happy memorial day!

We were so excited to have Grammie Eccles visit us from Las Vegas for Memorial Day weekend, and we tried to cram as much into the few short days as we possibly could.  Here is what we managed to accomplish:

Park play!  Obviously.  Hunter loved running and climbing and getting chased by Grammie, who is totally used to keeping up with wild boys, having raised five (!!!!!) of her own.  It was so fun for me too, having someone to chat with and to keep track of my wild brood as we braved the great outdoors.  Harper was also pretty excited that Grammie got to come to dance class and see her work on her recital dance.

On Saturday morning, Hunter was up with the birds per usual so, in an attempt to not wake Grammie, Dad, or Harper, he and I snuck out to Starbucks and our favorite donut shop.  He made sure to bring his baseball (part of the baseball bat set that Grammie got him the day before) with us--just in case.  We picked out donuts for the whole family, plus a few extra to spare.  Hunter agreed that leftover donuts make for the perfect snack.

Starbucks at the crack of dawn, BYOB (bring your own ball)

Choosing a donut is a big decision for a little boy.
He went with pink, just like his sister always does.

On Saturday during the day, we all took a trip downtown to see the Garden of Flags on the Boston Common. Each year, during the week of Memorial Day, the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund, along with hundreds of volunteers, plan 37,000 flags on the hillside by the Sailors and Soldiers Monument on the Boston Common. Each of the flags represents a brave Massachusetts service member who gave his or her life defending our country since the Revolutionary War. It's a breathtaking and beautiful tribute, something that they do every year. Having grown up in the Boston area, I don't know how I had never seen it before, but I'm glad we got to experience it together as a family for the first time.  This will definitely be an annual tradition for us, going forward.

Of course, while we were on the Common, we had to pop over to the carousel for a ride.  This time, it was Hunter who was adamant about riding the chicken, and Harper opted for a horse.  Our little Hs love the carousel!  The day was chilly, but we were happy to spend some time outside.  From there, we played for a little while at the Frog Pond Playground, and then we went over to the Public Gardens.  We didn't ride on the Swan Boats this time, but it was fun to walk around.  Hunter loved watching the ducks, and we also got to see the swans, who had just returned to the Garden earlier in the month.  Even as an adult, I am totally captivated by swans; they are just so majestic!  Plus, swans mate for life, and how inspiring is that?

Hunter and Grammie Eccles catch a glimpse of the swans.

Monday was Memorial Day, and we decided to do a special art project at the park.  Harper loves doing sidewalk chalk with Grammie Eccles, and so we used sidewalk chalk to create our own American flag.  It was a great opportunity to talk to Harper especially about patriotism, and how blessed we are to live in the land of the free because of the brave men and women who make it so.  Harper took a little bit of artistic liberty, adding some yellow to our flag, but I was pretty proud of our finished product.

After that, we played for a while longer, and then we had to get packed up and take Grammie to the airport. It was sad to say goodbye. Our visits always pass way too quickly, but I'm glad we were able to cram so much into just a few days.  And we're already planning another visit for later in the summer so we have something to look forward to. 

Little Monkey

"I flying!"

When we got home from the airport, we weren't sure what we were going to do the for the rest of the day.  Hunter had fallen asleep in the car so we figured, why not let him sleep and drive somewhere fun?  It was a very spontaneous decision, which isn't usually like us (okay, it isn't like me)--but we headed to the beach! The day was warm but not super hot, and the sky was a little cloudy but the forecast said no rain.  This made for a perfect beach day because we could enjoy a not-so-crowded beach without getting blasted by the heat.  In the past, we have ended up at the beach on the very hottest days of the summer, and it's almost more than we can bear to have the sun beat down on us.  This was a welcomed relief, and it was exhilarating to be there on a whim, our first beach day before it's even technically summer.  I am so proud of us!

The kids loved playing on the beach. We were at Crane Beach, where I always went with my family when I was growing up. One of the best things about this beach is that there is a little "lagoon," where there is warm, shallow water perfect for swimming and splashing. Hunter kept chasing after other people's beach balls; even though we brought a bunch of our own beach toys, other people's toys are always just more fun. Harper and Dallin made some sand castles, and Hunter was excited when he stumbled across an alligator that someone had made previously. We collected shells, and Harper even ventured into the freezing ocean water! Hunter was not a big fan of the sound of the crashing surf so he did a lot of whimpering when he got down by the shoreline and preferred to hang back. Harper used to be upset by the sound of waves too, but it didn't phase her this year so I'm sure Hunter will be fine next summer.

On our way home, we made a quick pit stop at Woodman's for our favorite lobster rolls.  The Hs had both fallen asleep en route so I ran in while Dallin waited in the car, and then we ate as we drove home.  Fully satisfying.  What a perfect day, on a perfect weekend, with the best little family a girl could ask for.  Happy Memorial Day, with deepest gratitude to the brave that make all of these blessings possible.