Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut

 We have just returned from a really lovely trip with my friend Shelley who basically footed the bill for me and Evie.  Shelley won an award given to the top 1% of her company, and she was invited to (and basically expected to attend) the award dinner in Boston, and was allowed to bring one person with her.  After realizing it would be bad if she had to decide between her two parents, she asked me and I told her I would gladly go, but I was a bit reluctant to be away from Evie, and Shelley said, "Bring her!"  The dinner was in Boston, which was a trip I had actually planned for last October but had to cancel because of the divorce expenses, so of course I jumped at the chance.  We packed a lot into 5 days!

We left on Saturday, May 24 and flew nonstop from Memphis to Boston, arriving a little before noon hitting state #43 for Evie upon entering Massachusetts.  We checked our bags at the hotel (because after having them stolen from Ryan's car in London in December, I don't think Evie will ever leave her bag in a car again), and headed to lunch at Shake Shack and then the science museum.  Evie has a new goal of hitting up a science museum in every state, though I told her she'd have to work on that with her kids 'cause I'm already getting her to every state, but too late to go back for science museums now.

After the science museum we went back to the hotel and had an early night since we had been up since 4:30 am.

Sunday we went to the aquarium, had lunch Faneuil Hall, and then went to see mine and Shelley's college friend, Crystin, in a show.  It was so wonderful that Crystin happened to be in town and performing the same time we were there!

By the aquarium

After the show, we went to dinner with Crystin and her boyfriend Lee.

Monday, we hit states #44 and 45 with Rhode Island and Connecticut.  We started by going on the Cliff Walk in Newport, RI, where we had a view of The Breakers and had a chance to walk down to the water and build a cairn (I didn't know it was called a cairn until Matt told me).

Cairn accomplished

Then we drove to Connecticut where Shelley had found a touch tank aquarium for us to stop at on the way to Yantic Falls waterfall.

Tuesday we went to Salem and saw witchy things.

Bewitched statue

The Witch House

Then Tuesday night was the award dinner so Shelley and I went downstairs to that while Evie stayed upstairs until we finished and then met us in the hotel restaurant for her dinner.

Wednesday we went to the Tea Party Museum and threw tea into the harbor, and then took a duck tour vehicle (which can go on both water and land) on a loop around Boston.  We made a quick stop at Beacon Park before heading to the airport.  It was a busy, super fun trip.  

Evie got to drive the duck tour vehicle in the water

It was a busy, super fun trip.  I love having friends who enjoy my kid and want to provide her with experiences and support.  Shelley is so great with Evie and Evie really enjoys talking with her.