Toy Story 3

We picked Danielle up from Alewife and headed to Toy Story 3. We found a Taco Bell along the way (this is rare) and were overjoyed to have a drive-thru dinner. We were armed with lots of snacks and candy. The adult to child ratio was definitely in our favor! David loved the show and Will did alright too. I'll confess to being emotional; I can't believe that like Andy, they'll be off to college one day.

David and Will at our house after the show.

Frogs on Boston Common

The boys had a fun time at the park on Boson Common while we waited to meet up with a friend.

Little did I know those frogs spray water most days! We are enjoying summah.

Massachusetts Statehouse Tour

We finally made it on a tour of the statehouse! I was able to walk through with some friends in November but I was still anxious to take the tour. I was impressed. We had a sweet elderly guide who was very experienced and knowledgeable. She must have been doing the tour for a long time to know so much.

Danielle with a mini statehouse model.

George Washington in a toga.

State Representative Chambers

Close up of artwork in the chamber.

It reads--1788 John Hancock proposing the addition of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.

I think it is hard not be amazed because so much of Massachusetts' early history is also the history of our country.

A picture of Samuel Adams on the wall of state governors.

Once elected each state governor is allowed to chose one portrait to hang above the fireplace in his or her personal office. The current governor Devall Patrick has the portrait of John Andrew. John Andrew created the 54th regiment, one of the first and most famous all black units during the Civil War. Mitt Romney chose none other than John Hancock. John Hancock is famous for...well, everything. How cool would that be to sit at your desk and look up at his official portrait?!

An old fashioned mail chute.

If you live here or visit I'd recommend this tour. It is even fairly stroller accessible--we just found that out the hard way. We called ahead and reserved a spot. I was unclear if you can show up and take a tour, but it seemed very promising.

Sharon Timlin 5K

A picture of Cheryl and I just before the race.

36:52

My second 5K went a lot better than the first. Amazing what a little training will do! I was originally upset with myself for not pushing hard. I didn't have that super-amazing-high-off-endorphins-feeling but I wasn't dead either. I didn't run the whole way but that is how I trained run some.......then walk some........and so forth.

With the race being 30 minutes away in Hopkinton (the famed start of the Boston Marathon) at 8:3o AM Brad decided it'd be easier for the boys to stay home. I think it was easier for me to get there alone too. I left feeling a little sad that David wasn't there for the kid fun run and all the after activities.

It was nice to be encouraged by a few friends from church who also raced. I was sad to discover a pesky and lingering knee injury the week after the race. This is a set back I've never encountered. I am committing to run the Tufts 10K this fall, but man 6.2 seems like A LOT more than double 3.1!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

I finally made it to Fenway Park. After my last sort of experience with a Red Sox game I figured I needed to actually go and enjoy what Bostonians feel is America's baseball team. This picture was taken after Danielle graciously met up with us to bring Brad's camera. I'd "lost" mine and was distraught at the thought of not recording this occasion. Thanks Danielle.

Excited for the Red Sox vs. Diamondbacks game!

Entering historic Fenway Park. We were just waiting to feel the magic.

The view from our seats....

I kept waiting for that almost romantic gushy feeling I hear that people feel as they attend Red Sox games. I'm sad to say it never quite came. Perhaps my embarrassment at my sweet husband's cheers for the opposing team was to blame? Brad says he tried cheering for the Red Sox but just couldn't when they were playing against the Diamondbacks.

I think Brad watched the game intently and I enjoyed listening to the people behind me.

Our view was partially blocked by a pole but you can't be too far away from the action in Fenway Park. Craning our necks to see the pitcher was just part of the experience!

The "Green Monstah"

Getting ready to leave.

On our way out...

We walked from Fenway and crossed the river at the MIT (Mass Ave) bridge and got on the T at Central Square. It was fun to see a different part of the city at night. Thanks to all those who made the night possible... Janelle and Danielle for watching the kids and Melanie for the ride home from the train station.

An interesting side story. Brad listens to Boston Talks--a super right wing political radio show. I was on the way to Costco one day listening to the Michael Graham show. I heard that the Red Sox v. Diamondbacks games had been cancelled because the City of Boston is boycotting Arizona. I think they've pulled investments in the Grand Canyon state to show their disgust. I was distraught about the game being cancelled.

