The real "Dark Knight"?

We took an opportunity to have the grandparents watch the kids and go see The Dark Knight... wow what a movie, really it could have been two movies and I would have been satisfied with each independantly. Put them together and it was amazing. The title for this blog is due to the first image of this humming bird that I took after returning from the movie.
This little guy just looked sort of dark with his wings fully extended so I ran with it, but Batman with a giant needle sticking out his face would be dangerous! :) Then these guys get lazy and wouldn't hover for me while eating so I went ahead and took a few pictures of them sitting down.

Uh oh I think he sees me... I don't like looking down the barrel of that thing. Makes me want to shut my eyes!

Hanging out at the ocean.

We took some vacation and visited the aquarium in Virginia Beach. We had a great time but it was HOT; made us glad we decided against going to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg and visited here. I enjoy the aquarium and find so many pictures I want to take but it becomes difficult with the people walking in front of you, plus the kids see so much stuff that they want to see they are running from one exhibit to another :) .

They have two separate buildings with a nature walk between the two where I saw this egret poking about in the mud. Ironic to see a bird so clean and white walking around in such muddy conditions!

The other really cool thing (to me) was that it was close to Oceana Naval Air Base. Many years ago I went to an air show there and all day long these F-18's were running. I couldn't not take pictures of them they are just so impressive.

The day after the aquarium visit we headed to the beach in Nags Head/Kitty Hawk area. In all the trips during my life I don't recall the ocean being this clear in our part of the world. It was amazingly clear and calm which made for a great time for all of us. When the kids got tired of being in the water I used their goggles and got to see minows, fish, crabs, and hermit crabs. It was a blast and I actually woke up the next morning in a weird semi-concious dream of scuba diving in the ocean.