museum of science

Charlie learns about deer... well, he picked up every ear piece so maybe he didn't learn a thing.

Baby chicks!  Less than 48 hours old!

 

 

 

Transportation is fascinating.

 

Schuyler in prehistoric times.

 

 

In this exhibit, you're supposed to be learning about momentum or something but really it's just an excuse for the kids to SWING!

Here's they're teaching you about torque, force, equilibrium, and fulcrums but really it teaches kids who don't know each other how to be polite when the other kid decides he's done, gets off, and the other kids come slamming down to earth unexpectedly.

 

This was an exhibit Mama and Papa really liked and all the darn kids in the Museum of Science kept spoiling.  The exhibit creates the world's cutest tornado - very cool (if it weren't for those meddling kids!).

 

We thought they'd hate this.  We knew it was pretty long, the presenter wouldn't be facing us, and it would be super loud.  It was long and the presenter wasn't facing us and it was SUPER loud but they LOVED it.  And so did we.  A very, very cool presentation we'd always wanted to see with lightning flying all over the place and memorably using the frequency of the electricity's hum to play Van Morrison's Moondance.  I'm not doing it justice.  It's pretty cool.

 

Schuyler lands the Mars Rover.

Tenacity and persistence, Charlie.  They'll stand you in good stead in life.

 

boston aquarium

 

daddy does the [Boston] aquarium

HRH Prince Charles

As you can see Mummy is off duty this morning.

REAL LIVE PENGUINS!!!

 

Riding the train!!  Definitely one of the highlights for the kids of all our trips is any kind of transportation that isn't a car.  Charlie thought this was on a par with space travel.

 

Back at the hotel, the iBabysitter looks after Charlie during "quiet time"

 

 

checking in

 

 

 

 

So here we are back at the Hotel Marlowe - a good little hotel if you're in the area and like dogs.  There are also little tiny rabbits that seem to have found a way to survive out here in Cambridge MA and they hop about jarringly in the miniature parks that dot the area.  We've been here when Schuyler was a baby and again when she was a toddler and watched a romantic comedy with us (demonstrating the Parental Guidance aspect should be revisited), we've been here to fix Charlie's tongue when he was only a month or so old, and we've been here in lockdown during the manhunt for the Boston Bomber.  We like it here.  Boston is kind of a second home for Mama and Papa.  And now the kids are of an age where we can really have fun.  So let's get to it!

surveying the grounds

Schuyler and Charlie witness that blueberries actually come from somewhere other than a supermarket (and so does Daddy).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlie can't just walk down steps anymore - everything is an adventurous leap into the unknown.  Man, i'd love to be that fearless again.  I should have that as a life goal.

You can't eat that!

This was our last day in Vermont.  One of my early memories is of being five years old like Schuyler is now.  I was standing on the porch at Windrush saying goodbye to our cousin Stephen who had spent the night.  I remember crying so hard and that grey heaviness inside when you realise the fun is over and it's back to your normal life.  It doesn't mean your normal life is bad.  It just means that you're really aware of how much fun you were having before they left.  So here we are.  The ones who are leaving.  Driving off in the spitting New England rain saying goodbye to wrestle tickle at the lake, reading stories with Auntie Greta, driving the boat, terrifying Charlie at the castle, strawberry picking, countless great meals and laughter, cupcakes at grandmas,  Chinese food with Auntie Lisa, and heading down to Boston.  It's not fair sometimes to have to leave so soon.  But at least we get to come.  Thank you, Vermont family.  We'll be back.