We went to the National Aquarium in Baltimore again this year and the boys loved it! Dolphins,

4-D movie, and 4 stories of fish exhibits!! Think giant aquarium scene in Jaws 3-D. What? What do you mean by "you haven't seen it"!?

Jays and Aidan had a fantastic time and provided much entertainment for our neighbors at the restaurant while they played with their army men while we waited for our food.

Jayson and I would happily live in hotels from now until forever, but other members of our family prefer their own beds, etc. Humbug.

look at the pair of 'em, naturally photogenic...my husband Jeremiah Johnson, and little Charlie.

After church we went to the beach for the rest of the day. People (including myself) kept trying to save our kids from drowning only to discover that they were "diving" for seashells. In spite of their best best efforts, the boys didn't drown and we went home after a super-fun weekend.

Yesterday I noticed that Charlie had gotten really quiet so I went to check on him in the living room where I had left him. Not even Sesame Street could keep Charlie away from those stairs any longer! I found him halfway up to the top! I quietly pulled the camera from my back pocket and snapped a picture before he noticed me! Of course, as soon as he heard the camera he turned, smiling, and so proud...and lost his balance! Thank goodness it happened when I was there! Time to put the gate up.

Nadia and I went to see a movie and right when we got there we had a HUGE storm! It was a monsoon! We had to improvise....only Nadia could pull off a child's rain jacket and a sun shade for the windshield and make it look this sexy! We saw Robinhood and loved it, in spite of our wet-fresh out of the bath- clothes!

Boys in the car....

At the pool...

Jayson finished swim camp on Thursday! He is such a good little swimmer (see video!) He can swim half the length of an Olympic sized pool all by himself! Amazing!

Aidan is so independent that he hates to ask for help with his pants after using the toilet. Unfortunately for him, he has to pee all the time and does NOT like to walk away without having his "big boy" underwear and his...ahem...shorts(?) on. Something doesn't seem quite right....

Some stuff from our little container garden. If only we could grow mozzarella! Or a buffalo!