Boston, Lexington & Concord

Those of us who really know us have discovered our obsession with Boston. We hold a special place in our hearts for this city, it's people and rich history. Maybe it is because we are history buffs, or we just love the walking the streets and riding the T, but Boston is our FAVORITE city in the US. Hands Down. So when we got the chance to return again, we had mixed feelings. Visiting a memorable place for the second time can have two outcomes: Either you are bored with it, and all the shiny memories become not all that special, or you make new memories and realized all the reasons you loved it in the first place. Thankfully, we fell into the second category. When we visited Boston in 2008, we did absolutely everything there was to do in Boston, except for seeing a Red Sox's game (not in season). This trip was much more laid back, and we went at Lindsay-Speed. We saw a few favorite spots, but also wanted to venture outside the city to soak up the surroundings.

Here we are... a much younger and blonder duo in 2008.

Riding the carousel in Boston Common... This was the first time she got to ride a horse, not in a teacup or sleigh. She was a little unsure at first, but you can see she quickly began having a ball...

 Frog pond in Boston Common... oh how we loved walking that city.

 Playing at the park... Daddy went down the slide with her about 15 times...

 Here's our spooky picture of the Granary Burial Ground... where Paul Revere is buried!

 Old South Meeting House...Where angry Bostonians met before the Tea Party...

 Old State House.... Where the Declaration of Independence was read to Boston for the first time. It is amazing to see the preserved building right next door to modern skyscrapers. We had lunch a block away at the Quincy Marketplace, and it was delish.

We took Lindsay to the Boston Children's Museum in the afternoon, and it was fun for her to explore and play. For dinner we ate in the North End, Boston's Little- Italy. After dinner, we had to get Mike's Pastry. 

 Now, when we went in 2008, we just happened to stumble across this institution when we were walking around. What drew us in was the giant memorial to Frank Sinatra. If Ol' Blue Eye's liked it, we knew we would too. To our dismay, they had remodeled, and a lot of the old Italian charm was gone, but the cannoli was still the same: AMAZING!!

 Usually I always order the better thing at a restaurant, but this time J had me beat. He ordered the Amaretto Cannoli... it was huge and so yummy!

The next day we took a road trip to check out fall foliage, which to our disappointment, was not quite there yet. We saw glimpses of red and gold, but it wasn't peak yet. It was great being where it actually felt like fall!! For all you sophisticated literary fans out there, we took a tour of famous American author's old stomping grounds.. it was beautiful!

We visited the home of Louisa May Alcott, author of "Little Women", one of my all- time favorite books and movies on our journey to Lexington & Concord.  

 This has got to be one of my favorite pics... Love the fall leaves!! As on all of our vacations, we toured a couple college campuses: Amherst College and U Mass Amherst. They were nice, but a little out in the boonies.

 Mama & Lindsay...

 Happy Autumn!! Lindsay loved playing in the leaves...

 We also checked out Ralph Waldo Emerson's home, and it was lovely.

We drove to Walden Pond, and it was gorgeous. It looked more like a lake to us Californians, but was so incredibly peaceful.

Here is the model of the cabin that Henry David Thoreau wrote some of his most famous works. I told Jarrett that he was going to take a writing hiatus here to finish his dissertation... minus the toddler :)

 Yep, this one is going in his office in a frame.

 Walden Pond

 Lindsay Kisses...

 An autumn walk with her Daddy...

 Walked across the Old North Bridge, where there was a huge battle against the British...

Laughing at Daddy... he is so silly! Overall, we had an amazing trip, and got to share one of our favorite places with our girl.  She was such a good little traveler, and since it will be probably the last trip she takes for a long time, because she is getting close to two, and a lap baby no more. We love New England... hopefully one of our girls will want to go to college there.. Harvard? Boston College? Tufts?

Cape Cod, MA

Later in the day we drove to Cape Cod, and although we only spent a few hours exploring, it was definitely the most memorable part of our entire vacation (for me). I can't describe the feeling watching the sunset on the beach with my little family- our tummies were full with a delicious meal, the weather was a little chilly, and the view was simply magical. Being there with the ones I love the most was one of those precious memories I will always treasure. It was one of those sweet times where your heart overflows with praise for God and all the beauty and joy in your life.     

 Here's a view from nearby our restaurant... Living across the street from the beach I would think that seeing the ocean wouldn't be that big of a deal. But let me tell you, it was completely different from California beaches.

