It's Snowing

Today it snowed. Huge snowflakes. Jack was ecstatic.

We head to San Diego Tuesday morning for 10 days. He doesn't believe me when I tell him we are only packing shorts since it is 84 degrees there and he will be hot, not cold.

Little Napoleon Dynamite

Style this good has to be learned early.

Our Own Boston Tea Party

Our dearest and oldest friends the Richs came out to visit us one of our first weekends out here...maybe even our first?? You know you have the most awesome friends when they willingly load up their three kids into the car and drive four hours on a Friday night to camp out in our tiny spare bedroom, just because we finally live close enough to make this weekend happen. Saturday morning the eight of us went out to explore Boston for the first time together.

First stop, Boston Harbor, where we re-enacted the Boston Tea Party by throwing tea into the harbor. I think the kids may have thought we were weird, but were quite happy to throw something into the water.






Thinking back, I am super impressed that all the kids (and Zack) managed to hold onto the wrappers and only dump the tea into the Harbor.



Next stop, the start of the Freedom trail and Paul Revere's house.



Zack then purchased his weight in Italian pastries at "Mikes" in the north end (I sound like I have some idea what it's the north end of!) Monica and I and the kids sat near one of the Old North Churches and ate Jack's weight in what really wasn't all that impressive desserts while poor Zack went to get the car and waited at the other Old North Church.

Monica and Adam are the best best friends anyone could ask for. Our time on the east coast will hopefully be full of fun Rich/Zackrison adventures...and I'm sure, way too much food. :)

Moment

The other day when it was an unbelievably cold 55 degrees (I swear it felt like it was 15 below with the wind) and I was wondering how we were going to survive the winter if we were freezing already, I told Jack to ask Papa next time he saw him,
"Papa, why in the world did you move us some place so cold?"

About two weeks later when Jack and I were in the car running a random errand and commenting on how lovely it was, Jack says, "Momma, when you see Papa next, ask him, Papa, why in the world did you move us some place so beautiful?"

I could learn a lot from this little boys optimism.

Further proof that we are experiencing the city

Our days are long. Zack wakes up at 5:45 and is out the door by 7:20, goes to classes and studies till 5:30 or 6, comes home for dinner and helps to put Jack down to bed and then is typically up studying until at least midnight, sometimes as late as 2am. I wake up as he walks out the door and am in charge of everything else that doesn't appear on Zack's above schedule, in addition to being a full time cruise director for a three year old. Despite how busy we are, we are having a great time and making the most out of our two years on the east coast before we move back to California. :)

Last week, Grandma Z came out for a much welcomed visit. She was awesome and watched Jack while we went to an adult dinner (heaven). Jack loved playing with her and of course having her read books to him at bedtime. She definitely helped it to feel a bit more like home out here and we can't wait to lure her back out here again very soon.



Jack took Grandma on a walk along the Charles River. His smile is paid with cheesecake.



Jack the photographer



Friday morning, Zack, Jack and I drove out to Cape Cod for a student retreat. We played at the beach (I even played volleyball which hurt like crazy!!!), and then spent the rest of the day at the hotel's indoor wave pool. Jack loved it and despite his blue lips, stayed in the water until dinner time. We had a fun time getting to know everyone over dinner and games.

Our volleyball team



Jack and Zack playing football on the beach



Jack the photographer



How beautiful is this place!!!

The Swan Boats

Our first weekend in Boston we decided to go to Boston Public Gardens to ride the Swan Boats. This was a big thing in Jack's life because the book, "Make Way for Ducklings" was what made the move to Boston okay in Jack's mind. The book chronicles the journey of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard as they try to find a home for their expanding family. They go all over Boston and end up making the Public Gardens their home. They spend their days following around the swan boat and their nights sleeping on the little island. The cool thing is that when you get there it totally looks like you are stepping into the book (except you can no longer throw peanuts to the ducks off the boat).



Jack and Zack on the Swan Boat


Jack loving Boston


Jack the photographer


Looking back at these pictures I feel totally justified in my initial feeling regarding the how green Boston is. It's like we moved to the Emerald City or something. :)

Boston Public Gardens is 3 miles away from our home, but it took us over an hour and a half to get there thanks to some seriously faulty Iphone navigation. We drove right from the Gardens to Best Buy to buy a GPS. Seriously saved my sanity.

Madeleine

Madeleine

Madeleine made her entrance into this glorious world around 9:30am (12:30 my time). Sean called and I could hear nothing but my little niece in the background/foreground/all-ground screaming the loudest most beautiful angelic definitely female scream I have ever heard. I immediately started crying. Why is it that it doesn't even occur to me until I'm living it, that these moments are life changing, and of course will involve me blubbering like an idiot? My sister, the other half of me has a baby. The first moment I heard that baby girl screaming bloody murder, my heart was broken and then miraculously stitched back together again instantaneously. It will never be the same again. I instantly knew how a mom can love two children when her first has so completely consumed her heart. I know because there is a little girl in San Diego that my heart recognizes and cannot do without.

I tried to explain my tears to Jack after I got off the phone. As soon as he heard Adda had her baby he looked at me and said, "what are we waiting for mom. Let's go to San Diego!"

My Sister

My sister is on the other side of the country on her way to the hospital to give birth to my niece. What I wouldn't do to be able to be there...