Sesame Place

Saturday we took a day trip to Sesame Place and we had a blast!

First I have some general park tips and then I have some family pics to share, so if you want the pics just skip ahead.

Here are some park tips I picked up:

• No shoes, no ride. This seems obvious, but when I saw a man wearing a 4 month old in an Ergo get yelled at by a 16 year old ride operator for trying to bring the baby on the ride I realized they were taking that rule VERY literally. What 4 month old wears shoes?!


• Height requirements- Most rides require you to be 36 inches tall (like the roller coaster and many of the water slides) Henry who is not nearly 3 feet tall had a blast too, and since he's not one for thrills he didn't mind. But if you have a daredevil who isn't 3 feet tall, I'd wait till they grow a bit before bringing them (because the park personnel take the rules very literally).


• Bring a bag that is small enough to put in a locker (2ftx1ft) or bring a wet-bag so you can keep your valuables with you in the water park. I was so nervous every time we parked the stroller that it was hard for me to have fun. But worrying is what I do best...


• Using that waterproof sling for Henry was great because he spent much of the water park time standing with his arms over his head begging to be held or actually in some one's arms. Using the sling saved my back and kept both hands free to take pics and occasionally help Jack.


• When you enter the park to the left underneath the big Rubber Ducky raft slide there is a small shallow pool. There are benches and picnic tables and a little train hand car ride. It's shaded. It's the perfect place to make camp or take a little break. Also a great place to breastfeed, there were lots of moms that chose that spot, it was kinda funny that it was this unspoken rule.

That's enough tips, now it's time for the pics! Henry loved the Big Bird Balloon Race.
Splash park. Big hit for Jack!

Henry, not so much.

Despite some body language to the contrary, Jack LOVED this slide, and went again and again. He just barely met the height requirement (My fave part about this is I was able to go first, then tell the lifeguard at the bottom he needed to be caught and the lifeguard would fish him out. I saw another family, otherwise I wouldn't think he could have safely done this one at all!

Henry could give a hoot about Elmo. His loyalty lies with Cookie.

They loved it!

And that roller coaster? Jack rode it 3 times and then wanted to ride again and again but we bribed him with dinner at Macaroni Grill instead. I love that there were so many restaurants right outside the park because another chicken finger or cheese 'pizza' option would have made my head explode!

S'mores!

We've been pretty busy lately, so I'm going to break our goings-on into categories. Since it's me we're talking about you knew there had to be an entire category dedicated to food... specifically dessert! Six months ago Jack saw this t-shirt in a store and insisted that I buy him the camping shirt. He now often requests it when getting dressed in the morning. So when I say I've been waiting for this photo opportunity I want you to understand my full meaning.

Jack was sold right away.

Like I said.... sold.

Henry found the sticky marshmallow goo to be amusing.

Daddy enjoyed it too.

I confess, we cheated and used the gas grill, we didn't work over an open flame.

The allure of Pretty Things

During my weekend away my attempts at embracing aparigraha played second fiddle to my desire to shop for pretty things in an adult-like way.

If you have tiny humans of your own you know what it's like to take them shopping. No stores with breakable things. Attention constantly divided between what you're looking for and making sure they aren't running amok. I discovered The Coconut Bay. A new store in Historic Berlin, MD. They have the coolest Buddhist, Hindu and early Christian collection of items I've ever seen. Beautiful Celtic Crosses.

Statues of Buddha in every shape and size. Carvings of Hindu gods & goddesses. Wicked cool pagan stuff (I couldn't help myself).

Even Japanese shoes.

At the antique stores I scored some more plates for my wall art in the dining room.

I'm starting a collection of tea cups and saucers, I even got a cast iron tea pot, for less than 50% the going rate!

And a stool for the kids. Because when I cook I usually have an audience, and with only one stool there are many disagreements over who gets to stand on it.

A Weekend in Food

Upon arrival appetizers were presented.

The next morning we had tea (the balsamic vinegar dressing didn't kill me, despite vinegar's strictly verboten dietary status.)

Tiny sandwiches, scones and yummy chocolate treats. The white-haired owner of the store came over to tell us what was on each tier and then she leaned in to explain that the chocolate treat on top was like an "orgasm in your mouth." I just about died!

Sunday morning we went to 'the crepes place'. I did not order the Hot Fudge Sunday crepe, because I can't have calcium within two hours of my morning dose of antibiotics. Stab, stab, stab.

My garden omelet (no cheese) and crepe with jelly were yummy and filling.

As was the hash browns, which we split.

Next up, A Weekend in Shopping. Because when you go on vacation without your tiny humans in tow there are 3 things worth doing: eat out uninterrupted, go shopping uninterrupted, sleep uninterrupted. (But pictures of me sleeping would be kinda boring, no?)

Vay-Cay Recap

We went to the beach for Memorial Day weekend. And while we were there... We played on a pirate ship.

Went crabbing off the end of GiGi and PaPa's dock.

Played on the beach.

Saw a circus.

Walked hand in hand.

Watched a robin take a bath.

Showed Henry a crab.

Saw a bull nose skate.

The View

We're enjoying the view from here!

Where are you this Memorial Day weekend? What does your view look like?

These boots are made for walkin'

But since I don't own a pair of hiking boots I have to go buy some.

Why? You ask.

Because I'm going to do a whole lot of walking come August!

The Nerd-tastic Husband and I are going to Las Vegas. We're driving to the Grand Canyon and hopefully hiking all the way down to the bottom (maybe camping down there) and then hiking all the way back up!

That's a hard trip to take with kids! You say.

Yes, it is, that's why we're leaving them in the capable hands of their grand parents for 7 days!! SEVEN! I cannot wait!!!

The rest of our Easter awesome-ness

Instead of having a bunch of posts all week about our Easter Vacation (because we really did so much) I'm going to give you one monster blog with a bunch of pics of everything we did. The egg hunt in historic Berlin, MD is serious business. Just ask Jack.

Henry wanted in on the fun too.

Henry was a snuggle-monster the whole vacation. Stealing a snuggle from anyone or anything who'd stay still long enough.

On Sunday morning we hunted for eggs inside

and out.

Then we wandered down a country lane.

We took a family pic. (We missed you, Daddy!)

We marveled at our Easter egg creations (crayon shavings sprinkled over just hard boiled, and thus hot eggs).

Jack's egg close up. So cool!

Then we went to the beach.

Beach on Easter Sunday? Awesome!

It was warm enough for a sundress!

We're Training for Everest

I think it's time to hike our local 'Mountain.' As much a mountain as Maryland has at any rate.

Also I'm really considering building a climbing wall in the basement. I wonder if my husband would go for it or if he would tell me to go fly a kite. Place your bets now.