Maine (sweetheart time cont.)

After we left Boston, we drove up the coast of Maine.  I don't really know why, but I have always wanted to go there.  I don't know what I expected, but it was different than I had imagined.  I loved it!  It was such a great mixture of water and forest.  It had a "wilder" feel than I expected.  I loved how it was so much more its own place than a lot of areas in the United States.  It was more regionalized and didn't have as much of the national chain feel.

Our "home" base was Portland and then we drove all the other places and back.  We never drove farther than 2 or 3 hours away at a time.  Portland's downtown was so cute.  Old, worn-out cobblestones and brick buildings.  I don't know why I didn't take any pictures.  The only one I have is taken through the window of our hotel room - kind of towards the harbor.

We enjoyed ourselves by going to several different lighthouses.  This one was in Portland.  We saw it on Mother's Day and had our first lobster roll outside of it in a little shack.  The wind was so cold!

We climbed around a little bit down below but didn't get wet.  I took a picture of this because it was so interesting.  This rock was everywhere and it looked like wood.  It was really weird.  There was a sign where a boat crashed on these rocks on Christmas Eve in 1886.  It was a great day!  We wandered around the cute downtown of Portland and then went back to the hotel to wait for Taylor's Mother's Day call!  We got to talk to him for 1 1/2 hours - it was so awesome!  We called at the kids at home and did a conference call with all of them.  It was so good to talk to Taylor.  It was the best Mother's Day present ever and he sounded great!

Here are a couple of other lighthouses that we were able to see as we drove around the coast of Maine.

This is the same one as above, but I put another picture to show that it was out on a rock and they don't let you across because it's too dangerous.

One day as we drove up the coast to Camden, I took several pictures of cute old houses (so many turned into bed and breakfasts) and the quaint towns we passed along the way.

This is kind of an ugly picture, but note the old Rexall sign.  Just like we grew up with!

Camden was so cute, but oh so cold that day.  We drove up to a look-out and thought we were going to freeze to death!  I don't know that I've ever felt the wind so cold :)

My camera was zoomed as far as it would go for this picture from the lookout.

I had no idea that there were so many little islands and peninsulas in Maine.  If you look at a map close up it is amazing.  These all were taken at the top of the lookout.

We ate at so many amazing little places on the whole trip - we ate too well!  I think we had some type of seafood almost every meal!  It was awesome!  We had lobster rolls (which we had never had before and now I will crave forever), clam strips, clam chowder, lobster and more lobster rolls :) 

We loved Kennebunkport and Ogunquit.  Here are some pictures in Ogunquit

We were determined to find the little covered bridges that New England is famous for.  Sadly, there aren't that many left.  Yay for Brad who searched out and found this little bridge!  It was so beautiful there.

I loved this little platform with the rope swing!

We ended up the trip by stopping in Salem, Massachusetts on our way to the airport.  It was where they had they witch trials and then the Bewitched TV show was filmed there.  We were surprised to learn that all of the accused were killed within just a 2 or 3 month span.  

Wow!  What a wonderful trip we had!  I guess we are getting old, because we enjoyed the boring stuff...all the history, the driving, the lighthouses, etc.  It was such a relaxing get-away!  We love traveling so much and it was so great to see some new parts of the country that we hadn't ever seen.  I fell in love with both of them - but I think especially Maine.  I can't wait to go back someday and do the fall tour.  Until then, we will be dreaming of the lobster rolls :)

Sweetheart Time (Boston)

Back in early May, I was lucky enough to get away for a week with my sweetheart! Yay for American Express and Delta points! We managed to fly and stay for free. All we had to pay for was food and a rental car for a few days.

We flew to Boston and spent a few days there. It was so great to see all the historical sights from our country's early history! The first day we walked all along the Freedom Trail. It was so cool to walk through Battery Park,

and follow the little brick trail as it took is through the city. We got to see some really cool old churches that our early leaders attended. 

We got to see Paul Revere's home and some really awesome old cemeteries.

The North Church where the lanterns were hung was huge!  I always pictured it much smaller and not as majestic.

Brad had me take a picture where he thought that Nic Cage might be hiding at the end of National Treasure!

That evening we ate at the oldest tavern in America called "A Bell in the Hand" or something like that. I really enjoyed just wandering around all day!

On our 2nd day, we rented a car and went to Bunker Hill and climbed to the top.  I was pretty proud of myself with my bad knee . . . it was hard.

Then we went to see the USS Constitution, or "Old Ironsides". 

After we were done there we drove to Cape Cod.  It was fun, but it didn't look anything like expected - I don't really know what I expected though:)  It was a fun day and we ate great seafood.

 

A lobster trap

The next day, we checked out of the hotel and drove over to tour Lexington and Concord. We found the temple and of course it was beautiful.  We didn't stay long because it was raining.

Concord was absolutely gorgeous! It was one of the cutest towns I have ever seen. But like a dummy, I didn't take any pictures :( We got some sandwiches and sat out on an old bench to eat them. Then we went along the trail where the British army marched and watched a movie at the visitors center that explained things really well. It was so green and quiet.

We spent some quiet time on the bridge where the first battle started. Brad and I both commented on the feeling of sacredness we felt there. It was quiet and beautiful and the perfect place to reflect on the greatness and sacrifices of our forefathers. I am so grateful that they let themselves be led by God.