The water was so clear and clean- the sand was so white and soft. There were gentle rolling sand dunes with wispy grass and those cute fences, just as I pictured in my imagination or in a movie about the Cape.

 Lindsay eating her first bowl of clam "chowda" actually in New England... Yummy!

So being the pregnant Mama I am, I had to post a picture of my fabulous meal: a lobster roll with baked potato (loaded of course). Imagine this: a fresh roll toasted with AT LEAST a cup of lobster cooked to perfection, dripping in clarified butter and lemon. Simply to die for. This is the stuff my dreams have been made of lately...LOL.

 Playing on the beach... Run Lindsay, Run!! Daddy's going to get you!!

My two loves chasing some seagulls... thankfully none of us got pooped on... would have made for a much different evening.

 Here's my shot at photography... it helps having a cute kid.

Me and my sweet girl and a half :)

 Our family picture to remember our special day...

Had to sneak a shot in of our sweet mini-van... I think I would take one of these beach houses any day over one in Malibu!!

"I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High." Psalm 9:2

Plymouth, MA

On the next leg of our trip we flew from Washington DC to Boston. It was a great flight (1.5 hrs) and we got all our luggage!! When we picked up our reserved rental car (some economy car), they told us they had a sweet VW mini-van that was available and would give it to us for the same price. Now, I NEVER thought I would EVER be excited about a mini-van, but this ride had a DVD player, leather and seat warmers! As we pulled out of the parking lot, we knew we made the right decision when we heard Lindsay clapping to "Elmo's Potty Time" video. Let me just say, I am still trying to get those songs out of my head. After a restful night's sleep, we got on the road for what turned out to be my personal favorite day of the trip... Plimoth Plantation, Plymouth Rock & Cape Cod.

On a walk to the Indian Village at Plimoth Plantation... Can you see the resemblance? Jarrett & his "Mini-Me".

History lesson from Daddy... Funny Story: There were actual Native Americans that were re-enacting life in a colonial village. One of the structures contained huge piles of furs, and when Lindsay saw them, she pointed and loudly said, "Pup-Pups!! Daddy, Pup-Pups!" We got some out-of-character laughs from the actors :)

 This was one of the better dwellings of the Pilgrims... doesn't it look comfy? LOL

 Lindsay got a kick out of feeding the goats some grass- she giggled and wanted to touch them.

 The village and a sweet Daddy & his girl

We drove a few minutes from the plantation to the harbor to visit a replica of the Mayflower. It was so cool! It really makes you appreciate all that our ancestors lived through, and the incredible odds they beat to make it here. It was truly by the grace of God that they survived and were able to make the country we live in today.

Daddy & Lindsay checking out Plymouth Rock... Check out the date...1620!

 Had to take a picture of a dream house overlooking the bay... So quaint!! Perfect New England charmer!

Annapolis, MD

The next day of our trip was spent in Annapolis, MD, a 45 minute drive from DC. Annapolis is a quaint fishing village located on Chesapeake Bay which is also home to the US Naval Academy and the capitol of Maryland. We toured the State House, and did some window shopping in the cute downtown square. We drove across the Bay Bridge and checked out Dover, DE. Why visit DE? Because it was only an hour away! Where else can you visit 3 states in 1 day? Nowhere but the East Coast! We had a yummy BBQ lunch in Dover, where we were scared silly by the volunteer fire department siren that rings all over town when they are called. It sounds eerily like a hurricane siren. The locals looked at us tourists like we were crazy as we ran into the restaurant like it was the beginning of WWIII! I am sure the look on our faces was pretty funny. We discovered a gorgeous park in Dover where we let Lindsay stretch her legs and play. We drove through farmlands where there were REAL pumpkin patches and it reminded us of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

 Jarrett & Lindsay in front of the capitol of MD...

 Loved the cobblestone streets of this beautiful little town...

 Inside the capitol... It once served as our nation's capitol from 1783-84...

 Taking a stroll through the gardens

 "Look Mama!!"  There were ducks in the water...

 Where we had lunch in Dover, DE... and where we ran inside from the 'hurricane' siren.

 The adorable park we visited after lunch...

 Mama (23 weeks) and Lindsay Diane

Lindsay was not ready to leave the park, but we had to venture back to DC so we could move onto the next part of our trip: Boston!!