It's over...

Hallelujah!!

We had our Primary Sacrament Meeting Presentation on Sunday!  I wrote and was in charge of it this year.  The kids did GREAT and I think it turned out really well. I think my favorite part was the beginning.  The kids were humming in the background while I and one of my counselors did our parts at the pulpit then they started singing at the chorus when we were done.  Ben said it was awesome.  I had the kids write their own parts about a topic that was given to them.  I think that worked really well so they had a chance to say what they had learned and bear their testimonies in stead of me just telling them to say what I hoped they had learned.   I'm glad it went so well, but I'm so glad it's over and I don't have to think about it for a while.

Boston, MA, Part 4: Plymouth

Sorry to say it, but Plymouth Rock was sort of a let down (sorry).  

 

We attended the Plymouth Branch on Sunday morning.  Ben was part of the Hingham ward, but that has since been split and some members were moved down to be a part of the Plymouth branch.  So we went there so he could see some old ward members/friends.  We went to sacrament meeting and then spent some time talking to some people.  

After that we drove over to see Plymouth rock and the Mayflower II.  Now I can atleast say I've been, but I don't know that we'll make the trip again.  But, it was still good to see it.

Here's the rock that the Pilgrims may or may not have set foot on.  I was actually kind of confused about the whole story of it, but I will never profess to be a history buff.  It's not my favorite subject of study.

Mayflower II built to re-enact the landing of the original Mayflower.

I really wanted to see Harvard campus, but we ended up not having enough time.   We had to catch our flight home, so when we next get to make it out to Boston hopefully we'll make it there.

  He said he hasn't breathed so well in a long time.  (The dry Utah air does something to his nose.)  He could actually breathe for a whole week.  It was a wonderful vacation and so good to spend some time with Ben and seeing him "at home".

Boston, MA, Part 3: Hingham

On Saturday, WE SLEPT IN!! It felt so nice to sleep in as long as we wanted and not have anywhere to be or anyone to wake us up. Rick and Moshi were so good to make their kids let us sleep. In the morning we had to run to the store to get a couple things. Then we met up with Ben's sister, Aimee, at a restaruant in Quincy and she treated us to lunch. I've only met her a couple times, but she's really sweet and super nice. It was a nice lunch. Aimee thought it was really strange of Ben to order a BLT at the best Italian restaurant.

Then we drove over to Ben's hometown, Hingham.

Ben always talks about a local ice cream shop, Brigham's, and their delicious peppermint ice cream with chocolate jimmies (sprinkles for those who don't speak Boston). He claims there is no better peppermint ice cream. I'm not a fan of peppermint ice cream, but I took a bite of his and I could tell the difference between it and others. It was good.

I really think he was in heaven.

Then we went to his old neighborhood to see his old house and some neighbors.

This is the house that Ben grew up in

The man and woman in this picture were sort of like Ben's second mom and dad.

They took him to games and such before they had their own kids. And the other guy is a neighbor across the street he would play with when he was younger.

We took a short walk in the woods behind his house. Literally, his backyard. He was like a little kid again. He loved having the woods as his backyard and playing in them every day.

When you walk out of the woods on the other side you come to this....

the beach, the ocean, and the Boston skyline. So pretty

Correct me if I'm wrong Ben, but here he is pointing to the spot through the woods he usually came out of to get to the ocean (?) (to look at Boston skyline and chill)

On the way to his house, we stopped at the cemetery to see his dad's and his brother's grave.

For his Eagle scout project he helped clean up, make this sign, and the benches for the cemetery. (They've actually replaced the sign I made since. Also straightened headstones, pruned trees, fixed fences, removed one ton pile of debris, and so on...)

His grandma's house is on Main Street in Hingham. Ben says that a wife of one of presidents of the United States (he doesn't remember which one-yeah I do, Eleanor Roosevelt wife of Franklin D.) said that Hingham's Main Street was the "prettiest main street in America". I have to say, I might agree.

I haven't been many places, but this is one of the prettiest I've seen.

Maybe it's because they have such cute houses with tons of greenery around them. I made Ben stop and turn around so I could take a picture of this house. Look, Mom, this is the house I've always described wanting to have one day. Porch wrapping around the house and a beautiful green lawn and trees.

