Fulfilling Nerdy Tourism Goals (John Adams's Homes)

After our trip to Charlotteville, Virginia I had a revelation: If I only could visit John Adams's house, I would have visited all of the first five presidents' homes. Yeah. So that totally had to happen.

When Jess and I were making our plans for Boston, I told her my two must-sees were the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and John Adams's House. She was happy to go along with my whims. In fact, she had never been to John Adams's house before, so it was a perfect little trip.

We arrived at the Adams National Historical Park bright and early. Jess regaled the rangers with the story of how I had been to George Washington's house, Thomas Jefferson's house, James Madison's house, and James Monroe's house and with this tour I would be five for five. They were duly impressed.

First, we stopped at the birthplace of John Adams. He was born here in 1735.

After John married Abigail they moved next door to the home where John Quincy Adams was born. And did you know that John Quincy Adams was our sixth president? You see where I'm going with this, yes? I have been to the first six presidents' homes!

After our tours of the birthplaces we got back on the trolley and rode to The Old House at Peace field. John and Abigail moved into this home in 1788 after they returned from London where Adams had been serving as ambassador.

Peace field was home to generations of Adamses. John and Abigail lived and died there. John Adams died, famously, on July 4th, 1826 -- the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Remarkably, this is also the day that Thomas Jefferson died. And, Adams's last words were "Jefferson survives." In truth, Jefferson had died some hours earlier. 

John Quincy Adams, the sixth president, also lived at Peace field. The Stone Library that sits on the property and is home to over 12,000 volumes. It's considered the first memorial presidential library.

It was interesting to see how the home had changed over the years. It was the home of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams; First Ladies Abigail and Louisa Catherine Adams; Civil War Minister to Great Britain Charles Francis Adams (John Quincy's son); and literary historians Henry and Brooks Adams.

Jess and I quite enjoyed our tour and our tour guide. We may have nodded adamantly during the stories we knew. I like to think we were star students.

You'd better believe that next time we are heading through Nashville we will be stopping at Andrew Jackson's home (and also the Nashville Parthenon).

P.S. I visit Mount Vernon, Monticello, Montpelier, and Ash Lawn-Highland.

In Which I Go to Boston

Waayyy back in June, I went to Boston to visit one of my oldest friends, Jessica. Old picture here. Jess and I have been lucky enough to be able to get together every couple of years.

I began my visit with one of my must-sees - The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924) was a art collector who filled her Venetian-style house with art from all eras. She stipulated that her house be turned into a museum and that everything should remain exactly as she left it. This makes for a very interesting museum experience. Photography is not permitted in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum which very nearly breaks your heart. Especially since the courtyard looks like this:

via

Being in Boston kind of feels like being in John Singer Sargent Land. (Jess and I actually talked about this, and, as she loves John Singer Sargent, she is thrilled to live in John Singer Sargent Land.)

Isabella Stewart Gardner and John Singer Sargent (in addition to each having three names) were contemporaries and friends. Here's his painting of her that hangs in her museum:

Portrait of Isabella Stewart Gardner, 1888

She also has this lovely and famous and huge Sargent:

El Jaleo, 1882

After my visit to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum I went next door to the Boston Museum of Fine Art to visit another Sargent:

The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit, 1882

I also was rather fond of this guy: 

After wandering solo for a while it was time to meet Jess for dinner. We then went back to the museum to see the rest.

The next day we head to my other must-see. (Post coming shortly. No really, I promise.) And then we drove to Plymouth where we saw fake Mayflowers, rocks, and tombstones.

Below is a reconstruction of the Mayflower. Exactly the boat I'd want to be on if I were crossing the Atlantic.

Here is Plymouth Rock. Maybe. Although tradition says that the pilgrims stepped off the boat and onto Plymouth Rock, neither William Bradford nor Edward Winslow mention a rock in their first-person accounts. The rock wasn't identified as the pilgrims landing place until 1741 when it was threatened by a proposed wharf. So the top half of the rock was removed and enshrined at Town Square. Then in 1867, the bottom of the rock was given a Gothic-style canopy and in 1880 the top half and bottom half were reunited once again. Now the rock rests under a portico designed by the firm of McKim, Mead, and White for the 300th anniversary of the pilgrim's landing.

Jess and I also visited the meeting house of the first parish in Plymouth. It's gone through many rebuilds over the years and today is an impressive Romanesque Revival church.

