Mystic Aquarium

Last week was a crazy week. Eric has been busy busy working on his portfolio (which was due on Monday the 16th) and starting that same day was Tuning Up!, the camp I hold for all my students every year. It was busy/wild/exhausting/whatever you want to call it. But definitely worth the effort.

Camp ended on Friday so Saturday was a day to play.  Nat left for Portugal to spend 10 days with Rex, leaving all the babies with Nana and Papa, with a little help from the aunts. Thinking we could give the Boston-ites a day off, we offered to take all the kiddies to the Mystic Aquarium only to find Papa really wanted to go and so did Emily. Being a real trooper, Mom decided to come too so we all piled in the car and made our way to Mystic. The drive didn't feel that long--we didn't even need a movie--and the babies were pumped to get there. Zz walked the whole day, leaving the stroller to Lucy or Peter. It was fantastic. The weather was perfect and it is a definite repeat offender.

Beluga Whales were our first stop. They were so close!

After the Belugas, the penguins, and the marsh we came to what was a high-point for everybody: the Birds of the Outback exhibit. As you went in they gave you a popsicle stick with a chunk of birdseed on the end. All the birds were in a huge walk-in cage with plants growing on the sides and several fountains/bird bathes. Your job was to hold out your stick and get the birds to snack on your birdseed. Very cool.

H was victorious when he remembered to hold still. 

Emmer

Petey learning how to hold his stick strong and getting a little help.
He was nervous at the start and was concentrating really hard.
Eric's job was to lure the birds to his stick and then pass them off to Peter or Lucy...

Doesn't he look concerned? 

At the end of the day we decided to see the California Sea Lion show. It didn't start for 30 minutes and after weighing our options we thought sitting and resting before the show was the best option rather than just packing up and heading home or wandering around in the sun until it started. Out of nowhere Eric pulled out a hidden stash of fruit snacks which did wonders for everyone's spirits.

My boys.