has not "taken them down."  You will see later in this post how South Carolina honors everyone's history in this beautiful state. I think it is sad to remove monuments honoring the dead of any war.  Confederate soldiers died for their states and fought over more issues than slavery.  Most of these soldiers were poor farmers with no slaves and did not even own their own land.  They fought against the tyranny of the northern leaders which Abraham Lincoln would have fought against after the Civil War.  I am a history major so don't challenge me to a duel on this one.  

The beautiful State House

I love those sweet boys in this picture.  They enjoyed running around freely outdoors with NO MASKS!  Don't try to start something on that one either.  Sorry, but I am not playing that game of ignorance here.  Goodbye if you don't like it.  

My sweet Mattox

A contemplative Grayson

A slightly better picture of me and the kids in the shade of the tree. 

I love Grayson's smiles in pictures!  

We have a kid who can take decent pictures of us now.  Yay!  He did get a very funny blurry pic of us pointing and yelling at Grayson in unison who was running off while we were trying to get this picture. 

My handsome husband of over 17 years.  He will soon turn 43, and I think he gets better with age and gray hair.  Haha! 

Trying for a better picture in the shade of the Capitol. 

The boys didn't want to be in another picture with mom so it's just me and my girl.  I love it! 

And another sweet couple shot.  

Isn't it a federal law that every state must have a statue of George Washington?  I thought I remembered that from our trip to Washington, D.C.  Anyway, this is South Carolina's statue. 

The simple yet lovely State House Christmas decorations. 

Here is quite possibly the best African American History Monument I have personally seen, and I have visited the monuments in Washington, D.C.  

These realistic sculptures take you through the history of African Americans from arriving on slave ships to Emancipation to becoming some of the most noble characters in our country's history.  I don't think any people on earth can claim to have risen so quickly from the lowest lows to the highest achievements.  It's a very beautiful and touching tribute.  

Grayson loved the depiction of jazz musicians and athletes. 

And both of these boys were captivated by the astronaut.  

I got teary eyed at this depiction of a slave ship just imaging the deplorable conditions for human beings on board and knowing that many men, women and children did not even survive the journey.  

Only to be sold like livestock into a life of slavery where even their own children weren't considered their own.  

Fighting for freedom not only for themselves but for our whole nation. 

Emancipation was only the first step on the journey towards freedom and equality for all. 

Our sweet Maggie just looks so big walking around like her brothers. 

Walking hand in hand with Daddy is a dream come true for me. I never had this relationship with a father when I was young. 

My heart could explode! 

This beautiful old cathedral like church sits across from the State House. 

A Revolutionary War monument.

It was finally looking like Fall here in December. 

Lovely ginkgo trees may not be native species, but they provide ample color.