Star Spangled Kick Off

I have been waiting all summer for the start of the Star Spangled Sailabration in downtown Baltimore to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812 and the writing of the Star Spangled Banner.  Today my daughter and I took the kids to Federal Hill for a picnic lunch and to hopefully catch a few of the tall ships coming in to the harbor to celebrate.  Though we only saw one ship and it wasn't terribly impressive, it was a gorgeous day and the kids had a great time playing with friends on the playground, in the grassy fields and looking out over the harbor at all the activity.  The vantage point from up there is breathtaking.

Around 1:00, we packed up and headed to the Science Center across the street.  My friend, Kelly and I took the 5 older kids to the IMAX theater to see Star Spangled Banner on the big screen while my daughter let the little ones play at the dinosaur exhibit.  The IMAX movie was only twenty minutes long, but so well done and very powerful.  The kids were mesmerized by it.  We finally got back to the house around 2:30 and we were all wiped out from the day's activities.

Tomorrow, with any luck, the Blue Angels will repeat their practice plan from two years ago and I will be able to sit in my front yard and watch them buzz through our neighborhood and dip and soar and swoop through the skies.  They are spectacular and I have been so excited for their return!  I also hope to get the kids down to tour the tall ships and Saturday I hope to catch some of the re-enactments at Fort McHenry and see the fireworks that night.  This is Baltimore at it's finest and makes me appreciate living here in ways I don't always do.

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