October 31st, 2008

Elliot, my mom and I travelled to Boston to meet up with Jacqueline for a 2 week trip through New England. Elliot fared the best on our overnight flight being the only one to actually get some sleep. By keeping him on Seattle time, we were able to enjoy late-night dinners at some amazing restaurants (and some pretty nasty ones too) throughout the trip.

During the 5 days in Boston we got to check out some of America's oldest historical sites while exploring the Freedom Trail. We walked our way all over Boston and also got to ride the oldest subway in the US.

We picked up our rental car in Boston and headed out on New England's toll highway system towards New Hampshire. "Thank God for the iphone GPS" became our motto for our many trips in the car. We stayed at The Little Farm B&B in Wolfeboro, NH for 2 nights. The farm had it's own chickens, goats, a sheep, and even a minature horse. Elliot woke up every morning wanting to look out the window to see all the animals. He was so excited to be able to use his newly learned sign for horse. Elliot even got to collect the farm-fresh eggs we ate for our delicious country breakfast.

Off to our whirlwind trip to New York City! Elliot was such a trooper during our 4-hour shoe shopping expedition at Macy's, that we teated him to a walk through Central Park. He was quite the show stopper while he danced and posed for all the passer-bys. (Photo coming soon!) Shopping and eating comprised most of our time in New York, with our favourite restaurant being Norma's at the Parker-Meridian Hotel for breakfast. YUMMY!!!!!

Rhode Island, here we come! After our completely underwhelming visit to Providence we headed to Newport to check out the famous Newport mansions. These were the 'summer cottages' of America's wealthiest families back in the Glided Era of the 19th Century. We attended the Astor's Beechwood mansion's special evening tour where we got to step back in time and interact with actors playing the parts of various members of the Astor family and their friends. The handsome young men were even able to persuade our dance-phobic mother to twirl around the ballroom in the Grand Waltz. Elliot even got to dance with all the pretty young debutantes!

Elliot is a superb traveller and we all look forward to taking more trips with him in the future!

-Nicole, Jacqueline, Chris and Elliot

The 'Longfellows' bridge connecting Boston and Cambridge.

Elliot plays in the leaves while checking out the Harvard University campus in Cambridge.

Along the drive through New Hampshire headed toward New York. The fall foliage season was just past its peak which made the scenery breathtaking.

Shopping in Manhattan, Elliot takes his naps where he can, when he can.

Chris braves the slide in Central Park.

Another run down the slide.

"Gimmie an Underdog Push, Grams!!"

Dancing for the Saxaphone guy in Central Park

In Providence, Rhode Island, Elliot gets to ride a real carousel.

At the Astor's Newport mansion, during their "live-action" tour performance.

At the Astor's mansion. Here they perform a song at the ball for the night's entertainment.

Elliot, clearly annoyed at leaving his sunglasses back at the hotel suite poses with Chris and Jacqueline.

Eating lunch at one of the restaurants in Newport, Rhode Island.

The Marble House in Newport, Rhode Island.

The Massachuetts statehouse in Boston, with it's gold-plated dome.

Riding the trolly in New Hampshire, Elliot looks a little under-entertained.

Chris, Elliot and Jacqueline in Central Park.

Posing and walking around Central Park.

Nicole and Elliot race down the tandem slide, side-by-side!

Nicole steals a kiss after one of the slide runs.

-And flirting with the girl nearby.

One of his many laps on the carousel

At the Astor's mansion, chatting away in the kitchen.

Elliot tries to escape from his auntie Jacqueline...

Some of the many mansions along the "cliff walk" in Newport, Rhode Island.

One of the mansion's "front yards".

The "Carey Mansion" in Newport Rhode Island.