Day 2.2 Rhode Island continued

After lunch at the oldest restaurant in America we headed for the Cliff Walk in Newport.  Everyone was still tired from our day in Concord so there may have been a few fits here and there.

Like, maybe someone's mom made them sit on a ledge for a picture when someone clearly didn't want to sit on a ledge, especially for a picture.

Maybe it was because they saw frightening signs like this all over the place:

Maybe some people don't enjoy the ocean, cliffs, and historic mansions all wrapped up in the same beautiful place.

As you can see I had a great time.

Along the cliff walk there are signs that say "Stay off private property."  We weren't sure how we would be able to tell if it was a private or public estate.

Then we saw this sign that cleared it all up:

Private estates have high fences, barbed wire, and warnings of a "Bad Dog!" Cleared up any confusion we had.

(This is a private estate. I put my camera in between the fence bars, I bet the owners liked that.)

Below is the back of the Vanderbilt's summer home "The Breakers."  This home is open to the public for tours.  We had been to the Vanderbilt's winter home in North Carolina so it was exciting to see the summer home. Or very depressing, since we only have one year long home that could fit inside 1/10 of their driveway. Just depends on your perspective.

I have wanted to see the Newport Mansions for a long time, it was very exciting.  Now I just need to go back there with no children so I can go inside all the public homes that are available for tours. That is my next life goal.

Day 2.1 Rhode Island

The following day we did not slow down.  We gathered my family and John's family and headed for Rhode Island.  I had never been to Rhode Island and I really wanted a picture next to the Rhode Island sign.

Of course they put the Rhode Island sign in the median along a very dangerous highway so no one can stand next to it and get a picture.

After we arrived in Rhode Island, we and happened upon the oldest restaurant in America.  That will happen in New England, history in every corner.  Not only is it the oldest restaurant in America, they claim it to be the 10th oldest restaurant in the world.

I couldn't remember when the Tavern opened, but luckily I took this picture to remind me.

And this one...

And this one....

More on Rhode Island coming soon.

Vacation Day 1.3

After all the historical houses we paid a visit to the North Bridge (Can you find Lilly on the bridge?).

The bridge is the location of the first battle of the revolution in 1775.

The children enjoyed running around as the weather cooled.  You can see the storm clouds rolling in.  We had fantastic weather until we got in the car to go home, then a huge thunderstorm hit. We were very lucky that none of our sight-seeing was interrupted. 

At the bridge we learned about the Colonial militiamen who dropped their farming tools and picked up their weapons to defend their land against the British.  Lilly was more interested in practicing her ballet than learning on the bridge.

Jack at the statue.

After the bridge we decided it was time to feed the children and we went to a really cute cafe in Concord.

Lilly ordered a muffin for lunch.  We were sad it was so small.

This concludes day 1 of our vacation. Are you exhausted too??

Vacation Part 1.2 Day in Concord.

(It should be noted that all the historical places we saw on day 1 were located in Concord, Mass. Including Walden Pond.)

After we all lived deliberately for awhile at the pond, we went on to suck out all the marrow of life.  In fact when anyone became tired we would say "Come on, we're sucking out the marrow of life!"

After the pond we journeyed on to see where Paul Revere was captured.  Look how happy the children are at a historical landmark?

(Lilly 6, Jack 2, Sage 3, Sydney 2.  Paul Revere capture site.)

(Paul Revere was captured at this exact spot hours after his famous "Midnight Ride.")

After the capture site Valerie and John took their girls home for a nap and we soldiered on to more historical sites. 

The rest of the day was spent going to historical homes and a few other spots.  We couldn't afford the time to tour the inside of each home/museum, so we visited the property and outside of the homes.  I think Jack and Lilly would have been pretty cranky after 5 hours of house tours (I speak from personal childhood experience. Ahem).

Next on the agenda was the home of Louisa May Alcott and Nathaniel Hawthorne (and Margaret Sidney, although I did not know that until I went there).  They all lived in that home at different times.  I am telling you, if you want to be a super famous writer, Concord is the place to be.

Alcott wrote Little Women based upon her childhood in this home.  We bought Lilly her own copy of Little Women from the gift shop (along with other books) as a special souvenir.

We then went to the home of Ralph Waldo Emerson (I am very grateful for a GPS).

Do you see on the Emerson House sign it says ages 7-17?  We took that sign to mean that children under 7 were free, but in fact it means children under 7 are not allowed in the house. They have the sign again in the window next to the front door with three bitter women who guard the home.  After we assured them we did NOT want to bring our children into the home, but merely wanted to ring the bell and peek inside, they lightened up.  (After informing us that Concord was not really a place for children.)  

We then walked across the street to the Concord Museum where the original lantern that warned Paul Revere that the British were coming is on display.

