Boston with Austin

A few weeks ago, Chris' parents were in Boston for a conference of some accounting related sort. And we three were invited to tag along for some Legal Seafood and sightseeing.  They had me at Legal Seafood.

Chris stayed for a day and a half, while Austin and I got to stay a bit longer. Giving us time to see the Children's Museum and spend some time in Boston Commons.

There are photographs for your viewing pleasure below.

 Lobster lolli.

 Swinging down the street.

This picture cracks me up.

 There is a long story associated with this picture.

In a nutshell?

That guy was a nut.

 I love the old and new of Boston.

 I was literally drinking the broth from these mussels with an empty shell.

The waiter kindly asked if I would like some bread to sop up the juice. Which is waiter talk for "you are freaking people out by eating like a Barbarian".

 The waiter was kind enough to take a picture for us.

A crappy picture.

But a picture nonetheless.

 Pop and Nonny.

 I was freaking out the whole time.

I was so scared of Austin falling into the water.

 Somehow his jumping off of things doesn't bother me.

 Oh yeah.

That's what I'm talking about.

 So ugly- she's cute!

 We have a thing for penguins in our house.

 The New England Aquarium was really nice.

Austin's behavior there was not.

 He did touch a starfish.

 It was slimy and bumpy.

 How are these so gorgeous?

 Mesmerized.

 I think we did Legal Seafood twice.

Or was it thrice?

Durgin Park dinner.

Austin ate half of Pop's Yankee Pot Roast. 

 Something I learned in Boston:

I don't like their baked beans.

 I really recommend this place.

Shrimp Scampi?

Heaven.

 Adoring grandparents.

 Jumping off of things. Again.

 At the Children's Museum. Which Austin LOVED.

Realizing after I saw this picture that Austin actually put his mouth on that.

Cringing and thinking of calling the Pediatrician to ask for a dose of antibiotics.

 Bus driver Austin.

 Carrot farmer Austin.

 He's famous! On an episode or Arthur!

 Raiding Arthur's fridge.

 Airline pilot Austin.

 Exercise Austin.

 Shadow butterfly chasing Austin.

 Bobcat driving Austin.

 Are you totally getting tired of reading Austin after each comment?

 Crane operator Austin.

 Ethnic grocery store shopping Austin.

 Climbing Austin.

 I begged him not to go too high, he has a history of climbing into things and freaking out at the top.

I have done one too many rescue missions at Chik-Fil-A play area.

 Now onto some fountain fun.

Which he was not a fan of.

These were shooting really high. I think it scared him a little.

He misses German fountains.

 We found a balloon.

 Then onto Boston Commons.

And ducks.

 We took the Swan Boat ride.

 Swan Lake.

Badumpbump. Ching!

 Austin and Nonny with the ducks from Make Way for Ducklings

(which Nonny bought him a copy of)

Mother Duck!

Wet Paint

From the day we moved into this house, I swore I was going to repaint the Dining Room. Was it the color that offended me so? No. Was it the fact that the previous owners used flat paint in a high traffic area that showed DNA evidence of every person who ever walked into the room? Hecks yes. Those walls were NASTY. 

And here's a fact for you:

When you try to clean walls painted with dark flat paint- you will only make them look WORSE.

So what did I do while Austin was at Camp Grandparents for a week?

I painted.

And ate bagels.

But mostly painted.

And here's another fact for you:

Deciding to paint a room with chair rails may be the stupidest thing you'll ever do.

(And I've gone down a hill in a grocery cart.)

The walls were beginning to look like a gross chalk board.

Streaky and smeared walls + a lot of sunlight = eww.

Chris, of course, never even noticed.

Mid way.

Regretting my decision a little bit.

This is when you need the Flogging Molly's Pandora Music Station to get you through.

Unfortunately that usually also makes you want a beer and to punch someone.

Oh, but AFTER? It is glorious. A fabulous eggshell finish, chocolate pudding can be easily wiped off of the walls. And the color looks better.

So after a successful Dining Room job- why not move on to another room?

Like the yellow room.

 I have been dying to paint a room gray since the beginning of time.

I petitioned for the basement to be a light gray color, but that idea was shot down by a certain person who shall remain unnamed.

Chris.

So the yellow guest room it was.

Especially since the walls were pretty banged up and I counted 18 nail holes.

Seriously people?

18?

So back to the grind.

Taping, spackling, sanding, cleaning, and then painting. Not in that order.

I felt this room had more of an Avett Brothers Pandora Station vibe.

Oh yeah, this is what I'm talking about.

Mother Nature trying to copy my new color.

 And then came the blisters.

Bad ass.

Success!

Then I got a second wind and painted all of the trim and the doors.

Then I got a third wind and went to Home Depot and got new outlet covers and a Snickers bar.

Then I realized that I couldn't lift my arms.

And that I had stepped in a spot of paint in my bare feet and tracked a tiny gray splotch all over my house.

I wouldn't call it a flawless victory.

But I do love how a new coat of paint makes everything seem cleaner, fresher, and more mine.

Now to do some decorating. 

And I should probably get a Snickers...