what an awesome week! we used every possible second we had to fit in exploring massachusetts while we had the chance! the kids were sooooooo good! we really went from morning until late evening every day . . . and they did great! it was all four kids first "real" time on a plane (that they would remember) and even that part went really, really well! the kids had fun, we had fun . . . and we got to do and see a lot!
day 1 and 2
we left for the airport at 3 a.m. . . i am still wondering what we were thinking when we booked that flight . . . yikes! thought the kids would sleep, but they hung in there! :) we met up with the rest of the family in houston and arriveed in boston in the afternoon. our rental car was GREAT . . . a mini van with two dvd players . . . great for all of the short drives we had through the week! we ate some YUMMY uno's pizza and checked into the hotel, unpacked, and headed to see family!
we got to visit with my aunt and uncle, my cousin and his wife and new baby, and my grandfather. the kids had a great time on the slip and slide and we all enjoyed a great meal!
in the morning we headed to liz's house (a friend of mine from elementary and middle school). her little guy and b are the same age! they were instant buds! the girls had fun hanging with her big girls and the adults enjoyed catching up. we talked, ate, swam, and just enjoyed the day! then it was off to check out the house i grew up in and to get ice cream at pinecroft dairy . . . a place my friends and i used to go! the kids loved it! (well, the girls did . . . b was sleeping!) we ended the day back at my aunt and uncle's again for lobster rolls . . . ooooooh YUM!
day 3 and 4
we went to the beach first thing in the morning. it was a perfect day . . . warm and sunny and the kids loved every minute of our time there. most of our extended family was there too . . . so it was a great time to catch up! mck was in the water within five minutes of arriving at the beach. the water is freezing . . . she wasn't scared. the kids all loved playing in the sand. we took a long walk to collect shells and even spotted a sting ray! super cool! we went for lunch at woodman's - a super yummy seafood place . . . everyone was happy! in the evening there was a bridal shower for my cousin . . . so all the girls got to come too! it was at putnam pantry, an old fashioned ice cream shop that grammy used to go to as a kid! the girls were in heaven. you can pile on as many toppings as you want. . . it was a dream come true! ken was the first to finish hers . . . and she actually wanted seconds! b, daddy, uncle tim, and baby aubrey went for ice cream at sonic . . . not quite the same, but everyone had a treat!
the memorial/burial service for my grandfather was the next morning. it was wonderful to be able to be there. the mass was a wonderful reminder of what an amazing man he was. i was happy ken and mck were able to hear it . . . and b and kam may have caught a little bit of it too! we had a really nice lunch all together then headed to a little port town with awesome shops and seafood. bailey and i shared a lobster . . . it was really good!
day 5 . . . the fourth of july!
we started off the fourth with a whale watch out of gloucester. the weather was overcast, but the seas were calm. we followed a cow and calf for the entire trip. it was really amazing to see them swimming right next to each other. ken and mck were really in awe. kam was more interested in following her cousin s around, and b had his moments, but for the most part enjoyed looking at the coloring books in the ship and eating!
we stopped at friendly's for lunch. . . and instead shared a ginormous sundae . . . 12 scoops of ice cream with six toppings. everyone picked their two fav flavors and fav topping - the kids were sure this sundae was made for us! it was a fun indulgence!
then it was over to my aunt's house a fourth of july cookout and water fight! the kids had a great time. she had lots of fun goodies for them and sparklers to end the night with (fireworks were cancelled because of thunderstorms!)! it was really a perfect day!
day 6 and 7 . . . two days on our own!
we woke up and headed to boston for the day. it was so much fun! we paid $35 to park so we had to walk to everything . . . we were NOT paying to park twice! we went to the new england aquarium . . . LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that place. we got to see lots of animal feedings and a really cool 3-D imax movie. the kids were so excited and so good. then we WALKED to quincy market and fanuiel hall and had lunch and browsed. we saw some street dancers and just checked things out! we WALKED to the cemetary where paul revere, boston massacre victims, and ben franklin's parents are buried. ken and mck thought that was pretty cool! then we WALKED to the common and rode the swan boats and saw the make way for ducklings statue. then we waded in the frog pond, ate in quincy market again, saw an amazing street show, and WALKED by boston harbor. after all that walking - oooooh the girls were such troopers! - we had some super yummy ice cream and headed home!
for our last day we headed back to the beach for awhile. the kids could have spent the entire week there. it was so fun to watch them loving every minute of the sand and water! we met g and g in salem (the witch town), went to the oldest candy store in america, tried the first commercially made candy, and explored the shops. we met up with family one more time for lobster rolls and ended the night with GIANT scoops of ice cream at richardson's dairy!
what a perfect trip. now if we can only move there! i have four kids on board . . . just need to convince the native texan!
