Parlee Farms

I've heard so much about the farms in Massachusetts I decided to go on an outing to one with playgroup this week.

Lacey, Jenna, and Bekah
My boys look so happy to be here!

David had no fear when it came to feeding the goats

We walked through the blueberry fields for quite awhile. I wish I liked blueberries because the looked good and ripe. We then settled on feeding to goats because David was too little for the small tractor driving. But boy did he want to get on one. I couldn't figure how to explain that he was just too short to reach the peddles. Luckily he settled on feeding the goats.



If you are inclined to watch a sideways video it is pretty funny. I filmed this on my point and shoot and I'm not the brightest. I had it turned the wrong way and can't for the life of me figure how to flip it. If you are a video whiz--help!

David just loved the animals. He didn't have a problem sticking his whole finger inside any goats mouth. When we ran out of quarters he just picked the little pieces of food from the dispenser. He gave everyone a good laugh.

It is a miracle that we got him to sit down!

I was really excited to pick raspberries but by this point my boys were done. Will wasn't happy in his stroller and David just wanted to roam around where I couldn't see him. Lacey and Bekah tried to help me corral him. He liked mixing up Lacey's blueberries with raspberries and even ate the occasional raspberry himself.

Poor Will got a little toasted. We didn't get many berries but we went for the fun and certainly had a good time. Both boys fell asleep on the way home.

Horsey with Dad

The newest thing at our house is David pretending that his parents are draft animals. He loves playing horsey and often demands that we get down on all fours so he can ride around. We tried to see if William liked the game too. I think he did.

The perfect activity to get them wound up just before bed

This is becoming a typical David face. William is hanging on for dear life. And of course Brad is being a very good horse.

Last Days of Summer

All the splash parks and pools are ready to close for the summer. Brad took David for one final trip. Could life get any better?

Eating a snack (cookie?) and hanging out with Dad

Brad said that David had fun until they got caught in a random downpour and had to run home. I had the car and didn't pick up my phone. Oops. I forget that it does that here.

Just Because

William was looking so sweet today.

Just had to share a picture of my cute little man.

Cochituate State Park

Our ward has a wonderful playgroup. For one reason or another I didn't attend a single activity last year. I guess a water outing wasn't the best first activity to try. The beach was great. The water was warm. The weather was perfect. I loved the company. It was just really difficult to have both my little guys around water at the same time! Argh. If at first you don't succeed...

Jenna and David
(We had Bio 100 together at BYU and now she's out here in MA!)

Good thing I had help from this girl and a few other lovely ladies. It feels dumb to admit that I can't do it all. Gotta buy some floaties.

Waterfire Providence

Meghan is the expert on all things New England and suggested that we go to Waterfire on Saturday night so that is what we did. I like the charm of Providence a little better than Boston. We got caught in traffic on the way so we were fashionably late. We met up at the food court for some quick dinner.

Meghan with William

Eating at Taco Bell is always exciting since there aren't as many around here as in the West. Brad was the only one who differed. He had a hamburger from Johnny Rockets.

William, Brad, and David

If you look carefully you'll notice they have really cute personalized shirts. Thanks Meghan.
As we walked from the mall to the river we ran into one of Brad's classmates from BU. I'm always amazed how no matter where you go you run into someone you know.

They didn't behave as well for the picture with Mom.

Maybe they like Meghan better?

This reminded of those guys who row gondolas in Italy

Meghan and David

We watched from the sidewalk rather than lug the stroller down to the river level. David pointed at every car and bus that passed by. I think this time Brad was more nervous about David going over the edge than I was.

I'm not 100% but I think this was when they started lighting the fires.

He was always on the the move...

More of Waterfire

It actually looked a lot prettier than this but I'm no photographer. Brad and I braved the crowds and walked along the river for a few minutes and met up with Meghan and her cousin to say goodbye.

Four Years of Wedded Bliss

This was the first anniversary...or close to it anyway. Our then favorite getaway San Diego. Foot loose and fancy free. BYU students, no kids yet, in many ways the world at our feet.

And this was our fourth anniversary. Our apartment in Boston. How romantic!

Our little outing from a few days ago was to be our gift to each other. I was surprised to find a gift wrapped and waiting for me on the table. I glared at Brad. He said just to open it. A new camera with all the accessories. I couldn't decide whether to be mad at him for getting a gift (so expensive!) or happy that I now had a camera.

