Ground Control...

The boys loved the Science Museum in Boston. We spent a lot of time there one day and this was one of their favorite places.

Boston Duck Tour

One of my favorite things we did in Boston (possibly my favorite) was the Boston Duck Tour. It's an 80-minute tour on a car/boat that hits a lot of historical landmarks in the city then takes you on the Charles river. My friend Julie recommended it to us and now I'm recommending it to you (thanks Julie!). I won't bore you with pics of all the monuments, buildings, parks and bridges we saw, but here are of few of my favorite shots.



Dorian gets a turn at the wheel:


Quack!

Make way...

We just got back (to Texas) from our last minute trip to Boston and Cape Cod. It was great to get away and explore some new places. Our first stop, as requested by Dorian, was the Boston Public Garden to see Mr. and Mrs. Mallard from the book "Make Way for Ducklings".

When we got to the park it was drizzling, but Dorian kept his eyes out for the Mallards:


The swan paddle boats:


Ducks in a row:


Dorian was not terribly impressed by the Mallard family statue:


But, he did like taking the swan paddle boat around the pond and seeing one of his favorite books come to life.

Star Party

One of my friends here in Texas, Tim, hosted a Star Party at the observatory at University of North Texas in Denton (www.astronomy.unt.edu/ruac.html). I've never had the opportunity to look through huge telescopes, so I was so happy to be in town and to be invited. And, thanks to my friend Mike, who took all these photos with his handy phone.

Taking a sneak peak:

Hugeness:

Smaller telescopes but still powerful:


So, we saw a whirlpool galaxy, a cigar galaxy, M15 star cluster, something called M83, a swan constellation with two different colored eyes, Saturn and its rings, Mercury, Venus and Mars...oh, and a few shooting stars, too!

A visit from Dawn

It's hard having friends all over and coming to the States once a year and not being able to see them all. Luckily, my dear sweet friend Dawn flew down to see us for a quick weekend. So great to catch up with her, have some girl time and have her get to know the boys. In her two days with us, we did tons--Dallas World Aquarium, Stockyards (for cowboy shopping purposes), Japanese Gardens, Fort Worth Modern Art Museum, Cowgirl Hall of Fame and, finally, an evening out at the movies. I'm sure she was exhausted by the time she got back home, but it sure was fun.

Here are some highlights:

The Fort Worth Japanese Gardens, lovely to walk around,
but, oh so impractical for an 18-month old who walks everywhere and pays not attention to drop-offs.
Dorian, the photographer:
On to the the Modern Art Museum and this cool sculpture:
Total echo chamber, put two boys inside and it's a very loud concert!
Modern art is so cool.
Dorian's favorite.

Keep on keeping on...

I'm sure just about anyone (and everyone) who lives abroad feels at some point the same thing...you're not quite home in your adoptive country and you're not quite home in your native country. Where does that leave you? Always traveling or always searching for a home? At this point for us, I think it's both.

We've been in the States for a long time this summer. We were supposed to fly back to Delhi next week (for the second time). I had already changed our return date once and did it again. I wanted us to have our family vacation in Malaysia this summer--some place new and exciting for us since the boys and I have been away from their papa for most of the summer. But, it proved a bit difficult to plan the trip the way I wanted, so at my husband's suggestion, we're having our vacation in the States. He booked a ticket using his miles, so the miles dictated the destination and...we're off to Boston and Cape Cod next week for about 10 days.

At least Dorian is excited to see Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their ducklings.

But, no matter where we are there are reminders of were we've been or are going...this made me stop in the street in Portland last month:

A few firsts...

It's been great being in the States for most of the summer (and it's not over yet!). The boys have seen and done so much and have grown in so many ways. What I love is seeing them see things for the first time.

Dorian loves waterfountains.

Popsicles = yummy.

As is corn on the cob.

This yellow watermelon was a huge hit.

They've never had a sprinkler to run in before.


And, last but not least (even without photo), my favorite so far has been while at the ice cream shop, "mama, what's that car doing at the window?" Oh, yes, the drive thru...