…from my vacation journal

Friday, August 17th Day 1

Took a 5 hour red eye to Logan Airport in Boston.?? Jim and Ty slept fairly decently on the plane but I found it darn near impossible.?? Tanner and I got to watch the sunrise out the plane window and enjoyed landing over the ocean.??

Saturday, August 18th Day 2

Eric and Christine (Christine is Jim’s sister and Eric her, now, husband) met us at the airport.?? We went back to their apartment for a nice waffle breakfast.?? We enjoyed family and rested most of the day.?? Ty, having never heard the name “Eric”, decided Eric’s name must be “amERICa” LOL!.?? Gotta love that.?? Worked for Christine too because by Eric being “Uncle America”, she now gets to be “Mrs. America”.?? LOL!?? We took the boys to get measured for their tuxedos and Ty thought the tuxedo was a Mr. The Incredible “Super Suit”.?? I then realized that Mr. Incredible DID in fact wear a black tux when he married Elasta Girl!?? I went with that realizing this could be just the motivation we needed. ;)?? Ty fell asleep on the way to the grocery store at about 5:00 PM and I found myself hauling my 35 pound 3 year old through the whole store – he never woke up.?? He woke up for an hour around 10:00 PM but then fell asleep again until 10:00 AM.?? Talk about catching up on lost sleep!!! Sheeeshhh!?? He did however miss out on the yummy Olive Garden dinner.?? Jim bought a GPS while we were there because the streets in Mass are not labeled well.?? Dad has one and named his “Alice”.?? I suggested “Dora the Explorer” for ours – seemed to make sense.?? Ty insisted she be named “Elasta Girl”.?? Whatever.

Sunday, August 19th Day 3

We visited the North Bridge where the “shot heard round the world” was fired.?? Very beautiful place.?? We had a nice picnic there.?? We also went to Concord and I got to see Louisa May Alcott’s house.???? For dinner, Dad and Mom treated us to the “Melting Pot”.?? THAT was a fun experience.?? Tanner, our only seafood eater in the family, LOVED cooking his own shrimp.

Louisa May Alcott House

Louisa May Alcott property – gorgeous huh?

Uncle America and Ty

Uncle and Mrs. America

Mary Martha Chapel wear the “Americas” (aka Eric and Christine” got married)

The Grismill across from the chapel.?? Wedding pictures taken here.

Monday, August 20th, Day 4

Went to New Hampshire with Dad and visited Hampton Beach.?? We had to have pizza and ice cream because our kids now consider that beach tradition post all our San Diego trips.?? We later had dinner at Dad and Mom’s.?? That evening when Jim was trying to tuck the boys in, they were getting a bit rambunctious.?? There wrestling turned personal and soon they were fighting.?? Daddy advised “If you two don’t settle down someone is going to get hurt!”?? Ty immediately retorts “YA AND I THINK IT’S GONNA BE TANNER!”?? LOL.

Tanner, Grandpa, Jim at Hampton Beach

Ty at Hampton Beach

Tuesday, August 21st Day 5

I promised my mother that we would visit Sturbridge Village.?? For Arizonians, it is a bit like a glorified Pioneer Village.?? Unlike my mom, I am not into antiques BUT the scenary was unbeatable.?? Grandma sweetly packed the boys tons of snacks for the trip and even grew several varieties of tomatoes for them in her home grown garden.?? While I DETEST tomatoes, my boys LOVE them.?? Ty ate about a million cherry tomatoes at Sturbridge village and also discovered that he loves ants on a log.?? We had dinner at Dad and Mom’s later that evening and then ate “Friendly’s” Reeses Sunday’s for dessert.?? It is important to mention that because Jim has been talking about these Reeses Sunday’s for 14.5 years now!!!!?? They were just as awesome as he said!

Employees dressed in character

Wednesday, August 22nd Day 6

Went to Salem with Dad.?? Visited the Pirate Museum (which Tanner was frightened by), the House of 7 Gables that Hawthorne wrote about, at lunch at a place called Rockport that served Lobsters/Crab cakes dipped in green wasabi that was awesome and we also briefly visited Cape Ann.?? We had dinner that night at “The America’s”.

Gravestone from one of the witches hung in Salem.?? Weird huh??? We actually saw graves from pilgrims off the Mayflower while in Mass.

