Paul Revere!

Here are some photos from our visit to Paul Reveres house.  We took the train into Boston and as we were driving up to the train station, I was having nostalgic memories of my days working in town, taking the T.  I was so T savvy then.  We got up to the station and believe it or not I havent been on a train in about 6 years!!  Every time I go into Boston, I drive.  I am spoiled.  Let me just say that it took us a good 15-20 minutes to figure out HOW to purchase a ticket.  "In my day, we had tokens"...well...my confidence was quickly shot.  I had to suck it up and ask for help in purchasing a ticket.  GOOD GOD.  The HORROR!!  I have to say that the lady who helped us was so nice and explained everything so clearly and nicely.  It was almost as if no one ever talks to her and she was glad to give someone help.  She told us where the elevators were...(oh ya, I have the stroller...how do I get around?  I didnt even know that the train even HAD elevators!") and we were on our way.

Our drive in was so fun.  Ava was excited to look out the window and she loves being in the tunnels.  Manny was an angel and looked around at everything with such curiosity.  It was so pleasant and I was so proud of myself thinking that I can take my kids anywhere.  I am so capable and self sufficient!  I had visions of us traveling through Spain next summer...Jose with Manny on his back, Ava running through the quaint little streets with excitement and wonder.  Me happy and smiling, the sun shining.  Ahhhh...Spain.

We got into Boston and came across the new park outside of Haymarket.  I think it is called the Rose Kennedy park...I dont even know.  Ava loved taking her shoes off and experiencing the interactive fountain.  People were outside having picnics, laying on the grass taking naps, friends gathering in circles talking and families enjoying little patches of shade by the new little trees that have just been planted.

As we made our way into the North End, Ava commented on how "This place smells like pisghetti mum!" I was so happy she understood we were in the north end, where they make the best Italian food other than our own kitchen.  We enjoyed walking along and came across the Saint Anthony's feast.  The food smelled amazing and the streets were packed with people.  If it werent for Ava yelling that "This is a disaster" over and over and screaming to get out of here, I would have enjoyed the 6 fried shrimp we paid $15 for while Manny cried because he was now very hungry.  We navigated our way out of the crowds and headed for North Square...BTW, North Square happened to be in the very OPPOSITE direction we were heading in.  There is no where for a stroller and backpack in those little delicious restaurants in the North End.  We trekked our way to Paul Reveres house finally got there and Ava had a snack.  Manny ate, I calmed down from screaming at her to stop yelling.  All was good again.

We headed out of the North End by passing the same streets over and over again with two kids crying and complaining.  I had on my angry eyes.  We charged out of there, finally finding our way and ate in Fanuel Hall at Kingfish.  I had yummy lobster corn chowder and ceaser salad with shrimp and Ava finally ate her hotdog.  Everyones blood sugar resumed to a normal level and all was good again.  Ok, maybe the beer I had made it all seem better too.

We walked all the way over to Newbury St. from there and go the train home...by this time it was 8:00.

We were all exhausted.  I was proud that even though it was a very HARD day with two little kids in tow, we did it.  We found our way, we ate good food, and we even laughed.  Maybe we wont be going to Spain anytime soon, but I think it is definitely in our future to go all together.

Experiencing Boston from a tourist standpoint was new for me.  I was AMAZED at how nice everyone was and how throughout the day we had unexpected acts of kindness from people.  From the lady who worked at the T helping us learn the "new" system, to the patron sitting next to us at the restaurant who ran over to us after we had left still chewing food with our baby bottle in his hand.  Oh, and the guy who ran ahead of me to grab the other end of the stroller and help me down the stairs while Jose had the two kids with him.  I told that guy I loved him.  I meant it...I loved Boston.  I loved my city.  I loved my family.  Even though the days of working on Newbury street in my little clicky shoes and my fabulous hair and make up are long gone...(the hair and make up remain the same...c'mon, I would never give that up!) I enjoyed the transition to being an "out of towner" with my practical shoes on and my exhausted family in tow.

We will go back.

Enjoy the photos.

Vacation!

Well...it has been a while since I blogged...we were on vacation.  In the past when we have gone on vacation, I bring my camera and try to capture every single detail.  This time, I decided to enjoy my family. Take photos occasionally, and give myself a break.  I took photos, uploaded them onto my computer and have not edited them yet.  I have some really great shots and we got some great family photos as well.  This is rare since I am never in the photos, I am always the one taking them.

Friday night we got to NH.  Our friends joined us with their girls and we surprised Ava by not telling her that they were coming.  Her face was so surprised to see it was them who pulled into the driveway!  The girls stayed in the bunk room that night and were up until 11pm talking!  The next morning we headed straight for Storyland!  We got there around 10:30ish and closed the park at 6.  The kids had a great time and we even met up with some friends at the park as well.  It was so fun to have a bunch of people there that we knew.  It gave us parents some time to chat with each other while the kids went on rides or while we went on rides with the kids.  We headed back to the house and all had some Flatbread Pizza.  The pizza was delicious and the kids were up until 10pm talking in bed that night!

Sunday we headed for Echo Lake.  I hadn't been there since i was a kid myself.  As I get older, I become increasingly more afraid of bears.  I have never come across a bear in the 40 years I have been going to NH, but I have heard stories of people who have seen them around and even in our neighborhood!!  Because of that, it has really limited where I will go when we go up there.  (Hence the not going to Echo lake for years) but, I braved it and went to the lake.  The kids had a GREAT time swimming, making friends with other kids there and playing.  Manny sat in the lake and splashed and laughed...we have some great photos of him doing this, my friend has the images.  :-)

Our friends left us on Sunday night and Monday we did a little outlet shopping for back to school.  Ava's clothes still pretty much fit her and since last year we made it through about 3-4 months of her not repeating an outfit, we didn't have to buy much.  Her feet however grew two sizes!  We also got Manny his first little pair of Robbies with little puppies on them.  I really like the shoes...they stay on his feet and let his feet grip the ground naturally.  It has been too hot for shoes and he hasn't worn shoes really at all yet.  It will be fun to see him dressed in the fall with a complete outfit on.

Tuesday we headed straight for Santa's village!  They added a new waterpark to the park and they have improved on the entertainment.  They have people walking around the park singing and telling stories.  Ava loves to feed the raindeer and she was very excited to see the giant nativity scene.  I swear sometimes I think she is going to be a nun someday.

Wednesday we had breakfast, packed up and hit the road to come home.  It was nice to be on our way back and I was looking forward to spending a couple of days with Kathleen and Beth.  Kathleen is visiting from MN this weekend and she brought her daughter Kylie with her.  Beth was spending a few days on Nantucket and was going to join us for a big girls sleep over and we were to head to the beach the next day.  Unfortunately, I received some very bad news that my godfather passed away and our plans were canceled.  I did manage to see Kathleen and Kylie and we had a nice lunch at Bertucci's.  My old stomping grounds.  The past couple of days with the wake and the funeral have been really tiring.  It is hard for me to see the street I grew up on change.  So many people have passed away, it really makes me want my childhood back for even just a minute when I wore my bathing suit all day in the summer, hopped from pool to pool...even a sprinkler or two in there...my mother calling me in for supper, and staying out until the street lights came on.  I am lucky that I had a great childhood and many family members and close friends were part of my street.  A lot of them still live there and that makes me so glad.

Today it is a beautiful day and I have the windows open.  I am catching up on laundry, housework, and actually looking forward to going to the grocery store alone to stock our cabinets that right now have cobwebs in them.  This afternoon we are off to a cook out with some of Jose's close friends from his high school.  They are all super nice people and I know we will have a good time.

I think this is the most I ever wrote at one sitting...blogging or otherwise.  I will post photos later.  Now, get out there and enjoy this beautiful Saturday!  Get off your computers!

Revisiting old shoots

I have a client who I started photographing her children when she only had one.  She has four now.  I was looking through her images, she was ordering some of her second when she was an infant and am just so in love with the group of photos I took...it is so nice to look back and still have confidence in how I shot.

Patrick

Welcome to the world Patrick John Joyce!  This is the first time posting a slide show.  :-)

Photo shoot

So, camp is OVER!!!!!  YAY!!!  Six weeks is really all that anyone can handle of summer camp; including the kids.  I look forward to next year though...each year it gets more refined and fine tuned.

Last night I had a photo shoot with 3 families.  (they were related)  It was a little crazy because they wanted to do it quickly, but I think I did well and posed the kids in interesting ways.  We had to fight the sun, but I worked around it and the photos are beautiful.  I am still working on editing the photos and posting, but here is my favorite shot...and a couple of others.  :-)   LOVE my job.  LOVE it.

Manny

Oh my boy...he is so cute...he is almost sitting up all by himself.  He will stay for a little while and then he falls over.  He is all tan and round and soft.  I feel like I don't take enough photos of him.  I took some today and played around with my photo program and some of the settings.  His expression in this first one is just priceless!

Water Wiz

What a busy weekend.  It was so much fun and I am still reeling.  Saturday was the open house at the daycare.  I felt confident in my work and felt really good to show my new brochures and marketing material.  Everyone commented on the photographs and people seemed really impressed.  It is a HUGE investment to have the work all made up like that, but I am hoping that it proves I am a good, credible photographer and people will start to know who I am.  Now that Manny is a bit older, it is nice to focus on my work.  I got a lot of people to sign a book with their information in it for me to send them a gift certificate for future prints.  They seemed very excited about that and a lot of them mentioned having family portraits done this year.  Here's hoping!!  I really love my work and I feel like I have a good wave going right now and I want it to just continue.  My friends and family have been so supportive and helpful. There are so many people involved in my work in one way or another and I recognize that it is only successful with help and support from people who are closest to me.

After the open house, Jose had an umpiring gig at a nearby park.  I packed up the kids and we went to support him in his work and play at the playground.  We had a really nice day and except for a tired/hungry meltdown by Ava, it was perfect.

Sunday was the camps trip to water wiz.  Dave was nice enough to volunteer to come with us to wrangle Ava while I worked/played and Jose took care of Manny.  Everyone got to enjoy the rides and both the kids were exhausted from such a long day.  Mommy and Daddy included...I think Dave fell asleep in his pizza as well.

Monday it was back to work.  The summer program is so great because I get to take Ava with me on the shoots if I want.  She seems to be very clingy to me lately and doesn't like to see me go so she will cry and say she wants to come with me.  I took her with me yesterday afternoon and she LOVED the boat ride.  The staff here is so incredibly nice to her.  It isn't always easy to have patience with a 4 year old when you are dealing with lot's of kids all day and I give them a lot of credit for joking with her and teaching her about sailing and being on the water.  I love that she gets to experience this.  We are very lucky.  

Here are a lot of photos from the weekend.  The park is not included...c'mon people, I need a rest sometimes!!