Day 13 - Boston: Common, Freedom Trail, Fenway
Yesterday was our big Boston day. It was a scorching hot day so we started out in the Boston Common where we took a Swan Boat ride around the pond. It was pleasant in the shade of the boat and with the breeze off the pond. I didn't know they pedaled those boats! I loved that it was only $3 for adults and $1 for kids.
We headed over to the Frog Pond for a restroom break, not knowing what the Frog Pond was. The minute we saw it we knew the kids would be wet within minutes. So we just embraced it. It was so hot that even though the pond was warm, any relief felt good. The kids swam there for nearly an hour and a half, splashing and playing in the fountain. It took Calvin and Kate a little coaxing to get wet but they were so hot, they couldn't resist for too long. Kira resisted until the kids all ganged up on her and chased her down splashing her until she was soaked. The problem was, we didn't have swimsuits and we were going to be in Boston ALL day! But walking around soaked helped them stay cool.
We headed out on the Freedom Trail. The kids walked the whole way. Mikey loved following the red brick line in the sidewalk. So much though that he often forgot to look up and would nearly run right into someone. We visited the Kings Church, Granary Cemetery (where Paul Revere's grave is), Old South Meeting House, Site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, Paul Revere's house and the Old North Church. We stopped for slurpees on the way to cool off, had lunch at Potbelly's and stopped off at another water fountain spot to cool off in. The kids did fantastic! I couldn't believe their stamina with the walking and the heat and the history. I was really proud of them!
At Faneuil Hall we saw a group of street performers so we stopped to watch. They were breakdancing and doing little comedy bits to ask for money. They called out Calvin and then later Jeff to come be part of the show. When they called Calvin out there I thought they were going to have him dance in front of the crowd. He told me he thought the same thing and he was totally nervous! But he walked out there with confidence, ready to try whatever they told him. They had him stand with his arms out while a guy jumped over him. Then they lined up 5 people and said the guy was going to jump over 4 1/2 people (and that "Alvin" was the 1/2). They asked for a "tall, sexy white guy" and picked Jeff out of the crowd. It was hilarious! So they got to be part of the show. Jeff was making jokes and had people laughing. He's so good at that!
We bought boston hats at Quincy Market and headed to Paul Revere's house. It was small and 90% of the structure was original. Isaac was so happy to see Paul Revere's house. He had me take a picture to send to Mrs. Knight (his teacher last year).
We headed over to the T to ride the Green line out to Fenway for the Boston Red Sox game. It was a little adventure figuring out the subway with 5 kids but that's all part of the fun! We rode the D train to the Kenmore station and walked the rest of the way to Fenway. We waited on Yawkey Way to meet up with Nolan and Lisa and took in the sights (and the second hand smoke). We bought some peanuts, browsed the team store, took a few pictures and wolfed down some McDonald's Jeff brought back. My two little boys looked a little orphan-ish sitting on baseball mits on the ground on Yawkey Way shoving hamburgers and McNuggets in like they hadn't eaten in days.
The Boston Red Sox game was super fun. I'm not much of a baseball fan but the stadium is really fun. The kids had their cousins, italian ice and cotton candy to share so they were having a great time. Isaac and I and Jeff and Kate shared a Fenway Frank and we watched the Red Sox lose to the Cubs in the sticky heat of a Boston Summer night. We stayed until the old organ played "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and sang along while the little boys slept on our laps and they played "Sweet Caroline." It was so much fun! Clint and Carmen had great seats just on the 3rd base side of home plate and I think they had a great time watching the game. We walked with the crowds to the T with the boys asleep on our shoulders. The kids were so good! The subway station was sweltering and crowded and by sweltering I mean easily over 100 degrees! I was actually had sweat dripping down my forehead within 30 seconds of walking down the stairs into the subway. It took us a while to finally get on the jam-packed train headed back to Boston Common. I loved watching my kids learn how to navigate the city.
