Happy Halloween!

From the girls!

New England Vacation....day #6 pics

Sadly, our day today was cold and rainy....wonderful weather to make me long for home and my girls even more, but not a good day for sight-seeing. We did, however, make the most of the morning when it was just a slight drizzle.


Walden Pond where Henry David Thoreau lived "simply" and wrote:



Author's Ridge at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (top left - Ralph Waldo Emerson, top right - Henry David Thoreau, bottom left - Nathaniel Hawthorne, bottom right - Louisa May Alcott)



The Old North Bridge (site of the first battle of the American Revolution):



The Old Manse (one time home of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott and Nathaniel Hawthorne):

States I still need to visit:

Alaska
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Michigan
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oregon
South Dakota
Vermont
Wisconsin
Wyoming

States I've been to....

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Mississippi
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
(Washington D.C.)
West Virginia

New England Vacation....day #5 pics

Walking early morning in Plymouth, MA:

The Mayflower II:

Plymouth Rock:

Cape Cod, MA:

Nobska Light, Cape Cod, MA:

Mansions along Cliff Walk, Newport, RI:

Beautiful colors while driving from Connecticut to Massachusetts:

New England Vacation.....day #4 pics

We saw LOTS on Day #4. It really is amazing that this part of the U.S. even exists. It is so different from the south!

Goat Island Lighthouse in Cape Porpoise (Kennebunkport, ME): The Bush family compound, Kennebunkport, ME:

Just gorgeous - Nubble Light (Cape Neddick Lighthouse):

(Interesting fact: The spaceship Voyager carried a picture of this lighthouse, along with pictures of the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal in case they "ran into" intelligent extraterrestrials! - info from Wikipedia)

Birthplace of John Adams:

Birthplace of John Quincy Adams:

Peacefield (the home to four generations of Adams):

The library at Peacefield (there are about 13,000 books in here that belonged to the Adams family):

Yes, those are cars *legally* driving about 70mph on the shoulder! Vehicles were permitted to drive in the "breakdown lane" from 3-7pm on weekdays!

New England Vacation.....day #3 pics

Beautiful colors along Bear Notch Road, NH:Driving along Bear Notch, NH:

Albany Covered Bridge along the Kancamagus Highway in NH:

Portland Lobster Co. I had a "Lobster Roll" and Brian had Clam Chow-dah:

Maine Root Beer and our "Lobster" remote to let us know our food was ready:

Brian at Portland Head Light at Fort Williams:

Rebecca at Fort Williams with Ram Island Light in the distance:

Lighthouse at Two Lights State Park:

Our onion rings in a lobster shaped basket at Weathervane's Seafood (a chain restaurant in New England):

Brian and his twin lobsters:

New England Vacation....Day #2 pictures

Driving along Hwy 302 in New Hampshire:Covered bridge, New Hampshire:Glen Ellis Falls (64 foot waterfall):Diana's Baths (a pool of waterfalls):Most of the views are like this or better:Cathedral Ledge, North Conway, New Hampshire: A view from Cathedral's Ledge:

Cathedral Ledge:

LOVE it! Molly B's Ice Cream! (North Conway, NH):

New England Vacation....Day #1 pics

Flying over the mountains:

Flying over the clouds:

About to fly through the clouds: Coolest BK we've ever seen! (Yes, that's a fountain in the middle of BK!):

Finally made it to our room!:

Excited, nervous, scared and sad....all in one

Tomorrow Brian and I leave for a trip to New England. We are flying into Boston, renting a car and driving to different areas throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Rhode Island (maybe even Connecticut and Vermont if time permits!). I am so excited to see that part of the United States and to spend time alone with Brian, but I am sad to be leaving Mary Claire and Molly for so long. I know they will be extremely well-taken care of and loved for the week because they are staying with Nannie and Poppa John, but I just hope that the saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" remains true for us. I have never been away from sweet Molly for more than a few hours overnight and I just hope she doesn't forget me! I know that is unlikely, but I have that fear.

I hope to update the blog while we are gone so my mom and dad can show Mary Claire and Molly pictures of Brian and me. Stay tuned!

Riding at the Fair!

We're here!!!!Where's Waldo....I mean Brian?? Do you see him?

First thing she rode....the Cobra Rollercoaster!My big girl is in the 5th car (she's so little you can only see her blonde hair!)!

Pretty, pretty Mary Claire!

Molly enjoyed a nap while Mary Claire rode!

Waiting in line for the Ferris Wheel!Can you see me? Mary Claire is in there too!

Stopped by the animal barn....two kids talking!

I don't know about this, Mom! (Molly's first donkey "ride!")