Trip to New Hampshire Part III of III

To wrap things up, we went to a park and Sarah loved the swings, of course.

And the slides with Nana.

Who needs Disneyland when you have a playground?

More swinging. She's such a daredevil. You have to remind her to hold on.

She asked for ice cream every day. She is a Dye. Well she's also a Syme so she didn't really stand a chance in that area.

And her Mary Poppins fix.

Thursday August 14 we ate at the restaurant that Justin's dad makes the sauces for at his plant, Joseph's in Haverhill Mass (pronounced Havrill). Everything is good. Butternut Squash Ravioli. Mmmm. And the servers were really nice. They didn't get mad after almost tripping over Sarah four times.


Friday August 13 we went to a Creed concert. The opening band was named Skillet. If their name alone, didn't concern me, when the guy in the cut-off tie dye shirt got really pumped as they were taking the stage, I got really nervous. But they weren't that bad. It would have been nice to hear the lyrics. Creed was good and also really loud. Maybe I'm getting old but when music messes with my heartbeat, that's loud. Scott Stapp looked nice and sober and grateful to be there.



Saturday August 14 we went boating. Sarah did better wearing a lifejacket than I thought . She'd ask to take it off once in awhile but we'd distract her with something and then she was okay. Sadly this was the only picture I took. I dominated the tube, FYI.

Boston - Where Dreams Come True and Things are Really Old

Wednesday August 18 We spent the day in Boston. I was really excited to see one of our country's oldest cities. In 20 years, Boston will be 400 years old! Since all of our buildings here in Utah only go back 160 years, I was just amazed at the age of the things we saw. So don't mind me as I totally geek out on history.

Case in point, here's a cemetery. I don't remember why it's significant or if anyone important was buried here. But look at the crumbling headstones. Some are leaning against others. Most are dated 17 hundred something. I did learn that the undertakers would sell the same plot over and over and toss out the old bodies to make room for the higher paying customers.

Here we are on the Freedom Trail. This red brick path goes all over the city connecting the historic landmarks. I tried to sing "follow the red brick road" but I couldn't get the rhythm right.

The Old North Church. In this steeple went the lantern signal, "One if by land, 2 if by sea." Then began Paul Revere's midnight ride.

Inside the church. It is still home to the same congregation from Paul Revere's time.

If I heard right, this is the oldest pipe organ in the country and the oldest clock still in use.

Check out these pews. Gives a new meaning to box seats doesn't it? The design kept people warm during church services in the winter.

And keeps toddlers from running up and down the aisle.

I think our church could use a few of these.

Here's the revered Paul Revere. I don't know why no one has made a movie out of his life.

Here's a dream fulfilled. Here I am at Paul Revere's house. It's the oldest structure still standing in Boston.

It's owned and operated by Revere's descendants. They turned it into a museum with period furniture. Sorry, no interior shots. Cameras weren't allowed. But if you've been in Joseph Smith's home or any Church historical home, that gives you a pretty good idea. The main floor had a hall and kitchen. Upstairs is a master bedroom and another bedroom. The upstairs bedroom is where guests would visit since it was above the stinky city air. "Where's the bathroom?" some guy asked. Seriously? This house was built in like 1640. Two words: chamber pots. Five more words: public outhouses down the street.

Sarah didn't share my enthusiasm for Paul Revere.

"You can thank your local civil engineer for this road" says Justin. The picture doesn't do it justice. I'd never seen a wavy road before.

I don't remember why I took this picture. I guess I just like how 'Boston' these buildings look.

Next stop. This is the USS Constitution. Also known as 'Old Ironside' although it looked like it was all wood. It's the oldest Navy ship still in use. Paul Revere forged the copper bolts and George Washington named her. She defeated 5 British warships in the War of 1812 and served as a training ship in the Civil War. And I stood on her.

Pretty cool, huh? She fought in numerous other battles and has sailed around the world.

The wheel was roped off or, believe me, I would have been at the helm.

Sarah manning the cannon. I love the crazy look on her face.

Group shot. Dallin, Nate, Sarah, Braden, Kristen, me, Justin, Nadine. Corey is taking the picture.