I don't normally get too political here on the family blog but here it comes....this all obviously goes back to the new immigration laws in Arizona. I don't personally see how CHECKING SOMEONES IMMIGRATION STATUS WHEN THEY ALREADY ARE INVOLVED WITH THE POLICE is a PROBLEM?!?! But whatever. You don't have to agree with me. I don't see how Boston boycotting Arizona really does anything.

I'm so gullible. The talk show host was trying to create political waves with the mayor's office by saying the games were cancelled (they weren't) and asking people to call in or send their tickets for a refund. I think his reasoning was that the boycott is ridiculous; especially if the city council wasn't willing to extend it to everything. Don't know that Boston really has the power to cancel an MLB game anyway, but it sure had me upset. I called my friend that was going to babysit, I called Brad, I sent my neighbor a text. I guess in some ways his little tactic worked on me!

Quick Visit to Minuteman Park

David and Will at the Paul Revere capture site.

So happy to have such a nice photo of two toddlers!

This is what we saw on our way in. Yikes!

Danielle watched Will while I did errands and I figured she needed to continue sight seeing so I took her to Minute Man National Park. She watched the multimedia presentation while the boys napped in the car and then we walked along the trial to see what we could see. David and Will didn't last quite as long as I'd hoped but we made it to the spot where Paul Revere was captured, took some photos, and tired to coax the boys to walk back for a bit. It was a nice afternoon. I still can't believe we live a stone's throw from Lexington. I think it may be my favorite town here.

Lowell; Industrial Revolution Town

Brad had to study this Saturday. Danielle wanted to see Lowell so we drove up there with the kids. Lowell was an important city during the industrial revolution. Lots and lots of textile factories. It was maybe a half hour away. Danielle had two specific museums in mind--the textile museum (we sound nerdy, but that is who we are!) and the Mill Girls and Immigrant exhibit.

Here is Danielle trying to lift a bale of cotton. It took both of us.

This museum interesting. It was all about cloth and cloth making. There were many old clothes on display along with an equally huge modern section. I saw a bell that was cast by Paul Revere. There was a lot to see and I didn't read everything but I wanted to. Thank goodness their was a nice children's room. After ten minutes inside the exhibits I decided to watch the kids while Danielle looked around and then we switched.

Mill Girls and Immigrant Exhibit

Of course we loved the social history here...reading about how the girls lived, what they did the in boarding homes and how they liked their mill jobs. The place was deserted so David and Will had fun running up and down the ramps. We made friends with the National Parks ranger in charge. She'd been a nanny before and just finished school with history degree. She was getting ready for an MA program. Danielle and I had a lot in common with her. She was kind to talk to the boys and play with them a little.

We didn't get to ride the trolley, or visit the trolley museum, the boot making factory, or stroll the canal walkway so we may go back. I enjoyed having someone else to read my way through exhibits with. Maybe someday I can do that without being interrupted. :)

A little sampling of what we saw at the textile museum:

The Boston Bucket List Begins

Objectives: Science Center, Swan Boats, Duck Tour

Mission accomplished!

Danielle and David after the lightening show. William loved it. David freaked out.

There were plenty of interesting things to look at. A favorite for David and Will was pressing the buttons (just their height) that made the trains go.

Who doesn't like a dinosaur?

I was a little disappointed that the exhibit on Whales and the exhibit on George Washington Carver weren't out yet. You could really spend a lot of time at the Science Center, but with kids my age I'd say the discovery center is the best area. Everything else is a little too big for them. I really like the big map of Boston. You press a button and that location lights up. Very orienting.

Danielle near some roses at the public garden.

Danielle and David ride the swan boats. I tried to keep William asleep in the stroller that didn't last when I accidentally dropped my purse on him. I don't think David wanted to sit on his seat. Danielle said it was quite the battle keeping him out of the water. He just really seems to like this pond!

Danielle saw a few statues that she didn't want to miss and then we headed over to the best part.

MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS!

If you haven't read it you should, it is a kids book. Hopefully you'll want to come visit Boston (and us!) afterwards.

Will is trying to feed the statue duck.