He didn't buy it. It was part of his dental supply kit from school! He just couldn't stand to not do something. He really had me. At least now we have a camera except for when it needs to be used for undetermined school purposes.

Happy Anniversary to one patient and loving husband and father. Brad sees love as an action verb. I love this about him.

Five Months

William turned five months old today. Among other things two bottom teeth have made an appearance. He loves to army scoot across the floor and prop himself up on his hands and knees. He's even gotten into a crouching position, sometimes we wonder if he is on a mission to stand up. His favorite toy to chase around is a ball, any one will do. Unfortunately David often takes away the things William likes to play with. Sadly William isn't a little baby anymore. This must have happened while we were gone!

Such a smiley guy!

William on the move...

Meanwhile Back at Home...

We made our way home and found two very happy boys. Megan was up from Virginia for her week off and graciously offered to play babysitter for a day (as if she doesn't do that enough) so we could get away. It was nice knowing they were well taken care of and having fun. William got fed and then the rest of us ate dinner together. Brad made a pizza.

Meghan, William, and Crazy Man

While we were away Meghan took the kids to the park and a man noticed them walking around. His comment to her was. "They sure look like a handful--(pointing to David who had a red beach life guard shirt on) good thing that one is a lifeguard!"

I had to get a photo with them...William isn't sure about the whole thing and David is still being crazy.

We snuck away to (finally!) see Harry Potter afterwords. I'll admit I felt a little bad for not staying to put the kids to bed. The movie was good, the day out was wonderful. Thanks Meghan for the fantastic treat and boys for behaving decently.

The Prudential Center: Skywalk Observatory

We snacked on some convenience store sandwiches and chips during the train ride to the Prudential Center. We'd decided on a Duck Tour but didn't make online reservations the night before. They wouldn't sell out that fast right? Well they did! We decided on the skywalk instead since we were already there.

The tallest building is the Prudential Center

Brad looking out over Boston and listening to the audio tour

Fenway Park

Longfellow Bridge over the Charles River

Named for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Brad rides the T across this bridge every day!

Wikipedia photo of the bridge from the Prudential Center

Notice the red line train and the wintery Charles River

I was obvisouly listening to something very interesting

We stopped at the Cheescake Factory and grabbed some cheescake. It was our anniversary right? Well the kinds we got were so rich neither one of us could finish. We should have split a piece. We sat outside and enjoyed our cake but missed David when we saw all the kids playing in the fountain.

Fountains outside the Christian Science Center

I really wish we would have know about the skywalk when we first moved out. It would have been a great activity during those weeks of apartment hunting and while living in a hotel. The views were amazing. It really oriented me to all things Boston. Bridges, neighborhoods, universities, sights. Maybe we'll go back at night time.

Bunker Hill Monument

As a sort of early anniversary outing Brad and I spent most of the day in Boston seeing some of the sights we'd neglected. His school schedule was pretty lackadaisical and we found a free day to do some exploring. This was taken at a little green space on our way.

Brad at a statue with Bunker Hill monument in the background.

We didn't realize that after all the stories we'd head Bunker Hill is no big climb but the actual monument is a doozy! I don't think we would have made it with the kids.

Brad was smiling at the beginning...

I am SO out of shape. I actually stopped to catch my breath a couple of times. Totally embarrassing! This was taken at the top. If you look close you can see the sweat. I think at this point we were both still panting.

A very sticky couple

We were rewarded with one fabulous view of Boston. Brad was able to point out the highway that leads to our house. If you look at the back left you can see the Zikam Bunker Hill Bridge. It's the one that is lit blue at night. For you Celtics fans the bridge is right near Boston Garden.

The monument is an obelisk. This inspired the Washington Monument in DC. It is shorter, but the first!

We spoke with the National Park rangers after our climb down. They were pretty funny. They said they would never dream of climbing all those steps everyday. But often someone passes out and it is usually all the way at the top! So occasionally the rangers have to make the exhausting climb up.

One last look at the monument...

We lolligaged around the visitors center looking at displays of Bunker Hill and Boston history. Something we don't usually get to enjoy. Then it was a walk to find the nearest T stop. I always love the old city neighborhoods and even found my favorite old home trademark.

Wipe your feet before entering!

Many of the doors have these little "boot scrapers" for scraping snow and mud off of your shoes before you go inside. It reminds me of the homes in Nauvoo. I don't know why but I just love them. My front porch will have one of these. I wish I knew what they were actually called and where to get them.