Boston, Part 1

Using Parker's birthday as a really good excuse, we decided to go to Boston for a family trip this year.  We had been talking about it for several years and, since we had been gone so much during the summer already our original plans to go to Disney World weren't going to happen (too much of a time commitment :$)  But we had Parker's birthday weekend and we still wanted to go on a family trip, plus Parker's cousin and her husband- one of Parker's best friends and former business partner- had recently moved there so we decided this was the perfect opportunity.

We caught a 7:00 AM flight on Friday morning.  I had hoped that when we got Ruby up she would fall back to sleep in the car, but she had other ideas and, although she was tired, she stayed awake until her regular nap time.

We decided that in the past month and a half since we last took her on a plane she has wanted to move a lot more so we followed the "whatever it takes to keep the baby happy" idea and packed a portable dvd player, Tangled, and plenty of snacks.  She was great.

Parker's sweet cousin, Aubrey was nice enough to pick us up from the airport and brave the crazy Boston traffic for us.  It actually wasn't horrible when we got in, but I thought the tunnels that you drive through everywhere were sort of neat.

Once we arrived at the Chaves apartment- where they let us stay with them- we hung out for a little bit and just caught up.  Then Tim and Aubrey took us on a tour of the Harvard Campus and Harvard Square which was gorgeous and filled with lots of really amazing architecture.  Tim pointed out one building to us that was still in use and was 300 years old.  Wild.

Parker and Tim

Maya and Ruby loved each other.

Future Harvard Students

We ate lunch at the famous Bartley's Burgers in Harvard Square.  Personally I thought the best part was the menu.  Every dish had super funny names and discriptions, but the food itself wasn't anything to die over.  This was also where we learned Boston is totally a cash only city!  We had no idea!  We didn't bring any cash OR our debit cards.  Big mistake.  We very, very rarely use cash because it does not jive with our budgeting system plus it requires us to forfeit some good rewards points that help fund most of our flights.  The thought of cash didn't even cross our minds.  Thank goodness for Tim and Aubrey and their willingess to share theirs.  Next time we will be more prepared!

One of the things Parker wanted to do most while we were there was go to Fenway Park, one of the most famous baseball parks in the country.  Fortunately for us the Red Sox were playing the Yankees that weekend and that seemed like a too-good-to-pass-up opportunity so we took it.  Aubrey watched Ruby for us so we could go and enjoy the night just the two of us and, although we don't really follow baseball, we had a wonderful time.

It was the weekend after 9/11 and I had forgotten, but two of the planes that crashed in 2011 took off from the Boston airport so this city really felt the impact of the terror attacks.  They did a beautiful dedication to our country and brought on a widow to the field to throw the opening pitch.  She and her husband found out that they were expecting a baby on September 10th and the next day, when he left for a business trip, he never came home.  It was very touching to see her and her little boy on the field together.

We did the "baseball game" right down to our dinners.

We decided to walk home instead of taking a taxi and I am so glad we did.  It was only about forty five minutes, and just absolutely beautiful to see the city at night.

The next day we boarded the subway AKA the "T" and spent most of the day walking the Freedom Trail.

Parker and I really loved the old cemetaries in the middle of the city.  Maybe that is a little strange, but they were seriously so cool.  The cemetary below is where Paul Revere was buried.

"Revere's Tomb"

We took a lunch break at Ernesto's Pizza and it was incredible!  We would recommend it to anyone.  We got a huge delicious Ranch Chicken pizza for $20 that was more than enough food for all seven of us.  Best bang for our buck we found while here.

Tim and Aubrey took their kids home just after lunchtime, but Parker and I decided to keep going along the trail...

The other thing we really loved along the trail was the last stop- the memorial to the Battle of Bunker Hill.  The actual memorial wasn't so much to make you go "awe," but it was so fun to sit and relax on the grass hill after walking around all day.  Plus, we just don't have grass like that in Texas!  It was incredible to feel how soft and wonderful it was!

We had tried to go to Mike's Pastries that day- apparently their cannoli is a "must try"- but again, it was a cash only place so we were out of luck with that one.  Maybe next time.

We did get to go on an unexpected date again though when Aubrey offered to watch Ruby AGAIN so we could go get dinner.  Tim and Aubrey let us use their car so we went into little Italy and, although we had to wait almost an hour for dinner, decided to go "all out" and make this Parkers' "birthday dinner out."

We went to a little place called Pagliuca's and decided to enjoy the Italian and seafood Boston has to offer in one stop.  Parker ordered the Cioppini Special (clams, shrimp, mussles, and calamari, with a spicy tomato sauces served over linguini) and I got Lobster Ravioli.  We had a great time just being out and walking around the city together.  Parker did a great job driving too!

We were told a few times that it was too bad we were just missing the fall in Boston, but the weather couldn't have been any more wonderful while we were there.  It really was just perfect.  And I think we still caught the beginnings of leaves changing.  Everything was so beautiful.  The trip was just what we needed!