...4 months ago...but it was awesome and I want to capture it here!
Let the photo dump begin!
Alicia dropped us off at the airport…let’s get this party started! We made it through security no problem …till Mary’s bag got flagged…as usual. Apparently Chad lost his hat in security but the seating on the plane worked out that we got to all sit together…it wasn’t the case at first so we’re calling it a win!
Avatar 2 won out as the movie of choice…clearly my pick didn't win.
The movie was as interesting as I expected but it took up most the flight so that’s good. When we arrived in Boston night everything looked pretty different. It had been 11 years since I'd been back. Our Uber driver from the airport was from Somalia and I haven’t heard language that colorful since I don’t know when- but he was super friendly and his driving didn’t make me car sick so no complaints.
Wen stayed at the Revere Hotel and I must have got a good deal because it wasn’t that expensive but it was super nice. None of us were super tired but we tried to get to bed so we could get an early start in the morning.
The time change was a killer and we got a later start than we’d planned. Chad had a little work to do so Jack and I headed out to get pastries and walk around the public gardens. I could have died with happiness being back in this city!!!! So many happy memories here. I was a little teary all morning.
We grabbed some pastries from Tatte on Charles street and had the best time wandering the gardens.
Chad joined us and we took an Uber to bunker hill. At first we thought the monument was closed for construction but to the detriment of our legs it was open! We took all 294 steps and sufferred for it the rest of the trip. Ha! I am getting old!
I was fully in tears at this point. It was right at these steps 11+ years ago that I was chasing Jack, Marian, and Lucy around, having so much fun but feeling SOOOO tired. I couldn't figure out why. Later that day I realized it was because I was pregnant!
Loved this quote. So many people sacrificed so much for this country.
at the top!
On to the USS constitution. Jack was wearing a BYU shirt and we got a lot of “go cougars “ throughout the day. Best one was from a BYU grad who was in the Navy on leave with his group from a submarine.
After the USS constitution (and a quick tour of the WWII destroyer) we decided to try “blue bikes “ which is a ride share bike system. We picked up the bikes and rode to government center (biking along downtown Boston streets was by far the bravest thing we did all weekend) but is was quick and really fun. There was a bagpiper playing at the Boston massacre sight, I love bagpipes.
We walked through the lobby of Chad’s old building then stopped for lunch at Al’s, a place Chad used to eat at all the time.
After that we walked over to the north end, visited the Paul Revere house then off to the Old North Church. My favorite Italian sandwich place is no longer there but I distracted myself with a cannoli from Mike’s so all’s well that ends well.
Quick stop at Acorn Street
From there we rented bikes again and pedaled along the esplanade all the way down to BU and our old stomping grounds at 10 Vinal Street in Brighton.
Our first Boston apartment!
We had dinner at what had been our FAVORITE restaurant "Brown Sugar". The first time I went to the grocery store in Boston I somehow got talking to these sweet older ladies and they told me I HAD to eat at Brown Sugar. So when family came to town we tried it out and fell in love with Thai food!
I somehow ordered the wrong kind of Masaman curry this time which was epically disappointing....but the memories that flooded back being in that tiny restaurant where the Thai servers would always ooh and ahh over my adorable blonde hair blue eyed baby "is baby real?" were so tender and sweet.
We took an uber (super grumpy driver this time) and headed to tour Harvard square and to head to our very favorite...BURDICKS!
A quick rub on John Harvard's shoe for academic luck
We headed back to the hotel...exhausted. Jack submitted his BYU application and we celebrated with leftover cannolis.
The next morning Chad had to work again (lame) so Jack and I headed to Copley plaza to check out trinity church.
One of my favorite architectural sites in Boston. I love the mix of the old and the new.
Then on to the Boston Public Library
The first time we took Jack here...Bates study hall, he was about 9 months old, realized there was an amazing echo in here and started yelling (happily yet very loudly) while I sprinted to get out of there as fast as I could!!
I used to come here every week with baby Jack in the baby bjorn, strapped to my chest. How in the world is he 18 and getting ready to head off on his own?!!!
Chad caught up with us at the library then we hopped in an Uber and went out to Concord...
Which was interesting but by this point everyone was totally wiped out.
We waited an exceptionally long time for a very un-exceptional lunch, but the weather was amazing so it wasn't all bad.
Next stop, Walden Pond
Then back to my real Boston home, Watertown, MA!!!!
We spend our lives at this park. 10 out of the 12 months we were there almost every day!!!
For the record... I did not force any of these pictures! Jack was feeling as sentimental about this park as I was.
HOME!!! 67 Pequossette Street
This is how it looked the last time we were there!!!!
We biked all the way back downtown (magical!!!!!!) and stopped at the water park where we spent many humid summer days!
A serious lack of pictures was taken when we had dinner with our good friends the Heatons who live south of Boston and drove in to town to have dinner with us in the North End...on a weekend...that is love!!
The next morning we went to church in the Cambridge stake center (which didn't used to be there....we used to meet in an old boiler factory). This quilt hangs in the entrance. I remember seeing this quilt at an interfaith art exhibit for which this quilt was created.
Rainy Sunday in the park
Rain or shine we HAD to get Jack with the other "Jack and Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack." I LOVE Make Way For Ducklings.
A highlight of the trip was being reunited with our Boston Family Scott and Karen Brown. Matthew was away at college but seeing these two made my heart SO HAPPY!! They took such good care of us in Boston and are the best and kindest people you could ever hope to know.
We also got to visit with Karen's mom Fran which was such a treat! She was like my Boston Grandmother and also took such good care of us and encouraged me in my mothering and was so kind to my kids.
Karen gave us a ride to the airport (like I said, the nicest people) and just like that our fabulous trip down Boston's memory lane was over. I am so grateful that I got to live there and have such amazing experiences with such amazing people and was so happy for the change to go back! Love that dirty water....Boston your my home!
