Last day of NYC

First stop to see the Manhattan temple. I didn't know the subway lets you off right in front of it...convenient...-ish.
Then we strolled through a little part of Central Park,
and let the kids play at a playground for a few minutes.



We walked down 5th Ave to catch some of the stores, like FAO Schwarz and the giant piano (only $250,000 if you're interested).
We saw Radio City Music Hall...

and Rockefeller Center and Plaza...
and the Empire State Building...
and the Chrysler building.Then we got on the Staten Island Ferry again to see the Brooklyn Bridge...
and the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
I think we covered a lot of ground this week!

NYC

Today we went with Kent's parents to the city. My parents stayed back because my mom was sick. Hayden has an earache too, so he stayed with grandpa and grandma.

We saw St. Paul's church which is right across from Ground Zero. This was a hub of refuge for the workers at Ground Zero. Here's a NY fireman's uniform on one of the pews of the church.

The grounds were of course covered in rubble in 2001. There were a bunch of memorials set up inside the church.

This is Ground Zero. There is massive construction in the area as they are reconstructing. The dark square in the middle is the ghost of the North Tower.
Then we made it to the Staten Island Ferry for a ride past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It was a great view and the Ferry is FREE! Finally something for free!

Last Day of School!

Today is Sawyer's last day of kindergarten and McKinley's last day of 2nd grade. Next year McKinley goes to a new school of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders!

Another school year is done.

Bowling

We signed up for the free kids summer bowling program, so we took the grandparents and kids bowling. Sawyer has been asking to go for months! The kids had a great time. I did not do so good. I think Hayden outscored me!

Then we drove up to Kent, CT to see the quaint covered bridges.

Wicked

On Saturday we got a babysitter for the boys (which cost us $10/hr!!!! We won't be going out much here) and went to NYC with McKinley and the grandparents to see the play WICKED in the Gershwin Theater.

It was fantastic! McKinley was riveted the whole time, and Kent loved it too.

We had to walk from Grand Central to the theater and made our way through Times Square. Now we can cross that off the list.

It was crowded.And full of "colorful" people...like the infamous Times Square Naked Cowboy.

It was fun to see all the signs and glitz, but not something I want to visit over and over. Once was good.

Boston part 3

We road the Beantown trolley again, but this time went all the way around the tour before getting off.

This is a shot of the Cheers bar that the show got it's inspiration from. We didn't get a drink here :(

Some of the gorgeous housing...I think in the Beacon Hill area...very expensive.
This is a cathedral with really pretty architecture, but I don't recall what it is named.
The big green monster, Fenway Park.
This is the spot of the Boston Tea Party. Not too much marking it's commemoration.
This is Faneuil Hall. Called the cradle of Liberty and was the site for many patriotic revolutionary meetings and many meetings since.

Here's Sawyer outside Quincy Market. There were three buildings like this filled with food and shops. It was kind of Pike's Place Market-y but not as many fish and flowers, and more food shops. It was a little crowded, but I got some yummy mac & cheese and a whoopie pie! Oh and can you see the Bruins sign, they just won the Stanley cup so people here are a little excited. Luckily we'll miss the big parade.

Paul Revere's House.
Walking along the Freedom Trail.

A statue of Paul Revere, and in the over-exposed background is the Old North Church (one if by land, two if by sea).

Inside the Old North Church. They had family pews that you had to rent back then. Can you imagine having to pay to go to church!

Phew! Our Boston list got pretty much done. Now we are heading back home to Connecticut! Tomorrow we go to WICKED!

Lexington and Concord

Today we rode on the Liberty Rides (GoCard Boston) in Lexington and Concord. It was nice because it takes you in an air-conditioned trolley along the sites with a tour guide. The tour guide told a fun, colorful narrative of what things happened, and when, and where, so it was easier to piece it all together in my mind. It even kept the boys pretty entertained.

We got off first at the Old North Bridge where the "shot heard round the world" was fired. The British were marching on Concord to confiscate all the colonists weapons, but the Colonists were tipped off by spies and three riders went to warn everyone: Paul Revere, William Dawes, Dr. Samuel Prescott. Previously unknown to us, Paul Revere never completed the midnight ride. He got captured for a few hours and then released. William Dawes escaped but fell off his horse and didn't complete the ride. Samuel Prescott escaped into the woods and was the only one to finish the ride. But Paul Revere was responsible for sending the message "1 if by land, 2 if by sea" via the Old North Church. He also spread the message along the road of "the Regulars are coming!"--not the famed "the British are coming" since everyone was British citizens.

And there is your history lesson for the day.

This grave marker memorializes the British soldiers who died there. Although Sawyer kept telling us "I hate the British". He really liked seeing all the war stuff and loves the Americans and George Washington.
Up on the hill is a little wall where the colonists gathered and awaited the British. A shot was misfired by someone (still not known who) and both sides began the fight from the shot heard 'round the world. The British (the grandest, and strongest armed force in the world at the time) were seen retreating and disorganized. They fell back all the way to Boston with many casualties on both sides.
A memorial to the Minute Men, who were expected to drop everything and be ready for duty within a half hour. Which is why the statue is toting his plow with him.
A little flock of turkeys and baby turkeys on the pathway.
The boys favorite part of the day (ha ha ha) was the Orchard House of Louisa May Alcott. It was the inspiration for the "Little Women" book. It was easy to imagine it filled with those sisters and their antics. I loved all the little paintings and drawings done by May Alcott (who is Amy in the book). Sawyer was pretty good to sit and listen, but was disappointed when he asked me "do any BOYS live here?"Back to the hotel for more swimming! The grandparents went to the Boston Temple to do some work for a couple hours.