I Love Birthdays!

Unfortunately in April, I (along with 160 others) was laid off from my airline job because of the economy and poor management in the company. Although I was pretty disappointed that all my future traveling was coming to an end, I was able to get in a couple last trips before my benefits ran out. After flying home for a couple days for my sister Ang's birthday, Mark gave me an early birthday present and let me take a trip to Boston with my Mom. This was seriously one of my favorite trips! I loved every second with my Mom-- our slaphappy early mornings, the amazing New England clam chowder, our duck walk, our interesting shuttle rides, the free boat ride-- it was all so much fun! I also had no idea there was so much history in Boston. All those cloudy memories of what I half learned in 5th grade became so much clearer after this trip. I loved learning for real this time. Here are some of my favorite parts:

We mostly saw the sights on the Freedom Trail. This is in Boston Commons where the trail began. I ate the most amazingly good sandwich from a deli across the street. I will forever love pesto because of this sandwich. Mmmm!

This was the coolest old cemetary. We saw so many famous graves including those of Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Robert Treat Paine, people in the Boston Massacre, and Benjamin Franklin's parents. It was so neat!

Paul Revere's Grave

Here I am in front of the gravestone for Samuel Adams and the men who died in the Boston Massacre.

The Old North Church where Boston was warned that the British were coming.

Faneuil Hall

Paul Revere's House

Red Coat keeping guard ;)

Boston Harbor

We got to walk through the city park that the storybook "Make Way for Ducklings" was written about.

Of course we couldn't miss going to the place "where everybody knows your name". :)

Site of the Boston Massacre

Bunker Hill Monument: This was when I knew I was really out of shape. To get to the top you have to climb exactly 294 steps. I could barely feel my legs after this because they were so wobbly. I guess it was a good thing we only had one more place to walk on the Freedom Trail after this because I seriously couldn't make it much farther than that.

View from the top of the Bunker Hill Monument

USS Constitution

Last of all, I don't want to leave out the fun I had at home before I went to Boston It was so fun to celebrate Angelee's birthday with my family. Happy Birthday Ang!

I was blown away at how big some of my nieces and nephew have gotten. They are so cute and so fun to play with. I can't wait until I can play with all my nieces and nephew again.

My sister Katie was nice enough to take some family pictures while we were there. She is a great photographer! Here is one of our favorites.