Young at Heart

Photo taken the night before we flew to Boston.

I've always heard that "age is a state of mind". My mom is the picture that is by that quote. When we moved out here to Boston, we were sad that we would be leaving our family. But my mom decided to turn this into a great opportunity to see parts of the United States that she's always wanted to see. Her husband and her loaded up their car (with a few things we forgot!) and left over a week ago on their "Excellent Adventure". They've been keeping a blog of the places they have seen and stayed at. They have no time limit, so they are making their route up as they go. Hopefully, in the next few days they will make it to Cambridge to visit for a couple of days. Then they are off again. Oh, to be young at heart... I hope I grow up to be like my mom!

Lego Kidfest

Today we took the T downtown and went to Lego Kid Fest! It was CRAZY!!!! I'm going to just show some pictures of the adventure.

The crew waiting in line.

Allie striking a pose.

This is the line from where we started. More people showed up behind us. Little did we know what was around the corner!!!!

Lego Man made out of Legos.

Batman made out of Legos.

Lego Indian Jones made out of... well you know.

Lego Pirate, Owen trying to hold the sword and Allie saying "Arg!"

Our favorite "Bad Guy".

Cool dragon and castle.

Allie posed for this one and got my attention to take it.

Lion made out of duplo bricks. Aren't they cute?

Allie got her face painted like a "flower fairy".

Owen got to buy a Lego set from the store.

Allie decided to take a rest by Mr. Lego.

The kids took a break to play in the monochromatic blocks.

We left the house around 8:30 and walked back in the apartment at 2:00. It was a BIG day, but so are most lately. Now to start thinking about what to do next weekend...

Pizza...

I like to think of myself as a "Pizza Connoisseur". Every town I've lived in I can tell you where we found to have the best pizza. It's like our staple. Once we find that gem, we eat it at least once a week. Even when we didn't have a lot of money, we found enough to get take out four times a month. Cambridge is no different. We have found the diamond in the rough. It is called Zing! Pizza. It's not very far from our apartment so it's very convenient. There is only 1 and it seats about 18 people inside. The people who work there are as eclectic as you can imagine and the service can at times be as sketchy as they are. But the pizza is GOOD!!!!

Sign outside the place. That window is about the full length of the restaurant.

Info painted on the wall next to the 9 pizzas that they make.

My "slice" of Holy Pepperoni. SO GOOD!!!!

No news... is GREAT news!

This is Owen's picture of me picking him up on the first day of school.

Owen's school had an Open House tonight. I was a little unsure as to what to expect. I haven't heard anything from his teacher all year, good or bad. So I didn't know what I would be walking into. Little did I know that I would be walking into my "DREAM" classroom setting. The two 1st grade teachers combined their presentation for the first 15 minutes in one room, because they basically follow the same schedule and reading/writing program. Then they split into their child's classroom. Mrs. Headley is so organized and patient. She was candid about honest about her expectations and the work it's going to take to reach them. I am so thrilled about her being Owen's teacher. Owen is going to have a GREAT year with her and I both working with him.

A little bit of home

Yes, she is carrying a pancake skillet. :)

Today I had an amazing visit with my friend Ami Haan. She and her husband are in town for a conference for a few days and I was able to spend a few hours with her chatting, shopping and eating lunch. I'm not sure if we'll be able to spend much more time together while they are in town. But the limited time we had was fabulous! I wonder who will come see me next?

Plumbing????

Apparently there is some unwritten etiquette rule that says it's inappropriate to post pictures of toilets. Which is TOO BAD! Because I've got a DOOZIE!!! Here's the story behind the elusive photo.

Last night after tucking the kids into bed, Jake went into the bathroom and shut the door. I proceeded to walk down the hall towards our room. Just as I was passing the bathroom door, I hear this awful gurgling sound, like something was coming up the pipes and into the bathroom through the toilet. You know, like the sound of the ooze or the zombie-mind-eating slugs that come to find their next victim. (Nice image, huh?) So I figured what-ever it was, Jake could handle it and continued to our room. Then I hear him say, "Carrie, you've GOT to come see this!" So I cautiously open the door thinking I'll either be grossed out, or die laughing at the scene on the other side. (It was the later.) I see Jake standing there, by the toilet with it's seat up and it is OVER-FLOWING with BUBBLES!!!! Yeah, you read that right! BUBBLES!!!! Not water, or worse... BUBBLES!!! Like how sometimes people will put detergent in fountains as a joke. After a few flushes, they all disappear. Jake walks past me and says, "This is why I hate apartments."

Lucky for us, this was an easy fix. No plumber needed. But that sure would have been a funny phone call to make!!!

Quotes from Allie

She's no Einstein, but she's got a grasp of the world around her. Lately we've been spending A LOT of time together and some of the conversations we have are "priceless". I decided to write down the quotes that she randomly says just on the drive to pick Owen up from school.

1:10 "I enjoy being a girl...because I like things that SPARKLE!"

1:15 "If I was a bird, I'd take the first bath in my bird bath."

