Botanical Gardens

Every year in Boise the Botanical Gardens are decked out in Christmas lights. However, we have never gone because I felt the entry fee was a tad high for a family of 5.  But this year Paige offered us some discount tickets that she had access to and so we jumped at the opportunity to go for a more reasonable price.  And we loved it.  The kids got to visit with Santa. 

It took all of Emmie's courage to stand that close and have her picture taken with Santa.  She wouldn't even tell him what she wanted...I had to relay the message.

The lights were gorgeous and the weather was amazing. There was no wind and it was actually pretty warm for a winter night.

Unfortunately we only brought our phones so all of our pictures are lame.  But maybe we'll get a chance to go next year and we'll remember to bring the good camera next time! 

The Gang, And a Dance Recital

Emmie is lucky enough to have a group of the greatest little friends around.  Earlier this year I was emailed this picture of Emmie and her buddies on the playground at school.  These four girls do everything together.  They are all in the same class at school, they go to dance together every week, they go to church together, and when they aren't doing one of those things you can bet that they are playing at each others houses.  They play beautifully together and rarely argue.  But even when they do it's usually quickly resolved.....and almost always on their own!  A girl seriously couldn't ask for better little friends.

With that being said, Emmie and her gang had their dance recital in December.  They got to dance the part of the dolls in the Nutcracker.  They sure did look adorable!

And of course Emmie danced fabulously!  She was spot on.

I've actually been trying to convince Emmie that she could try other activities and branch out from dance.  But at this point she is convinced she wants to dance forever.  I guess only time will tell....

Emmie's Birthday

Emmie turned 6 this year. I can't believe that my youngest turned 6!  Emmie is such a sweet and kind little girl.  She is spunky and fun and thoughtful.  There is a reason everyone loves her!

Her Birthday was on  Monday, which meant that she got to go school, and dance, and have a family party that evening. She got to wear a crown at school and I took cupcakes for her dance class.  But I think the highlight of her day was that she got girl Legos. 

And that's what we spent the rest of the night doing.  She was so excited to have her own set that she got to put together all by herself!

Two days later we had her friend party. She requested her party be at Danik (a local gymnastic place that has open gym when there is no school).  I think she chose it because she finally decided this year that she isn't afraid of the foam pit.  After Danik we came home with her friends and ate pizza and decorated cupcakes.  6 year olds are easy to please. 

And then there was Halloween

A couple of notable things happened in October other that My drive across the country.  The most horrific being that I broke my pinky toe.  On October 13th to be exact.  And it still hasn't healed.  3 months later!  And I still can only wear 2 pairs of shoes that don't hurt.  Feel sorry for me please.

Also we celebrated Halloween.  It was a blast as usual.  The kids love pumpkin guts more and more each year.

We have a pumpkin in prison, Darth Vader, and our traditional pumpkin.

And for the big day we had a scary witch, a nerd, and Darla.  Because, oh ya, Ainsley got Braces!!!
 (she would kill me if she knew I posted this picture...but I think it's a keeper :)

And we also had a lot of candy.  That Ains couldn't eat. And I must note that this year Owen's trick-or-treating performance was stellar.  He went for hours with his friends and had a pillowcase half way full.  And I'm a bad mother because I think I let him eat most of it.

Part-6 Syd's House

After our long day in Boston we drove to Syd's house for the night.  When we pulled into her driveway we had driven 3002 miles.  We are so awesome!  And the best part was we didn't have to drive them again to get home!

We spent the night there and did some sight seeing in Woods Hole.  I'm not going to lie...I'm completely jealous that Syd gets to live in New England.  I love it there!

And then, sadly, Syd drove us to the airport and we said goodbye.  It was so strange leaving her there and at the same time we were so exhausted we were a bit delirious.  For example I don't even remember taking this picture.  Or why we would have bothered!

We flew from Boston to ??  Colorado maybe?  And flew into Boise around midnight. I have never slept on a plane.  Ever.  But this time I slept soundly.  I vaguely remember asking the flight attendant for water and peanuts and the rest is a blur.

