the fun never stopped

We had such a blast with our family last week. We knew that having a baby would finally bring them our way!

We started off the 10 day adventure with a trip to the Baltimore Aquarium. My favorite part was the jelly fish exhibit. Hazel was mesmerized too!

I love all the fish swarming above Isaac's head and Hazel's "get me outta here" look.

Hazel digging the dolphin show

Russ, Tiff, Emma and Maggie

After eating at Mama's on the Half Shell (wow, good!) we headed to DC. We were planning to stay two nights at this awesome hotel but had so much fun we extended our trip another day.

At Ford's Theater

Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

Riding the site-seeing bus (and sites we did see!)

At the Lincoln Memorial.
Speaking of Lincoln, do you know it costs 1.7cents to make a penny?

Tiff being vogue and striking a pose

Boating down the Potomac

Hazel loves GDebs and JPa (awesome names we came up with)

I think Hazel looks on the verge of sadness; Isaac thinks she is so happy she's about to explode.

At the Eternal Flame in Arlington

Changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Next up was a trip to Lancaster to do some shopping, eating, and golf playing, though I took pictures of nothing.

Then we spent a day showing them around Philly, went to the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and shopping for Penn attire. I was the lucky recipient of the best dang pair of pj pants I have ever owned- all day long I dream about the time I can put those babies on.

That evening we went our separate ways for a few hours. Some of my friends and I were throwing a farewell party for the Lakes. They are gone, far far away, and I don't want to talk about it.

Ben on the Bench

Friday morning we headed to NYC. We stayed at the Omni Berkshire, and had dinner at a fabulous restaurant (the best fish dish I've ever had, yummm). All the boys braved the rain and went to a Yankee's game that night. I was a bit jealous, seeing as how I played on the Yankees as a kid (ok, on the Ephraim Yankees, but still...) and we were State Champions; I felt that I was a kindred spirit with the Yankees. But once I walked a few blocks in the rain and my feet got soaking wet, I was over it.

Saturday morning was spent shopping before we headed to Broadway to see the Lion King. Oh. My. Gosh. It was so fantastic!!

Our friends Zack and Danica were nice enough to come stay in a free hotel room in NYC, eat free food, get room service, and snack on the most expensive gummy bears you've ever heard of, all while watching Hazel and Maggie so we could go to the show. And I think they still got the raw end of the deal! (Thanks, guys!)

The evening was capped off with a trip to Carnagie Deli for the biggest sandwiches you've ever seen. It was so delish.

That word about sums up the whole trip- delish! The food, the fun, the places, the adventures, the people- it was so wonderful. I kept telling Russ and Tiff that I felt like this trip was my make-a-wish. Everything about it was perfect, and oh-so-fun!