A quick side trip and then back through Texas

Finally a chance to sit down and catch up!

We are back on the road after spending five days in Boston and Marblehead, MA to see Hillary's sister, Lauren, graduate with her BS in Exercise Science from BU. We flew out to Boston last Friday after spending the day with Tyler's Uncle Doug and his new fiancee, Judy. After caving, we all needed a day to lounge, connect, and fill up on some awesome bar-b-que!

Once in Boston, Hills, Ty, Aspen, and Jesse had the privilege of staying with one of Tyler's patient's sister and her husband. Only two and a half miles from Lauren's BU apartment, we definitely got our fair share of walking in - which was a good thing considering all of the amazing meals we consumed! We spent the weekend with Hillary's parents, sister, aunt, family friend, and grandma and the entire group enjoyed boating, museums, walking, dining, and touring the outskirts of Boston. Definitely a good time. Congrats, Bort! You did it!

After Hillary's family left town, we set out for Marblehead, MA to spend a night with some old friends of Ty's family. In this little town across the harbor from Salem, we got the royal treatment with an historic tour or the sweet little town, including the local ghost stories, some super burgers and then a taste of scrod (again following our bellies ...) A day of traveling (with a screaming baby on the plane - yes, we were that family with the baby that drives everyone crazy), and we were back in Alvarado to stay one more night with Uncle Doug.

Back in Fort Worth area, Doug took us to his natural gas company's local fracture and drilling sites. Neither of us had any idea what type of work and labor went into bringing heat and gas for cooking into our homes, so it was a great tour of the machines, sites, and processes! We are certainly learning something new every day! We also stopped in at The Flying Saucer, a local beer bar, to help Doug drink his way through 200 different beers in order to get his name on a plate on the wall. Of course we were glad to help and the wheels started turning about opening something similar where we end up ... hmmm.

Aspen and Doug got to go on their first horseback rides (well, Doug's since he was 8 - I think that should count as his first). Doug's a natural and we're sure by their wedding, that he'll be comfortable enough to let go of the "Oh Shit Horn" on the saddle :). Aspen can also now do the sign for horse. She's pretty amazing.

Continuing on through Texas, we left Fort Worth area on Thursday for a quick three hour trek to Marble Falls, TX to see a school friend of Ty's, Hope Hamilton. We spent a night with her family and her grandkids and helped her granddaughter celebrate her high school graduation.

We are so thankful to everyone along the way who has opened their hearts and homes to us! We have caught up with great friends, have met some amazing people, and have been able to get the insider's view on all of the cute little towns we've used as stops along the way.

Coming up ... New Orleans, Florida, and Puerto Rico!
Don't forget to check out pics!