Wednesday Night

I think we need to do this stay-cation thing more often.
We've been having a very nice week and luckily the weather has been cooperating.
After our adventures on Monday, we went down to the Mystic Aquarium on Tuesday morning. If anyone is thinking of going down that way to stay for a few days with small children, take note that an admission ticket is good for three days, which definitely makes it worth the price. But if you're like us and only going to stay for a day - it is a bit expensive. We got there about eleven o'clock and the place was packed. All sorts of school groups and camps. Ugh. Kids everywhere. So we wandered and tried to stay outdoors to have some elbow room. We saw the Sea Lion show, which was cool. But then the kids started to get schootchy - so we made the executive decision to take a drive around and come back after everyone woke up from naps.
We drove around Mystic and then up to Misquamicut. We stayed awake (with a little help from DD) while the kids were relaxing. It's beautiful along the coast in southern Rhode Island. I never realized it - I just don't associate Rhode Island with beaches, I guess.
We made our way back to the Aquarium by 2:30 or so. Our timing was perfect. The groups were leaving and most of the people staying were families with small children. The kids got to pet the rays, see the penguins, play in the tidepool and watch the beluga whales without much interference. They had a great time. Everyone was fried by about 5:30 and we went to get some local fare for dinner. We could feel our arteries clogging while eating - but boy, was it good!
We didn't get a lot of pictures yesterday - the kids would not stay still and my camera isn't quick enough to get them before they bolt away...
See what I mean?

And again?

And yet again?!?!

But we did get some decent shots...

Sam loved the beluga whales


But Caroline got more than a little freaked when this whale came right up to her and "smiled"!

He looks comfortable, doesn't he?

Dada, I got you nose!

Of all the great things we could see at the Aquarium, they play with a sewer cover!

Caroline thought the salt water air smelled like skunks.

Today we had a good day, as well. Grampa and Auntie Dr Chrissy came down (THANK YOU) to watch the kids to allow Jim and I to tour the American Antiquarian Society.
Fascinating stuff. Totally worth another tour.
It's wonderful that we have a resource like this open to the public - not to mention right down the street!
Then, after dinner we went down to Assumption and fed the ducks. There were a couple new ducks (including the ugliest one I have ever seen), but there were also some missing - the foxes got them. We had fun. And now it's time to rest up for what tomorrow may bring!

Sam didn't feel like giving his bread to the ducks, so he sat in front of them and ate it

Until the ducks got a bit too close for comfort - then he decided the ducks could have anything they wanted:

Dada and Sam:

She's too much (and loves showing off her new dress from Turkey):

Say goodnight, Sam! Here's to a good night of sleep.