GIVE ME MORE OF BALTIMORE!

So, we took the kids in to Baltimore today and let me just say Holy Cow! I'm in Love!

This city is so beautiful and has so much wonderful stuff to do. I really had no idea. I could have stayed forever. I warned my husband that now and for the rest of our lives he is going to have to put up with me whining and nagging about when he is going to take me back to Baltimore.

We started off with the idea of going to the Maryland Science Center. It seemed cool and, better yet, we get in for free with our membership cards from the science center in our hometown. Also, today was their Summer Solstice celebration with face painting, balloon animal making, bubble blowing, and a live kid's band. The best part is that the science center is right on the harbor, literally feet from the water. So, we got to have fun at all the outside carnival-type stuff while overlooking the water, sailboats, etc. It was a warm day but the breeze coming in off the water was fantastic. Plus, there were a bunch of Middle-Eastern men all over the harbor handing out free water bottles and juice boxes. For no reason. Just because they are nice guys. Who wouldn't want to live in a town like that?

The balloon artist decided my son looked like the type of guy who needed a hammer.

Getting her arm painted because she was worried if she got her face painted it would get in her eyes. Such a worrier, that one.

Her finished arm, plus a flower balloon corsage.

A close-up.

My daughter was supposed to be in this picture, too but as soon as we were posed and ready, the dinosaur roared really loud and she ran away with her fingers in her ears. It was hysterical. You can't see it here, but Baker is crying, too.

In the "Hands-On Science" room, my kids loved the pully systems, where you could sit in a chair and pull the rope to lift yourself up off the ground. Of course, neither one of them was strong enough to do this, so my husband and I got quite the arm work-out.

Way past nap time and he can't even hold up his head anymore.

"Meeting" Cal Ripken, Jr in the Kid's Room. Not really sure what this had to do with science, but whatever.

The happiest boy in the world! Soft places to jump and lots of balls to throw. He couldn't get enough of it.

We ate lunch at this fabulous seafood restaurant called the Rusty Scupper. One of those with the best seafood you have ever tasted and breathtaking views of the water. They served this really great bread with a dipping sauce made of red peppers, garlic, and almond paste. It was divine. My son loved it so much, he was literally eating it by the finger full and then, he picked up the bowl and licked it clean. It was awesome. So, of course, we bought a pint of it to enjoy at home!

So, that's our Baltimore adventure re-cap. And, seriously, the next time you get to pick a random city to go visit, especially with kids, this is definitely the place. We are hoping to make it back for the Children's Museum and the Aquarium.

I hope nobody's disappointed when I become an Oriole's fan.