Blue Angels 2010 (U.S. Naval Academy)

The twins and I just fulfilled one of our favorite annual traditions, yesterday:  going to watch the Blue Angels’ air show at the U.S. Naval Academy.

For any of you local to Maryland, they fly over twice – the Tuesday and Wednesday of Commissioning Week (always listed on the USNA website).  Tuesday’s fly-over is the practice run and usually ends up starting later than the 2 p.m. listed start-time.  Wednesday’s is the actual show.  We’ve done both, and aside from parking being harder to find on Wednesday, the shows are equally great.  We usually sit right near the water, so the boys get some climbing-on-the-rocks-and-watching-the-boats time in while we wait for the show to start.

There’s nothing quite like having fighter jets doing loops right over your head!  (There’s also nothing quite that loud, so we take earplugs just in case the boys want them.)

This year came with an unexpected bonus, though.  The pilots of the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter that always stands at-the-ready during the show let the kids climb inside!  Most of us PARENTS have never been in a chopper, but the twins and their friends have!

Almost made up for the fact that when we arrived at the visitor’s center a very by-the-book guard made us return to our van with our blankets and football – because we had chosen to carry them in a backpack.  The backpack itself being not allowed – the contents were fine.  (!!!Fake “security” measures drive me nuts!!!)  Oh well, I’ll be prepared to bring nothing in hand next year.  Other than the boys’ die cast Blue Angels and my camera, which come every year, of course.

Three years running, and many more to come, I hope!

(2008 – Nice ‘plugs, right?)

(2009 – Model Angels in-hand, Chopper out of reach)

(2010 – No more chubby cheeks or poochy tummies!    )