We also did not go in, we went into the bookstore and Jack tried to break everything he saw so we left.  I believe it was his silent/not so silent protest against historical landmarks.  Life goal #2 is to see the lantern.

After the museum we drove over to the Old Manse.  This was also the home of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

The Old Manse garden was started by Emerson's grandfather and is now run by volunteers.  There is a lot more history involved, the garden has been renovated and changed, but still a historical landmark.

The Old Manse is right next door to the Old North Bridge, which is part of the Minute Man National Historical Park.

Coming up next...The Old North Bridge. Surprised?

Vacation to New England Part 1.1

We took a trip to visit some family in the Boston area and we managed to turn it into a jam-packed vacation.  Jim's poor brother and sister-in-law thought we were coming to visit them (and that was our intention) but we dragged them on a "nonstop see everything you can see in the shortest amount of time possible" tour.

We got to visit family AND see some amazing sights, it was a pretty great trip.  We took over 1000 pictures, which I guess averages out to 250 pictures a day.  I am the one who takes on the task to sort, delete, and organize, so as you can imagine it will take awhile and I will be using a lot of collages.

Our vacation started off with a 6 hour drive to John and Valerie's house.  Halfway into the trip we ran into a freak rain storm followed by an incredible double rainbow that lasted about 25 minutes.  We literally saw the end of the rainbow on the road, sadly without a pot of gold.  As usual, the pictures don't do the double rainbow justice.  Jack and Lilly were screaming about the rainbow they were so excited.  It was a good omen, and set the trip off to a great start.

The next morning we rallied the troops and headed out to sight see.  Our first stop was Walden Pond. It is a beautiful pond nestled in a forest made famous by Thoreau.

 As you know Thoreau went into the woods to live deliberately for two years by himself.  We saw a replica of his cabin, his statue, the pond, and Jim ran the half mile into the woods to see the exact site of his shed and cabin.  I stayed back with Valerie and the children while they splashed in the pond.  My new life goal is to swim in Walden Pond.  There were many swimmers there that day with their wet suits, I might visit again some August when it is warmer.

(Lilly, her cousin sage, Jim, and myself standing in the cabin replica.)

(At Thoreau's statue and his cabin.)

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, at least for the morning I visited Walden Pond.  

This concludes the morning hours of our vacation day 1.

Last week of Kindergarten

How is it that the days are so long but the years are so very fast?  How is it that my baby just finished her last day of kindergarten?  I swear I just put her on the bus with tears streaming down my face yesterday.  Now today I picked her up from school with tears in my eyes because kindergarten is over.

(Lilly and Mrs. Perruquet after the talent show on Thursday.  She hugs and kisses them even where there is not a camera in her face.)

Lilly's sweet teacher consoled me and told me it was hard to grow with your children.  I know this is hard for me because she is my first.  I know it will not be this hard with Jack, because I already know what to expect.  Every milestone Lilly hits, I am hitting with her.  This week has been so busy with the milestones and end of the year celebrations.

Last night we threw an ice cream party in my backyard for three families that are moving.  It was so much fun that I forgot to take pictures of actual people.

Random picture from this week: Lilly is working on the rubix cube.  Jim can finish the rubix cube in under 5 minutes.  Did you know there are actual patterns and methods to accomplish this?  I spent my life thinking you had to be really lucky to get all the sides to be the same color.

Lilly on her LAST day of Kindergarten.  I tried to convince her to wear the same outfit that she had on the first day, but she refused.  I made the rule in preschool that she gets to wear what she wants on the last day of school.

It was a special day and Jack got to ride in Lilly's booster seat to school.

Lilly's friend Alysson, who is finishing first grade, was behind us in the parent drop off line.  I held up traffic while I took this picture through my car door.

Pictured below is Lilly turning her final Kindergarten exit card.  She then rushed over to tell me she won the final Dynamite award of the year.  In the fall she will get to have pizza with the principal.  I cried, only a little.

(Below) Lilly and her best friend from class, Jera.  Jera and Lilly are not in the same class next year, her mom and I shed some quiet tears at the playground after school about it. See! I am not the only one who is emotional about their first child in kindergarten.  Jera is the loveliest child, I could not have picked a better friend for my daughter.  

Caleb, Max, Jera, Lilly.

Lilly went to preschool with Caleb and Max, they were all in the same class this year.

Mrs. Perruquet was mid-sentence telling me that I would be okay next year with new kids in first grade and that she knew it was hard to grow with your children.  She is a patient woman with all of us first time school moms.

Lilly also grabbed a picture with our neighbor who is finishing 2nd grade and moving on to Liberty Valley School.

Lilly's last walk to the car as a kindergartner.  

Think I can't possibly go on anymore about Kindergarten being over?? Just wait!