Who could resist? 🙂

Thursday, August 23rd Day 7

Went to Boston with Mom.?? We got to ride the “T” and that was an interesting experience.?? We don’t have subway systems in Arizona.?? We went to the top of the Prudential Tower so we could get a birds eye view of the whole city.?? We also went to the Cheesecake Factory (yummy) and took a “Duck Tour” which is a by land and sea tourist attraction.?? Great way to see Boston.?? We ate at Friendly’s for dinner and got another Sunday :).

Friday, August 24th, Day 8

Went to Cape Ann with Christine and Dad.?? Ate lunch at Captain Hooks where I ate my first lobster roll.?? It turned out to be a little fishy for me but I wonder if I would like straight lobster dipped in butter??? Ty aggravated me at lunch by pouring his soda out on his paper plate while my head was turned.?? The plate was lined in wax paper and didn’t absorb any of it – fun cleaning that up!?? Ty then say’s “Mommy why did I do that?”.?? Wouldn’t I like to know!!!?? The bathroom there made us all laugh because it was as small as a plane bathroom – weird.?? We had a wonderful time at the beach at Cape Ann and I caught a horseshoe crab for the boys.?? I thought I saw a pretty shell and leaned down to pick it up.?? Imagine my surprise when crab legs started kicking!?? Eeewwww!?? I threw it but then made myself pick it up again.?? I AM a mother of boys you know!?? They needed me to be brave!?? LOL.?? Tanner slid down a rock with barnacles and scratched up his foot really good – that was not fun.?? Today was a memorable day because TANNER LOST HIS VERY FIRST TOOTH!!!!?? The Tooth Fairy brought him 2 dollars because prices are higher in Massachusetts.?? You may notice a missing tooth in pictures from here on out.?? :)?? We ate pizza for dinner and walked through downtown Maynard (where Jim’s parents live).

Saturday, August 25th, Day 9

We drove to Rockport with the America’s.?? We ate at Friendly’s for dinner and got Sunday’s again – yep that’s three!?? While in Friendly’s there was a girl at the table next to us that was being silly and balancing a spoon on her nose to make the boys giggle.?? Tanner looks at me and quietly say’s “Mom can I sit at another table”.?? LOL.?? Guess that was toooo much attention.

Rockport Harbor

I saw these little beanies in a shop window and I really NEED one for my next baby!?? Aren’t they cute?!!!

Sunday, August 26th Day 10

Went to Park Central Congregational Church of Christ (Christine and Eric’s Church).?? Had lunch at Bickford’s and ate the “Big Apple”.?? Another notable point.?? Jim has been talking about this apple pancake for so many years.?? It was very good – I had to agree.?? Talk about carb crash though – boy howdy!?? Jim’s parents were precious and paid for WAY TOO MANY of our meals.?? This particular meal, Jim paid and someone around the table started saying “Thank you Jim, Thank you Doni, Thank you Tanner, Thank You Ty”.?? When Ty heard “thanks” given to him he said very seriously “It’s my gift to you”.?? I cracked up laughing.?? I’ll just take the money out of his account 😉 .?? That afternoon (and??often thereafter) the boys swam in Grandma and Grandpa’s spa and above ground pool.?? They loved it and it was a vacation highlight for them 🙂 .?? Grandpa also made them a red tree swing and carved their names in it.?? Wish I would have remembered to get a picture of that!

Monday, August 27th Day 11

Slept in then went to Concord and walked around with Dad.?? We also went to an orchard and picked blueberries.?? In Phoenix, we pay about 5.00 for half a cup of blueberries!?? We picked 2 pounds of blueberries for under six dollars!?? Wooohooo!?? We felt a little guilty though because we are convinced Ty ate another pound worth that never quite made it into his cup.?? They should have weighed him first and charged us the difference.?? That night we ate at an Italian restaurant called “Chateau”.?? It was awesome!!!!!?? Their lasagna was out of this world.?? They made it with NO sauce inside – only a meat sauce poured on top.?? Jim and I LOVED it that way.?? We really loved their marinara and turns out you can order it online here:?? http://www.chateaurestaurant.com/.?? On this trip the boys started picking up on Grandma’s New England accent.?? I had to laugh when I heard them ask for “chowdah” and comment on getting in the “caw” – car.?? 🙂 🙂 🙂

Tuesday, August 28th Day 12

Lazy and slept in!?? Drove around and walked through the wood where Jim frequented on his dirt bike as a teenager.?? The woods in New England are very “oaky” where as the woods in AZ are predominately pine.?? Makes the forests look very different.?? Also very GREEN!?? We stopped off at a little orchard called “The Honey Pot Orchard” and let the boys play a bit.?? They had apple cider donuts that were pretty good.?? That night Grandma made shrimp for dinner for Tanner and he ate TWELVE of them!?? These were no little Arizona shrimp either!

