The Freedom Trail

One of the fun things about having visitors is that we can do some of the touristy things in the area. Daniel and I don't have the chance to go sight seeing very often so it was great to check out the history of Boston with his family. We all went into Boston on the train and walked part of the Freedom Trail. The trail is a 2.5 mile red brick walking path through important historical places in Boston. We only walked about half of the trail as we spent so much time exploring some of the places of historical significance. It is amazing to see buildings that date back to the 1600's.

Old Boston





George Washington Statue


Make Way For Ducklings Statues


State House (Capitol Building)


The cemetary where Paul Revere is buried along with other prominent people in history.



Paul Revere's house

Plum Island

This past Saturday Daniel and I took his parents up to Hampton Beach, NH and Plum Island, MA. We spent a few hours at Hampton Beach, enjoying a picnic lunch and wading in the cold ocean waters. It was a great time to relax and take in the warm sunshine. From Hampton Beach we drove down the coast a little ways to Plum Island. The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is on the south end of the island. We drove down the eight mile long island, enjoying the many birds that have made the refuge their home. We also did a little exploring along the Sand Dunes Trail, which is a raised boardwalk path through the natural habitat of a sand dune. By the time we stopped at Plum Island Beach the temperatures had dropped and the wind had picked up. The waves were really crashing into the shore. We didn't stay very long. However, just before we left, we met a wildlife volunteer who was watching a pair of nesting Piping Plovers, a bird on the Endangered Species List. The refuge is one of the few remaining places on the East Coast where Piping Plovers can nest. Just off the island we stopped for dinner at a local seafood place. Bob Lobster is a fantastic little restaurant. Bob, the owner actually catches the fish that he serves his customers. Daniel and his dad ordered fish and chips while his mom and I ordered lobster rolls. The food was great! Definitely a "do-over" as Daniel would say.

An Afternoon at the Beach

Daniel and I spent some time with his family at the beach on his birthday. The weather was a little chilly, but at least the sun was shining. It was the first rainless day in over a week. We had a lot of fun and Miriam, our ten month old niece got to experience the ocean for the first time. She loved the water!

Daniel's Birthday

Yesterday was Daniel's 30th birthday. He had not been looking forward to the BIG 3-0, but it turned out to be a wonderful day. Mom and Dad Koski flew into town Monday evening to spend the week with us. Daniel was really excited to have them here for his birthday. What he didn't know, was that his brother Jonathan, sister-in-law Rachel, and niece Miriam were also flying in to surprise him! Daniel worked a half day yesterday and took the 12:20 train home. Jonathan and Rachel were supposed to get the 11:15 train and be at the house when he got home. Their flight was delayed and they ended up on the same train! Daniel was VERY surprised to see them get on the train. We had a great afternoon with the family at the beach and Daniel had a fantastic birthday.

Memorial Day Weekend

This was our first holiday away from family. It was strange not having the usual family cookout. Daniel and I had a fun and relaxing weekend, though. Friday was a beautiful day, so we decided to have a little picnic at the park. I made some sandwiches and we headed out for a nice evening by the ocean. The warm breeze blowing and the sound of crashing waves against the rocks created a perfect setting for unwinding from the week. We spent Saturday exploring the area around us, taking a drive up into Southern New Hampshire. That area reminds me a lot of Minnesota. Daniel has not been out on the golf course this season so we went to a driving range on Monday. He had a great time hitting a HUGE bucket of balls. They also have a miniature golf course (two actually!), so we played a round. It was a close game, but I beat Daniel! He claims that he let me win, but Daniel is too competitive. Lots of fun! If you know Daniel, you know that he can't say "no" to ice cream. We "had" to finish the afternoon with a bowl/cone of very tasty home-made ice cream.

May Trips

I have been on four different trips over the last month! It has been a crazy time for us. First I spent a week in Minnesota with family and friends, then Daniel had trainings in Burlington, VT for a week, Phoenix, AZ for a week, and back to Burlington, VT for three days. It was fun to travel but I think I'd like to stay home for a while. I know Daniel would agree. I really enjoy traveling in Vermont. It is a beautiful state with green mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, and no billboards (there is a law prohibiting them). Since there is a regional office in Burlington, we will more than likely be returning at some point. Daniel's favorite stop along the way was at the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory. We got to take a tour and sample free ice cream. Daniel had 2 samples!

God's Creation

One thing I really enjoy about traveling is that I get the chance to explore new places and see our beautiful country. Flying makes it that much more amazing. On our return home from Phoenix, we flew to Salt Lake City, UT, before continuing on to Boston. We saw some of the most spectacular views I have ever seen. We flew directly over the Grand Canyon. It was so beautiful! I can only imagine how magnificent it is from the ground! And as we flew further into Utah we were able to see great snow covered ranges of the Rocky Mountains. It was incredible flying around them as we came in for our landing. I love experiencing God's amazing creation! I never get tired of seeing all that He has made. It is a reminder of how Great and Powerful He is!