Friday, November 19, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Harvard
We rode the subway, or the "T" as it's called in Boston, to Harvard Square. Here are Tobey and the boys listening to a busker.
The boys wanted gobstoppers. They are kind of like jawbreakers. They are posing here inside the grounds of Harvard University.
Sitting for a rest in Harvard University grounds.
Harvard University.
The boys wanted gobstoppers. They are kind of like jawbreakers. They are posing here inside the grounds of Harvard University.
Sitting for a rest in Harvard University grounds.
Harvard University.
Boston Public Garden and Boston Commons
Tobey at the Frog Pond in Boston Commons where the kids got absolutely soaked.
We went for a ride on one of these swan boats in Boston Public Garden.
Matt on the Swan Boat.
Joshua in Boston Public Garden.
Tobey and Joshua at the Make Way for Ducklings statue. Every New England child will know the book Make Way for Ducklings, and this is a statue in Boston Public Garden dedicated to the book.
We went for a ride on one of these swan boats in Boston Public Garden.
Matt on the Swan Boat.
Joshua in Boston Public Garden.
Tobey and Joshua at the Make Way for Ducklings statue. Every New England child will know the book Make Way for Ducklings, and this is a statue in Boston Public Garden dedicated to the book.
An Interview with Matt and Josh about Boston
What was the best thing about the hotel we stayed at in Boston?
Josh: Tobey stayed at our hotel.
Matthew: The statue of the pine cone woman.
Who are some people we met in Boston?
Josh: Phillip.
Matthew: Tobey, Carla, and Phillip.
What was your favourite thing about Boston?
Joshua: Riding on the subway.
Matthew: The subway.
What was the thing you liked least about Boston?
Joshua: Looking at clothes
Matthew: Nothing
Josh: Tobey stayed at our hotel.
Matthew: The statue of the pine cone woman.
Who are some people we met in Boston?
Josh: Phillip.
Matthew: Tobey, Carla, and Phillip.
What was your favourite thing about Boston?
Joshua: Riding on the subway.
Matthew: The subway.
What was the thing you liked least about Boston?
Joshua: Looking at clothes
Matthew: Nothing
Boston
We're ready to leave New Hampshire and still haven't written about Boston. The hot and humid weather on the East Coast really hit us as soon as we landed in Boston.
My friend Tobey, Matthew's godmother, met us at Logan Airport. It was so wonderful seeing her again after 17 years! And it was the first time the boys had met her, so that was special too.
That first night we went out to eat at Legal Seafoods... really nice seafood. I had the fisherman's platter... nothing like those deep fried clams. Just beautiful. We also had Maryland crabcakes to start and fried oysters. They were delicious.
Next day Michael went off to do laundry and Tobey and I took the kids to the Boston Public Garden where the boys saw squirrels for the first time. I grew up with them, but forgot how we don't have them in New Zealand. The boys were intrigued with them.
We went for a ride on the swan boats in the Garden, and then walked over to Boston Commons where there is a huge wading pool. The boys got soaked. Absolutely drenched. They had a fantastic time, but had to trudge back to the hotel in wet shorts and teeshirts. It was very hot and only two blocks away, so it wasn't too bad. However, the doormen at our swanky hotel were a little bemused to see these dripping boys arrive back. "They found the Frog Pond" I said. I don't think they had ever had guests arrive back dripping wet from the Frog Pond.
Our hotel was Jurys Boston Hotel, in Back Bay, and was very nice. I don't know if they'll ever recover from Joshua racing through the hotel lobby with his superman cape on, though.
When Michael did the laundry he met a guy, Phillip, in the laundromat who was a local. On the Saturday night we went out with him. He took us to a famous ribs restaurant in Somerville, near Tufts University, called Red Bones. Real southern ribs and hash and beans. Then he took us on a tour around Boston in his car. That was fun.
One late afternoon we took the subway (called the "T" in Boston) to Harvard Square and wandered around Harvard University. It was beautiful in the late sun, and the kids had a wonderful time.
On Sunday, I met up with another friend of mine, Carla. Carla, Tobey and I had travelled around Europe together when we were at university. It was like old times... as if 20 years had never passed. We spent several hours in Tobey's room (she was staying in the same hotel) reminiscing and talking. It was wonderful.
