Maryland

While Joel was spending a month working in Greece, Italy, Turkey and Spain, the girls and I spent two weeks with my family in Maryland. To help me out on the drive, my mom flew out here and drove back with us to MD. During our last few trips we've had some pretty gross experiences at hotels we stayed out (let's just say big 'ol nasty toenail clippings shouldn't be sprinkled on the floor like confetti! )

Sooooo, we were more than ready for a change. Since this was our first trip without Reuben, we had a few more options for staying overnight during our trip. We found a beautiful Bed and Breakfast right at halfway and had such a wonderful time! Lots of late night giggling in those big antique beds!
So much to love about it: gorgeous historic house, yummy breakfast, toys and movies for the kids, fish for the girls to feed...

(side note: look at the perfect shadow of a butterfly on Tess's back!)

...but this was one of my most favorite parts! Ahhhhhhhh!
Growing up right outside DC we don't take advantage of going downtown very often. Despite the insane DC humidity, my parents and I decided to bring the girls downtown to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Of course taking the Metro down is a big part of the fun!
Tess has been obsessed with learning about skeletal systems the last few months so she really enjoyed this up close and personal visit with Mr. Bones.
Never shying away from bugs, no matter the size, the girls were thrilled when they got a chance to hold a huge grasshopper in the museum. This momma was silently thankful that they weren't letting the kids hold the tarantulas!
Of course the best part is the time spent with family. I love and miss my big sister so much, so I was glad for the days we could spend together. I especially loved loving on my nephew, Steven.
Tess and Gracie absolutely adore Steven and I think he feels the same way!
The girls also enjoyed playing with all of Steven's tools. Uncle Joel would be impressed with Steven's collection of tools (and his knowledge of their names and uses!)
We also spent an evening at my Grandfather's house on the Chesapeake Bay. I love the Chesapeake!
We took a ride on my Grandfather's boat and after about 10 minutes in the Bay the sky opened up and it started pouring! The girls thought it was a riot but the lightening that accompanied that downpour made the adults a little nervous while we were out in the water! Everyone got drenched!


The rain definitely cooled us off a little and a lollipop on the deck while we dried off was a enjoyable ending to an eventful boat ride!
As always we had a wonderful time making memories with my family who we don't get to see as often as we'd like!