IT NOT JUST ANIMALS

 Dylann

More pictures from their visit to the Maryland Zoo .

 Dylann

The only lion Dylann would take a ride on.

 Dylann and Marshall love tractors. 

 I'm sure they were surprised to see these.

 Dylann and Marshall

They were probably really excited to see that they would be able to enjoy a few rides too.

 Marshall

 Marshall and Dylann

Dylann was concerned that Marshall was going to push her off the lion.

Dylann and Marshall

Now they are both in this thing, but I'm not sure what it is.

Dylann



WE SAW ANIMALS, ANIMALS AND MORE ANIMALS

Marshall takes a turn in welcoming everyone to the zoo.

 After visiting the aquarium on Friday they moved to the Maryland Zoo on Saturday.  Don't you love  the little welcome sign they have at the zoo? 

Dylann also took some time in welcoming everyone to the Zoo.

After seeing all the animals that a zoo has, Dylann spotted a squirrel.  Matt said she was so excited that it almost seem like this was the best animals she saw.



 Ryann and Dylann

Check out the elephants  behind them. 

 Matt and Marshall

The giraffe looks mighty tall.

 Dylann, Matt, Marshall

Looks like Dylann takes advantage of the stroller while Marshall takes a ride on his Daddy's shoulders.

 Marshall who seems to be lost in thought.

Actually if you look way to the left in this picture there is a huge male lion.

Marshall and Dylann

I wonder what lives here - Maybe a monkey.  Maybe it would be a good place for  these two little ones.

DICK'S LAST RESORT

Matt - His hat says "I'm the boss,  my wife said I could be".

 As I mentioned  yesterday Matt and Ryann had a weekend trip and visited inner harbor in Baltimore and the Maryland Zoo.  Ryann sent me a number of pictures so the blog will continue with some interesting picture of the people we love.  After arriving in Maryland they decided to have lunch before going to the aquarium.  Everyone was ready to eat and they saw Dick's Last Resort and felt the food was probably good.  When they went in they heard someone say something about "Sarcasm Service", but they didn't think much of it.  When they realized what was going on they decided that they would take it easy on them since they had kids. One of the first things they did was bring a hat to Matt and then followed with one for everyone.   That explain what these pictures are about. 

 Marshall, I can't believe they wrote " I fart in the bathtub".   I guess that's better than doing the other thing in the bathtub.

Dylann and Mommy also had hats.

Dylann's hat said, "Diva in training".

 Mommy's said, "Why are these kids calling me mommy".

What a way to start their trip.   Hopefully I will post again tomorrow night, but we have a pretty busy day planned.  If I don't get them done I will do some on Monday.  All of our family is home, so let the fun begin.

A VISIT TO THE BALTIMORE AQUARIUM AND THE MARYLAND ZOO

Matt and Ryann's Fall trip to the Outer Banks was also cancelled due to Hurricane Irene. They had already altered  their schedule so they decided to do small day trips and also a weekend trip to the The Baltimore Aquarium and the Maryland Zoo.  They were also able to see the dolphin show, a 4D Dora and Diego Show and enjoy the indoor pool.  Once the children are in bed Mommy and Daddy will be able to relax and enjoy some wine and cheese.  Sounds like a fun weekend.  Ryann sent me this  pictures, but she said she was having a hard getting the children to stand still.  Maybe tommorow she will be able to get a few more using her phone and send them to me.  If not I will be able to get them from her camera/computer to pose. 

 Marshall

Marshall is checking out this big fish.  He is probably thinking that this fish is much larger than the one he has in his little aquarium at home.  I wonder what he though of the dolphin show. 

ANOTHER DAY AT THE BEACH .......HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAMRYN

 The Boogie Board girls. Happy Birthday Camryn
We can not begin this post without  wishing a very Happy Birthday  to Camryn as she celebrates her 8th birthday.

Today is their last full day of  vacation.  They will head home tomorrow and fall right into the swing of things.  Tayler and Camryn have a soccer game which Tom is the coach on Sunday.  Tuesday Sydney has one, Wednesday Tayler and Camryn have another game.  I'm pretty sure that Makenzie will have one Thursday and all 4 will have games on Saturday.  At 9:30 Sydney has the first game, Tayler and Cam have one at 11:30 and Makenzie will have the last game of the day at 1:30.
  Busy, busy, busy, but that's how they love it.

 Sydney

Gathering shovels..Is it time to play in the sand?

One more of Sydney.

Is she heading into the water or coming out?  She's a busy little girl who is always on the move.

Camryn

The birthday girl.

Makenzie
It looks like Makenzie is actually riding in on a wave.

A Starfish

The children actually found a starfish.
I don't know if I've ever seen a real one.

 Sydney
Having a refreshing drink.

 Erin and Tom
They have had a nice vacation and made sure the girls really had plenty  to do.
In fact it is raining there this afternoon so they are off to a movie.

Our questionable picture of the day.
What is this?  I have no idea.  You can  out what was in yesterday's picture if you go back to that post.  One hint.  It wasn't an alligator.
After looking at this picture off and on today I finally came to a conclusion.  I believe that it must be a life guard stand.  When we are at the Outer Banks we always swim and fish in an area where there is no life guard there so this is the first I've seen.
Okay, I was wrong on it being a life guard seat.    It was something that they take  into  the ocean.  They drive it about  in  to about 1000 yards and then the measure the dept of the ocean.

