Our Trip to Boston!

Mother's Day Weekend, we took a trip with the Weiss' to Boston! David's cousins Jake and Celia (twins like A&C) were celebrating their 13th birthdays with a B'Nai Mitzvah. David and I had not been to Boston in almost 5 years, and Alden and Carson had not met their Boston family!

After a week of planning the packing and organizing for our trip, we set off!

Our flight was supposed to leave home at 7:30am - however we arrived at the airport to find an hour and a half delay - this meant A) we could have slept another hour and a half! and B) we missed our connection. So, we made do by playing in the airport for a while and having breakfast.



This shot is of Alden and Carson AFTER the first accident with a new change of clothes
(and exhausting my only shirt change too!)


After two flights, and one minor meltdown, we MADE it to Boston!!


We let them walk through the airports to get some energy out!

 Once we arrived in Boston, we drove about 45 minutes to the area where our events were for the weekend. On the car ride, the boys FINALLY took a much needed nap! Then, we headed over to cousin Toni's house for a family dinner. I didn't have my camera with me that night, but they just fit right in! There are seven cousins in Boston with ages ranging from 14 to 6, so A&C were the little ones of the bunch and were welcomed with open arms. It was so sweet seeing all the Boston kids with them - just helping them and playing with them - so sweet!!

The next morning, there was a service at the synagogue. We sat by the door and made it about 30 minutes before our first exit. After about an hour, we had to leave with both of them and we missed Jake and Celia's call to the Torah, but I think they understood.

After the service, we headed to the PARTY! It was unbelievable - something I've never seen before in my neck of the woods!!




Alden having a great time with one of the balloons from the amazing balloon decorations.





Jake and Celia did the sweetest Candle Lighting ceremony including all of their family in it. It was really cute!




Carson and Mommy enjoying the reception!




Uncle Leon, David and Pops at the reception




All of Jake and Celia's friends at the reception. The event had a DJ, Emcee, and even dancers hired to get the kids on the dance floor!




Carson and Alden wanted to get in the mix on the dancefloor too!

  After the party, we headed back to the hotel  and put the boys down for a nap (they napped from about 4-6 ) - our normal routine was way out of wack for this trip, but they adapted great!

After they woke up, we went to cousin Heidi's house for a family dinner. It was so much fun. A&C were so happy to see their cousins again and had a great time.

Down in the playroom, apparently there was a jam session going on. Grandma Kathy went down and snapped these cute pics.

Alden and Celia playing with a guitar.

Carson and cousin Charlotte singing a little karaoke.

 The next morning, we went back to Toni's for brunch before we left. It was great to get one last bit of time with everyone, after our short and fun-filled weekend.  We've already planned a trip to North Carolina for next summer so we don't go so long without seeing one another!!

All the kids - this was our best attempt - A&C didn't cooperate very well :)

The girls! Toni, Christine, Caroline, Kathy and Heidi

 Then we left for our flight home. The boys slept on the way back to the airport (YAY) and then were great travelers the rest of the way home.

When we landed at home, Alden was just waking up - he slept the whole flight.

Carson was still asleep when we landed at home, so sweet with his Daddy!

 Then, once we arrived home, we started getting back into our regular schedule and Alden was a little down. I just assumed the lack of sleep, long weekend etc. However, after two days of a very low fever, he woke up on Thursday morning, and he was so lethargic and really didn't want to move and his eyes were so sunken and dark. So, I dropped Carson off with my  mom and showed up at our pediatrician's office when they opened. Dr. K took one look at him and agreed something was not right. They did a strep test and a flu test and sent us off for bloodwork. Turned out he had the flu, but he was extremely dehydrated. So, the next thing we knew, Alden was admitted to the hospital.

Alden on his first day - he was still in his pj's since I took him first thing in the am :( He was so pitiful

 The next two days consisted of xrays and bloodwork, etc. He was a trooper, but became very clingy and had major stranger anxiety.

Finally he slept in the hospital crib! Poor little one :(

On Saturday afternoon, he slept on David's chest for 4 hours and woke up in a much better state. He ate some (quarter of a pb&j, a few grapes, almost a whole string cheese, and about 6 oz of water) which is more then he's eaten altogether since Tuesday.

So, we convinced the pediatrician on call that we could get him to eat and drink more at home. (He didn't want to do anything there and screamed every time a nurse, dietitian, custodian entered the room or got near him. ) And he did! He ate a TON when we got home that night for dinner and drank a good bit of water too.

Carson is much happier too - we've learned that they really need some time away from one another because this was really rough on Carson-since he was really the one that was in his normal routine - but missing his sidekick!! :)

Eggies, Bunnies and Boats :)

Grandma Kathy and Pops were in LA for Easter, so before she left, we did a little Easter Egg dying :) Thank goodness I just had the boys in their diapers - what a mess! But it was so fun, and our first experience!!

 Carson has quite perfected his "Cheese!" smile :) He was very neat and orderly while dying his eggs of course!

 Alden was very proud that he dyed his hand green!!

 At our church Easter party, Alden could not get enough of the Easter Bunny!!

 Carson was a little unsure of him, and would not get closer than 4 feet or so to him. However, he found a friend to help him with some fun activities.

 Alden even sat in the Easter Bunny's lap during the reading of the Easter story. Carson kept saying "Alden!!" from our view on the other side of the bleachers - they are not used to being apart!

 After the party, and a good long nap, Peyton and Jon came over for a visit. They love reading books with their Auntie Peyton!

 On Easter Sunday, that afternoon, Mimi and Grandpa hosted Easter at their house! Here is a shot of Alden and Carson heading out for their first official Easter Egg Hunt! Cousins Gabe and Talise were close by to teach them how its done!

 Gabe and Alden made a good team!

 And Carson and Talise were working well together too!

 And it was the first time they saw the playhouse at Mimi and Grandpa's house, so it was very hard to focus on the egg hunt when there was a tunnel to play in!

 Carson enjoyed hunting a little more!

 After the hunt, they wanted to crawl up in Granddaddy's lap. Amazingly, they only spilled one cup of water on his lap - oh well! These are his 5th and 6th great grandchildren - he's used to it!!

 After everyone else left, they boys played in the fountain - didn't get a shot of Carson, but this cute one of Alden!

Last weekend, we went to the River for the weekend. When we got there, Grandmommy and Granddaddy were already out for the evening, but the boys were happy to sit on the porch and have a little snack before bed.

 On Saturday, Granddaddy took us for the boys first pontoon boat ride! Grandpa and Alden :)

 Mimi and Carson :)

 Carson driving the boat.

 And Alden driving the boat.

 I love Alden's hair blowing in the wind at the front of the boat with Daddy.

 Alden and Mommy at the back of the boat.

   They loved hanging their tongues out in the wind! Carson and I enjoying the breeze!

And a little playtime on the beach with Grandma Kathy too!

 After some time on the beach, the boys played in the beach shower and loved it!

And some playtime in Grandmommy's bird bath!

Carson practicing his winking ;)

And THEN, Carson's first haircut! Alden had already had two of them, so it was Carson's big day! This shot shows the little bit that was so long on the side

And the final product - he was so happy!

(please forgive my dysfunctional picture placement on this first blog since the new design, I'm figuring it all out!)