a little ketchup...

(Maddie, Me, and Alison...) ...or catch up?! I guess with all of these barbecues, hot dogs, and burgers...I was thinking of ketchup. So I wanted to say that I have been way behind in the blogging world. After finishing an intense, stressful, but rewarding student teaching experience at South Middle School in Braintree, MA, I hosted my mommy here in Boston/New England for a week. Then I started training and work for my summer job. Things are going well, just busy and stressful at times. But don't you worry, I am playing plenty, too. I have tried to get a lot of new posts on my blog, so scroll down to see everything. I will do more updates in a day or so, with some of the excitement and latest in my life from just this past week...so check the blog again soon. I love you all, and thanks for being patient with me!

4th of July weekend

Happy Late Independence Day to all! I had a wonderful weekend! I got Friday, July 3rd off from work, and apparently the majority of working professionals in Massachusetts get the day off. I spent Friday shopping with my friends, Alison, Rachel, Carly, Aimee, and Alison's sister, Maddie. We had lunch at a Japanese sushi buffet-it was so so good. We shopped in the Natick area-their mall is huge, and surprisingly, with a group of 6 girls, we did not get burnt out for 4 hours and saw the entire mall. We spent the night hanging out. Saturday was filled with Boston's 4th of July events and lots of fun with friends. After church on Sunday, my friends, Charlotte and Katie, had a barbecue at their place-it was a great turn out, great people, and great food. Here is Rachel, Alison, Mollie, and Maddie at the Sunday afternoon barbecue.

Here is Katie flipping the meat, Derek being goofy, and Charlotte getting the veggie kabobs ready to grill at the barbecue.

I was so excited that after the awesome fireworks on Saturday night, we got to walk home some 2-2.5 miles, but mostly that we got to walk along Storrow Drive, a major road along the river for cars. It was closed, and I was excited to walk it! This is usually my exit to get off in my car.

The Boston Pops Fireworks are by far the most amazing fireworks that I have ever seen in my entire life. They were huge and impressive. We had a spot on a dock right out on the Charles River, so we had a great view. The fireworks are put off on a barge in the middle of the Charles River.

The fireworks probably brought in a million people, since we actually had sunny, beautiful weather, something that is very rare this summer.

Look at these beautiful bursts. The Boston Pops play patriotic songs and Neil Diamond came this year...pretty cool, eh?

Here are Lyndsy and I on the dock, staking at our spot before it got dark and the show began.

Bryan, Rachel, Maddie, Luke, and Katie headed down on the T/subway to find a spot to watch fireworks; we left from Alison, Rachel, and Maddie's house.

On the 4th of July, our friend, Doug, put together a last minute barbecue. Here are Bryan and Luke sitting on the roof-they are crazy.

Here are Bryan and Maddie, just chilling on the patio.

I met up with Alison and Maddie on the 4th at Government Center. We watched the Flag Ceremony, heard the Star Spangled Banner by some amazing 10 year old boy, etc. We followed this small parade around to the Burial grounds, down some streets, and over to the Old State House where the Declaration of Independence was read. Here Alison, Maddie, and I are on the donkey...I don't know that we are necessarily Democrats, but there was no elephant to climb on. We are in Massachusetts, go figure.

Alison and Maddie, sisters.

Here is what we saw at the flag ceremony for the 4th of July celebrations in downtown.

Oh, and I wanted you all to see my spread from the Sushi buffet, where we had lunch on Friday afternoon. Are you really wondering?! Of course, I didn't eat just this...I had another plate first that was way more full!

Mommy Comes to Visit Boston-Day 6

So Day 6, Friday, June 19th was supposed to be my Mom's last day in Boston. We headed over to Harvard Square area, and went to the Longfellow Historic House; where Henry Wadsworth Longfellow lived, and where George Washington lived for a time during the battles. It was an excellent tour despite the rain. Then we headed to Harvard Square and popped into a few shops, and stopped at our last cupcake joint, Sweet. Sweet does mini cupcakes and regular ones and definitely had the most posh cupcakes in town. We did a few more errands and then I took Mom to the airport...I hate taking her back to the airport...Mom and I in my car-all smiles. I wore my hat to prevent the frizzy fro that comes with rain and drizzly days.We had mini cupcakes at Sweet, the carrot cake and red velvet ones-scrumptious!

Here are Mom and I outside of the Longfellow House; it is literally right across the street from out burnt down chapel. I hate seeing our burnt church, it is still so sad and heartbreaking, but we are grateful to the Episcopal Divinity School for letting us use their facilities.