Brad decided he didn't have as much studying to do as he originally thought and came on the Duck Tour with us. It is a good thing he did. It took all three of us to wrestle the two little boys that had been out all day long.

Here we are excited to tour the city on a WWII amphibious vehicle!

Brad gets to drive the boat. There were lots of silly jokes about dentists and teeth. I think it was because we sat behind a dentist from Spain....

David and Danielle with the Boston skyline in the background.

Boston and the Longfellow Bridge

Beautiful no? I have to say, it is growing on us!

As a practical note we were a little disappointed with the Duck Tour. Brad has friends at school that have been multiple times and love it, however, I think our guy was good at being funny (they are all, who wants it to be boring?!) but not as good about giving tons and tons of information. We'd already seen many of the things we drove by. Fun? Yes! Insanely informative? No!

I did see a few new sights and I felt more oriented...it is always weird to ride the T around and not know what is above you. I also loved the ride on the river, BEAUTIFUL! This would be a great thing to do with out of town guests that have a very limited amount of time, but may not be the best if you've seen lots in the city on your own.

We headed home on the train and got two overtired boys down to bed.

First Taste of Boston

I ran a few errands this morning and took Will to his 15 month Dr's appointment. I knew he wasn't feeling great but what I didn't know really surprised me. Turns out he had an ear infection. Our pediatrician acted like it was totally normal not to know but I couldn't help feeling bad.

I got a big case of cabin fever in the late afternoon and decided we'd take the train into the city.

Do these two look like brothers or what?

Danielle and David at a fountain on Boston Common.

Danielle and David in front of the Massachusetts Statehouse.

David loves the train, the parking garage, and the train station. He can point them out and call each one by name. So we rode into town, took in a few sights, and tried to orient Danielle. David especially seemed to love the ride back. He sat in his own seat instead of in the stroller and charmed the man sitting next to him. Poor Will was ready for bed by the time we went home; I think he needs a lot of rest. Hopefully the antibiotics will help.

Sunday Meetings

It was quite the adventure getting Danielle to church on Sunday. Her meeting was at 2 and ours was at 1. Brad stayed back with a sick William (only because I stayed back with a sick David last week) and Danielle, David, and I left the house before 12 noon. We dropped Danielle off in Cambridge--not far from Harvard Square--more than an hour early and headed for our building in Weston.

An interesting side story to where the singles ward meets is that building actually burned last year. The congregation was participating a satellite meeting with Salt Lake--the same meeting we were watching at our building. There was some sort of electrical fire and members were evacuated. It was a little sad since the Brattle street building (one of the few that are accessible by public transit) was the first meeting house in Boston. For now the single's ward meets at the Divinity School right across from the old meeting house that is being redone.

I used the GPS to get to our building. Unfortunately Brad had set it to avoid toll roads. I didn't know and I ended up winding around a terribly convoluted route and barley made it to our ward by 1. Something similar happened when I tried to go to the airport once too. Maybe I should think to find my bearings and get directions before just relying on the GPS!

I realized that for the first Sunday I probably should have just let Danielle come to our ward with us like she wanted. I just wanted her to attend the singles ward and feel like she belonged there. Picking her up was much easier. I took the freeway back and I arrived there not too long before her meeting was over at 5.

Family Day at Fenway

We have a sweet friend who shares many of her Northwestern Alumi events with us. We were so happy to attend Family Day at Fenway! Here are the boys in the FREE parking garage just raring to go. Of course we had to buy Red Sox gear for this special day.

Wally the Green Monster

Exploring the park. Will wasn't feeling too good and clung to Brad most of the time.

David's favorite pastime was unfolding every seat that he could find.

To David every monkey we see is "George."

Posing with the World Championship trophy's.

Eating some snacks from the green monster seats.

The view was impressive.

It was a fun but HOT day. Brad's decision to leave the stroller proved to be a good one. Fenway has a lot of character but isn't a beacon in the way of accessibility. I was surprised by how small the ballpark actually was. I don't think there are any truly "bad" seats there. This was a wonderful way to see the ballpark little kids. Can't wait for Red Sox vs. Diamondbacks in a few weeks! The only question is who do we cheer for? When in Rome...