Maryland/DC vacation

We returned yesterday from 12 days away from home.  We started in Dover, DE and spent one night at the glorious Red Roof Inn (at which Sula was welcome) then headed to Ocean City.  The first day we spent time with the Enrile family before they headed back home.  That night Miles and family arrived, followed by the Albanos on the 4th of July.  They spent the weekend and then the Durands from CT arrived for a few days.  After a week at the beach, we headed to Lolo and Lola's house and make a couple trips into DC and spent loads of time with the Dirksen cousins. She had kids around, from ages 6 mos.-17 yrs. every single day, and ate it right up.  I love that we're able to give her the experience of not being an only child  from time to time. Here are photos, out of order, of the summer fun:

at National Zoo, analyzing elephant dung:

we got to see baby panda Bao Bao, which was such a treat, and her mom pretty close up:

Beatrice adored the large birds!

Here's Bea and Linden (after haircut) in matching dresses for church bought by Lola:

The Dirksen's new dog Mato was a big hit!

Walking the zoo in the heat wore us out after a few short hours!

5 1/2 year old Miles, Tita Liza, Bea, and Tita Evelyn:

The Albano/Jackson/Foronda crew on the 4th:

Bea and Linden (pre-haircut)

Cousin Marco is one of  Bea's favorite people on the planet! Here we are out for ice cream at Dumser's Dairyland:

Told you the zoo wore us out:

We headed to Rehoboth for Funland and Bea of course wanted the carousel as always:

Lucy Durand and Bea at the OC Boardwalk:

Hanging out at the house:

and plotting where there swimming hole was to be dug:

Harry Durand, almost 14-years old, and the greatest hole digger ever!

Marco and Bea at the fireworks:

When we arrived at Lolo and Lola's house, Dan & Kathleen and the boys met us for an overnight on their way back home from North Carolina.  We headed into DC in the pouring rain and had dinner at the Kennedy Center:

Luckily the drops stopped long enough for these three to race around the terrace for a while:

and the highlight of the trip was getting an email from cousin Annabelle from France, whom we visited four summers ago, saying that she and her husband were traveling a bit earlier than expected to pick up their new son, Bastien Hoang Minh, from  the Thu Duc orphanage in Saigon, Vietnam.  14-months old and more-than-ready for a family, "a little cousin for Beatrice" as Annabelle referred to him,  he is so beautiful and I can't tell you the memories/emotions their photos brought back: