Old Friends in the Big City

I went to school at Wheelock College in Boston. There were six of us in a little group on campus. We still keep in touch. We try to get together at least once a year (whoever can make it). It is hard to get the whole group together. Robin and Rene live far away (Florida and Louisiana respectively). We all have kids and lives in our own communities. But whenever we get together, no matter who is there, it is like no time has passed.
Here we all are at my wedding in August of 2001: Stacey, Robin, Amy (moi), Rene, Nicole, and Michelle. I believe Robin and Stacey were both pregnant with their first babies at this time. Nicole and Rene had infants.
On Monday we decided that we would meet in Boston and do some touristy things with the kids. Four of us could make it. Stacey and Michelle (both from Connecticut) had things going on. Stacey is actually getting ready to have her second baby any day now. And Michelle and her hubs just opened a business and have a lot going on with their own two kids. We missed them, of course and can't wait to see them at some other point. Maybe when Stacey has the baby. Four of us made the trip into Boston.
Here we are: Rene, Nicole, me, and Robin
The kids and I took the train in from Riverside Station. Of course Travis was thrilled.
Our day started in Boston Common where the kids waded in the water at the Frog Pond. Here are the tame ones who didn't get themselves drenched. Chelsea and Madelyn.
After playing in the water and on the Tadpole playground, we decided to walk to the Boston Public Garden.
Here is a picture of Julia and Ally. I don't think I have seen Julia since she was Chelsea's age. Now she is 7 and Ally is 8.
Here are the boys of the group: Patrick, Travis and Seth. Patrick and Seth are only 3 days apart. Patrick is older! They are about six months ahead of Travis.
Here is the whole group: Seth and Julia, Madelyn, Grace, Ally, Patrick, Travis and Chelsea. Robin has Julia (age 7), Nicole has Ally (8), Patrick (6) and Grace (4), Rene has Madelyn (8) and Seth (6) and I have Travis (6) and Chelsea (2).
Here they are standing near one of the little ponds: Chelsea, Ally, Partick, Julia, Travis, Seth, Madelyn, and Grace.

The Public Garden has a statue that is dedicated to the story Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. He wrote about a family of ducks that traveled all over Boston looking for a safe place to raise their ducklings.
We made them sit ont the statue of the ducklings: Patrick and Seth, some stranger's kid that we tried to pass off as Robin's, Julia, Chelsea, Madelyn, Travis, Ally and Grace
Travis and Madelyn take their turn on the mama duck.
While waiting for our turn to pose, Travis comandeered my camera while the others struck poses.
We headed to the pond to go on the Swan Boats (also mentioned in Make Way for Ducklings).
Here we are waiting to set "sail". We saw a family of real ducks when we were riding around. I tried to take pictures but they came out as gray blobs.
We got on the T (per Julia's request) and headed to Fanuiel Hall and Quincy Market. Great food!
We stopped and watched a juggler do some tricks.

The performer picked Patrick to be in a race. Patrick caught on that the guy always gave the one who lost a dollar. He took off like a flash but stopped and refused to cross the finish line. He was very proud of his dollar.
We made them pose for yet another group shot on the bench in Quincy Market: Ally, Chelsea, Madelyn, Grace, Julia, Patrick, Grace, Seth, and Travis
We walked down to the wharf promising that the kids could go on the Merry-Go-Round once we got there. Of course it was out of commisssion. The kids took it well, though. We walked down to the aquarium to see if the seals were out. Here they are looking in the outdoor tank. Then we went to the wharf and saw a Tall Ship.
One last group shot at the wharf: Seth, Chelsea, Patrick, Travis, Ally, Madelyn, Grace, and Julia (sporting her new shirt)
We headed back to Quincy Market and went our separate ways. I took my kids picture on the statue of Red Auerbach. He was the coach of the Boston Celtics in the 70s and 80s. My son is giving him a noogie. I swear my father is somewhere holding his hand over his heart, as this man led the Celtics to NBA championships tons of times. My dad was a big Celtics fan back in the day.

What a great day. The only flaw in it was that we missed Stacey and Savannah and Michelle, Alex and Zachary. The kids were exhausted and it was a quiet ride home. We all slept well in my house that night.