Saturday, March 3, 2012

Baltimore Baby

My bro in law Doug will be graduating Dental School in a few months and they're moving to Oregon to work w/ my other Bro in law Ben. So since they are leaving me, I mean moving on and getting a real job, we've been trying to get together as often as we can. Jackie is literally ready to pop and her Doctor told her to stay w/in 2 hours of home-so the halfway point was Baltimore. We (Meyersons and Shafers) stayed in a hotel in downtown inner harbor, w/ adjoining rooms and had a good time playing!

Of course my computer had a terrible time uploading the pics (b/c there are 800 of them) and they're all out of order. You the reader don't care-me I'm going insane. This pic is actually the last day when we walked up to the Dental Museum. It wasn't open yet-but we enjoyed sitting outside of it b/c the weather was gorgeous!
 This is just as we were leaving our hotel. Aren't they cute cousins?
 Addy and Eliza want some lovin' too!
 These 3 are like the 3 Musketeers-they have a love/hate relationship. They are really like siblings.
 Now back to the first day. We went to the Baltimore Aquarium. I wasn't all that impressed w/ it-but there were sharks and fish so that was satisfaction for me. This is a Megaladon. It's a shark? Is it real? We didn't read about it, which now I'm wishing I had. Weird.
 Doug. Enough said!
 Spongebob Square Ty.
 Chasey never fails to make a funny face.
 All the girlies in their jammies made by my mom. Apparently Addy had better things to do.
 We celebrated Eliza's b-day AGAIN w/ cupcakes before swimming.
 It was quite exciting for the kids. I was sad b/c I'd worked my butt off on them and they didn't taste taht great. Oh, well...
 Oh, and back at the aquarium for the "Dolphin" show. I put in quotations b/c it was more about saving the oceans than actual action. But when they jumped it was pretty awesome! And sitting next to Ty is George. The aquarium was approximately 100* and we unfortunately saw the coat check as we left. So Phil had the ingenious idea of taking all of our coats and stuffing it into his. He carried it like a backpack and we treated it as another member of the family. Think that's weird? I consider it resourceful!
 And baaack to the small b-day party. I filled all of these balloons w/ candy, water guns and snakes (of course-duh) and we did an easier version of a pinata. I attached a pin to a music stick and the little girls walked up and stabbed them and the rest of us threw it like a dart. Pretty dangerous, and also pretty fun. I was surprised the popping didn't freak out the girls. They guarantee of a treat must have helped. And I still have a terrible blister on my finger from prying open each balloon to fill it up. It won't heal. Job hazards...
 Big kids collecting the loot.
 Doug ready to aim and fire.
 Sweet air shot by Phil.
 The pool where we spent lots of quality time.
 Daddy and his little stinker.
 Eliza and Addy in their twinner dresses. With poses like these-modeling is not in the near future. :)
 Baseball Stadium where the Orioles play. Our hotel room overlooked it! This is my little family freezing our bums off!
 The football stadium next to the baseball stadium. I have no clue who the team is. So sue me.

 Inside the hotel lobby. Everything was themed baseball b/c of the proximity to the stadium and Babe Ruth's birthplace was around the corner. Heaven for the boys!
 The view from our room. Pretty cool!
 On our walk to Babe Ruth's birthplace museum. The brick walls are curved at the bottom. It was really cool. Eliza and Ty.
 Phil/Spiderman.
 Lexi-Lou.
 At the museum.
 These were cool. The left bat is one Babe Ruth batted w/ in a game and the other was Cal Ripkin's. They were showing us the difference in size of bat. Pretty interesting.

 Baseball card heaven. When I say the boys (Phil, Doug, and Ty are OBSESSED w/ baseball cards I mean it.)


  Us by the hotel and stadium walking about.
 Jackie and I. For sisters we don't sit very close. :)
 gotta do the funny/ugly face thing. you just do. it was a great trip and I'm glad we all got together. Next time I see them I'll be holding a little tiny girl! Hooray!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

A Happy 3rd Birthday to my girly girl!

Here is my curly cue on her b-day morning. She's opening puzzles from Grandma and Grandpa Dunlop. She is sort of obsessed w/ puzzles and she's been loving her new ones. And so have I b/c I was sick of doing the same ones over and over and over...
 They also got her some food for her new kitchen. This is way nicer than the plastic stuff we have and she loves it!

 Quick fake obligatory "smile."
 My 3 just awaken kiddos!
 Playing w/ the new kitchen. She loves it!

 After the boys left for school we made brownies together. She loves to help and looks so stinkin' cute in an apron!

 That afternoon she and I went out to lunch together and she got a pancake w/ bear face on it. it was quite exciting for her! Then that evening after dinner, her choice was tacos of course, we sang happy birthday w/ the Meyerson's. She had such a fun day!
 When we saw Grandma Joellen last she gave Eliza this for her b-day. Eliza is quite the little artist and is loving her new easel. She asks to paint daily-and it keeps her quiet for 30 minute stretches! Perfecto!
 Every single thing she paints is "the Disney boat."
 The boys-and yes Chase is wearing pink sweats. Luckily they are Lexi's. ha.
 This pic has nothing to do w/ her b-day, but made me giggle. We wore this girl out-she NEVER falls asleep like this, so when she did we all sat and stared at her. She's so sweet-we all kind of have a crush on her!