Here I am at the front door of Longfellow's house.

So I dropped Mom off, and I always seem to get my way. She called 4 hours later, her flight had been delayed and she would not make her connection to Salt Lake City. I got in the car fast and headed out in traffic to pick her up from the airport again. We headed to Braintree, where I student taught, to do some shopping and so I could make some returns. We had salads and New England Clam Chowder for dinner. Saturday morning, bright and early, I had to take her back to the airport, which was harder the 2nd time around.

I loved having my mommy in Boston with me. We had lots of fun adventures, and I got to explore lots of places and sites that I had not been to. I am excited to take Dad around in August. Feel free to come and visit, I promise it will be an amazing time! Great company (me!) and great city (Boston!)

Mommy Comes to Visit-Day 5

Day 5 was Thursday, June 18th and a good day for the most part. We got in my car and headed southeast. We stopped at the Sugar Plum bakery, which we saw along the way. Of course, we had to try the chocolate peanut butter cupcake and the canoli flavored one. Canolis are these amazing desserts that you can get in the North End (the Little Italy of Boston). I liked them a lot!We drove through all the towns, through Plymouth, and other historical locations, and on to Cape Cod. Cape Cod gets a lot of hype here in Massachusetts. Don't get me wrong, it was beautiful, but a little overrated and not at all what I expected. Since there are so many trees, plants, bushes, and foliage here in New England, it is all over Cape Cod, too. You cannot see the beach or the ocean at all as you drive. We finally saw a sign for a beach, and had to drive a ways out. But we found it and I insisted that we walk along the beach and towards the ocean. It was a windy, cloudy day, but I just love the water and the ocean. I don't think I would pick to have my beach house at Cape Cod though.

My converse on the beach...come on, you have to walk barefoot along the sand.

Here I am- I said it was windy, didn't I?!

I thought it was cool...the tiny, birdy footprints and then the cool patterns that the waves make in the sand.

We stopped to see the Mayflower in Plymouth as a quick detour.

And here is the infamous Plymouth rock; Mom now understands that it is small and a little disappointing. I think most of us imagine it to be a huge crag jutting into to ocean.

Here I am at a cupcake stop outside the Sugar Plum Bakery.

We finished up the Cape Cod excursion by stopping at a restaurant and getting lobster rolls. Then we headed back to Boston and went to the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art) because Thursday nights are free. Both my Mom and I love modern art, and so I figured it was kind of a must-do since I had not been. We loved the museum; it was a neat collection and just the right amount of art. Too much, we decided years ago, equals visual overload.

Mommy Comes to Visit-Day 4

So Day 4 was Wednesday, June 17th and it was a beautiful day in Boston. We headed downtown for the day. We took the T, our train/subway, into town and first bought tickets for a Duck Tour. We then went directly to the top of the Prudential Center, the 55th floor or so, and we could see out for miles in all directions. The view from way up there helps me to see this wonderful city that I am glad to call home and so happy to get to live in and explore! After the Duck tour, Mom and I had a late lunch at one of Boston's best seafood restaurants, Legal Seafoods. After some shopping, we explored and walked the city. Here I am in Copley Square with the tortoise; I have sat on him now 3 times. I sat on him for the first time last August when I had just arrived in Boston with my mom and moved in. Then I sat on him at the beginning of the year when I was out with my friend, Alison. Needless to say, I always have my yellow shoes on! I love my yellow shoes, but they are getting pretty worn...they sure do lots of walking.

You can see the reflection of our Duck in the John Hancock tower. Duck tours are a great way to see Boston because they are the army/amphibious vehicles that go on land and water. So we drove all over Boston and saw tons of the sites, and then we got to go into the Charles River, too. I would vote that besides walking the Freedom Trail, a Duck tour is the next best way to see a lot of Boston.

Did I mention that our hilarious tour guide let me drive the Duck?! Yes, me...I got this sticker as a result. I got to drive it a bit once we were in the Charles River. I was stoked, of course.Here is Mom on the Duck while we were still in the Charles River. The weather was perfect, something that we have not been experiencing hardly at all this summer, unfortunately.

Yep, there I am driving the Duck in the river, and there is our tour guide to the right. He was trying to make small talk, but I was just so excited to be at the wheel.

...and that's me driving the Duck again.

Here is the Massachusetts State house, we passed it on the tour. And that gold dome? Yes, it's 23K gold...no wonder everything in Boston is so expensive, we have so much to live up to.There is Fenway Park from the top of the Prudential Center-the green monster...Go Red Sox!

