quincy mahket

On Friday afternoon the girls and I decided to jump on the T and explore a few places that we haven't been to for a long long time. I took them over to Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. Riding the train was in and of itself exciting for Rosie. We hadn't eaten lunch and that seemed like an obvious place to head to.

by now it had stopped snowing and was just freezing, the snow murderers are way to efficient around MA.

needs no explanation

just a view

after a quick lunch, no one was hungry, we walked around all the shops.

We didn't stay long as we had plans to head to Kowloons in Saugus for dinner with Aunties Fran and Shell.

Aunties Fran and Shell

There is a long history here and all I will say is I am so thankful to have received custody of these fabulous peeps in my divorce. LOL We love them dearly and they are so much fun to be with. After dinner we headed over to the Christmas Tree Shops so that they could spoil the girlies. We tend to attract a lot of attention when we are all together due to the raucous laughter.

Just before we hopped back into the Uber to go back to Boston Auntie Shell mentioned the snow forecast for Saturday. Say what? I had not seen the weather as I thought we had finished with the snow. I looked at my phone and holy guacamole, it was meant to snow A LOT on Saturday. Awesome sauce. Once I see any snow forecast I stalk my phone like a freak. All morning Saturday, then all afternoon, then afternoon till midnight and that was how it ended up when I went to bed.

I have no idea how I managed to screw this up but I was positive the sista was arriving on Friday evening. Wrong ~ she didn't arrive until Saturday :(

more fluffy white stuff

PSA: many many photos

As soon as Rosie realised it was "really" snowing she insisted we go outside. The teenager decided she would rather wait for a little while as 7am was a bit too early for her. She joined us on the balcony but getting dressed in all those layers and heading outside was  too much for her. Rosie and I bundled up and headed out.

it was heavenly

as we walked out into the snow for the first time

brilliant

that sweet and happy smile. Those gloves never made it, we had to buy ski gloves.

without any prompting, she made a snowball

proud of herself

tada, the first time LOL

last snowball before we headed back upstairs.

Once the teenager was up we headed out for bagels and to start our snowy day. it was brilliant. The Revere Hotel is one block from Boston Common so that is where we went.

I loved the weather. Just loved it.

This chap and his allies are snow murderers. I have never seen so many of them and they were fast. The second it started to fall they were outside killing it. Darn.

Go away you nasty nasty machine

they couldn't wait to get to the common

all out war.

EVERYTHING, looks pretty with snow

Caro's college

looks pretty with snow

entrance to the common

this would be a great photo if my scarf wasn't inside out LOL

the kid constantly had a snowball in hand.

We had a blast on the Common and it was stunning

coffee in hand and ready to go

snow

Rosie and I

I should have cropped that chap out, I only just saw him. This is stunning

snowball fight

a lot of this happened

beautiful

both girls smiled the entire trip

who cares if its cold and wet, lets get covered.

more snow angels

my favourite photo of her

scheming

bliss

we attracted a lot of cimments regarding our joy

nutters

love this

We learnt after this quick trip out that we needed a couple of wardrobe modifications, thank god for Primart in Boston. New gloves for both girls and snowboots for Lily less than $20.
The smiles didn't stop and only got bigger and bigger especially when the sista arrived.

the elusive snow

For as many years that Lily has been able to talk she has wanted to play in the snow. One time when she was 3 we were in England and there was a freak snow storm in November and even though it happened overnight she did see and play in the white stuff the next day HOWEVER, the child who remembers every aspect of her life, does not remember this.

When we have travelled anywhere and there is a chance we could see snow we all get so excited but it just eludes us. When we flew to NY City a few years ago for the Rockettes it snowed on the 22nd of December and on the 24th, we were there on the 23rd and the sky was void of snow. When we flew to China to bring Rosie home, it was the coldest winter in I don't remember how many years and all of China was getting snow, we didn't. Tonnes of ice and temperature well into the minus digits but no snow. Annie got some when she flew back to Beijing, but not us. Paris, none, Chicago none, and I could go on and on.

When the Sista said she was coming to Boston for a few days and we all needed to get together I realised there would also be a chance of snow but I wasn't about to get my hopes up cos why the hell would I? As last Thursday approached I was watching the weather closely and it seemed to be that Friday was showing a constant forecast for snow but the rest of the weekend kept saying yes, then no. I finally told the girls. One thing I did know for sure, snow or not it was going to be COLD.

We flew out last Thursday and arrived in Boston to some pretty cold weather and loved it. The girls were breathing out and watching their breath, all the things that are quite typical but they never get to do. We checked into the hotel and then headed straight outside to get chilly.

Friday was still forecasting snow and very early in the morning, it looked to be over and done with by noon. I woke up early and kept checking the balcony, I pulled the curtains back so I could see from the bed. Just before 7 it started so I woke up Rosie.

Snow, real life snow. AMAZING

To you it might look like a mere dusting but when you have never seen it, well it's the moon and stars

awesome sauce

straight out of bed and the flash blinded her but see that smile...that is priceless, thank you Sista

On Friday night before she went to bed I suggested she pour a little water into a paper cup and put it outside, kids only ever seen ice one time. She almost filled the cup but it didn't disappoint, it was frozen solid by 7

and for once the forecast was right.

More snowy adventures and the best part of the trip, the Sista, to come.