If I'm being honest I was a little bit worried that by the end of the trip Kortney and I would be completely sick of each other.  8 days straight with any one person could make you sick of anyone!  But I am happy to report that we had a blast.  We laughed, talked, listened to Serial, and laughed some more. At one point my dad was following us and apparently I was swerving.  When we stopped for gas he asked if I was tired and needed to switch drivers.  But really I had just been laughing so hard that I was crying and couldn't see.  And that's how the whole trip was.  I loved it!

Part-6 Boston and the Freedom Trail

By this point we were close enough to Syd that she decided to join us for the day in Boston.  She lived about 1-1/2 hours away.   The weather up until this point had been cold and windy due to the hurricane and all...but our weather for Boston was gorgeous.  After figuring out the subway (which was a breeze after New York) we were off to Boston Commons to start our journey.

I also did the freedom trail years ago with John's family with 7 month old Ainsley in tow.  I can state with absolute certainty that sightseeing without a baby is much better than sight seeing with a baby. It was so fun to see all of these places again.

I may or may not have ordered 2 items from Mike's Pastry because when am I going to be able to eat there again!  I devoured my first item right outside the shop. My second item (a delicious peanut butter brownie) I attempted to eat in the car late that night while driving.  It was messy.  And I'm sure quite a sight.  I think I must have been tired...why else would I insist on eating it at that very  moment?

We stopped by Paul Revere's old stomping ground and toured his house. I can't believe it's still standing!  And what is crazy to me is that there is an elementary school right across the street!  Can you imagine going to school across the street from history like that!?

We made it to old Iron Sides after a day full of walking.  But we pooped out there and didn't make it to Bunker Hill.  Next time we'll have to start there...

Instead of Bunker Hill we took a ferry ride so that we could catch the subway to Harvard.

For some reason I just feel dumb standing on that campus.  Maybe because I assume everyone there is smarter than me!

The workers at the book store told us to go get some food at tasty burger for dinner. And we hate disappointing people so of course we went.  I had my first burger with mac and cheese on it. I'm a fan.

Part-5 Lexington, Concord, and Salem

We were up and going early again and on our way to Lexington and Concord.  This was probably one of my favorite days.  I just loved the history and the quaintness of the towns.  We stopped by the Sleepy Hollow cemetery (not to be confused with the legendary Sleepy Hollow cemetery in New York) where Louisa May Alcott and Ralph Waldo Emmerson are burried. I just love wandering around and looking at the old tomb stones and imagining what the town was like over two centuries ago.

After wandering through the cemetery we walked through town and over to the site of the "Shot Heard Round the World."  Maybe I'm crazy but there was a really neat feeling there.  One of the park rangers talked with us and told us a lot of interesting details.  Like how the land would have looked at the time of the revolutionary war and where the British were stationed and traveling etc. I'm sure we could have spent an entire day in Concord.  Touring homes and exploring the city...but there just wasn't time.  My goal is to get back there and spend more time one day.

We spent most of our day in Concord and only a few minutes in Lexington.  The drive between those two towns was so beautiful and followed the path that the soldiers traveled during the war.

Our hotel that night was in Salem so we decided to head that way later that afternoon.  We got there just in time to go through the only original building in the town, the home of one of the judges of the witch trials...Although I can't remember his name.  Then we went through the cemetery and the memorial for those who were hung or "pressed" as a result of the trials.

To be quite honest Salem wasn't my favorite.  It felt like a bit of a tourist trap.  But we managed to have fun and enjoy ourselves nonetheless.  Honestly we laughed so hard that evening.  So much so that I nearly peed my pants.  Not that you wanted to know that, but there it is.  I'd say that the two themes of this trip were lots of history and lots of laughing.  The best kind of vacation I'd say.

Well..we laughed and my dad chatted on the phone.  He was dealing with furnace and fire issues at the store while we were gone.  Bummer deal.

That night we headed to our hotel and grabbed some Italian food for dinner.  And Kort had an allergic reaction to the walnuts that we didn't know were in my pesto.  She popped a couple of pills and slept like a baby that night.