Boston with Scott, Dinner with Friends...Easy Merrimac summer days....

Tuesday was the day Scott and I set aside to leave the kids with Gammy and Gampy so that we could spend some time in Boston.  We meandered through the Public Gardens, and eventually met up with Cara and Reid for a marvelous dinner at Chang and Myers (in South Boston, I HIGHLY recommend this place).  After our meal we strolled through the Berkley vegetable gardens.  Some seriously impressive city gardening going on in there!  The following day we relaxed with my parents, and found our way to Yankee Homecoming in Newburyport.  We set up chairs and towels, grabbed some good grub, and listened to the concert in the park.

On a short hike with Gammy.

Cara surrounded by veggies!

The end of a fabulous evening with Cara and Reid.

Hike with Gammy.

Fun in Newburyport.

Bouy family shot.

End of Gammy and Gampys driveway.

Headed back up the hill after playing with the baby bunnies.

Don't know how much longer the one hammock will hold all "the cousins".

Back in Boston!

The Brown's, Dr. Shuman, and then off to Brody's House!

We ended our visit in Nahant with pizza at the Brown's.  The kids fell right back into play, never skipping a beat.  It was hard to leave, but we are keeping fingers crossed that Mary and Jim will find some affordable flights.
     Monday allowed us time to relax after our first night at Gammy and Gampys.  We had a nice visit with family, and then headed back south to meet Cathy and Cate for lunch in Salem, from there a quick stop to catch up with Dr. Shuman and meet his new puppy Kai, and from there head to Brody's for some good outdoor play and a delicious meal.  It was so nice to hear Fiona and Ethan's hard laughter that only Brody can seem to elicit.  The kids put their heads together and created a "zip-line" that even worked!

Yay!  The Brown's!

Jumping the fountains in Salem.

Cute Kai...

Look at that face!

Happy visit with Dr. Shuman.

Look at those BIG kids in the tree.

Brody, the engineer.

Ethan, the thinker.

Homemade zipline...success!

Been hanging out since Fiona and Brody were in diapers....

Another great idea?

Smooth Sailing

We did it!  The kids took their first flight, and it was relatively smooth and delay free (well, except for the hour delay to fix an "aesthetic issue").  Scott picked us up at Logan as planned (he was here ahead of time on business).  The first few nights we spent in Nahant at Esther's house.  She kindly set up her ground floor apartment for us with a filled fridge and delicious snacks, as well as hosted two scrumptious breakfasts for each morning we were there.  Our first full day back in MA was a gorgeous beach day at Tudor beach.  We plopped down in "our" spot with the Goodwins and just let the day unfold...  Keri made her yummy baked mac-n-cheese for dinner that night , and it truly felt like coming home.  On Sunday, having already visited with Jean, Mark and Jane we went shell collecting at "Pottery Beach".

Exploring Tudor Beach.

Jean, Mark, Fancy and Sweetie!

Beach day with friends.

My view.  Sitting right where I belong.

Reunited and it feels so good.....

Our gracious friend and host Esther, with our old house in the background!

Our visit with Jane and Bailey.

Our family photo!

Peek-a boo!

On the rock.

The Astros Won!!!

Friday nights game was superb!  The only negative was that our seats were pretty high up, and it seems the AC doesn't quite make it that high...so we were a bit "clammy" to say the least.  Our friends coincidentally were only a few rows away, and Joel and Paul were able to sit with Ethan the entire game!  Scott's buddy Reid was also close by and joined us for the last few innings.  We got to watch Mike Trout strike out 4 times!!!!!  Unheard of!  No home runs to report, but some very exciting double plays.
I am not sure that I will have any time to update the blog before we head to New England.  Next time I do there may even be a cool breeze in the air!  I am excited to feel that.  Scott headed to the Houston airport this morning bound for a class in NYC, and we will see him again at Logan Airport this Friday night.  Can't wait!

So precious.  Holding his ticket and glove hoping for a foul ball to catch.

Joel, Ethan and Paul.

Trout, about to strike out...again!

My man Jose Altuve!

A few of us out for frozen yogurt.

Meagan and Ellie challenged us to an ugly selfie.  I think we rose to the challenge.

Cupcakes and frosting I made from scratch.  Kinda a proud moment for me.

At the game Friday night.

Fiona and I could NOT get the boys out of the frame.  Total photo bomb!