I like Justin. And if you look in the background, there's a monument for the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Here's a little artistic shot. This is the tour bus we rode through Boston. It's the best way to see the sights. You can get off at any of the stops, look around and get on the next bus as they come every 15 minutes.

We took a history break to tour TD Garden. This is where the Celtics play. They are refinishing the floor.

I don't remember this guy's name. Bill Walton? And Justin might get mad that I'm not posting a bunch of pictures he took of sports memorabilia. Sorry babe, I blog what I know and I don't know what that stuff is.

Ah yes, back to our historical tour. This is the Old State House. This is where the Boston Massacre happened in 1770. Simply, a mob gathered to intimidate the British soldiers standing guard. Someone taunted them, yelling "fire". They misunderstood orders and open fired on the civilians. 5 people died. Not to sound insensitive or unpatriotic, but the term 'massacre' sounds excessive. But it added fuel to the Revolutionists cause.

King's Chapel. Just an old church. Perhaps some revolutionary speech was given there. I wasn't really paying attention to the tour guide.

This is a house on Beacon Street. As the most expensive real estate in the city, naturally it's the snobby row of houses in Boston.

Dream come true number 2. Cheers! I didn't know it was a real bar until my visiting teacher told me. Oh the blessings visiting teachers bring.

You wanna be where everybody knows your name.

This building is the birth place of Edgar Alan Poe. Now they sell overpriced gourmet burritos.

Boston Common. This is one of the nation's oldest parks.

It was once a cow pasture, camp for British soldiers, place for public hangings, and witch trials.
Now just a boring old park.

This concludes our tour. We ate some Italian food, bought some t-shirts and drove back to New Hampshire.

Trip to New Hampshire Part 1

I'm baaack. We spent the last 10 days in New Hampshire to visit Justin's parents. We got back late last night.

Saturday August 14 Sarah's first airplane ride. We had to leave the house at 5 am to make our 7 am flight so Sarah woke up at 2:30 giddy as ever and wouldn't go back to sleep. Awesome.

Sunday August 15 Sarah was quite the star at church. I heard, "So this is Sarah" a half-dozen times. I got stopped in the hall twice about how I do Sarah's hair and they had questions as if I invented the use of tiny, clear elastics. Nope, I copied the hair of most of the little girls in my ward. Must be a Utah thing. Or a Willows Ward thing.

Nadine had a stocked house full of things for Sarah to do. Her favorites were the puzzles and the big, heavy bocce balls.

It wouldn't be a Dye vacation without playing games. Justin dreamed of playing Monopoly and Risk simultaneously but it never happened since no one else was interested.

Here's Sarah taking off with the ladder toss balls.

I love this picture. Sarah is so short and Braden is so tall. She finally started saying his name. And then she wouldn't stop saying it.

Here we are playing Bocce. I like this picture because I think it could go on the box for the game. And I wanted to point out the cob-web like thing in the tree. They are everywhere in New Hampshire and I still don't know what kind of creepy creature makes them. Kristen got her hair caught in it which is what they are laughing at.

Monday August 16 I tried my hand at golfing for the second time in 4 years. I was worse than I remembered. I'm not even going to tell you how many swings I took on that first hole. And by swings I mean not even hitting the ball. The groundskeeper waiting for us to play so he could mow got fed up and drove off. I stopped keeping my score after while and just put a smiley face or a frowny face depending on how I felt I did.

Tuesday August 17 We went to the beach. Sarah wanted nothing to do with the sand or water so that made it interesting. On the bright side, I didn't have to worry about Sarah being swept away in the sea.

Papa Corey trying to persuade her to touch the sand.

She did okay if she was sitting on the blanket and just stuck the frisbee in it.

Justin and Nate surfed in the cold water and I took pictures.

Fog/mist settled in over us giving a nice eerie feeling.

"Can you see Dad out there?"

I can't spot him but he's one of those surfers.

Braden and his girlfriend Kristen.

Sarah did finally touch the sand because here she is trying to get it off.

Stay tuned. This post is getting too long and I'm tired of dragging pictures up and down to get them in order. Coming up: Boston, Boating, Butternut Squash Ravioli and my critique of Creed in concert.