So, I couldn't decide which group picture to post... our first group shot at Harvard seemed adorable until I realized that Nick Jones was hiding. The second picture may have been an option, except that we have a couple blinkers. So, I posted both.

Wednesday

We started the day with a nice hike around Walden Pond. Of course, Mrs. Sisk and I were trying to impress the transcendentalist values of simplicity and self-reliance upon our students as we sauntered in Thoreau's footsteps. However, I think everyone was a bit more interested in playing with the ice and snow. (Which was fine because, in Mrs. Sisk's words, "Thoreau was a weirdo anyways. Who would want to live out here by himself for two years?")

After the hike, we went to the Concord museum, ate lunch in town, and then went to visit the Sleepy Hollow graveyard. We saw the graves of Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. In keeping with transcendentalist thought, Thoreau's grave was marked by a small headstone, simply labeled "Henry." Emerson's grave, however, was a bit more ornate. A giant rock was decorated with a plaque labeled (not-so-simply), "The passive master lent his hand to the vast soul that o'er him planned."

In the afternoon, we had an hour or so of free time, so some went shopping, some napped, and some walked down the street to try to ice skate (the ice was slushy, so we ended up hanging out at the Boston Commons instead). In the evening, we went to the Italian section of Boston and had dinner. Then, we went to the Celtics' game-- the atmosphere was fun, but the Memphis Grizzlies upset the Celtics 111-91. So sad! But, we wore our green and rooted for the losing team anyways.

I can't believe the week is more than halfway over! We've packed a LOT into the past 3 days, but the time has gone quickly. I guess time flies when you're having fun! :)

Tuesday

We started today with a tour around Boston's famous Freedom Trail- complete with costumed guide, of course (see picture attached). The tour was really informative; we learned about and saw everything Revolution- related. We started at Boston Commons, went by some pretty incredible sites, and ended at Faneuil Hall. After lunch, we went over to the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. Some of the kids encountered the subway-- a form of public transportation that is completely foreign to Houstonites-- for the very first time! And, miraculously, everyone got on and off the subway at the same time, so we had no problem staying together. Luckily, we have a fabulous group of kids, so they are fairly easy to manage.

Honestly, I was a bit worried that our kids wouldn't be into an art museum, but the ISGM is a unique museum experience. As the tour guides walked us around Isabella Stewart Gardner's private collection and asked probing questions about each piece of art, our group gave some amazingly insightful responses to some of the pieces shown. The museum houses everything from Rembrant to Durer to John Singer Sargent, and some of the building's architecture is comprised of pieces of old Venetian palazzos and tiles from an ancient Roman bath. Apparently, Isabella Stewart Gardner collected all of these items during her life, and arranged each piece in the museum to inspire creativity and provoke depth of thought-- I think she accomplished her goal.

This evening, we ate dinner at the Parker House Restaurant and walked a couple blocks away to see the Lion King at the Boston Opera House. We can all safely testify that the Parker House rolls and the Boston Cream Pie are as wonderful as expected. (Luckily, we've been walking everywhere!) Also, the Lion King was incredible-- the Boston Opera House was beautiful, and if one is going to see a show anywhere besides Broadway, I think this might be the place.

Tomorrow will be another activity-packed day-- Walden, ice skating, and Celtics are all on the queue. So, should be fun!

Monday

So, after a 4:30 a.m. start, a four hour plane ride (complete with Alex Cooper's monster snoring), a tour of the JFK library, and a two mile hike from the hotel to dinner to a movie and back, we are finally settling down for the evening. It has been a long day, so I'll give a few highlights & promise to post pictures tomorrow!

Top 3 highlights:

1. All the people on the plane kept turning around wondering what in the world that horrendous noise could be... As it turned out, the noise was just Alex.

2. The JFK library was really interesting... Conspicuously absent from the museum, however: conspiracy theory!

3. The people at the front desk remarked about how well-behaved our kids were today.

The hotel and the weather are both beautiful. We are
looking forward to another FULL day tomorrow!

THREE MORE DAYS!

After nearly a year of planning, we are FINALLY about to head up north to discover the land of Henry David Thoreau, Patrick Henry, the Celtics, and (perhaps most importantly) Boston Cream Pie. And, if weather.com is reliable, I don't believe we'll be buried underneath mountains of snow.

In case anyone is curious, we are staying at one of the most interesting hotels in the country (in my opinion). Be sure to check out the following link & read the Omni Parker House history (under "Hotel Highlights"):
http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/BostonParkerHouse.aspx

Boston travelers: Remember to bring that WARM jacket and we'll see you pre-sunrise at IAH on Monday morning (5:30, Gate E).