DI Families: Meet Danielle and Gabriella
This week, we caught up with Daniel Island mom, Danielle Yonker, a Systems Analyst at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), and her daughter, Gabriella, a 4th grader at the Daniel Island School. Despite the chaos of Hurricane Matthew churning up the southeast coast, Danielle and Gabriella graciously offered to chat with us via a three-way conference call. Thank you Danielle and Gabriella!
Did your family evacuate Daniel Island to escape Hurricane Matthew?
Danielle Yonker (DY): Gabriella went to her father’s family farm in the mountains of North Carolina. I just decided to hang out here in the apartment with my boyfriend, Chris. We’ve had no storm-related problems whatsoever. We’re really lucky!
Where are you from originally? How did you end up in the Charleston area - specifically on Daniel Island?
DY: Eleven years ago, I came to Charleston for a weekend getaway with a friend who had an interview here. I fell in love with the city! So I went back home to Pittsburgh, packed my car with as much as I could, and one month later, I was living here in Charleston.
Soon afterward, I met Patrick Nichols, Gabriella’s dad. We lived in Moncks Corner for several years. But we weren’t really happy with the private school that my daughter, then in first grade, was attending. I had heard all these wonderful things about the Daniel Island School and decided that it would be a good fit for my daughter. Patrick and I had separated by that time, so Gabriella and I moved into an apartment community here on the island. The Daniel Island School was the number one reason we moved here. Gabriella and I have both been really happy with the school.
Do you ever think about moving to a different neighborhood on the island?
DY: I’d love to think about buying a house sometime down the road, but I really love all the amenities I have right here in the apartment complex. I don’t know how I could ever leave here!
What are some of your favorite places to hang out, on or off the island?
Gabriella Nichols (GN): Our pool at the apartments!
Do you ever take any day trips off the island - even out of the Charleston area?
DY: We also like to go to the aquarium and the farmers’ market downtown. We like River Dogs and Stingrays games, too! We also like going to the zoo in Columbia!
GN: And Carowinds!
Do you play any sports?
DY: We like to walk and bike around the island.
GN: I used to play softball, but this year, I think I will be starting tennis lessons in the spring.
DY: Gabriella has also mentioned volleyball and basketball, we will just have to see what she decides in the spring.
What are some of your favorite restaurants on and off the island?
GN: Orlando’s!
DY: We also like Wasabi here on the island as well as Steel City Pizza and Langdon’s in Mt. Pleasant.
Do you like to cook at home? If so, what’s a favorite dish that you make?
GN: Taco casserole!
DY: That’s one of her favorites. She had Taco Casserole the night before she left for NC for the hurricane.
Do you have any special family traditions?
DY: We always do a special back-to-school trip at the end of the summer. She really enjoys our special makeover day we have the night before school starts every year.
GN: This year we went to Carowinds.
DY: Last year we went to the American Girl store in Atlanta. Her dolls got full make-overs there, and then Gabriella went on a shopping spree.
Do you have anything else you’d like to share with readers that I haven’t asked, something that would help them get to know you better?
GN: I have a lot of animals.
DY: Gabriella is a real animal-lover!
What kinds of animals do you have?
GN: I have three dogs named Natalia, Huckleberry and Jasmine. I also have two cats named Abby and Douglas, a parakeet named Turquoise, and a frog named Raccoon.
GN: I also have donkeys and a tortoise! And on my family’s farm here in NC I have a baby llama. I’m also getting a French bulldog. I was going to get a pig, but I decided I want another dog instead.
Anything else?
GN: I love art and painting!
Can you describe your life on Daniel Island in just a few words?
GN: Fun!
DY: Beautiful. Busy. We are always busy here doing something! We really love everything here on Daniel Island. I can’t imagine living anywhere else!