I can't resist a Puritan cemetery. I just love those grim reapers and winged-skulls.

The next day, after a leisurely morning of brunch and pedicures, we picked up Jess's kids and headed to the aquarium.

We got on the ferry and motored out to the USS Constitution.

Named after the Constitution of the United States of America, this boat is the oldest commissioned navel vessel afloat today. It's most famous for its role in the War of 1812 when it earned the nickname Old Ironsides.

I had a great time in Boston. It's such a fun city, and I enjoyed my time with Jessica. I hope we can continue to get together very few years.

P.S. Another trip to Boston.

Instablogged, Summer Edition

A boy and his dad.

Water bug

We didn't get a pool membership this summer, and we were perfectly content with this huge baby pool.

Watching the planes

Hopscotch in the driveway. Designed by Beck.

Felix cut a hole in his shirt with Beckett's scissors. The shirt was on its last leg already.

Wherever could my children be?

He's got soul.

Yeah. I can't really explain this.

More evidence that Felix is a little quirky.

Hide and seek time.

Check-up.

The Laurie Berkner Band in concert!

It was quite the drive to get to Laurie Berkner. I hope we get to see her again, but a little closer to home.

Gazing down on Baltimore.

Beach Day

Last year we didn't go to the beach at all. I think it was a combination of Nate getting ready for Alaska, a mild summer, and Felix being a difficult age for the beach. This year we are trying to make up for last year's lack.

We decided to try a single-day beach trip. We woke up in the morning, packed all our stuff, drove the 2.5 hours to the beach, spent five hours playing, packed up, ate dinner, and drove 2.5 hours back. Some people might think think was a little crazy, but it really worked for us. The beach with little children is not relaxing. It is fun, but it is a lot of work, and 5 hours was enough. We'd do the one-day trip again.

Behold! The happiest child in the world:

All the boys:

Warming up:

 

Beckett is notorious around here for hating to be cold. After a bath he shivers his way back to his room taking the tiniest, shuffling steps and muttering about how cold he is the entire way. Then he likes to sit in front of the heater for as long as I'll let him. None of this seemed to matter at the beach.

We even got a rare shot of all four of us:

Independence Day

A Yellow Birthday

Beckett turned five! He is such a delight these days. Curious, talkative, and imaginative, he can play for hours making up "stories" with his toys. He loves having friends over. He has really taken to swimming lessons this summer.

Beckett's favorite color is yellow. When we invited his friend Miriam over for his birthday, she set aside all of her yellow clothes to wear to the party. I thought this was about the most darling thing ever, and, since Beckett had requested a yellow cake, we decided to roll with the yellow theme.

 Felix shows off the yellow food.

Beckett was thrilled with the new Lego set. He got a few practical presents too and declared, "Underwear! My favorite!" He was completely serious.

The yellow crew plus one.

Nate took the kids on "hay rides."

Here's what Beckett has to say about himself at five:

What is your favorite color?

I kind of like two colors now. It’s going to be yellow and … light blue.
 
What is your favorite toy?

Gordon and my Legos.
 
What is your favorite food?

Nutella sandwiches

What is your favorite TV show?

Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Phineas and Ferb 

What is your favorite outfit?

Yellow shirts 

What is your favorite game?

The plane game and Candyland 

What is your favorite snack?

A bar and some graham crackers 

What is your favorite animal?

cats 

What is your favorite song?

Give Said the Little Stream and Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam 

  

What is your favorite book?

Drummer Hoff Fires It Off and A Charlie Brown Christmas

Who is your best friend?
Miriam and Hyrum

What is your favorite sport?

Swimming

What is your favorite thing to do outside?

Running around in the sun when I’m too cold

What is your favorite drink?

Soda and water

What is your favorite holiday?

When Daddy stays home

What do you like to take to bed with you at night?

Pillow Percy

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Cakes and sausage

What’s your favorite season?

Winter

What’s your favorite thing about our house?

I like how the basement is underground

What’s your favorite thing about your room?

That is has train tracks and a switched for my hand

What is your favorite thing to do with Felix?

Swimming and playing with the trains

What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy

When we tell train stories

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy

Play games

What is your favorite thing about your birthday?

I like how I can get presents. 

Happy birthday Beckett. Here's to a great year.