Vacation from the vacations

 The one local highlight of the summer was the U2 concert at the TD Garden. As expected, it was awesome.

The path from our parking spot at the Museum of Science took us right over the Zakim Bridge

Max, always a sweetheart, has been losing weight this year. A trip to the vet diagnosed another case of hyperthyroidism, and we'll likely treat him again with radioactive iodine. Poor guy.

More early American industrial history! The Saugus Iron Works shows how those resourceful Puritans figured out how to smelt iron in the 1600s. They traded sheep for ore, built settlements, and then bought development cards from the native people.

With charcoal bins and several waterwheels for the bellows, the site had all the working parts of a forge 

There was even a blacksmith on hand to demonstrate how nails were made

A smoketree at the Iron Works - hah!

Not sure what led up to these poses, but back off!

The hammock in the backyard continues to be more of an amusement park ride than a source of relaxation

With Tessie successfully transitioned to the toddler bed, it's time to say sayonara to the baby crib

One beautiful Sunday morning we took a trip out to the Boston Harbor Islands

Here's proof that Erin is over her fear of boats

We had last been out to St. George's island 15 years ago, when it had no amenities and one did feel stranded on a desert island. Now there's an air-conditioned visitor center, a snack shack, a climbing structure, and even lounge chairs - nice! 

Yes, that is an Elmo backpack on Tessie and yes, she does wear it all night

It's not as impressive on the small screen, but here's a look at the elevated catwalk at the U2 concert

Bono belting Song for Someone

Bow of the Ferry

MD-VA 2015

After a two-day, snack-filled drive down to Maryland, the car needed detailing to remove crumbs and Katy's chickens willingly obliged

Charlie and Erin spent hours playing with the chickens

Not content to leave the National Park sites in the DC area unexplored, Dave took his girls, plus Lyla and Charlie on a busy day trip. First stop, Fort Washington, first established for the War of 1812 and expanded for the Civil War.

The kids dutifully worked on Junior Ranger booklets under Bobblehead George's watchful eye

The requisite cannons in the deserted fort didn't have signs prohibiting climbing...

Erin and Lyla made the hike down to the Potomac River for the view across of Mount Vernon and upriver towards DC

At the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Anacostia DC, Erin didn't have the stomach for the movie portraying slave life

Oxon Hill Farm was oddly situated inside a cloverleaf of the DC beltway, and proved to be a dense, if not mildly informative view of farming life

 The resident goat Aaron was a feisty kid and tolerated this extra attention

Have Charlie and Lyla been successfully infected with the Junior Ranger bug?

Not a bad day's haul: 7 badges and 1 patch for each

Back at Boxwood Farm, the kids swam and played

Erin loved the joy rides with Charlie

 In addition to entertaining guests, Aunt Katy's dental skills were also put to use

On the way to Virginia we stopped at the Clara Barton NHS in Glen Echo, MD. The founder of the American Red Cross and a tireless leader of relief efforts nationwide, we believe that she is a strong candidate for the upcoming addition to the $10 bill.

Her house was set up like a Red Cross shelter with many storage rooms and even a cotton muslin ceiling.

At Aunt Claire's the cousins had fun swimming and kayaking around Lake Barcroft

Brooke and Erin are losing their gap-toothed smiles

Tessie had fun romping around with the big kids

The eldest children

Back in Maryland, we prepped for Katy's square dance, which was a huge success, so much so that we didn't stop to take any photos

One more NP site day trip. The Fredericksburg battlefield preserved a bullet-ridden house

Aunt Katy leads the Junior Ranger charge

Outside Fredericksburg was Ferry Farm, the link between GW's birthplace and Mount Vernon

Caroline Ehmann, est. 2007

George Washington's birthplace can be found in George Washington's Birthplace, Virginia, on the neck of land between the Potomac and Rappahannock estuaries. It is a beautiful location with a re-creation of the original house and plantation.

Katy was envious of the boxwood on the grounds

There it is, Virginia's cash crop: tobacco

 Every year we get a little closer to a great lineup photo of the cousins

 Patriotic mustaches!

 This may be the last year the porch swing can support all 8 kids

 We had a great time with our visit

Fort Washington fun

Glen Echo carousel

Before the square dance