I think it is absolutely breath taking.

And this is just a fun sign I saw and thought was funny..."$250.00 fine for disposal of RUBBISH on Hingham Highways" Just thought it was funny to see the word "rubbish" on a sign.

Then we had to hurry and get to Boston for Blue Man Group. At Faneuil Hall there is a booth there that sells day-of tickets for half-price. Ben went once years ago when they used to have people come clean up after their shows in exchange for getting into the show for free. He's wanted to see them ever since and finally got to. And Gina loved it so much.

Boston, MA, Part 2: Red Sox game

What trip to Boston would be complete without a trip to Fenway Park to see a Red Sox game?   While we were there, we stayed at Rick and Moshi's house (Rick was one of Ben's friends growing up and we've become friends with his wife as well).  We went to the game with them on Friday night.  Ben was in complete heaven watching his Red Sox play.  I think there are about 50 pictures he took of just the players warming up, playing and coming off the field.  He was like a little kid in a candy store.  

They lost and it looked like it was going to be blow out, but they started coming back which made it a fun game to watch.  Wish we could have seen them win, but it was fun just being there.

 

 

 

 I made us some shirts to wear.  I used freezer paper to make a stencil, ironed it on the shirt, then painted the letters on.  My shirt started out as just a plain, big T-shirt but I took int he side, shortened the sleeves and used the extra material to make a ruffle at the neck line.  Much cuter than before.  I also painted the Boston logo and name on the sweatshirt below.

Since it was looking like a blow out, people were leaving early so we started moving up closer.  By the end of the game we were on the second row just behind first base. I thought this sign was pretty funny.

 And here is where his Celtics play.

It was a really fun night and I'm glad I was able to see "the green monster" that he talks about all the time.

Boston, MA, Part 1: Freedom Trail

Last week Ben was in Boston for a business trip/training.  He left Monday morning.  We decided to take advantage of the fact that his company bought his plane ticket so I joined him Thursday night for a really quick getaway.  It was a much needed break for both of us.   

We decided to spend "Constitution Day" in Boston where a lot of US history took place.  (ok, that was just coincidence)  When we stepped out of the train station they were doing some sort of tribute to the military and POW's or something.  We stayed for a little while and listened and watched the different military corps march.

 

Then we walked to Faneuil Hall and got some lunch.  We shared some of the best Macaroni and Cheese I've ever had.  It was delicious.

 

 (Ben posing as the Faneuil statue)

Then we walked the three-mile Freedom Trail to some of the famous historical sites in Boston. 

 

We followed the Red Brick Road  (ha, ha, ha)

This is King's chapel and the oldest pulpit still in use in the United States.  When we were touring it, there was some guy practicing the organ.  The organ is not my favorite instrument especially classical songs in a chapel.  I actually think it's kind of creepy.  But when we were walking around there were signs telling some stories about how the chapel is "haunted" which made it even more creepy.

 

 

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This is the state house of Boston

Park street church

 

The old state house model in front of which the Boston Massacre was said to have happened.  Can anyone tell me why they call it the Boston Massacre if only 5 people died?

 

Ben spent 3 days at the Marriott Long Wharf hotel in training

 

The Paul Revere house

We stopped by the famous (in Boston) Mike's Pastry.  

I don't see the big deal.  In my opinion it was a lot of money for a pastry that wasn't anything special.

 

The Old North Church where the signal lanterns of Paul Revere were

  

Then we headed over to the USS constitution - aka Old Ironsides. 

Ben thought it was pretty cool that one fo the anchors in front said Panama Canal on it

 

This was the view of Boston from across the Charles River/bridge

  

Bunker Hill monument

It was closed to construction so we weren't able to walk up to the top

I fell in love with the cuteness of the city (although I was having a hard time with the constant smell of cigarette smoke in the air and walked around at times with the arm of my sweatshirt covering my mouth)  The building/apartments are so cute.  If there was an area like that here I think I might drive there just to walk around to admire it.

Look at this cute building...

 and cute cobblestone road.

to be continued.....