Lake Anna

We were lucky to be invited to spend a weekend at our friend's lake house.  These pictures say it all. Fun, togetherness.  Lucky. 

River Riders II

For the second summer in a row, Connor spent a week in Harper's Ferry West Virginia at River Rider's adventure camp.  This year his friend Adam joined him.  They had a blast kayaking, swimming, tubing, rafting, zip lining, etc.  They also spent a day at go-carts and paintball.  We're down 2 water bottles and a brand new shoe.  I think there may be a direct correlation between how great camp is and how much stuff you leave behind. 

My Dad - By Palmer

The Paramount

It's funny how when I go new places I always find a joint that I really enjoy and want to return to. For Boston's Beacon Hill with children in tow, that place is The Paramount.

I found it on Yelp when looking for a breakfast place and then the valet out front of the hotel recommended it as well. Off we went.

It's small-ish and a place where you order at the counter and then find a seat. Risky business with kids but we ate late enough both times that it wasn't an issue. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner but we only made it there in the morning. The dinner menu looks great and it all gets made right then and there, short order style, before your eyes.

The folks who worked there get it. They were all nice and helpful. Sometimes that just isn't the case. The lead cashier even came out to see if Palmer was liking his pancakes. Gotta love that!

Huevos Rancheros---so delicious.  I had them twice!

You know a place is great when you can take your 4 year-old's shirt off so he doesn't get syrup on it and no one cares.  

And if it has a fantastic spot for shadow puppetry.  With ketchup!

I think they love this place!

Go Sox Go!

When in Boston during baseball season...well. You know. Palmer got to go to his first game at Fenway. And Bob and Connor got to sit in some fantastic seats 12 rows behind home plate. And the Sox won! Not that Palmer and I were there to see it---he only made to the third inning before he'd had enough.

Riding the "T"

Yawkey Way

Director Rob Reiner threw out the first pitch.

The pitching speed booth.  We spent alot of time here!

1969 ball cart

My First Fenway Game

Great seats for great guys

Champions!

Connor's AAA Little League team--the Rays--won the World Series championship for their league division.  It was a dramatic week with weather delays and postponements.  The great thing was that Nana was in town to see it! 

Championship Rings!

My Sisters Let Me Down

We took the ferry to Salem yesterday and saw nary a witch.  None. Zip. Nada. The closest we came was this:

            Connor is the next Darren!

We only had about 2.5 hours in town so, to be fair, our witch exposure time was limited.  It's a very appealing place overall -lots of history to see and not all about the witch trials.  It would actually be a very great place for a "girls weekend".  There are tons of restaurants and things to do.  

In the same town square as the Elizabeth Montgomery statue there is an old fashioned foot pump water fountain.  The boys were obsessed with it.  It's a good reminder that when you travel with kids you never know what will interest them.  They could have stayed there messing with that fountain for an hour.  I had to literally drag them away.

The ferry ride was fast--just under an hour.  The boys were made temporarily insane by the massive noise and power of the huge high speed catamaran and would not sit still.  They went from deck to deck, bench to deck, stairs to rail.  Palmer fell twice-once on the ride out and once on the ride back-scraping his leg twice.  They were both filthy from touching every surface of the ship and the of the T stations and trains on the way back to the hotel.  You get the picture.  Bob and I were exhausted by the end of the day.  This pic should give you some idea of the shenanigans.

And if this isn't a family Christmas card contender, I don't know what is:

Balloon Man at Fenway

The balloon man at Fenway is awesome. He's also a mime that trained with Marcel Marceau.  So sweet.  Palmer hugged him goodbye.

The Liberty Hotel

We are in Boston for a few days on a start of summer jaunt. Randomly booked us into The Liberty Hotel because it is in our SPG network and I have points to use. SCORE! What a cool place. It's a renovated county jail built in the late 1800s with many architectural features in tact. They also have a lighthearted prison theme going on. The bar is called CLINK. The courtyard is called The Yard. There are chains for doorstops. And the location is great - right on the Charles River Esplanade and next to a T station.

Lobby

Old carriage entrance

Cell entrances on the hallway to the elevators

Such beautiful architecture for a JAIL---it looks more like a church or school.

Palmer in the Portal!

View of Boston at sunset

Lighted Lounges in "The Yard"

Promotion - More

A bit more from Thursday night.

They asked us to send in shots from when they started school and now.  Love both of those smiles.

Connor's teacher - Mr Wolslayer.   Loved him.  He was just right for C.

The fifth grade singing "The Climb".

He had a flower for me.  This is how he delivered it.

Fifth Grade Party

Volunteer moms put together the most amazing party for the Mill Run fifth graders. I worked the party for about three hours and I was totally exhausted. Thanks to all the moms who do this all the time. I don't have what it takes!

Check out the link below to see the Velcro Wall get the best of him.

http://youtu.be/j8SVU33WHlQ