Mr. Potatohead, Another trip into Boston

So this am while getting ready for church Jack played with the parts to Mr Potatohead and we joined in. Yesterday we went into Boston and saw The USS Constitution "Old Ironsides" a 200 year old ship, USS Cassin Young which made for a good playground for James, Old North Church where the lanterns were hung, Paul Revere's home which was built in the mid 1600's, and had the best cannolis I've ever had, as well as the first cannoli I've ever had. Becky said it was one of the best things she has ever eaten. sorry no pic

First Jack
Then James
The blessings of fatherhood

(as a physician I do not condone any one to place objects in their ears)
Boston Temple
We pass it every time we go into town
The "T" never gets old for James
USS Constitution sleeping quarters
Stowaway
Cannon

Stowaway II
It is hard to see James with his Camo
USS Cassin Young
Outside Old Ironsides
Collin joined us for this picture
Anchors away

Old Ironsides
On USS Cassin Young with Boston across the harbor
More Battleship

Paul Revere's home. It had some of his original furniture. Pretty cool

James's Song

So James will be starting school next week and I was just thinking how fun it was to have him in kindergarten as he was such a social kid last year.

After we moved here to Massachusetts James missed his friends and he missed school as well.

As a result he made up a song which I am placing in the blog to so that we won't forget it.

It is better when James sings it himself since he made the tune up.

Lonely in the sun

Lonely in the sun

School's done, No fun

And no kids to choose from

Lonely in the moon

Lonely in the moon

Sitting on my lonely rock

No one in the moon

Lonely in the sun

Lonely in the sun

School's done, No fun

And no kids to choose from

Lonely, Lonely

Lonely in the sun

He sang this song for at at dinner just after we moved to Mass it was actually quite touching

This last week he has been singing a new song

Lonely in the sun, no more

Lonely in the sun, no more

Much more kids to choose from

I am glad he will be starting the first grade next week

A day in the Life of..., Chucky Cheese, and Jackson Learning to Walk

So besides Chucky Cheese, which we did prior to James starting school, life has been busy with work and kids so I haven't made a post recently. In the meantime Jackson is learning to walk and to throw a ball which he thinks is the greatest adventure of his short life, and it probably is.

I decided to take my camera with me today to Amherst where UMASS sports is located. The drive is beautiful and there are funny signs that make me smile to myself so I thought I would take my western friends on a drive through New England scenery.

Just leaving and I get to see this nice lake, which is actually a pond here.
Welcome to the Furniture Capital of New England
(this sign makes me laugh)

Stuck behind traffic but I enjoy the trees
So if you had a choice between Athol (try saying that with a lisp) and Belchertown...

Which would you take?
Scenic Lookout
There is a stretch nearing Amherst that twists through the tress like a slalom and I think it is pretty cool

Go Jack Go
Cute Kids
James playing video games is a rarity, but we had fun
Jackson is loving throwing the ball down the hill

Trip to Old Sturbridge Village

We went to Old Sturbridge Village where you go back in time to the pilgrim/pioneer times. James had fun running around the entire village. His favorite part was milking the fake cow. Unfortunately we got a flat tire on the way down which was easily repaired, but it was kind of funny with everything else that has happened since we have moved.

Sheep nearly grabbed James' Hat

Fake Bulls

Got Milk?
The Blacksmith Shop
James studying at Ye Olde School House
The Stage Coach with James' friend Collin
A real working saw mill
James has taken the hoop and stick and modernized it

The Fam
James outside the town meeting house
Making and dyeing yarn for clothes
Stilts
The true use of the hoop and stick

Jackson's Funny faces

We grilled fresh swordfish for dinner Yummy
Jackson trying out James' Hat
James giving a talk at the town meeting house

Mount Wachusett and Ice cream . . .

Well, don't be too shocked--it's my first post (if you couldn't tell, Jake's been the blogger up till now)! I wanted to get these pictures up.
We took a trip to the local "mountain" this last weekend. I put it in quotes because for our friends who live in the West, mountains are completely different! That being said, Mt. Wachusett is a very pretty place and offers a fantastic view, clear to Boston! There is also a ski resort up there in the winter. We're hoping to keep James going in skiing if they offer lessons.
We had a picnic, did some hiking, and let James wade in a pond, until he almost fell IN the pond.
Hope you enjoy the pics!

I don't know why the kids are making such weird faces . . .

Hiking--forests like this are everywhere here . . .

Our favorite ice cream place is in the middle of the beautiful countryside!

Getting the Hang of Massachusetts and Blogging

Well It was certainly a memorable week filled with excitement, trauma, and adventure. We did a visit to Boston on saturday and had a great time walking the Freedom Trail, seeing wonderful historic sites, and swimming in the frog pond and the Boston Commons. We saw the graves of John Hancock and Paul Revere, visited Faniel Hall, and the site of the Boston Massacre and the first Public school in the US. We visited the Public Gardens and went for a swan boat ride. The highlight of the trip for me was seeing the unkempt accordion player performing a rendition of the Statler Brothers' "Flowers on the Wall".

A few days prior to our Boston visit our car was smashed from behind and we are dealing with that mess.

We are all healthy and doing well. James has been doing swimming lessons at a local pond/lake and Jackson and Becky enjoy going along to the beach. Becky and the kids have also been going to local farms and picking fresh raspberries, blueberries for jam. Yummy!!

The rains have been coming and we had a visit from a small frog that James named Hoppy. The frog jumped out of his hands and nearly went in James' mouth. James screamed like a girl while the rest of us laughed and sent the frog on his merry way.

Swimming at the Frog Pond

Cute Jackson

Soon after this photo Hoppy leaped at James's face

More cute Jackson

Make Way For Ducklings

The Swan Boat at the Public Gardens

James at the train station going into the city center. His first ride in an undergound train.