Fourth of July Visit from Farmor & Farfar

Austin's parents came up to visit us over the July 4th weekend. On Friday, July 4th, we went to Fort McHenry (which seemed like an appropriate 4th of July outing). Ainsleigh got to ride the water taxi over from the inner harbor with Farmor and Farfar. Once at the Fort, Ainsleigh got to wear a soldier's hat, watch a circa 1812 magic show, and watch the fife and drum drill en route to shooting off a cannon.
After the water taxi ride back (and a nap), it was off to the baseball game.
Ripken was all smiles and we were set to go, until we realized it was raining. Not to be deterred from an evening of peanut-eating and Oriole-cheering, Ainsleigh accosted Farmor's umbrella and set out for the stadium. This proved more entertaining than the game itself for Tracy & Kay (and any passers-by), because all you could see under the umbrella was her feet. She truly looked like a walking umbrella. It was a slow, zig-zaggy walk.

D E T E R M I N A T I O N

Walking by yourself, in the rain while carrying an umbrella twice your size and half your weight in order to eat peanuts and cheer for the Orioles.

Ainsleigh got to the stadium, relinquished the umbrella, ate lots of peanuts, and even got to see the Orioles' mascot, the Bird. I think there was a camera glitch, so no photo of Ainsleigh with the Bird, but she gave him a high five and he gave her some kisses. Fireworks at the Inner Harbor were apparently disappointing (Tracy stayed behind with the kids and watched from the 2nd story deck).

Saturday, July 5: We went to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum, which is just a few blocks from our apartment.









It has a gorgeous round house and lots of old train engines. Unfortunately you can only climb on a few of them.






Driving a train.










Checking out the model train.

Post-nap we went to IKEA. Ainsleigh is now big enough to play in the children's play area while we shop, so that was exciting for everyone.

July 6: This morning we went to Annapolis (where Austin was born and lived until moving to NC in 1990-ish). There was a little arts and crafts festival, lots of dogs and even the local band, which Ainsleigh liked but said it was "pretty loud." Then we got fish & chips and ate outside along the water. This was Ainsleigh's first encounter with fried fish; she liked it and ate most of Austin's.

Another action-packed weekend! This morning Ainsleigh woke up and asked, "Where's Farmor and Farfar?" Fortunately, Farmor will be back in 3 weeks for another visit, this time with cousin Erik. We're just past the half-way point for our time in Baltimore...a little less than 5 weeks until we're back in NC!