The City of Boston

Following the Yellow Brick Road... Oh wait this is not Oz.


Following the Red Freedom Trail... through Boston to the USS Constitution Boat.

Historical Boston, Quincy Market, Fanuel Hall

By Land then By Sea

Riding the ferry boat across the harbor.








The USS Constitution





A'hoy I see them, over there.

Prepare aim.......

Taking a snooze at the end of the day.

Mike had sent a postcard to Jaden when he was on a trip to Boston last year, so once again it was fun to follow the freedom trail to find the real boat on the post card. We had a great day in the city. My kids are following in my footsteps. They love cities.

BOSTON GARDENS

BIRDS, BIRDS and more BIRDS....

SWANS

We read the book "The Trumpet of the Swan" in the car on our 17 hour drive to Boston from Chicago.
It was fun for the kids to see the setting where the Swan flew too in the book.



We took a ride on the Swan Boats and saw the swans Romeo and Juliet.





DUCKS





"Make Way For the Ducklings."
Mrs. Mallard and her 8 ducklings.

When Mike was on a business trip in Boston last
year he sent Jill a post card with the Boston Public Garden Ducks on them. So we went on a search. Finding the ducks Jill's dad had sent her was so much fun.
As we were leaving I saw Jaden crying. I asked him if he was ok and he said "The Ducks are so cute". He has a sweet spirit and a love for animals. He was crying out of joy and sadness to leave.



PIGEONS

RUN KIDS RUN...

FLY AWAY FLY AWAY...

WATCH OUT

PIGEONS

HERE

WE

COME!

WHICH WAY TO THE CITY?

We were off to ride the subway to the big city for the day. When we arrived at the T station it was full. Not wanting to spend money for parking downtown we asked where else we could park. We followed directions and found the neighboorhood to park in for free and went to find the bike path to the T.
This is the path we started on, where is the bike path? This woodsy path ended at a cement wall and the road above us. But, we are saving money, right!

Which Way Now?

We Love Trains!

Finally we found the bike bath and made it on the T. We were off to the city! The kids loved riding underground.

WALDEN POND

Henry David Thoreau

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essentail facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach. And not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."

"Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! "

"Perfect sincerity and transparency make a great part of beauty,as in dewdrops, lakes, and diamonds."

At Walden Pond we collected our rock to throw on the pile to show we had been were Thoreau lived. I have thrown at least five rocks on the pile now. It is such a beautiful place. I love going here. We then proceeded to walk around the lake. It took about an hour. The kids found a toad on the way and also complained at how long it was taking. At the end of our walk we enjoyed a swim in the pond. Another day in the water. I love the history in the Boston Area.

YORK BEACH, MAINE

We went to the beach in Maine where Aleath used to go with the Chateauneuf's to their beach house. We loved being at the Ocean. It was a beautiful sunny day, although the water temperature was a chilling 50 degrees. This was the first time to see an ocean for Tyler and Jill. Jaden saw the ocean when he was 2. They all loved it. Tyler loved running in the sand and running all over everyone's blankets. (I chased him, no book reading today.) Jill played in the chilling water the whole time, thanks to the cast protector. She is a water girl. She did not mind the freezing water. Jaden played for a while before he became cold and then he warmed his feet in the sand.

THE HAMMOCK

The kids spent hours on the hammock at the Chateauneuf's.

They would swing high and then flip each other over.

Lot's of Laughs and no broken bones. It was the life.

WE'RE OFF TO MASSACHUSETTS!

We were off to Boston Massachusetts for family vacation! I Love Boston! We had a perfect time visiting my "other" family "The Chateauneuf's". I was a nanny for them in the summer of 1992. We have kept in touch over the years. They are such a good example to me and have been such a great support in all I have accomplished in my life. I love looking back to see where life takes you and I am so glad they are a part of it. We went to be a part of Brooke's High School graduation. Congrats Brooke! We are so proud of you!

We love you Brooke!

Nana Chateauneuf
Tyler with "Grandpa" Dennis. Sharing the big boy chair.
Jill loved flirting with Andy! Watch out Brooke.
Hanging out on our favorite couch!

RUNNING BLIND

HATS

Tyler loves HATS!
As you can see he also gets creative in what he puts on his head.

He keeps us laughing as he runs around the house with these huge hats on his head.

T-BALL GAMES

GO PIRATES!

Jaden loved playing t-ball.
We would hear him saying "My arm is very fast or I hit very hard." He was a good ball player for his very first year. He always had a very big SMILE on his face after he hit, and as he was hustling to first base.

