Boston--Part 2--Being There

We had such a wonderful visit with the Sanders Boston. Erin makes mothering 3 children seem like a breeze (Gabriel is only 10 weeks old and truly, as evidenced by the picture, such a happy, smiley baby!). After arriving on Tuesday, we headed out to Drumlin Farm after Maddie went to school (she's in Kindergarten). It is a wonderful farm run by the Audubon society. They have all kinds of animals and myriads of trails to walk around. It was a wonderful place for the children to get a lot of exercise and have fun! We saw cows, draft mules, all different species of chickens, a mama pig and her piglets--even a skunk, a fox, and some mice! It was a beautiful day. After lunch and naps the kids spent the remainder of the afternoon playing outside. Maddie and Henry were bug hunting and Ava and Theo collected crab apples and were merchants in the little house in their backyard. They had so much fun together. It was precious to behold.


Stopping for a snack at the farm



Henry and Maddie focused on their bug hunting in the backyard




Thursday we were off to the New England Wildflower Society's Big Bugs exhibit where New York artist, David Rogers, has created 13 different giant bug sculptures out of wood. Could anything have been more fitting for our Henry? It was wonderful and lovely--a perfect fall day in Boston.


Theo and Ava taking in the butterfly



The kids mapping out our trail





One BIG Daddy Long Legs!

Friday it rained and we went to the Boston Children's Museum where a good time was had by all. There were more things to do than we even had time for but the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves, ate a huge lunch, and we headed home for naps and an afternoon of play in the Sanders' fantastic basement!

Carl joined us on Friday and he and Nathan headed straight to the Samuel Adams beer-making (and tasting!) tour (maybe there is a better name for it but I don't know what it would be...). Nathan made a fantastic spread for breakfast Saturday morning and we had quite a go finding a place to have dinner out (though the kids were fantastic despite our hour and a half wait!). Let me not forget the man in the parking garage that just about jumped out of his skin when Erin hit the panic button to find Nathan's car and our delicious, but interesting gelato stop afterward (just the moms) where we were older than EVERYONE in the shop INCLUDING the kids running the place by at least 15 years--no joke.


Maddie coloring with Ava at dinner (she is such a sweet girl and nurturing big sister to all!)


Ava on the play equipment (thankfully) at the mall where we waited for dinner.

Sunday the kids got a bit squirrelly as we'd been inside for several days due to the after effects of a tropical storm. Nathan and Carl braved Walden Pond in the weather and that afternoon we headed westward.



Maddie and Henry having a quiet moment of reading (they love each other dearly though act a bit like brother and sister)

I am sure I am leaving some details out as we've been home 10 days now and I am just writing the re-cap but overall the trip was just wonderful. I am so glad we went despite the hectic timing of our move. Nathan and Erin are amazing hosts and have such wonderful, contented children (and an amazing, almost fairy tale home to raise them in!). It was a great 5 days.

Thank you to Erin who captured these photos as I have yet to replace the camera I lost this summer (after only having it a few weeks).