The 4th of July fell on a Wednesday this year, so Justin and I also took off Thursday and Friday to make it an extra-long weekend! Originally, we were going to head to Baltimore for the weekend, but when that didn’t work out, we decided to make it a staycation and plan some fun local events while still getting some stuff done around the house.
Tuesday night we went over to Papa and Grandma’s for some evening swimming and pizza. After a long search, I found a place online (googlesnmore.com) that would make Avery’s prescription swim goggles. She is finally acclimated with them – the new goggles coupled with their new swim teacher has really led to significant improvement. Harper too is also greatly improving. Emerson was already further ahead with her swim skills, but she too is progressing and hanging out in the deep end of the pool now.
For the actual 4th, we hung out and did organizing around the house most the morning. We had the girls help us go through their toys and donate ones that were too young for them. Our neighborhood parade is now Labor Day weekend so we weren’t missing any neighborhood festivities by spending the morning indoors organizing. After lunch, we headed to the Vienna Community Center, where Emerson and Harper went on a couple water slides (Avery didn’t feel like going). Afterwards, with the girls in their bathing suits already, we headed to my parents for a little more swimming. Avery and Emerson wanted to see the fireworks while Harper did not. We left Harper with my parents for a sleepover and Avery, Emerson, Justin and I went to Southside Park in Vienna, where the fireworks were being displayed. I had not seen real fireworks in over 10 years and I was amazed! They were awesome. They were also incredibly loud! Neither Avery nor Emerson cared for the sound – Avery covered her ears with sound reduction headphones and Emerson with her own hands.
Thursday we took Jana out to Sweetwater for her celebratory dinner to commensurate her year being with our family.
Harper’s face! Haha…she was being so silly….it was hilarious!
Friday after lunch we headed to National Harbor. It was a gorgeous day and while it was a bit touristy, we had a good time eating, relaxing, shopping, and just hanging out.
Late Saturday afternoon we had the Brophys and Nidays over for a low key get together and the girls (and Harrison) had so much fun together. Cannot wait for our vacation in a few weeks with one another!
Sunday it was a trip to Nats Park! I managed to get five tickets for $36! Two beers cost more than all our ticket seats! Granted we were sitting in the nose bleed section, but still a great time…and a beautiful sunny relatively mild day for a ball game. The only thing that could have made it better would have been, had the Nats won!
Oh just look at that excitement!
Trying out another brewery “Vanish” in Lucketts, Va with the Russos. This place was great! It was huge…lots of indoor areas, outdoor areas, music, a playground, food, beer; and most of all pure joy and fun was had by all, big and small.
Finally back at Meadowlark for one of our summer visits. I still love this place and the serenity of the surroundings. We have been going here with the girls since Avery and Emerson were infants….look at them now! I can’t get over how quickly they are growing up. Seriously slow down time!
Saturday morning we went to Baltimore to spend much of the weekend in Baltimore. Saturday the weather was still rainy and wet much of the day so we spent five hours in The Children’s Museum. The girls had a great time exploring, watching the magician/physics show, playing soccer, participating in a stage show, making a clay craft, and playing in the massive play/slide area. 
Saturday evening we had about an hour to relax in the condo before our dinner reservations. We said hello to Mike and Susan since they were also in Baltimore for the night. The girls had a great time with Susan! We walked to dinner in Federal Hill, a short ten minute walk, and made a vow to walk there instead of drive in the future. Dinner at Sobe was good and the girls were really well behaved.
Followed by a little fro yo….
I let the girls get one and told them it would be their lunch! Sometimes it is fun to live on the edge a little and eat treats for a meal!
We enjoyed the walk back “home” to the condo and stopped at a coffee shop, Federal Hill playground, and the gift shop of the Art Museum on the way home. We had a great time and can’t wait for our next trip back.
