Quincy Market on the Waterfront

 

 

 

 

There is a huge market place that surrounds the waterfront in Down Town Boston. We visited the authentic replica of the set of TVs "Cheers." We also ate in Quincy Market which holds over 70 different restaurants. We looked in many of the shops. Conner purchased a Patriots sweatshirt, and my parents bought him a Bruins beanie. The Bruins are the Boston's Ice Hockey team. Conner and my Mom joined in with a street musician that was playing music with wooden Indian flute.

Bunker Hill Monument

 

 

 

 

This is us at the Bunker Hill Monument. This was the place where the first major battle of the American Revolution was fought. On June 17, 1775, colonists defended the hill against thousands of British soldiers who had rowed across the Charles River to attack them. After struggling for many hours with little ammunition and no reinforcements, the colonists fled into the countryside. The British troops had won the battle. One night, a few months later, colonial soldiers placed cannons on top of Dorchester Heights, a neighboring hill which overlooks Boston. They pointed them at the British ships in the harbor below and threatened to attack. Soon after, British troops sailed out of Boston, never to return.

USS Constitution

 

 

 

 

We toured the USS Constitution ship in Boston. It is the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat. In 1794, George Washington ordered the construction of six frigates, essentially creating the United States Navy. One of those ships, built in Boston, was the constitution. She has protected the merchant fleet from Barbary pirates and fought famous battles in the war of 1812. We also toured the USS Constitution Museum. This museum is located alongside the ship, and houses the ship's logs, weapons, documents, charts, journals,decorative arts, and more.

Conner's 12th Birthday Present to Boston

 

 

 

 

Steve and I decided to make a tradition when the kids turn 12 and 16 years old. They can choose anywhere in the United States that Southwest flys(since we have Southwest points). Conner loves the New England Patriots football team. He decided Boston was the one place he wanted to visit. Steve went to Boston for a day on his church history tour, but I had never been. We invited my parents to go with us. We arranged to pay our sister in law to stay at our house with the other five children while we were gone. On November 12, at 5am as we were headed to Vegas to catch our flight, we discovered that my sister in law had gotten the flu during the night and was throwing up. She had called her husband, which is my brother to come and stay with the kids until she felt better. We weren't sure how long she would be sick, so I called my sister Lisa in St. George. She had to work, but her husband drove to Logandale and picked up Austin, Alexa, and Derek to take back to St.George. Cameron had a flag football game the next day, and Sydney has a gymnastics program so they stayed here in Logandale. Steve's Mother drove out from Vegas to stay with them. Long story short, by the next day Kayla was feeling better and drove to St. George to pick up the kids. A few days later, Alexa started throwing up and had diarrea. Fun Fun!! My brother Justin, and his wife Kayla were very tired by the time we got back.

Veteran's Day Parade

 

 

 

 

This year Derek and Sydney were in the Veteran's Day Parade. Derek's scout troop walked in uniforms, and Sydney's cheer/gymnastics group also walked in uniforms. The kids loved running after the candy that was thrown. One float was throwing footballs and hats. Cameron, Derek, and Conner were screaming,"Throw me a football!" Well, they did throw a few footballs. Cameron and Derek lucked out in getting one, and Conner caught a hat.

Conner's Football team won the Championship!

 

 

 

 

Conner had a great time in football this year. He played Left Guard and Left Tackle on Defense. He really started understanding his position, and because of his speed was able to get a few great sacks this year. He also recovered a fumble, and made some great tackles. His team went undefeated this season, so they made the playoffs. They won the playoff game, which put them into the finals for the championship game. Conner was at every practice and game this season, but unfortunately he didn't make the championship game. There wasn't a schedule that showed the dates for the final games, and we had booked flights to go to Boston for Conner's 12th Birthday. We told him that we were still going to Boston, but let him choose whether he wanted to stay or go to Boston. That was a difficult choice for him, but in the end he chose Boston. His team ended up winning that Championship game! Everyone, including Conner got trophies! He is looking forward to next year's football season.

Derek's Tackle Football year has ended!

 

 

 

This was Derek's first year playing Tackle Football. He had a great first time experience! He started off playing quarterback, and then about middle of the season they moved him to full back and tight end on offence. He also played outside line backer and defensive end on defence. Derek's favorite game was against Pine View in S.T.George, because he threw a touch down pass that helped them win the game. He also loved that game because he had his best tackle of the season while playing defence. He can't wait until next football season!

More Pictures of Halloween

 

 

 

 

These are some of the pictures we took on Halloween. The kids rock climbed, and jumped around inside a water bubble. They loved these activities!

Trick or Treat?

 

 

 

 

This is how our Halloween Day went. Derek had a football game in Mesquite in the morning. After the game we came home and got in costumes for our subdivision Halloween party at the Evan's house. After the party the kids Trick or treated around our subdivision. Conner pulled Alexa and Austin in their wagon. It was like they had died and gone to heaven! They held their candy buckets and ate what ever they wanted while Conner pulled them around! Then the kids wanted to go up to the Fair Grounds where Parks and Recreation had planned games, trunk or treat, and food. While we were there the oldest 4 kids rock climbed, ate, and jumped around inside a plastic bubble that was on top of water. The kids loved this activity! Around 7:30 pm we headed over for some donuts and hot chocolate at the Anderson's home. They do a big fire in their front yard every year on Halloween, and give out chili, donuts, and hot chocolate. Last of all, we went home and let Alexa,Sydney, and Cameron hand out candy to all the trick or treaters. I took a picture of Alexa and Sydney sitting on the ground next to our front door. They had a big bowl of candy, and were anxiously awaiting the next group of trick or treaters. (I think they enjoyed giving the candy away, as much as receiving it. The rest of us decided to watch a movie and chill out! It was a fun, and exhausting Halloween!

Pumpkin carving time

 

 

 

 

The kids wanted to carve pumpkins, so while Conner and Derek were at football practice Steve helped the kids carve pumpkins. They had so much fun drawing different faces on the pumpkins. They also thought it was cool when the candles lit up the jack-o-lantern faces.

More pictures of Staheli's farm

 

 

 

 

More pictures of Staheli's farm!