a mini-family reunion

We're now on our second trip in two weeks.  This time we have the kids with us (happy dance).  We're currently in IN visiting Bobby's family.  Normally we come up for the 4th of July but his classes @ Clemson start on the 2nd so we had to come early.   So we basically got home last Friday, unpacked, cleaned the house, washed all the laundry and repacked. 

Today we just stayed @ home with Ryan & Bethany and relaxed.  Then we headed out to eat dinner with some of Bobby's aunts and uncles.  We ate some delicious food and then spent the next few hours just hanging around talking.  I love Bobby's family...

Bethany & the kiddos

 Bobby & his cousin Dewayne

Bobby's cousin Lori.

 

Sammy is by far the cutest...

Uncle Don...

 

The Girls...

 

Lucca

The Saturday before Bobby & I left for Boston, we took the kids to Chau Ram County Park to help celebrate Lucca's (my second cousin) first birthday.

Despite the humidity and bugs we had a blast.  There were a ton of kids there and the food was delicious (I mean Kathy & Frank provided the food so it couldn't be anything but amazing...)  Chau Ram is a beautiful location for a party too ... if you haven't been there you should make plans to visit it.

Lucca seemed to enjoy his big day.  But seriously, aren't parties more for the parents than the kids?  At least that first birthday?  

One thing's for sure - he certainly enjoyed his cake!

{The kids loved the swings.}

{Hannah particularly loved the stream.}

{The party scene.}

 {Menu: pasta salad, sub sandwiches w/ PB&J for the kids and fruit salad. Yum-o!}

 {Someone got grumpy while waiting for some b-day cake.}

{Luca, "So what's going on?"}

{Kathy's home made cakes were superb!}

Happy Birthday Lucca!!  We love you!!

Some Pretty Awesome Dad's

...I hope some very special Dad's have a very special Father's Day.  I love you all very much!...

 and of course my own sweet husband who has to be the best Dad ever!

Museum of Fine Art {Boston}

Yesterday I finally made it to the Museum of Fine Art!!  And it was so worth the trip.  After 3 and a half hours I still hadn't looked at every exhibit...

If you're ever in Boston you definitely have to go to this museum.  I walked through a hall of African tribal masks, sat in a replica of a Buddist Shrine and spent about an hour looking at an Egyptian tomb and its contents.  But my favorite was the European art...

Islamic "Tombstone"

 Hieroglyphics on the lid of an Eygptian Sarcophagus

--Degas--

--Monet--

--van Gogh--

--Joseph Mallard William Turner--

(I did a report on this painting for one of my Lit classes so I had to take a picture of it too!)

That's it folks...

I've packed our bags and now I'm just waiting for Bobby to finish his final training session.  Then we're off to the airport!  I'm so ready to be back home with Hannah & Samuel.  I've really enjoyed this trip but it would have been a lot more fun if they had been with me. 

Quincy Market

I've decided to leave the Museum for our last full day in Boston.  

Today I took the T to the open market (Quincy Market).  It's pretty neat but not quite what I was expecting.  There was a huge food court that included the second Cheers bar.  There were vendors all over selling jewelry and Boston apparel but there were also some major shopping stores (like Godiva, Coach, and my favorite, the Croc store).  A very fun way to spend the afternoon.

On the way to Quincy Market there is a beautiful tribute to Holocaust survivors.  

  Heart breaking stories from Holocaust survivors are written on each of the glass panels along the walkway.  One lady wrote about how she watched her sister stand naked before a Nazi soldier.  Her sister told the solider she wouldn't be parted from her family and the solider then shot & killed her.  I couldn't read all of them because they were so devastating... 

There are grates inside each section that envelop you in steam when you stop to read the stories.

Finding the Fine Art

Today resulted in not one, but two failed attempts at finding the Museum of Fine Arts.  Bobby brought me a map yesterday and told me the museum was within walking distance.  He mapped out a route that looked like it would be about 2 or so miles so I readily agreed to walk and save the T fare of another day.

I woke this morning, showered, ate a quick breakfast and set out with map in hand.  I somehow ended up circling back around to the hotel.  The one person I asked for directions looked at me like I was crazy when I said I wanted to get to the museum and that I was walking.

I grabbed some lunch and came back to the hotel room to rest and check Map quest.  M.quest confirmed Bobby's belief that the museum was only 2.33 miles away.  Not bad ... I mean I ran a 5K so walking 2 miles shouldn't be a big deal.  Plus this time I had definite streets go by.  No problem.  I set out again.

I somehow missed a turn and ended up on Beacon (the road our hotel is on) - just farther down.  A sweet little lady saw me consulting my map & directions and offered some assistance (and I thought Northerners were all rude!)  She got me pointed in the right direction and gave me some landmarks to look for so I would know that I was going the right way.  Her directions were great and I certainly would have made it had I continued.  But by the halfway point I was sweating like nobodies business and my feet were killing me (note to self:  throw away walking shoes and buy some new, comfortable ones!)  Plus it was almost 2pm by this point so and I knew that I wouldn't have a lot of time to browse when I made it to the museum - I don't like to be rushed.

So I stopped at

for a frappachino.  All of Boston smells of coffee.  There are coffee shops everywhere...

I did see Harvard and the Temple Israel.  Temple Israel is such a beautiful building and it's huge!  I was tempted to go inside but was too tired and shy to stop and ask.

 

Tomorrow I'm taking the T to the Museum of Fine Arts... I'm too lazy to walk again!

Boston

Yesterday Bobby & I traded in our children for airplane tickets.  Sadly.  It was so hard leaving my two sweet babies with my parents and driving away, knowing I won't see them again for a week!  But I know they'll be in good hands so I'm going to make the best of it.

After a 45 minute delay we finally boarded our flight and two hours later we arrived in beautiful Boston.  I honestly didn't relax until we arrived (I felt panicky that we would crash & my children would be left w/o parents...  I just had to continually pray for peace.)  Our hotel is in the heart of Brookline with shops and restaurants within walking distance.  I've already found the nearest Starbucks and Panera.

Bobby & I are sad to be away from the kids for so long...

 

 but we quickly recovered/relaxed over some sushi (right across the street from our hotel.)

 

Today...
I hopped aboard the T and rode to the Paul Revere House.  Do not ask the T employees for directions.  The lady I asked got me totally turned around and I ended up asking a local to point me in the right direction (he was actually friendly!).  After about a 10 minute walk I arrived safely at my destination.  The Paul Revere house isn't the most spectacular landmark but it was very interesting.  In the midst of all these huge churches, restaurants, and shops is this small, modest, wood house.  It's a quick tour through the house simply b/c it consists of two rooms downstairs and two room upstairs.  The history is quite interesting though and you can see the original furniture, woodwork, and wall decor.   Well worth the time I spent getting there...

 

 

 

 (a teeny tiny garden out back)

 

 

Sorry there are no pictures of the inside but you're not allowed to take pictures or videos while touring the house.  You're not supposed to have drinks, food or gum either ... what a rule breaker I am...