We headed over to the Frog Pond for a restroom break, not knowing what the Frog Pond was. The minute we saw it we knew the kids would be wet within minutes. So we just embraced it. It was so hot that even though the pond was warm, any relief felt good. The kids swam there for nearly an hour and a half, splashing and playing in the fountain. It took Calvin and Kate a little coaxing to get wet but they were so hot, they couldn't resist for too long. Kira resisted until the kids all ganged up on her and chased her down splashing her until she was soaked. The problem was, we didn't have swimsuits and we were going to be in Boston ALL day! But walking around soaked helped them stay cool.
We headed out on the Freedom Trail. The kids walked the whole way. Mikey loved following the red brick line in the sidewalk. So much though that he often forgot to look up and would nearly run right into someone. We visited the Kings Church, Granary Cemetery (where Paul Revere's grave is), Old South Meeting House, Site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, Paul Revere's house and the Old North Church. We stopped for slurpees on the way to cool off, had lunch at Potbelly's and stopped off at another water fountain spot to cool off in. The kids did fantastic! I couldn't believe their stamina with the walking and the heat and the history. I was really proud of them!
At Faneuil Hall we saw a group of street performers so we stopped to watch. They were breakdancing and doing little comedy bits to ask for money. They called out Calvin and then later Jeff to come be part of the show. When they called Calvin out there I thought they were going to have him dance in front of the crowd. He told me he thought the same thing and he was totally nervous! But he walked out there with confidence, ready to try whatever they told him. They had him stand with his arms out while a guy jumped over him. Then they lined up 5 people and said the guy was going to jump over 4 1/2 people (and that "Alvin" was the 1/2). They asked for a "tall, sexy white guy" and picked Jeff out of the crowd. It was hilarious! So they got to be part of the show. Jeff was making jokes and had people laughing. He's so good at that!
We bought boston hats at Quincy Market and headed to Paul Revere's house. It was small and 90% of the structure was original. Isaac was so happy to see Paul Revere's house. He had me take a picture to send to Mrs. Knight (his teacher last year).
We headed over to the T to ride the Green line out to Fenway for the Boston Red Sox game. It was a little adventure figuring out the subway with 5 kids but that's all part of the fun! We rode the D train to the Kenmore station and walked the rest of the way to Fenway. We waited on Yawkey Way to meet up with Nolan and Lisa and took in the sights (and the second hand smoke). We bought some peanuts, browsed the team store, took a few pictures and wolfed down some McDonald's Jeff brought back. My two little boys looked a little orphan-ish sitting on baseball mits on the ground on Yawkey Way shoving hamburgers and McNuggets in like they hadn't eaten in days.
The Boston Red Sox game was super fun. I'm not much of a baseball fan but the stadium is really fun. The kids had their cousins, italian ice and cotton candy to share so they were having a great time. Isaac and I and Jeff and Kate shared a Fenway Frank and we watched the Red Sox lose to the Cubs in the sticky heat of a Boston Summer night. We stayed until the old organ played "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and sang along while the little boys slept on our laps and they played "Sweet Caroline." It was so much fun! Clint and Carmen had great seats just on the 3rd base side of home plate and I think they had a great time watching the game. We walked with the crowds to the T with the boys asleep on our shoulders. The kids were so good! The subway station was sweltering and crowded and by sweltering I mean easily over 100 degrees! I was actually had sweat dripping down my forehead within 30 seconds of walking down the stairs into the subway. It took us a while to finally get on the jam-packed train headed back to Boston Common. I loved watching my kids learn how to navigate the city.
Swan boats
Cooling off at the Frog Pond in Boston Common.
Time to dry off.
Granary Cemetery on the Freedom Trail.
Paul Revere's grave
Slurpees on the Freedom Trail.
Breakdancers at Faneuil Hall
Cooling off again.
Isaac at Paul Revere's house.
Waiting for the train.
No filter! I loved the colors at the game and watching the sun set over Fenway.
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