What's S'Happening with the Stockwells: Spring Training

Sigh. Another month has flown by without a post. I have so much I want to write, deep thoughts that come to me on my loooong training runs for a little 26.2 jog I plan to take a week from Sunday (!). Thoughts about where I am and where I'm going (figuratively, not literally - I usually have a decent sense of where I am), how much the boys have grown up, how our relationships are changing, what it means to parent a 6- and an 8-year old. Without too much awareness or intention, I have always used running as a time to reflect, evaluate, and process. But when I return from running and sit down to write, inevitably, life calls. Broken elbows, stomach bugs, practice exams to take, new computers to rewire, mulch to spread (it is finally spring after all!)...plus all the normal everyday stuff. But I owe it to myself and my kids to find a time to capture these reflections as I have them, because they quickly vanish as time passes. So...at some point (right?)...I will find the time to put all that on paper. In the meantime, before it is too far in the rear view mirror - our Spring Break 2015 adventures...

One thing that I love about my boys is that they have the ability to get excited about almost anything. I love their sense of adventure and spontaneity, and their willingness to jump in the car and take a road trip with their mama and their Noni. When I told them we would be visiting Sturbridge, Plymouth, and Boston over Spring Break, you would have thought I told them we were going to Disney World.

This is the one and only picture I took in Sturbridge. It POURED rain the whole time we were there, but we still had a lot of fun learning about how New Englanders did things in the nineteenth century. We also learned, surprisingly, that you can get some pretty delicious Thai food in Sturbridge.

Day 2's weather was a complete reversal. Sunny and warm - perfect for exploring Plimoth Plantation. Ethan had been begging to go the Plimoth Plantation since the Wampanogs visited his classroom this fall.

Learning to braid fibers to make covers for a summer home.

These settlers had quite the view!

Learning to march.

And charge!

Forts and cannons are always a hit

Channeling their Dad's skills at lawn games.

We loved Plimoth Plantation. And we loved the town of Plymouth! We stayed at a great family-friendly hotel with a pool and water slides, and enjoyed exploring the quaint town.

From our hotel, a beautiful walking trail meandered down by the river.

Some of us got up close and personal with said river, and had soggy shorts for dinner.

On Day 3 we awoke to another spectacular day, and decided we needed a little time on the beach before heading to Destination #3: Boston.

Shell-collecting and dam-building.

First stop in Boston: Fenway Park! The boys have become huge Red Sox fans, so this was a top priority. The Sox weren't in town, but we enjoyed a tour of the ballpark.