Boston

So here it is...the long and picture filled Boston post. I think I have been subconsciously putting this post off because I had such a good time and I am so sad it is over. Mark and I have been looking forward to this trip for a very long time. My sister Rachel and her husband moved out to Boston almost two years ago and we have been talking about going out to visit ever since. We found out we were pregnant a fews days after they moved so we knew it would not be the following summer. Due to timing, Rachel had not met her nephew, which was so hard for me, so I could not wait to get the two together. Plus Ethan was a tiny baby when they left so I could not wait to get to know him better...he is such a cute and busy little boy. And I have missed my Hailey soooo much and was excited just to hug her! Mark and I got really close to her when she was here in Provo so we have been going through withdrawals.

We flew out on the 25th. Shortstop was AWESOME on the flight. There were a few delays but nothing too bad. When we arrived, the airline lost all our luggage. Slight set back but they reimburse $50 a person for things we needed to buy (diapers, make up, toiletries) so we got doubles of everything for free basically so no harm there. The bags were delivered the next afternoon, thank goodness.

We walked into the house to see this.

Hailey was so excited to tell us about all the pictures on it the next morning when she was awake. (The kids had to go to bed because we got in too late).

We saw so much of Boston! Mark was really looking forward to the historical sights and got goosebumps at most of them. He is quite patriotic so seeing these places meant a lot to him.

North Bridge- Shot heard round the world

Matt and Rachel know how to entertain guests. From sight seeing, to eating some amazing food (mmm...lobster rolls, Dunkin Donuts, Trader Joes, crab rolls, Mike's pastries) to playing games late into the night. It was so great. We even got to see a race between Rachel and Mark. Rachel is quite the runner and Mark is quite competitive so they had two races. Short distance sprint (Mark won) and a mile (Rachel won.)

Some things I took away from the city were riding the metro, fighting the crowds, listening to the accents and feeling a part of a big city.

Just walking in the city

Mark enjoyed reading up on historical sites, seeing a baseball game at Fenway and eating at Mike's pastry shop.

Shortstop loved being with his cousins, getting a lot of attention and being outside most of the time we were there.

This is a new face for Shortstop...just loves to pucker those lips! Ethan was so sweet and liked to hold his hand or give him loves.

We went into the city twice, walked around a ton of places and fought the heat and crowds and these three kids were amazing. No complaints, happy and a lot of fun to be around.

Now for pictures from some of the main things we saw:

Concord and Lexington/ North Bridge

The big boys

My two boys

Freedom Trail, Old North Church, Paul Revere's house, North End, Boylston Avenue, Newbury Street, Public Gardens, Charles River, Quincy Market, Cheers

Paul Revere's house

Mark telling Shortstop all about the ocean and the boats

Sunset on Newbury street

Gorgeous public gardens

I loved these duckling statues

Ethan trying out every one...such a cute boy!

Just look at those lips

Little climber...and beautiful photogenic model

The three troopers

Where everybody knows your name! We collect shot glasses but this is the first place it made sense to get that kind of souvenir from

Red Sox Game

Fun to be at a game on Memorial day and the hear the national anthem sung by a veteran

Notice the new baseball cap- still has the stickers on it

Teaching Rachel how to properly use an MLB scorebook- Mark taught me how to do this on one of our first dates. It is a lot of fun to do and you learn so much more about the game

Riding the very crowded metro home- so glad we did not have strollers or kids this night. Look how cute my sister is!

Well, that was our trip. One of the best vacations and we already miss Matt, Rachel, Hailey and Ethan...even more than we miss Boston. Thanks for a great time guys!