Little kid games always kept us laughing.
Here they are a little confused at who should be on the base. Run boys run.

Jaden wants to be a builder and play for the "White Sox" team when he is bigger. (He went to a White Sox game with his cousins last summer, so that is now his favorite team.)

He asked me tonight if teams played out of town for nights. I said yes. He then said then I can build while I am there.

The Evil Trampoline!

On May 7, 2008 Jill and Jaden were jumping on the trampoline and Jill received an extra big jump from her brother and landed on her arm.. As Jill puts it " I landed on the trampoline on the metal part on the springs."
I heard the cry and went to get her. She was very hurt. As for me all I could think of was not wanting to spend the night at the hospital for no reason, as it was probably a really bad bruise. So, I took her to the neighbor who works in the ER. He was able to calm her down, put ice on it, and move it around. After an hour she was still holding it and saying it hurt. So, I left the boys with our new neighbors and headed of to the clinic. Luckily there was no wait and the x-rays showed... a fractured Ulna bone. It's official our first broken bone! Jill was brave as she received her splint and had no fear. Jill was her usual self making the doctor and nurses laugh. They loved her at the clinic. She even loved posing for pictures.

Two days later Jill went to the Doctor to get on her cast. She was so excited

when she found out she could choose the color..... She chose Purple!

Nothing slowed Jill down. That next night Jill did a beautiful perfomance at her dance recital. She moved just as graceful. Then a few weeks later with an extra large cast protector Jill played for hours at the beach in Maine.

After four weeks Jill received a new cast and loved picking out her new color...... PINK! from rJill was such an example to me as she took this challenge with such a positive attitude. She never complained and still loved life. It was a headache for me at times trying to keep her from running, jumping, and climbing.

Now six weeks later she is cast free and has a stronger bone than before.

SKIM OR WHOLE MILK?

The other day for dinner we were having cereal and had run out of the family milk, so we used Tyler's whole milk. After a few bites Jaden says... "Tyler's milk is too milky!"

So what do you prefer? Skim or Whole?
I would drink whole milk everyday if I could. Jaden chose skim.

LIFE AT OUR HOUSE

Life at our house has been busy, busy, busy!
We enjoyed a visit at our home in April with my parents. Those are sure treasured moments now! We then drove four days later to Utah for my little brother Kyle's wedding to Ashlee. It was beautiful. We enjoyed our quick visit with friends, and family. I also enjoyed two days at Women's Conference with my Mom and Sara. What wonderful times. I was a little grumpy for a few days after we returned home, because I was homesick.
Not only that the morning sickness really kicked in. I have been nauseas from noon on every day, and very, very tired. I have slept between 2 to 4 hours a day for the past two months. Too, say the least I have not gotten much done. This is much different than my last pregnancies. The other day Jill said after a half an hour nap. That sure was long are you done sleeping? and I said can you go watch one more show? She said Yes, mommy. I can't wait for this to end.
The week back from Utah Jill broke her arm on the trampoline. She has a beautiful purple cast. Yes, all the doctors have told me how very very bad trampoline's are, but we sure do have a lot of fun and like ours. Jill has been great with her arm. The hard part is keeping her from running, climbing and jumping. Jill is a great example to us all. She has been very positive in her trial, and does not complain.
Jaden started playing t-ball and we love watching him. He has a good hit and throw. His face lights up as he plays. This could be his sport. Height is not so important here. Last Thursday we sat through his game with our winter coats on and three blankets, as it was 40 degrees! It was crazy.
Last weekend we went to see our niece's Emily and Kayla graduate from Middle school and High School. Kayla was the Valedictorian of the High School! We are so proud of her. We were also able to visit with Mike's dad. Jaden could not get enough time playing at his house in the attic. We also enjoyed a family bike ride through the park and stopped at Starved Rock state park for a quick hike on the way home.
We found out some sad news last week also, that Mike's dad has Kidney Cancer. He is in the process of waiting for surgery. We hope they will be able to get it all out. It sure made me think about life and what I am doing with mine daily.
This is the last week of Kindergarten for Jaden. I can't believe it is over and that my baby is off to 1st grade. We are now looking forward to a fun summer of swimming, and riding the wave runner. We are off in a few days for Boston for Brooke's High School graduation. (I was her nanny one summer when she was 2.) Congrat's Brooke. I can not believe how old that means I am. I am looking forward to seeing the Chateauneuf's again, visiting Boston and touring our Church's history sights in upstate New York.
I hope to post some pictures of all our adventures soon. (I am not as sick now. Yea!) Thanks for reading our family novel.
We love you all !