East Side, Baby!

We just returned from my first excursion to the far East for nearly 8 years. This time I got to bring my two favorite people and show them around. We had so much fun seeing beautiful New England, eating really good Italian food, and most of all, visiting our friends.

Mia's initial airplane experience- I was a little nervous to travel like this with a 6-month-old, but my anxiety was all in vain...she was awesome. We got to see our friends Ems and Jillian. Jill was feeling empty handed while taking the pic, so Libby had to act as a proxy.

The Mia/River romance was re-kindled...at least on one end.

We had lots of swimming time at the hotels. Mia is a fish.

I was startled by the water temperature. Mia didn't notice.

After hiking to the top of the Bunker Hill monument...phew!

La Casa de Paul Revere

The apple orchard by my old house in Mass...It would have been quite heavenly had we been a month earlier

My old house in Mass (we were trying to be stealth while taking the picture- please forgive the tree)

Quincy Market (note the big smile on David's face)

Riding the "T' like a true Bostonian...

...and kicking back with a little Brown Bear after a long day

Thank you, Martha, for including Gravestone 101 in this year's October issue. I felt like quite the expert.

Louisa May Alcott's house- my hero

The Old North Bridge, where it all began

I had to get a picture with the circle windows in our old church building. I was pleased to find that they weren't just a figment of my imagination these past years.

Rockefeller Center

A run-of-the-mill-parked-wienie-mobile

Mia and the Liberty Bell

with the best hostess ever

David's first official Philly Cheesesteak- Mia was hoping to catch anything that dropped

Downtown Philly

Rocky Reese

With the Bird fam- Mia received lots of love that night.

Mercer's Fonthill...returning home to West Coast architecture was painful

Mia enjoyed lounging with Amanda on her sheepskin rug Amanda and her personal chauffeur took us to see the ginger bread houses at Peddler's Village, among other things.