Watkins park with Dustin

Chicken Dance led by Peter!


This was the day I was most looking forward to! Dustin loves trains, and what a great Aunt I would be if we could go on a train! The humidity was a factor again, so we didn't pack a picnic lunch as I had hoped. We got out of the house early and arrived at Watkins before most people. Peter and Dustin were the only riders on the carousel and we had the train to ourselves. Dustin loved the train, Peter preferred to ride the carousel. We walked to the farm to see the animals and Peter was even showing Dustin how to act like a chicken. We played a bit at the playground, and came home to have lunch and to take naps. (all of us!)

Let's "try" to see a movie!

I had a week planned with inexpensive entertainment for Carrie and Dustin. Wednesday was the $1 movie at the AMC theater. The money goes to a charity and for $1 you didn't mind if the kids weren't cooperative. We got to the theater early in order to get tickets. Dustin and Peter were about to embark on their first movie theater experience, "Surf's Up". We sat down at 9:45 the kids loved the advertisements, and when the movie began they liked the movie for about 40 minutes. More importantly Peter and Dustin loved movie theater popcorn. When we lef the theater we headed to the indoor playground at the mall. Dustin loved it!

Big Day Out

On Tuesday of Carrie's visit I had an interview in Lancaster County. Aunt Carrie was in charge of providing meals and fun! The weather was sunny, but the DC Metro humidity sure can make your day miserable. Carrie took the kids to the playground at our lake. They had a great day despite the humidity.

The Chesapeake Bay

Dustin Swimming with Uncle Jeff AND Peter and Daddy

Peter loves the sand


I think Dustin likes the water!


Dustin looking for Fossils AND Aunt Carrie with a dead fish




Dustin just having fun in his puddle AND Peter and Daddy in Bay

Peter Swimming





We travelled to the beach today. Jeff, Carrie, and I didn't know what to expect as Dustin was in opposition to going to the beach. So we kept calling it the Bay and he seemed alright with that idea. The beach is a small cliff like setting where many people sift sand in search of fossils. The water was very shallow, and luck for us there was an estuary that Peter and Dustin seemed content playing in. It took a little coercing, but Peter and Dustin both wound up in the water with Jeff. We were there about an hour digging and jumping and splashing and then Jeff and Peter were whipped in the legs by a jelly fish. On a scale of 1-10 it was absolutely a 9. Not a bad way to spend our anniversary.

Chesapeake Train Museum

I guess every little boy loves trains, and Dustin is no exception. We planned a day at the beach which just so happened to be near the Chesapeake train museum in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. It was a small museum. This was once a huge vacation town. People would flock to this beach area travelling by train from the DC area, until the Bay Bridge opened. Dustin and Peter each got a toy train, and we ate lunch on the train station platform.

Jim Henson Exhibit at Smithsonian

Peter riding the metro train and Peter with the "Mah na na na's"



Poster advertising exhibit and lunch in the water garden



On Thursday, Peter and I were anticipating Aunt Carrie and Dustin to arrive. Due to bad weather in Newark, their flight was cancelled. Taking advantage of a beautiful coolish day in DC, Peter and I ventured into the National Mall to see the "Frog Kermie". It was a very nice presentation on Jim Henson's career. I wasn't able to take pictures in the exhibit, Peter did see Bert and Ernie, Rolf the Dog, the Real Kermie, and many other muppets that Jim Henson created. The exhibit is on loan and runs only to October 5th. After our tour we had lunch in one of the gardens near the Smithsonian Castle. It was a beautiful day!

Fun Time-Summer Time!

Wildwood, NJ

Building an Octopus

Sesame Place

Our week long vacation is over. We returned to the congestion and rat race Saturday. We had an unusual time this vacation. Trying to cut costs we stayed with my parents and took advantage of free activities in Cape May. Jeff went fishing and golfing and I sadly had to ice my ankle due to a tennis injury the first Friday we were there! In the mean time Peter got to enjoy the beach with Daddy. Jeff made a sand Octopus that Peter delighted in jumping on. He rode his first amusement rides in Wildwood, and really loved the bouncy dune buggies. Jeff got to go on all the rides with him. One day we drove up to Sesame again, he is starting to warm up to the characters. His favorites are not your popular characters, he really likes Abby Cadabby, and Bert. Should we be concerned?

Independence Day Weekend

The weather was not too cooperative for the fireworks on Friday, we fought for a parking spot, and wound up better off then driving to the beach. Peter pointed and saw some fireworks from the ice cream shop. Saturday the 5th was the parade I was excited about. The weather was "iffy", and the parade shortened. Peter did manage to dance some and wave his American flag, which made it all worth it.

Leaming's Run Gardens

Today we went to nation's largest annual garden at the Jersey Shore called Leaming's Run. Peter was a bit disappointed because the only animals there were chickens and goats. He did enjoy playing chase with Nanny around the trees and looking at frogs. We came home and played in Nanny's garden, which was just as pretty.

Beach Day

Peter and I arrived at my mom's after a weekend at Wendell and Annette's. Jeff will be joining us for July 4th for a week long vacation in Cape May. Today we took Peter to the Delaware Bay to play in the sand and surf. He wasn't a fan of the water until Nanny dug a hole and let the water run into it, he then liked to splash and jump in the small "puddle".