We were also fortunate enough to go to Louisa May Alcotts house and Walden Pond. It rained off and on all day.  Everywhere we went I was struck by how green, lovely, peaceful and quiet it was.

Look at this crazy cool barn of Louisa's!

There were little walking trails by the homes.

I loved Boston!  I am so glad that we finally got to spend some time there.  I would go back in a heartbeat.  I would love to see it in the Autumn.    (to be continued)

Introducing . . .

the newest BYU graduate!!!!  Emily graduated on Friday, April 24, 2010 with a B.A. in English and Minors in Editing and Music.  What a fabulous accomplishment!  And . . . she did the whole thing in 4 years.  It seems like that doesn't happen very often anymore.  It has been a goal for her ever since she was a little girl.

Some of us were lucky enough to go up and celebrate with her.  Brad and I and Danny and Ryan arrived in time on Thursday to attend the huge graduation.  I think they said there were 5 to 6,000 graduates.  Elder Christopherson was the main speaker and it was really nice.  Afterwards, Emily chose to celebrate with Indian food.  We were a little skeptical to take the younger boys there, but decided to try it out.  Everyone loved it!  The only things that were missing were Taylor and Alex.  Taylor is in the DR on his mission and Alex had to stay home for Volleyball and school.

Emily kept the boys with her that night and partied and had a sleepover while Brad and I went on up to Park City to Andy's condo.  We are so thankful that we have such a generous brother and sister-in-law.  They have let us use the place a lot over the years.  Thanks guys!

The next morning it was raining, but it was still really nice.  We picked up Emily and she and I ran into the Hinckley Building so she could meet the Pres. of BYU.  Then we dropped her off and went on over to the Marriott Center.  We got great seats.  For the convocation, I think there were around 600 graduates in the School of Humanities.  It was really nice too and this was the one where they actually call their name and give them the diploma.  Then we got to go in building where Emily spent most of her time and meet one of her professors.

  President Samuelson and wife

It was such a great weekend and we are so proud of her!  I think she is a little sad that it is all over with, but she has a great future ahead of her too.  She just found out last week that she was chosen for an internship in the Fall with the Liahona magazine!  It is really prestigious and hard to get - plus they will pay her $13 an hour while she is doing it!  I can't believe our little girl is all grown up :)

She might have been crying a little :)

The happy family minus 2

This is the cute little house that Emily will live in next year.  She will live in Provo and commute to Salt Lake to the church office building.  She is really excited about it.

Ryan's Special Day!

Today was Ryan's baptism day!  He has waited anxiously for a month.  His birthday was on February 14th, but last month's baptisms were held the day before his birthday.  He has had a lot to occupy his though with starting Cub Scouts (which he is loving)!  Ryan has prepared himself really well for this day and he took it really seriously.  He has been reading his scriptures and writing in his journal.  I am so proud of him!  

This morning before we left he got to open a few gifts.  He got a new tie and tie tac from Nana.  The tie has Captain Moroni on it and the tie tac says CTR.  Next he opened his brand new scriptures!  He specifically requested a blue quad like his brother Danny's.  He also got a scripture bag to put them in.  Later in the day, the Mooney's gave him a little hymn book to match, the Patterson's gave him some money and his teacher Sister Pond game him a journal and a baptism book.

He was excited to share this special day with his buddy Jack Raymond.  They even share the same birthday!

It was such a special day!  Emily was able to come down from Provo to be with us, so all we were missing was our awesome missionary Taylor.  I know he was thinking about us today.  The meeting was really nice.  The Stake Primary leaders spoke and the kids who were getting baptized sang "If the Saviour Were Beside Me".  It was really beautiful and we could hear Ryan's pretty voice.  After he was baptized, we met in the chapel for the confirmations and Sister Raymond and I bore our testimonies.  Then the Bishop (Brad) wrapped it up very nicely and Danny was asked to say the closing prayer.  We came home and had a nice lunch with family.

All in all, it was a beautiful day with a sweet spirit.  I can't believe that this is our last child to get baptized.  We are so proud of him and the wonderful, happy, good boy that he is.  We love you very much Ryan!

Aunt Oleta

Aunt Oleta passed away on January 15th.  She was 95 years old.  Brad and I were lucky enough to go up to Salt Lake to her funeral.  It was quite an adventure because we ended up getting stranded in Salt Lake for an extra night because Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix actually closed because of wicked thunderstorms and windshear.  There was actually a tornado watch also.

I met Aunt Oleta 24 years ago during April conference.  Brad's parents came up for conference that year, so he took me to Aunt Oleta's to stay with the relative while he and his dad went to Priesthood conference. It was kind of scarey because I was so shy, but they were all so nice and sweet.  We saw Uncle Ashael and Oleta as often as we could through the years.  They were really more like grandparents to the McBride kids because theirs had passed away and Uncle Ashael and Aunt Oleta had helped to raise Horton.  They were such wonderful people.  I am so glad that I was privileged enough to get to know them.  I'm also glad that I took the time to take Taylor and Emily over to see her in September on our way down to the MTC.   She was a great lady and we will miss her!