Spring Break Saga (Just a Little Bit Late!) Part 1

I mentioned that Belle and I had an amazing Spring Break adventure to try and help her decide which school to choose.  She had narrowed down her choices to Marymount University in Arlington and Boston University.  They both were great choices and very different from each other.  Marymount is a small school, BU is a huge school.  Marymount offered her a better financial aid package and is closer to home, while BU is in our all time favorite place and within walking distance of Fenway Park (that is a reason to choose a school right?!)  In any case we decided to go back to both areas and just sight see, take some skating lessons and just get a feel for what they are like to live in. 

So, off we headed.  Since we were going to New England we decided to make a small side trip to Newport, RI where Belle was born.  She hadn't been there since she was 3 and she and I were both anxious to see it.  Amazingly it was very much the way I remembered it.  Some things were different, especially little shops we used to walk to on Thames street, but overall not much had changed. 

We arrived around 6 in the evening after driving all day.  We checked into our hotel and then went to drive around Newport.  We went and saw the "cottages" out on Ocean Drive (if you haven't ever been they are only cottages if you grew up in a castle!)  starting at King's Park where we used to go watch fireworks and Peter Pan once lost Moose on the playground (MEN! and that is another blog and $1000's in therapy for Moose I'm sure.)  We stopped at Brenton Point where we used to go fly kites when Belle and Moose were little.  Even though it was cold and I forgot my coat we had a blast.  Yes, I forgot my coat, I do that a lot.  I have done it on vacation, at skating competitions, and going to work.  This trip we were just getting to Washington DC when I realized I didn't have a coat.  It was too late to turn around.  Belle loved seeing the cottages and we had a good laugh about if we won the mega millions and buying one. 

Here was what we looked like back when we used to visit Brenton Point.  I'd say we have all changed a little.

Here is Belle on Spring Break.

We ended our first evening in New England at 99, a classic American Fare restaurant.  I don't know if it was the beach air or the long day in the car, but Belle and I were starving.  She had Chicken Parmigiana and I had Chicken tenders.  We agreed it was one of the best meals ever!  Then we made a stop at the Christmas Tree Shoppe, also a New England classic.  There is one in Richmond now, but it used to be a New England treat.  Contrary to the name it isn't just a Christmas store.  It is filled with the best stuff ever!  I got several things for our house and so began the shopping and loading part of our trip.  The most wonderful thing about Christmas Tree Shoppe is that it is dirt cheap!!!!!!  Bargain shopping at it's best. 

Just being in Newport made me miss it.  We had some great times there.  Belle came into our lives there.  It was a great place to live and I am glad we got to make a visit back.  Stay tuned for more Spring Break Saga at a later date.  I think I have been nostalgic enough for one night, and I really should get to bed.  Looking at those old pictures reminds me how far I need to walk on the treadmill...