Boston ~ an overnight

This April vacation we really wanted to pull Abigail away from the normal. Her normal is tough.  Although is it her story to tell someday, and I hope she does, I will say that having to wear a brace from scoliosis every night is very painful. It steals hours of her too little sleep. She is positive and has a bright outlook but I see the sadness. And she has daily pain from the the disease she's suffered from since she was a baby, Eosinophilic Esophagitis. She suffers from clinical perfectionism and other things that make daily life a struggle. But she is light and hope and a joy to be her mama. So this break we needed to pull her away. We talked to Anna since this would be the very first time we'd be going to a hotel without her. Anna was actually the one that thought of Boston since Boston is just 45 minutes away from her college campus. That way we could pick up Anna for her Easter long weekend on our way home. Perfect. 

Boston is stunning in April (I wrote a reminder to go every April) and we so enjoyed out time in Boston Gardens. Here is a post of us loving Boston Gardens in the winter. 

Here is Boston back in 2013. 

We found the Make Way for Ducklings... 

Here she is back in 2017. 

Here is 2013! 

The prettiest blooms 

We checked into our hotel and relaxed a bit. 

And then shopped on Newbury street. 

Here is a day in Boston back in 2017 shopping on Newbury Street. 

Found a dairy free icecream shoppe! 

We had such a wonderful dinner in Little Italy. 

Just what we needed! 

And this second day I then put down my camera, we drove to Anna at Holy Cross and brought her home. And Easter weekend can begin! 

Weekending

This song I love (click here) Especially the part at the end...

... light the home fires
... get my slippers
... make a pizza

We went to Boston on Saturday afternoon.  Got there around 4pm, left on Sunday at 9:30am.  Not much time but just enough.

Scott has a conference in Cambridge and we couldn't pass up staying with him in a fancy hotel.  And this was the whole reason we went I think (to the girls, that is)





I was so thrilled that we were home in time to see my tree today.  (more about my tree here, yes, I love her)  She's not all turned yet (she's a late leaf changer.. she likes to be last on the street, in the town, in the state I think) but she's sure worth waiting for.  One more week and I think she'll be at her peek color.  She waits all year for this you know.









Scott make this before we left so that we could just slide it in the oven for a yummy, cozy, Sunday dinner.  Wasn't that sweet?  Frees me up for girl time and baking.



In all this fall goodness there is real life of course.  Real life like my second formal observation.  And Report Cards are due.  It's a lot I tell you.  And I'm new to all of this.  But I adore teaching, and my kids (my class) and my school and my classroom.  Soooooon I'll take my camera there and show you around.  Room 124 would love to be photographed!  I'm sure of it.

Wishing you all a blessed fall week, whatever yours if filled with.  Me?  I'm surely looking forward to Wednesday night when Report Cards have been turned in and my Formal Observation is over.  And then the yummy, glorious classroom teaching on Thursday and Friday can begin.

Good Friends, Great Adventures

Sometimes people wonder what it's like to get together with a friend you've only known through blogging.  I can tell you first hand through meeting Cindy and Billie Jo that it is perfect.

So I knew that meeting Kelli and her family would be wonderful.  Being with Kelli and her family was like...

... meeting up with friends we've had forever

... feeling so accepted and loved from the second I saw her

... feeling safe to share my heart in just one afternoon

... knowing that when my girls weren't how I'd like them to be she deeply cared for them just as they were

... torture saying goodbye

Yes, it was all of that in one day.  All of that goodness.

We drove up to Boston (about 1.5 hours away) to meet up with them in the hotel they were staying at.  I was so excited driving up and walking the short distance from the parking garage to their hotel.  As soon as I walked in the lobby I spotted Isabella, Juliana, Nicholas, and Ray.  At first I thought that Kelli was Isabella. But Kelli was practically standing right in front of me.  (Isabella looks just like her) After a huge hug I already knew I'd found a friend that would be hard to say goodbye to.

We chatted for a bit and then walked to the Prudential Center.  The skywalk observatory has 360 degree views of Boston and beyond.  We went years ago when our girls were little but they barely remembered and it was so fun to walk around and chat with Kelli!

Abigail took the individual tour so seriously!



John Hancock Building 





Looking down at the Boston Symphony Hall.



and here the Charles River.







These two were so cute playing this game together.



And then it was time for lunch! We chose Wagamamas in the Prudential Center.



So grateful for this time together!



We walked through Boston Gardens because you can't go to Boston without walking through Boston Commons or Boston gardens. I so enjoyed walking and getting to spend time with my friend that my camera just didn't leave my bag at all.  I have a few photos of this place taken back on a winter trip back here.  And a summer trip back here.



And when it was time for dessert we found Georgetown Cupcake on Newbury street.





and while the guys left for a Yankee/Red Socks game the girls had cupcakes.

(cutest smile ever)





Next it was time for Duck Boat Tour.



So much fun... a tour boat through the city streets and on the Charles River... yup, same vehicle went right into the water!











Juliana and Abigail got a chance to drive when it turned into a boat!





More shopping.





And dinner out together. Isabella found the most wonderful place for dinner. I think about it every day and have tired to make that meal again but am not even close. We'll be headed back there soon just for this dinner. It will be so worth the 1.5 hour drive! I mean it!

Before too long we were back in their hotel lobby just relaxing.  Just like friends do.



I felt so comfortable and yet so uneasy because I knew goodbyes were coming. I just didn't want to leave. So I pretended that we could meet in Boston any old day we wanted. And that our next meet up in the city would be a few weeks away.

I kept saying in my heart, "Thank you God for good friends. For this sweet family. For what You've knit together. Thank you for Kelli and for my heart all filled up. Help me to say goodbye just for a short while."



I want to thank Kelli and Ray for including us on their vacation... for making the time to spend a whole day with my {complicated} family.  You were all so gracious.  And delightful.  Thank you Isabella for telling us your story and for sharing your passion for healthy food.  Thank you Juliana for being instant friends with Abigail.  Thank you Nicholas for chatting with us about school and your life back home.  Kelli and Ray, your family is wonderful and I'm so glad to call you friends.

This was the day I met a friend that I am so grateful for. One that I will see again soon.