In Transit Until August 26, 2008

Fenway Park, August 14, 2008

We have been in Massachusetts visiting our family and friends until we leave for Germany. So far the theme of the trip has been "Celebration" as in birthdays both old and new, weddings and lots of new babies. Brad has celebrated his birthday at least 3 times now and he is loving it. We have amassed an enormous collection of new toys and clothes and things that have been relegated to the attic, only to be stuffed in shipping boxes and sent over to Germany where we will entertain ourselves with their contents until our household goods arrive, hopefully no later than October 1. These pictures are of several family parties. It means so much to have finally brought all of the kids together...

Cousins Michael, Stephen, Stacy, Danielle, Amanda & Alyssa

Great Grandkids Mekenzie, Maryna, Gabriella, Rhiannon, Joey, Tanner & Brad

Celebrating Grammy Dulski's 80th Birthday



Lovin the Slip n' Slide


Cousin Dennis and His New Baby Brody


Birthday Cousins Jayden and Brad


Jim's Sister Ianne and her Son Trent

We took in a Red Sox game and of course they won. We had bleacher seats so we couldn't see very well but we enjoyed some Fenway Franks and libations. I tried to negotiate with the foam finger man for a lower price but he wouldn't budge, so we didn't get one. It was a great feeling for me to be on Yawkey Way in the middle of a crowd of fans in my favorite city, to be truly home for a little while. I will miss this place.

My Sister, Dad and Hubs Enjoying the Sox Game

We also spent a gorgeous day in the city, riding the Swan Boats and having lunch at my mom's work. I love the architecture of Boston and tried to take a few pictures to remember how beautiful it now looks after the Big Dig has hidden many of the old roads underground and built parks and flower lined walkways through the streets of the Financial District heading toward Faneuil Hall. The aerial shots are of South Boston where I used to live before I met Jim.

Swan Boat with John Hancock in Background

Rhi at the Make Way for Ducklings Statue

"Southie"

The View Walking Along the New Greenway

The last leg of our trip was up in Castine, Maine. It's about an hour east of Augusta to give you an idea. We went to visit my cousins Jane and Pat who had come to see us in Florida. It is incredibly beautiful up there. I went kayaking for the first time and I didn't flip my boat. I was a little nervous that I would so I didn't even take the camera with me. Brad hated it and Rhiannon fell asleep in the boat. After kayaking we had drinks on the dock and took some pictures of the kids in a ski lift. We mostly sat around the fire pit in their enormous yard, made smores, hiked, and relaxed. We were also fortunate to have lunch with old Iceland friends who are stationed in Maine and got to meet their new baby. After an exhausting two weeks at home, it was the perfect end to our long journey in the US en route to Europe.

Jane and Pat's House

Kids in a Ski Lift

The Kids with Pat Gathering Wood for the Fire

Making Smores


Rhiannon Leading our Hike


Views Atop the Hill

The Family with Cousin Pat


Rhiannon Picking Blueberries

That just about wraps up our time in New England. We fly out tomorrow and are so ready to go. Rhiannon starts school Thursday and we are excited to start looking for a house. We'll post again once we get settled in and hopefully we won't be without internet access for too long. You can still reach us at our hotmail accounts and we will send along our new contact information soon. Thanks to everyone for making our trip home so enjoyable. It will be a long time before we get back up this way...and anyone who wants to come visit us in Germany, we'll be waiting for you!