Independence Day Weekend

Scott and I were able to meet up in Baltimore after he had a business trip to several locations back east. He arrived several hours before me, and rather than wait to pick me up, he headed straight for Jim and Kathie's house. I arrived late at night, so I didn't get to see them until the next morning, but when I knocked on the door, Gavin was waiting on the other side, and it melted my heart to hear him say "Grandma Googy" and watch him do his little "happy dance" to show how excited he was. Griffin came right to me without hesitation, and even put his head on my shoulder. It doesn't get much better than that!

Jim and Kathie treated us to Duck Pin bowling while we were there. Now that was a pretty bizarre sport, with tiny balls and short pins. Lucky for me that the rules allow three tosses of the ball instead of two; otherwise, my dismal performance would have been downright pathetic.

One of my favorite things was to bring some silly little games, books, stickers and stuff for the boys. I gave them to Gavin one at a time over several days, and put them in a red gift bag and set it out for him. He would come by and look at it and say "Red Sack Empty?" and I'd tell him that there was something in it for him which he would go and pull out and play with for a while. After a while, he figured out that the supply of things to fill the red sack up was coming from my suitcase, so he'd bring the red sack over to the suitcase to encourage me to "put something in the red sack."

Our favorite red sack contents were some "pop its" that we would take out on the front porch and sit together tossing them on the sidewalk. He'd throw them down, and if they didn't pop, he'd bend over and say "I'll get it!" Then he'd pick it up and try again. So fun!

We went to the Maryland Science Center, which is full of hands on interactive exhibits. It has a huge area devoted to exhibits for children. You can see the...uh...children here below all busily entertaining themselves on the ball and gravity activities.

Gavin suited up in waterproof apron to play with this water activity with boats, motes, dams, waterfalls, fountains and hoses. One thing for sure, you put this kid near some water, he'll find something to do with it.

Little Griffin didn't want to be left out of the fun, and found some ways to join in the activities.

Gavin saw a penguin display and wanted to hug the "penguins."

His favorite was this enormous track full of mechanisms that moved and turned and whistled as a ball traveled through it. Gavin could have watched this for hours. Jim video'd Gavin watching the ball move through the track, and every time it would hit a new mechanism or drop through a gate, Gavin would do his "happy dance" in excitement.

The Inner Harbor was absolutely beautiful and a perfect day to enjoy Baltimore.

Gavin had to pause to check out the water fountains on the plaza of Inner Harbor.

On Independence Day, we went to the nearby Mt. Washington Parade to enjoy the festivities there. People were dressed in some absolutely crazy outfits, but I wasn't bold enough to take some photos of the crazy attire. Suffice it to say that it kept us and the kids entertained to watch for quite a while.

Then, after the parade, the town had set up activities for the kids, including bubbles, crafts, carnival games and bounces, and a refreshing treat we tried for the first time: Peppermint stick in a lemon.

Griffin and Kathie didn't miss any of the fun either!

Then, it was off to Fort McHenry for an Independence Day celebration. We learned about the role the fort played in the war of 1812, listened to a fife and drum band, and watched them fire off a round from one of the giant cannons. Jim and Gavin also helped roll out this enormous flag, which is the replica of the flag that flew at the fort the night that Francis Scott Key was inspired to pen the words of our National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner."

It was a wonderful weekend and a perfect place to spend it. We loved these precious days with "our boys" and Jim and Kathie too!