In the woods behind the Maynard High School

Three little pigs at the Honey Pot Orchard

And their homes….:)

Ty above in a maze!?? It was actually pretty hard to get through.

Wednesday, August 29th Day 13

Drove to Cape Cod with Dad.?? This was not quite what we were expecting.?? We thought if we drove the cape we would get beautiful ocean view.?? Nope.?? In fact, the scenary looks the same on both sides FOR MILES.?? It was wooded but the trees were rather short.?? We stuck with it and drove all the way to Provincetown anyhow.?? For lunch we ate at a Danish Cheese deli and I had a great Reuben and Butternut Squash soup that was awesome.?? We ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant called “Accapulco’s”??- that was good also.?? That night as I tucked Ty in bed he said “I love this family”.?? :)?? Think he was having a good time?!!!

This beach reminded me of a scene in Anne of Avonlea.

The sand on this beach was huge!?? Each grain was almost as big as course salt.?? Very weird but cool.

Thursday, August 30th Day 14

Getting close to wedding now so our touring is about over.?? I went shopping with Mom and she bought the most beautiful pair of silver princess shoes for the wedding.?? Unfortunately for her, she didn’t wear them to the wedding because she was afraid the high heel would hurt her back.?? Fortunately for me, they came back in MY suitcase. :)?? Also fortunately for me, Christine was on her honeymoon in Hawaii and didn’t know I got the shoes.?? Sorry sista!?? Now you know LOL. That night we had a lovely dinner with the Rochon’s – amERICa’s family.?? Sandy made the BEST chocolate cake ever ever!?? I can’t wait to get my hands on the recipe.?? I think it was called Bottomless Chocolate and it was part chocolate cake and part cheesecake!?? Man it was glorious!?? Also mom made some vegetable sides that I loved that I have to remember to make sometime.?? She sautes chopped celery in butter – yummy and totally carb friendly :).?? She also chops cucumbers and adds onion, sour cream, bit of sugar, and fresh dill.?? VERY good.

Friday, August 31st Day 15

Today was the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner at the Wayside Inn.?? I was getting nervous about the boys walking down the isle and they couldn’t manage to keep pace.????I, now, was??starting to fret about this.?? Jim’s Aunt Betty came in from NH and it was the first time I met her.?? We got to visit a bit and that was fun.?? She is a bit height challenged (under 5 foot) and Ty was referring to her as “that little girl” which was hysterical because she is in her 60’s. 🙂

Saturday, September 1st Day 16

Wedding Day!?? Wedding was gorgeous and the boys did GREAT. Ty made loads of friends and could be found partying regularly with the bridesmaids and groomsmen.?? He really came out of his shell though 😉 at the reception.?? Everytime he disappeared on me I found him visiting.?? He would visit one table then the next showing the guests his Sony PCP and discussing The Incredibles and video games.?? At one point I found him in the middle of a dance train and also on the dance floor dancing with the bride and sitting atop the grooms shoulders.?? Rocking on with the Rochon’s LOL.?? Don’t have pictures of that but lots of video.?? Tanner was in the quietest and darkest place possible and refused to step out on the dance floor with me.?? Bummer.

By the way, I DID end up wearing the black dress.?? The rumor was true – there was a TON of guests wearing black at the wedding!?? As for Boston being more conservative though, I would disagree for the most part with one exception.?? The swimsuits on the beaches were BY FAR more modest than in CA – BY FAR!

Boys in their SUPER SUITS!?? Ty kept trying to rip it open like a super hero and had me panicking he was going to bust the buttons.?? He was “bust his buttons” proud in that suit though -both of them were.

Ty spent a great deal of time amidst these gals.

Grandma, Grandpa and boys

Counting with Jenna

Rather dashing wouldn’t you say?

Not quite sure who he borrowed those off.

Beautiful Bride

With brides parents

With groom’s parents

Sunday, September 2nd Day 16

Needed a recoop day.?? We went to Chef Orient for lunch which had a tampunyaki (spelling?) bar.?? It was fun to watch the chef sautee our meal at our table.?? Mostly just slept and swam and relaxed.

Monday, September 3rd Day 17

Flew home to Phoenix – what a lovely vacation we had and yes I will send pictures to the Brinkman’s, The “America’s” and the Rochons :).