Today Matt, Ryann, Dylann, and Marshall are heading out for a weekend trip to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore and  Maryland Zoo.  They have a lot planned and they will have a great time.  I know that Dylann and Marshall will love this.  Dylann is so much like  her Mommy and enjoys animals.   Hopefully I will get phone pictures from them so we can have a blog of them enjoy their time together.

FUN TIMES AT THE BEACH...........ALONG WITH EDUCATIONAL TIME

 Camryn and Makenzie

(I was given the correct spelling of their names while at Matt and Ryann's on Tuesday.   I was busy with the kids, didn't have a pen or paper so I'm hoping I got it right this time.  If not you can write it down and give it to me when you come home.)

As I said yesterday although the girls are on vacation it is necessary that they have information to take back to school showing the education portion of their trip was completed.  As we know the Wright Brothers had their first flight from Kitty Hawk not far from where the girls are staying.  Here some information for you  Cam & Kenzie.   The Wright Brothers owned a bicycle shop in Ohio. They moved to the Outer Banks to test their theory on man flight using the dunes and prevailing winds  

Tayler

This little nugget of info is from your Pappy always looking out for his Mini.  In less than 100 years the distance of the Wright Brother's flight is actual shorter than the wind span of modern day super airliners. 

 Camryn

Taking it easy on her board. 

Day 5 at the Outer Banks for this group and from the pictures it looks like they are having a good time.  I'm sure things got much better when the ban was lifted and the children were allowed in the water.  From their pictures it seems like they have been busy.  Of course they have been swimming in both the pool and the ocean.  They've played in the sand, visited light houses, The Wright Brother's Museum played miniature golf, gone for ice cream and visited a few shops.  Imagine Erin and four girls shopping.  Tom must be saint to deal with that.

Sydney is up on her board

Ever since the Spring of last year, when Tayler came home from school talking about Bethany Hamilton Sydney loves to watch the DVD and watch her stories on the computer.  I know in her little mind she thought she was riding the wave just like Bethany does.  I'm sure he had one eye out for the shark.

Erin and MaKenzie

Looks like they are having fun over a game of miniature golf.

Home Away From Home

This is a perfect little home for the group of six.  It's when you get all 12 of us there that there is a  need for a much bigger house, more bedrooms and bathrooms,  two dishwashers, two refrigerators, washing machines, dryers,  hot tubs, pool, pet friendly, and even an elevator.  Hopefully next June you will find us all there.  As long as the hurricane season holds off or they don't track up the OBX.

What's this picture about????

We will have to wait to find out what this is about.  In the very middle of this picture there is a black area towards the top of the picture.    Pappy said it's an alligator looking for Micky.  Your guess is as good as mind, but I know  I will find out when I talk with them.

The area they are staying at is called Turtle Pond.  Any idea?  It's a turtle.

DAY THREE - SWIMMING ALLOWED

This lighthouse is their classroom.

 I know that these girls are on vacation, but we need to remember that this is also an educational holiday too.  The girls must have spent some time checking out the light houses that are located on Hatteras Island. 

Many lighthouse are up and down this island.
 I'm not sure which light house this is.  This is at the top of the island and I only  go through on my way on and off of the island.

Pretty ladies...
The girls and Erin at the door of the light house.

No more rip tide.
 Finally rip tide is lifted and they are allowed to go in the water.

Sydney is in this picture with her boogie board.

Finally
 The girls are swimming in the ocean.

Who is this little girl????
 I really can not tell who is sitting beside Erin in this picture. 

Ron and I are both certain it is not Tayler.  Something is a little different about the look.

Take your guess.  I WAS TOLD BY MANY, INCLUDING TAYLER THAT IT WAS HER. 

Time for lunch
Sydney having lunch.

WHAT DO YOU FIND ON THE BEACH???????

It's not only mommy saying "No Swimming"  they have flags every few yards telling you to stay out of the water.

 When you are at the beach one thing you think you are going to do is swim....Imagine the disappointment you feel when you have been to the beach three days in a row and there is no swimming the ocean.  Hopefully tomorrow they will allow it.  The girls are really unhappy that they are not able to ride their boogie boards, jump the waves and just have fun in the water knowing that you may be pulled out in a rip tide. Erin said the girls put there feet in and then before you know it they are laying in the water covered to the neck. They must not be to afraid. At least they are able to swim in the pool and play in the sand. 

 Imagine seeing this in the water or get hit by it.

Another man was trying to get this out of the water yesterday and Tom tried to help him.  A wave moved it and it slammed Tom in the leg.  Erin said when it first hit him he felt like it broke his leg.  I can believe that it really hurt.  I'm glad the girls are not in the water with things like this floating around.  They brought a truck in today to pull it out. We think it looks like a hatch of off a ship.

 While it didn't break his leg, he did end with a cut and bleeding.  The girls had great stories to tell about this, but I wasn't sure what to believe with what the girls were telling me.

 Erin, sunbathing and reading a book.  (The Help)  Great book...I'm almost through it.

I'd rather see my family on the beach than in the water with signs saying they can't swim or big objects in the surf that will hurt them.

 Sydney 

It looks like she missed the towel or maybe she is trying to keep the sand off the towel.

Sydney is not crazy about the ocean.  She does some swimming, but is concerned about being knocked about. 
 I wonder if this is why she is laying on the towel watching instead of playing close to the water.

Our little bathing beauty
No wonder Sydney is so tan.  She spends a lot of time sitting in the sun.

The girls

With a rip tide and large objects in the water I'm glad these little girls are not in the water.  Hopefully there are not many other objects floating around if the girls are allowed in the water tomorrow.