Saturday, April 28, 2012

Boston

This my friends is the beautiful city of Boston
(from the top of Bunker Hill)


We took a little trip there a few weeks ago to watch a little race...
You may have heard of it.
The Boston Marathon
Its kinda a big deal around there.

 We some of the worlds fastest marathoners like this guy, Mutai (3rd from the left)...oh but he dropped out because of the record heat.
 We also saw people in wheel chairs and people pushing paraplegics whose strength kinda warmed your soul and put a lump in your throat.
 Oh ya and then there were these two...
 The brothers: Mark and Daniel
finishing the race like champs and all matchy-matchy to boot
what's a little heat to two Texas boys?
The race was awesome and inspiring...
 Of course one could argue that the rich history, architecture, and food were just as breathtaking.

Trust me when I say that I left out over half the photos but alas I couldn't part with these babies.
Whilst we were there we also:
walked along the market,


 drooled over the architecture,



 met Paul Revere (whom we did not drool over) and toured his home:)

 visited the Old North Church
(where the lanterns were lit "one if by land, two if by sea")

 read a little from the Good Book,

 Waited in claustrophobic crowds for our chance to eat ourselves sick each night with a cannoli from Mike's (where one can also pick up an Italian accent and learn to paaaahhhrk your caaaahhr on Hanover Street),



 had plenty of hand-holding romantic walks,
 stopped to smell the tulips,
 learned how to use public transportation,


 caught up on a little light reading and pondered the great philosophers at the country's 1st public library,


 fit in a little religion,

 went for a stroll in the park,


 caught a bit of your good ol' protest on the lawn
(kinda made me homesick for Seattle)

 made a wish,
 crossed a bridge,
 waited to be hand-selected to enter a restraunt by an old Italian man with a grumpy face and god-like cooking skills
(Giacomo pasta will never be the same!)
 checked out the little local ball team who happened to be celebrating their 100 year anniversary,


 hopped on a train to see some witches in Salem,







came across Nathaniel Hawthorne's House of Seven Gables,


 hiked all 294 steps to the top of Bunker Hill



 climbed aboard the U.S.S Constitution

 and followed The Freedom Trail around the city to my little heart's content.


A million thanks to Mark and Rosie for making this trip possible!!!
Never thought I'd ever be able to cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon:)

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Puppy Party



Its official. My youngest is 2.
Its a rather odd state I find myself in...
longing to say goodbye to the diapers years
yet tearing up thinking the sweet snuggle baby years will never enter our home again.
Such is life. yes?

Back to the main event...
Naomi's Puppy Party!

This is what she did every time I asked her how old she was turning "2" haha.

The Menu:

Hot dogs, puppy chow, doggy bowls full of grapes, baked beans,
and a birthday cake covered in coco puffs (inspired by my dear friend Jess:)





The location:
the neighborhood dogpark/splashpad

The guests:
all the cousins:) and our cousins doggies-Raschenke (wow i don't know how to spell) and Kali









 The Games:

we played "Trainer says"
does anyone else find this hilarious?


 If they did tricks they got treats
(Scooby Snacks)


then we had doggie relays
if the real doggies cooperated we gave them real dog biscuits




 then it slowly turned into people relays in a doggie park:)





 the grandparents and babies laughed at such silliness


 Present time:
I loved watching Naomi squeal over all her gifts!

 Cake time


Each of our guest went home with a monogrammed doggie dish and a Frisbee:)
all in all it was dog gone fun!!!