Gag Reel

 Here are some random pictures that I like...

Break dancing

F.W. looking scary 

 For some reason this day D was really into taking "sleeping" pictures

 Baltimore is pretty hard core.

 YUM!

It is not easy to get this amount of people to smile at the camera. 

 The END of the trip...

waiting for our flight home!

Camden Yards

 Camden Yards

 4year old for only a few more weeks!

 There was a baseball game the night before but we got stuck in traffic and didn't make it to the game.

 I couldn't get enough of the bricks

(D took this picture)

 Not a fan. 

 See the circles on the ground? Those are bronze baseballs where players have hit home runs.

This guys wanted to take a picture with the kids.

Camden Yards is home to the Orioles. It's a relatively new baseball park, it opened in 1989. However it has the look and feel of an old ball park. Everyone that we met working there was friendly and helpful. We wanted to go to the baseball game the night before but it was raining all day. We figured the game was rained out. I am bummed we weren't able to go to a baseball game but it was cool to be able to walk around. The last time The Hubby and I went to Baltimore we were going to a Ravens game and that was rained out. We don't have much luck in Baltimore when it comes to sporting events.

America's first Cathedral

  Under the Cathedral are the arches that hold up the dome. 

A view of the dome.

While we were in Baltimore we went to America's first Cathedral, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was built from 1806-1821. It's a beautiful peaceful Cathedral. The East coast style is so different from California Missions. 

Raleigh: North Carolina Museum of Natural Science

 Bees!

 Butterfly Garden

*My nieces in the background.

 While in Raleigh we went to the Museum of Natural Science. D really loved this place. It is a big museum, 3 stories. It has lots of information on regional animals, dinosaurs and insects.  He could have spent all day here. We went with the rest of the family. When we entered the museum everyone scattered and went to what interest them. I stayed with D so that is why I mostly have pictures of him.

Caution people walk up buildings in Raleigh

Durham, NC

I didn't get an good pictures at the High School graduation. It was in the Duke indoor stadium so my pictures were all dark. So here is a picture of the proud graduate and all her Uncles.

 Pelican's SnoBalls is so simple and yummy!

This is my nephew's favorite thing in Durham. It's shaved ice like I've never had before. They have 100 flavors! Ranging from Cherry to Pickle.

Go Bulls

Duke Gardens

 Being in North Carolina was a family reunion. We had over 20 people at the gardens. 2 Grandparents their 5 kids and spouses and 9 grand kids. I like this picture because we are walking in together and everyone starts going in different directions.

 My lovely nephew and nieces. D being his usual grouchy old man.

 F.W. and the pond filled with turtles.

 Gates to the gardens. (My In-Laws walking together on the left)

 Red faces...It was a little to hot for my clan. 

(photo taken by my sister in law)

Ducklings

(Photo taken by my Sister and Law)

Family picture time

If I had to pick my favorite place on this trip it would be Duke Gardens. It's absolutely beautiful. It is this huge green park filled with ponds, fountains and lots of different plants and trees. Duke Gardens had the biggest Magnolias I'd ever seen. I wish I'd gotten a picture. They smelled so good. It was really hot the day we went...in the 90s. I would've liked to have stayed longer but it was just TOO hot. I think if it was cooler the boys would have enjoyed themselves more.

Washington DC

F.W.
When we got to DC we were very hungry. We met up with The Hubby's cousin, who lives in DC. He took us to this delicious burger joint called Black & Orange. I had the Now & Zen burger. It's soy sauce, green onion and ginger. So yummy!

World War 2 monument

 The last time The Hubby and I were in Washington DC this monument had just opened. It was really neat to share this trip with the kids. F.W is interested in WW2 so this monument had an impact on him. F.W. and I had recently watched a really good documentary on World War 2 on PBS. I think it was called War.

 Ford Theater 

 Everything is so green at the IRS building. Must be all my tax dollars.

Family photo at the Lincoln Monument

We had a great time at the Capital. We couldn't go into the Washington monument because it got some structural damage from the earthquake that shock the East Coast last year. The real bummer of the trip was they were working on the Smithsonian museum that has the neat pop culture exhibits the boys would enjoy. So we couldn't go in there. They were also redoing the reflection pools. The pools were all dug up and fenced up. We did a lot of walking that day and the boys were real troopers.