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...

So Long Curls

Thursday Bobby took Samuel to get his hair cut.  My sweet little buddy went to a barber shop (instead of a salon...) and sat there like a big boy while his curls were cut off.  

I'd been saying for weeks that Sammy needed a hair cut.  His hair was so unruly and never looked combed no matter what I did.   And I figured it would be cooler as the temperatures rise.  But when Bobby came to pick up him yesterday I didn't want him to go!  Bobby took him anyway.

As Hannah & I drove home alone she suddenly lamented, "Mommy I'm sad.  (Why?  What's wrong?)  Sammy's going to get his hair cut and I just don't want him to."  I'm thinking, 'Me too Hannah.  Me too.'

When Samuel arrived home I was pleasantly surprised.  Even though I honestly felt like crying at the loss of those white little curls (I know! I know!  It's just hair but still...), my little guy looked grown up and cute.  He likes it too and I guess that's the most important thing.  

He marched right up to Hannah and said, "Hair cut Hannah."  while rubbing his hair.

Hannah looked at him and said, "It looks cool Sam."

{Pre-haircut}

{Sporting his new style} 

 

 

Sabbath Rest

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. 

On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 

For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 20:8

That means that starting about 6:30 Friday evening we turn off the television, the computer and all other worldly distractions.  We eat a delicious supper together, tell Bible stories, play games with the kids and just rest & relax.  

Saturday we don't do any chores or cooking (we eat sandwiches and finger foods throughout the day ... don't want you thinking we starve!).  Instead we just enjoy the day of rest that the Lord provided for us. 

We love Sabbath!  Here are some of the fun things we did this past Sabbath... 

{played with blocks} 

 {just looked cute}

 

 {and were very happy that we got to spend time with Tabitha (my cousin) and her baby}

 

 {Lucca, pre-dinner meltdown}

 

{Lucca, after a little persistent training from his Mama.  He was happier after his meltdown/training session!} 

 

{The evening ended with bath time for all.  Lucca really enjoyed his bath.  Hannah looks grumpy in this pic but she really ended up having fun too...} 

 

Saturday we went on a hike: 

  

 some of the sights we saw along the way:

 

 

 

 

 

 

White

It's rained a lot lately.  This abundance of rain has helped Hannah's asiatic lilies to bloom (considering if it hadn't been raining I would most likely have forgotten to water them myself.)  Today we noticed that a white one as well as another yellow lily had bloomed overnight.

 

While I was taking these pictures this scripture came to mind:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55: 8-11

Praise the Lord!! 

Memorial Day

Memorial Day was spent sleeping late, visiting with my family & eating a delicious supper with the Platt's.  I don't have a lot of photos of our day but I did manage to get a few shots of my dad and my kids. 

My Daddy - the Vietnam Veteran

 Hannah enjoying some delicious watermelon @ my aunt's house.

 Hannah & Lily loved playing together.  Lily is such a cutie pie!

 And of course I couldn't forget this handsome fella'.

{Simply Hannah}