On the Monday, we picked up a rental car and drove Tobey home to Medway, Massachussetts, which is about 45 minutes south west of Boston by car. It was lovely to catch up with Tobey's mother again. We spent a couple of hours there in Medway, and I took some pictures.
Tobey and her mother gave me the most amazing gift which I will talk about in another entry. I was so incredibly stunned by the gift that I'm still a little shocked!
After we left Medway, we headed North towards Concord, New Hampshire to visit with my friend Juliana, who is Joshua's godmother.
My friend Tobey, Matthew's godmother, met us at Logan Airport. It was so wonderful seeing her again after 17 years! And it was the first time the boys had met her, so that was special too.
That first night we went out to eat at Legal Seafoods... really nice seafood. I had the fisherman's platter... nothing like those deep fried clams. Just beautiful. We also had Maryland crabcakes to start and fried oysters. They were delicious.
Next day Michael went off to do laundry and Tobey and I took the kids to the Boston Public Garden where the boys saw squirrels for the first time. I grew up with them, but forgot how we don't have them in New Zealand. The boys were intrigued with them.
We went for a ride on the swan boats in the Garden, and then walked over to Boston Commons where there is a huge wading pool. The boys got soaked. Absolutely drenched. They had a fantastic time, but had to trudge back to the hotel in wet shorts and teeshirts. It was very hot and only two blocks away, so it wasn't too bad. However, the doormen at our swanky hotel were a little bemused to see these dripping boys arrive back. "They found the Frog Pond" I said. I don't think they had ever had guests arrive back dripping wet from the Frog Pond.
Our hotel was Jurys Boston Hotel, in Back Bay, and was very nice. I don't know if they'll ever recover from Joshua racing through the hotel lobby with his superman cape on, though.
When Michael did the laundry he met a guy, Phillip, in the laundromat who was a local. On the Saturday night we went out with him. He took us to a famous ribs restaurant in Somerville, near Tufts University, called Red Bones. Real southern ribs and hash and beans. Then he took us on a tour around Boston in his car. That was fun.
One late afternoon we took the subway (called the "T" in Boston) to Harvard Square and wandered around Harvard University. It was beautiful in the late sun, and the kids had a wonderful time.
On Sunday, I met up with another friend of mine, Carla. Carla, Tobey and I had travelled around Europe together when we were at university. It was like old times... as if 20 years had never passed. We spent several hours in Tobey's room (she was staying in the same hotel) reminiscing and talking. It was wonderful.
On the Monday, we picked up a rental car and drove Tobey home to Medway, Massachussetts, which is about 45 minutes south west of Boston by car. It was lovely to catch up with Tobey's mother again. We spent a couple of hours there in Medway, and I took some pictures.
Tobey and her mother gave me the most amazing gift which I will talk about in another entry. I was so incredibly stunned by the gift that I'm still a little shocked!
After we left Medway, we headed North towards Concord, New Hampshire to visit with my friend Juliana, who is Joshua's godmother.
Swimming
Have just been swimming for the second time today with Matt and Josh. The hotel in Concord, New Hampshire, has a pool. Over the course of an hour this morning, I saw Josh go from being able to do a few strokes while always been within his depth, to jumping into the water over his head and swimming the length of the pool - which, admittedly, isn't very long. He just has this attitude of wanting to keep going at something until he can get it. Not for most things, mind you, but for those he sets his mind on. He just kept swimming, and trying, and stopping and starting again until he could swim the pool.
Tonight, after over an hour in the pool, he was very tired, in at the deep end, swallowing water and going under, but he wouldn't take my hand to help him to the side until he made it himself. I finally got him to let me help him out, then he promptly jumped back in for a final plunge and wouldn't let me help him out.
Sometimes this stubbornness drives me crazy, but I suspect it's mostly a good trait.
Tonight, after over an hour in the pool, he was very tired, in at the deep end, swallowing water and going under, but he wouldn't take my hand to help him to the side until he made it himself. I finally got him to let me help him out, then he promptly jumped back in for a final plunge and wouldn't let me help him out.
Sometimes this stubbornness drives me crazy, but I suspect it's mostly a good trait.
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