Baltimore 2011 - day 3

Day 3 - we slept in again!  The Hampton offers a late check-out (noon) which gave us plenty of time to raid the breakfast buffet and pack, before checking out and driving to the zoo.  We lucked out with fantastic weather- it felt a lot like summer!

Sorry for the poor picture quality - I forgot to change the camera settings back after the aquarium the day before.  You might have to click "read more" below to see the rest of the pictures.

Candy Crane

leopard?  jaguar?  cheetah?

train ride!

the carousel, Andrew's most favorite thing

flying bananas!

 

our little birdies

Andrew LOVED being a turtle..... he could have played all day there

turtle twins

Both kids loved the zoo, but we were burned out and more than ready to go home by 4pm.

Baltimore 2011 - days 1 & 2

A couple weeks ago we took a much-anticipated trip to Baltimore's Inner Harbor - something we try to do every year.  Evyn had a half day of school, so as soon as she came home we hit the road- getting to the hotel just before dinner. We stay at the same place each year - the Hampton Inner Harbor.  It's become one of Evyn's favorite traditions.  There is a small indoor pool that, apparently, nobody but us uses- a real treat for the kids!  So after arriving, unpacking, and grabbing some sandwiches in lieu of dinner, we went for a swim. 

Getting the kids to sleep that night was a challenge!  They opted to share the sofa-bed, but when I got up around 1am both kids were snoozing on the floor.  I later learned that they were "camping" - ??  Crazy kids.

Day 2 - we all slept in!  After raiding the breakfast buffet we walked to the aquarium.  Evyn loved it, as usual.  Andrew?  Not so much.  In fact, by the time we got to the best part - the spiral walk around the round tanks full of sharks and other curiosities- he was crying and asking to leave.  Always interesting with this little guy!  Although, he did enjoy the 'rainforest' on the top level, particularly the turtles.

 

Evyn checking out the telescope

 

beautiful jellyfish

 

By the time we finished at the aquarium and grabbed some lunch, Andrew was tired, with a capital T.  The plan was to take him back to the room for a nap, while Evyn & Scott did a little shopping.  

Well.  

Almost two l.o.n.g., tearful hours later he did finally conk out - like this:

a night in Baltimore

at the zoo - the 100+ year old corrals - no longer in use.
we spied a group of wild deer beyond them.

waiting for the otters (Evyn's favorite) to swim over

otter abode

Andrew cruised around in the stroller.
He points when he wants something.
Guess what he was pointing at.

polar bears!

this ostrich followed Evyn across the whole exhibit

rhinoceros

Andrew's favorite part of the trip - playing
with the mini fridge and wet bar!

he would NOT sleep in the hotel's pack & play.
can't say I blame him - the beds were super comfy!

this is what happens when a restaurant advertises
being "family friendly," but only has one high chair -
currently in use by another child. first (and likely last!)
time I let the kids have the run of any place. perhaps the
restaurant will get the hint and buy a few more high chairs!

hotel pool

Evyn (wearing a glow necklace) watching a thunderstorm

the kids thought this little space between the bed
and the wall made a great "clubhouse." they
played for hours back there! a late night for all.

aquarium

happy in his sling

sharks!

dolphin show - and look, Andrew is pointing again. Such
a Momma's boy when he's tired! To borrow a phrase from
Tara Livesay ~he tries "to climb back inside the womb."

see the dolphin up in the air?