New Year, New Post, New Hampshire

Welcome back everyone (and myself)! I've really let things slide around here. I could give you some excuses, but really it boils down to my lack of motivation. I've had more time on my hands in the past 6 months than I have in the past 3 years. Somewhere along the way I decided no one really cared what I put out on this blog, but to my surprise a few of you have expressed that you actually miss it! So I thought I'd get back at it.

For now, let's catch up!

Way back when, over Christmas break, we spent some time at home with family and got to see a few friends as well. We then headed to New Hampshire to visit Mike, Kelsey, and Addy at their new home. Even (Brother) Mike was also there for a few days!  Since we've gained quite the reputation for long road trips, I will clarify that we flew this time.  :)

I did not plan a single thing for this trip. Not one. My only goal was to soak up quality time with these friends. I was giddy with excitement just to be in the same place for an entire week. This excitement even held us through a plane delay, midnight flight, and arrival time of 3:00 am.

We did lots of things Northerners do, while there. Two days in, we received their first snow fall of the year, which greatly enhanced the experience.

Addy was excited to go out into the snow. Not to play, but to eat a "snow clump." She did want to follow this up by drinking hot cocoa. (Told you she was smart.)

Mike plowed the driveway, like Northern gentlemen do.

We ventured out on the roads- all plowed. And I admired, as all the people went about their daily lives. I thought about rolling down the window and yelling, "It's snowing! Go home!" But, alas, schools and businesses still run, people still go to work. It's hocus pocus up their. (Insert non-so-faint memories of Birmingham's Snowpocalypse 2014.)

I took my first toboggan ride. Exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time. Thankfully two local kids tested it out first to make sure we wouldn't die in the brush at the bottom.

We drove to Newburyport and ate true New England clam chowder, and were also introduced to maple candies. Jesse went snow-shoeing, and we played a game of candle-pin bowling (which is like normal bowling except with tall skinny pins, and you don't have to wait for the pins to be reset; however New England people think this is normal bowling.)

We flew out of Boston, so we spent our last day exploring there. Boston is a beautiful place that holds so much history, and you can tell the friendly people are proud of their city. We took a hop-on, hop-off trolley tour, which was a great way to see the highlights. Our tour guide had the ultimate Boston accent, which made the tour extra exciting! The Old State House was built in 1713, and in 1776 the Declaration of Independence was read to the people of Massachusetts from the front balcony. Today it is towered by skyscrapers. The upper levels can be toured, and the basement is now a city subway entrance.

We toured Paul Revere's home.

And the Old North Church where Paul Revere hung the lanterns and began his journey to warn that the British were coming. 

We ended our tour at the Boston Harbor, then warmed up with a cup of tea.

And in case you were wondering....while in Boston we had more clam chowder, a lobster roll, and a lobster tail pastry and cannoli. (The best cannoli of my life.)