1:18 "Arg, Matey!"

1:24 "I'm smarter than you, Mommy!"

Yes, you are Baby!

Boys Day in Boston 9/19/10

Today "The Boys" went for an adventure in Boston. Daddy had it all planned. The two of them left after breakfast and made a pit-stop at the Museum of Fine Art. Then lunch at Panera and on to Fenway for a Red Sox baseball game. Daddy even bought Owen a video game that he's been wanting. They got home at dinner time...happy and tired! I'm so glad they got to do it. Now Allie is eager for her next Daddy Date.

The Boys getting ready to leave.

Their tickets for the baseball game.

The boys RETURN!!!

That is one HAPPY boy!

Boston Museum of Science

I admit it, we are NERDS! Yesterday, Owen tells us that a boy in his class asked him if he's been to the Museum of Science. Well of course, we have to make immediate plans to correct this over-site! So today we went to the Museum of Science. It was fun and we spent a few hours there.

These geometric "wands" were being dipped in bubbles and making really cool shapes.

This was a really cool board explaining projection.

This was the side view of the projection exhibit.

This was the view from the end peek-hole. Way Cool!

Here was the board explaining probability.

This was the cool exhibit. Balls were coming from a hole in the top center and randomly coming down through the pegs. The end result was a cool "bell curve" formation at the bottom.

Owen trying to fill a box with hexagon blocks.

T-Rex

Owen making a magnetic picture with small colored chains.

A model of how the pyramids were built.

Allie demonstrating how to brush teeth.

Now I liked this exhibit!

That's one BIG tree.

If you've seen Star Wars, you know what this is.

My little paleontologist.

Scouts?

Last night was the information meeting on the Cambridge Scouts. Owen was SO excited from the time I picked him up from school, until we walked into the church for the meeting. However, after 45 minutes of sitting in a folding chair, surrounded by 30-some parents asking the same questions over and over again and 40-some kids ranging from 3-13 years old (not listening to all their parents) we all walked out of there a little less than enthused. We agreed not to discuss it until after the weekend. But as it stands right now, Owen DOES NOT want to be a part of the Scouts. And I can honestly say, I don't blame him! We'll just wait and see what he thinks on Monday.

Normal?

Normal? What is normal? Lately, I've been just trying to get through the day. Accomplish my errands on my "to do" list and make it to bedtime, so as to get a good nights sleep and start it over the next day. But today, something came over me. Almost a sense of calm. I was driving the kids home from Allie's dance lesson (the picture above was taken outside the church before class) and I suddenly felt like this routine was normal. I've only been driving in the suburbs North of Boston for about 3 weeks, but I am familiar with the names of lots of streets. I even know which ones are one way, which lane I need to be in and where to park. It might seem small, but this sense of calm almost made me feel like I was at home. I miss Kansas A LOT, but for the first time I feel confident and at ease here in Boston. This Dorothy isn't putting her ruby shoes away, but I will enjoy the "Emerald City" while I'm here.

WANTED: A Friend

Single, white, male, aged 6 years,

seeking another male for companionship.

Must like legos, video games,

playing outside and candy.

As sad as that ad is, it's the truth. Last night, Jake and I had this reality sink in as we talked about how much Owen misses his friends in Wichita. I try my best to entertain him and keep him busy. But I am only "mom". He needs to find someone he can relate to. Someone he can play with. Someone to be a boy with. My hope is that at his school's Open House Night next Thursday I will be able to get to know a few of his classmates parents, maybe even get a phone number or two to set up play dates outside of school. I'm also praying it will make going to school a little more easier. I'll keep you all posted.

Happy Grandparents Day-2010

Dear G. G., Grandma and Papa Arnett, Nana and R. J., Gramma Karen and Grandpa George

We may be lots and lots and lots of miles away, but we think of you all the time. We talk about the fun stuff we've done together while looking at mommy's pictures on the computer. It will better after we come back to Kansas. But until then, we will continue to have a blast in Boston and miss you guys.

Lots of Love,

Allison and Owen

Belkin Family Lookout Farm

Today it was beautiful! We loaded up the car and drove to Natick, MA. I had read on-line that there was a nice farm there that you could go and pick your own apples. This place blew my expectations away! It was awesome!!! I'll just show some of the highlights.

The crew on the train heading to the first stop.

Allie has found some apples.

"Look what I got!"

Owen and daddy were in the row over from us.

He's the Apple of my EYE!

The duo look A LOT a like in this photo!

Daddy reached over a fence to pick this one... BUSTED!

The canopy of the walkway and train track was concord grapes.

Owen wanted to try them.

Not what he was expecting!

Allie's turn.

Yeah, she's spitting it out.

A neat tree house.

Allie got her wish... she's riding a pony!

Allie in the Moonwalk.

Owen in the Moonwalk.

My little "butterfly girl".

Searching for the PERFECT pumpkin.

Train ride back to the barn.

Allie has found hers.

Owen got his.

The area was so wonderful. The weather was perfect. And we had an excellent family trip.