ben&jerry's factory

memorial day weekend (gahhh. i'm so behind.) we went to vermont and toured the ben and jerry's factory.  it was cute, but not exciting enough to keep miles awake. the best part was the free sample at the end.  i now have a new favorite: mint chocolate chunk.

the beach

we took miles to the beach for his first time.
it was kind of a rough day for him.
we learned that beaches are not baby-friendly.
especially east coast beaches,
because the water is freezing.
we put his little feet in the water and he cried.
and we felt really bad.
so we let him play in the sand.
which he loved,
only then he tried to eat it.

{crane beach, ipswich ma}

rockport, ma

we went on a sunday drive last week and discovered the cute little town of rockport.
we loved it! it was super windy and kind of chilly, so we decided we would go back when we could spend more time walking around and exploring. little miles absolutely loves to stare at the water though! we can't wait to take him to the beach this summer!

concord and lexington

for my mom's last day in boston
we went to lexington and concord.
first we met her cute friend
at a sandwich shop.

{the drooling and the chubby cheeks? he get's both of those from me.}

then we went out to 

old north bridge

where the battles first began

in the revolutionary war,

between the 13 original colonies

and the british.

you've probably heard of it as

"the shot heard 'round the world."

{once again, i will tell you to look up this

information yourself. i am no expert on u.s.

history.}

 

then off we went to sleepy hollow cemetery

to see the graves of these famous authors
several who i have read
and love.
we payed our respects...

 

and then i grave robbed.

do forgive me.

i don't believe louisa may alcott

would be that upset with me.

what is she going to do with 40¢?

i, for one, have to pay parking meters.

and these dimes came in quite handy.

and then we were decided to take advantage
of wade babysitting miles in the car
and took funny pictures with our umbrellas.

{do you recognize this umbrella?

the one i wanted for valentine's day?

i never received it.

my husband failed me that day

 in the umbrella department.

but i got an ipod nano instead,

so i guess that makes up for it.

but! he did eventually buy it for me.

on the 4th of july?

the forecast said rainy.

it wasn't.

i didn't end up needing it.

but i got my umbrella!

and i must say, it is quite the umbrella.

better than any i've ever owned, 

in that it completely blocks the rain from

all directions.

also, it makes me feel like i'm 

in my own little world.

and i like that.

the end.}

momma,
please come back and play.
love you!

the elms

newport is famous for it's mansions.
summer homes for the rich.
the rich, as in the vanderbilt's.
and they are ridiculously large and gorgeous.

{porter always loved large houses and dreamed of having

a mansion someday, you know, when he was rich and famous?

well after we left the first mansion, my mom proclaimed, "that

was awesome! porter would have loved it!" and then she got

major goosebumps. and we decided that he did love it.}

we toured the breakers and the elms,
but didn't have time for any other's
because my mom needed more lobster bisque.
NEEDED.
and this time it had sherry in it...
shhh. don't tell.

{wade tried to trick me once. and he told me that

alcohol cooks out of food. so its okay to eat it.

so i went like a whole year, not worrying if i ate food

with alcohol. (it's in like, everything out here) and THEN

one day, i looked it up. because google answers all my questions.

and guess what. it doesn't cook out. it's still like 80%

alcohol. more trivia for you. you're welcome}

anyway.

here's some pictures of the elms mansion:

we tried to take pictures with it, 

but we looked like midgets and gave up.

and just for kicks

(and because i forgot to take pictures),

here's more pictures from the breakers mansion

last year, same month.

entirely different weather!

castle hill lighthouse

remember last time i went to newport, ri?
i was sick and pukey and sick.
and miles was in my tummy
instead of in my arms.
and i must say, this time was much more pleasant
because i didn't have to lean over the ocean
and let my lunch join the the water.
anyway, we found another lighthouse.
it was sweeet!
built right into the side of the cliff.

nauset light

on our little road trip to plymouth,

we decided to continue onto cape cod
and go exploring.
my mom is in love with lighthouses.
we had a room growing up that was decorated completely with lighthouses.
but she had never seen one.
never!
so we were on a quest to find one.
and find one we did.
and the first words out of my mom's mouth were,
"it's a REAL lighthouse!"
yes, indeed.
it was real.

and here's a little bit of trivia for all you new englanders out there. nauset light is the lighthouse on all the cape cod potato chip bags!

plymouth, mass.

we drove down to plymouth,
to see plymouth rock, of course.
you know...
where the pilgrims showed up on the mayflower?
and thats about all i know.
i need to brush up on my u.s. history.
but shouldn't such a monumental landmark be, well,
bigger??

but anyway,
like i said, we drove all the way to plymouth.
to see the rock. right?
wrong.
if you ask my mom,
we drove all the way to plymouth
to get lobster bisque.
at the lobster hut.
she was in pure, lobster bisque heaven.
i, on the other hand, will always just stick with
a burger and fries.