Isn't it lovely? Doesn't it just make you want to come visit me?! Here is Commonwealth Ave, a major street, with Boston University buildings on both sides, the Citgo sign marks Kenmore Square, and there is the Charles River off to the right.

The view from the top of the Prudential Center, looking at Copley Square, the shiny, tall John Hancock tower, and on towards downtown.

Mommy Comes to Visit-Day 3

So Day 3 was Tuesday, June 16th and it was a great day, too. We woke up and got ready. We headed to my favorite place in Boston, the temple!, to do a session and then we spent the day in Lexington and Concord seeing all the sites and enjoying some great food. We picked up lunch at Wilson Farms, a wonderful, year-round Farmers Market in Lexington, and did a picnic at MinuteMan National Park. After learning some of the history, we headed out along Battle Road and saw some of the historical landmarks that played a major role in the events of 1776.We had dinner at Lexx restaurant, located along Lexington's quaint main street; Mom and I had the same thing for dinner and then shared this refreshing, summery custard dessert. It was sure pretty to look at!

We did not go for a swim, but we did walk around the edge of Walden Pond before getting dinner. The pond was beautiful and it was surrounded by tall, green trees and foliage. What a peaceful place.

Here I am at the Old North Bridge in Concord, where the battle began-where that first shot rang out.

Here I am along Battle Road, it runs between and Lexington and Concord, and the colonists/Rebels as well as the regulars/Red Coats marched along here during the first battles of the war. They marched all the way back to Boston from here. Paul Revere and a couple of others rode their horses along Battle Road to sound the alarm on the evening of April 18, 1776!

Hers it is-my beloved home away from home. I always love my temples and they always have such a special place in my heart. I feel so welcomed, at peace, and calm in the hallowed walls of the temple...and having my Mom with me there was extra special.

Tuesday was a great day, and we ended by doing some errands, and going to Target.

Mommy Comes to Visit-Days 0, 1, 2

I picked my Mom up from the airport on Saturday evening, June 13th. We enjoyed Saturday evening and then Sunday my mom came to church with me. She got to see all of my friends and all of the wonderful young single adults who I go to church with. After church, we ate a quick lunch and then went over to Arnold Arboretum-a beautiful park near my house; we walked a lot, we sat on a bench, we watched the people and interesting couples, we watched the dogs, and we took some silly photos. My mom and I on the bench in Arnold Arboretum

On Monday, I had to go to 1st Aid and CPR training for my summer job, so Mom went to the Cambridgeside Galleria and quickly got burnt out on shopping. Afterwards, we headed south, stopping at a Costco on the way. We drove into Providence because we were going to pick up my friend, Rachel, who was flying into that airport and then we would take her back to Boston with us. We had a fun afternoon in Providence, RI. I loved all of these old houses along Federal Heights; they were so well-restored, painted in lots of fun colors, and the street was open and lined with trees.

Here are Mom and I down by the riverwalk that runs through downtown Providence.

This is me in front of the capital building in Providence, which is in fact the capital of Rhode Island. My mom had never been to Rhode Island, and now she has officially been to the smallest state in the U.S. Providence is much smaller than Boston, but it really is a charming place!

Here is Mom in front of the Providence capital building; there is some neat architecture in Providence.

Isn't the detail on this front door entrance neat?!

Here is a view of the riverwalk and parts of downtown Providence...if you look closely at that bridge across the water, more towards the left....can you spy me? Where's Kristina!?

Mom's cool angle of the capital building, taken from the car. Yes, I am the tour guide, and I get around just fine, thanks to Yolanda, my faithful GPS. Those of you without a GPS might mock the name, but you clearly do not understand how important they are, nor how they often take on a personality of their own.

So with Mom here, the cupcake expert, we spent a lot of our time together trying the yummiest cupcakes we could find. We found Nancy's Fancies in Providence. They filled and decorated them in front of you on the spot; they were fresh and really homemade tasting! Loved them. We had Lemon meringue, Coconut dream, Boston Creme Pie, and then the Dirt one was for Rachel (chocolate, chocolate frosting, oreo crumbs, and a gummy worm)

Here I am with our cupcake box! Yummy! We sampled a couple and then headed to the Little Italy section of Providence for some yummy pasta, the real stuff, none of this American Italian.

The pink awning marks the spot...cupcake heaven!

Here is the pineapple hanging over the entrance into the Little Italy part of the city; I forget what the pineapple symbolizes?! Something important...what was it again, Mom?!