Fenway Park

 As Minnesota Twins fans, we are used to our new stadium for the Twins: Target Field.  Out here in New England, the Boston Red Sox are celebrating their 100 year old stadium: Fenway Park.  What a tradition!

We went to watch the Twins take on the Red Sox this past Saturday night at Fenway. My favorite part of the 100 year old stadium was the man that came out between each inning with his ladder to update the wooden score board out in center field.

 We were 5 of maybe 100 Minnesota Twins fans at the game.  The girls did get on the big screen between innings in at the bottom of the 6th and we were hoping that the Twins broadcasters would take notice of our "circle me Bert" signs for our friends and family back home.  The fans around us gave us a pretty hard time for showing up in Twins gear to support the Minnesota Twins, but we all enjoyed heckling one another throughout the game.  They often said, "at least they are not Yankee fans."

 Our seats were located right next to the Green Monster in left field.

 The picture above is taken at the bottom of the 8th inning and the Twins were down 4-3.  We were actually thinking about catching the train to beat the crowds.

Good thing we decided to stay!!!!  In the top of the 9th inning we had runners at 1st and 3rd with 2 outs and 2 strikes on Joe Mauer.  With the final pitch of the inning, Joe rocketed the ball to left/center field just clearing the green monster.  WE WERE SO EXCITED!!!  (the only ones that were excited I believe).  Red Sox fans were upset and the stadium started clearing out.  We made our way down behind the Twins dugout  for the bottom of the 9th and the kids each got a baseball from the Twins crew.

Feneuil Hall and Quincy Market

 Today we took the Green line to Government Center in downtown Boston.  We walked a small portion of The Freedom Trail and toured the cemetery where the Boston Massacre took place.  In that cemetery lies John Hancock as well as Mary Goose (also known as Mother Goose).

 Quincy Market was a happening place with a host shops, restaurants, and street performers.  The kids were mesmerized by the street performers.

 Of course they loved the treats and balloon artists!

On the subway downtown Carter asked, "Are we traveling under the dirt?  Then we are just like the worms."

Boston Children's Museum

 We enjoyed The Boston Children's Museum last evening with the kids.  They stayed busy exploring all of the different rooms.  We will definitely be heading back there again!

The Boston Children's Museum is right on the harbor where the Boston Tea Party took place in 1773.  The museum is right in the background of this photo; a future destination.

Hailey's 9th Birthday!

 Happy 9th Birthday to Miss Hailey Joy!!!

We started her day off at Dunkin' Donuts per her request.  Dunkin' Donuts are around almost corner her in New England.  I compare it to Caribou in Minnesota but with variety of donuts to add to your latte order.

 We successfully made a giant cupcake this year complete with 9 candles!  (That sounds like way too many candles to me.)  She got some new clothes from Grandma and her aunties; they always know just where to shop--Justice!

 The afternoon got to be a little long.  It was raining and Mike said she couldn't open any gifts until he got home from work.  So...............off we went for  manis and pedis!

 For dinner we went out to Aji Sushi Bar for her most favorite food in Boston: Yaki Udon.

1st Visit to NEW YORK CITY!

 Ever since Hailey heard that we were going to be on the east coast for her birthday she insisted that we should go to New York City for her birthday.  Hailey's birthday is on Tuesday so this past weekend we headed 4 hours south to the Big Apple.  We were incredibly overwhelmed by most everything there.  The magnitude of the buildings, the people, the shops, the traffic, and the subway system,

 Central Park

 Not your average food court.  A meal complete with a lobster roll, clam chowder, and fancy desserts.

 The subway system was unbelievable; four lanes going in every direction.  The kids were amazed and super excited to climb aboard.

We took to subway down to Battery Park were we missed the ferry by 2 minutes to ride out to the Statue of Liberty and to Ellis Island.  

We also go to go tour the New World Trade Center Tower and the 9/11 memorial.

Weeks Two and Three in Boston, MA

 Week two in Boston was a serious reality check for us; it became obvious that after Ginnie and Wil left, we were no longer on a vacation and that this was our permanant home.  It was very hard to get around to do even the essentials for normal life: groceries, gas, parks ect.

We often stayed in our pajamas till mid-afternoon (like the above picture) and played down the basement with toys, boxes, and built lego structures.  The girls loved riding their roller blades down stairs on the smooth cement and came up with some pretty fun routines.

After some trial and error, Mike has come up with an acceptable system for getting to class each day.  He found a place to park his car near the train station to take to Harvard's School of Public Health.  He has really enjoyed the lectures and has started his grant proposals based on some of his previous research.

 When the weekend finally arrived, we were ready for our next family adventure.  We researched some beaches and found out that the World's Sand Sculpture competition was taking place at Revere Beach, MA.  The beach was only 30 minutes from our home and the weather was hot and humid.  The sculptures were very impressive.  The kids were excited to get out into the ocean water but quickly found out that unlike our trip to Florida last Christmas, the water here was ice cold!  Mike and the kids willingly dove in, but not for long.  The remainder of the day was spent searching for special shells.

 The kids have been getting some fun mail sent from their friends back home.  They also have a goal of writing back to a friend once a week while we are here.

 The kids and I also found the local pool to be a much needed daily activity. They are all becoming excellent swimmers; Hailey has now mastered diving off the board in the deep end.  I have registered them all from swimming lessons to start on July 23rd.

Just a block and a half from our house are three ball fields, a basketball court, and some tennis courts.  Each evening we go out as a family and do something different.  Carter prefers to play baseball and the girls usually choose to play at the park, but we found our that tennis is very popular her in Newton, so we have now began to teach some tennis.

 At the start of week three we were blessed to find an Evangelical Baptist Church that had a VBS!  The kids were welcomed by a host of fun young kids all week and were also invited to two pool parties during the week.

 The final day of VBS was water fun day.  Taylor had her eyes closed awaiting her splash.

Locks of Love

 Taylor donated 6 inches to Locks of Love.  The locks that are 6 inches long are used on the inside of the wig to tie in the longer hair.

 Hailey was able to dontate 10 inches.  Check out her new look!

The 4th of July 2012--Boston Style

 After feeling settled and navigating ourselves to the area we were able to celebrate the 4th of July!

We live in the suburb just west of Boston called Newton.  Newton Center held events for the kids on the morning of the 4th of July and it involved races for the kids.  They each participated in their age race and with some coaching from their dad they each came home with a ribbon.

 In the afternoon we packed up for Boston Pops held along the Charles River in Boston.  We set up camp along the river in order to get a good seat for the fireworks spectacular.

 Hailey

 Taylor

 Ginnie and Allison

 Kensie was fascinated by Hailey's facepaint

 Carter and Kensie spent a lot of time by the water watching the boats.

 As sundown approached, you can see all the boats set up for the fireworks.

 We are so very excited that after 7 of camping out along the river the fireworks were about to begin!

 And they were AWESOME!  Music, fireworks, rain, for 30 minutes.  We won't ever forget it.