Freedom Trail Part II

Brad was very excited to see the USS Constitution; it is the Navy's oldest ship that still works. David didn't really enjoy the loud cheers the group was asked to shout during the tour. He got a little cranky. We decided the Devin really couldn't have fit well on one of those old ships. Brad is hopeful that he can have his comissioning ceremony on the ship when he finishes dental school.

Megan and the Old North Church. Think Paul Reevere; one if by land two if by sea.

We figured out why the guided walking tour only covers the first part of the Freedom Trial--the second half is lots longer and has less to see! We still enjoyed exploring Boston on foot but it was a lot of walking and we were toasted by the end. We gave Brad's family the abbreviated tour when we got back to the part of the trail that we'd already seen.

This is the part of the day that I didn't quite understand. The men thought it was more than worth an exorbant price to see the Yankess/Red Sox game. Noelene, Megan, David, and I headed back to our car at the trian station. Unfortunatley when we got all the way back I realized Brad still had the keys. He was already in the game when he got my call and they would not let him out. I left Noelene, David, and Megan at the train station and rode the subway to Fenway park. To say that I was more irritated by the whole situation would be a gross understatement...apparently I'm the only one who was bothered. Besides Megan being a little bored by the end of the 90+ minute wait everyone was happy when I got back. Brad still claims the game was worth it even though the Sox lost. I am just thankful for cell phones and a very patient mother-in-law. Brad admitted that he probably would not have noticed he had the keys without the call.

Plimoth Plantation (& moving in)

We were all very tired from moving in the night before so even Grandpa slept in a little! It rained when we moved in December and it was raining here when Kent and Noelene came with our things too. Brad and Kent were SOAKED. They unloaded things into our living room while Noelene and I tried to wipe them off. David was being a crank and wouldn't play with his cousin Megan upstaris he had to be involved in the action I guess. What STRESS! Some reinforcements from a neighboring ward (also BU dental students) arrived just in time to help with the heavy furniture and then with the piano. By the time everything was moved in and Devin (Brad's brother) was picked up from the trian station it was after midnight.

I really should have posted pictures of the Native and English people that we got to see at the plantation...but I went with the cute photos. I thought the English village was the best part. Kent got really into quizzing the people and trying to get them out of character. They act like they are in the plantation in a certain year in the 1600's. They did a really great job and we all had fun asking them questions. We got some suprising answers. Megan really liked the Native village though. The people in the village aren't actors but ancestors of local tribes. I'm glad I didn't have to live at Plimoth though--I am all for modern conveniences.

Beautiful view of Plimoth Bay from the Mayflower II.

Our little family on board the Mayflower II. I think the men and boys especially liked the different ships that we saw. I have a pass that allows me to go back to Plimoth and the Mayflower for a whole year and I get to bring a guest in for free so if you visit I promise you admission to the plantation.

Kent and Megan. She got to come on the two week adventure with her Grandparents.

After our trip to Plimoth we went to Legal Seafoods to celebrate Noelene's birthday. I had the best clam chowder I've ever tasted and everyone enjoyed the dinner except for my poor niece who dosen't really like seafood. I bought a cheescake and candles and envisioned doing something resembling a little party when we got home but we just ended up eating the cheescake for breakfast the next day. Oh well, the thought counts right?

What has David been up to?

Playing with Austin (can you believe Austin is months younger) the baby of some old BYU friends who are fourth years here at BU Dental.

Pulling himself up on EVERYTHING!! We thought we had to watch him before...

Falling asleep on the floor. Apparently the day we moved our things in from the hotel was just too exhausting for him.

Enjoying his new highchair. It's amazing how much easier it is to feed him now.

Freedom Trail

David enjoying the subway

After our picnic in Boston Common

Before our tour of the Freedom Trail

Our tour guide

David was fascinated by the tour guides...

We decided to be tourists today and it was a nice change. We Finagled Bagel sandwiches (the local bagel place) and had a picnic in Boston Common. We took the Freedom Trail tour after that. It was pretty interesting; the tour guides are almost historical actors. We learned a lot about the Boston Common area and the city itself. We saw where Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock were buried as well as the site where the Boston Massacre began. They also took us past the old state house building where the Declaration of Independence was first read in public. The tour only covers a small part of the freedom trail so we have lots exploring to do!

I Love To See the Temple

Boston, MA Temple

Today we found the perfect apartment; it isn't far from the temple either. Unfortunately we had a little financial aid crisis that left Brad and I feeling liked we'd both been socked in the stomach. I thought one of us would cry before we left the office! To put it mildly BU is about the least family friendly school I've ever heard of. Couple that with some misinformation and we felt like we had a small disaster on our hands. After talking with family and making some LDS contacts here things are looking brighter and we are still hoping to move in somewhere in the Waltham or Belmont area. (I think Brad secretly hopes that we end up in Mitt's stake--he wants to meet the man so badly!) :)

Red Eye Flight

Can you tell who got sleep?

When we decided on a red-eye flight (left PHX @ 10:30 PM) we figured it would be great for David. He slept the ENTIRE time, even during our short layover in Detroit. He woke up just as we landed in Boston all bright eyed and bushy tailed. What Brad and I didn't realize is that we wouldn't sleep. Brad got some snoozing in but I was up the entire time. I was not a happy camper when we couldn't check into our hotel early. I actually had to sleep in the car while Brad and David took a little walk. After I essentially passed out and slept for awhile things were much better. We enjoyed driving around and taking everything in. I'm suprised by how old everything is out here--I'm used to the west I guess. It is GREEN and humid. Brad took me past BU and the BU Medical School (separate places) and we saw Harvard too. We even got a peek at Fenway park from the highway.

Grandpa Kent (Brad's Dad) arrived with our car and we spent the evening with him. He was wonderful and drove for almost four whole days so we could fly. Even though Grandpa tends to enjoy long car trips he did seem a little tired. We all turned in after catching the end of the Yankees Red Sox game.

Leaving Phoenix

Thankfully today was pretty easy going. We hung out with Grandma Noele and said goodbye to Amy and Mike and their family. Jared seemed a little sad to have Brad go which I felt bad about but I also thought was really sweet. We had to have Chino's with them of course! Brad did a few last minute errands at Jiffy Lube and the post office. We realized that we had to say goodbye to Brad's Focus too. It has been a really wonderful car despite some strange repairs (the automatic window...the ignition lock...the wire crossover between the trunk and windshield wipers) it really grew on us. I can't picture Brad driving anything else. Anyone need a good little car with lots of miles on it?

My parents picked us up and drove us to the airport. We bought David a ticket and took as much stuff in his bad as we could fit. Brad, David and I and all our stuff pretty much filled the mini-van. Grandma and Grandpa gave us some much needed help in the airport and then we were off...I was able to control myself and only shed a few tears once we took off. David feel asleep just after we got in the air.

Some of what we left behind in our apartment....