Firsts at Fenway

Auntie Lauren and Uncle Matt had invited us to go to a Red Sox game about a month or so ago....  but as the week progressed, things weren't looking so great.  First the bombing at the Boston Marathon on Monday and then the city was on lockdown all day Friday while trying to find the other suspect.  Lucky for us though, the suspect was captured late Friday night so our trip up to Boston was a go for today!  AJ was very excited about going to Fenway since it is his first major league baseball game!  And he finally gets to see his brick! Mommy on the other hand - she is excited to spend time with family, but would love if it were a Yankees game instead!!

Right before we entered the gates for Fenway

Once we got in, we immediately went over to where the bricks were and found AJ's!

Standing right above his brick.

There it is!

See it mom?!

Then we went over to Guest Services and got a 'First Visit' package.  It included a 'My 1st Game at Fenway' button, a little packet of Fenway dirt, a bracelet and some stickers - a nice little keepsake for his first major league game!  

Waiting for the game to start

The Parsons Family

Sevigny Family Photo Take 1

Take 2

After finding out seats, we sat for a bit before the start of the game.  This was the Red Sox's first game back home since the Marathon bombing and it was quite emotional (even for me as a Yankee fan!).  They showed  pictures from the Marathon bombings on the big screen, had Marathon volunteers walk out on the field, played the National Anthem which the whole stadium sang and had survivors throw out the first pitch.  Needless to say, I don't think there was a dry eye in the stadium after the presentation... there was definitely a sense of unity and community among everyone and even some chants of 'USA' from the crowds.  

Then it was game time! 

Molly was quite interested in AJ while the game was going on....

But AJ wasn't too interested in her unfortunately!

'Oh wait.. she has a flower in her hair.. I can try to get it!'

At this point I think he was more interested in the game than Molly.  Poor Molly!

To keep the kiddos entertained throughout the game, we kind of played musical chairs.  It worked out because a few seats in front of us were empty!  Auntie Lauren and AJ enjoyed a new view from those seats for a bit. 

And AJ gave me his signature cheese face!

He made a new friend too!  The woman sitting in front of us was all about helping entertain AJ - she let him help in crushing her peanut shells on the ground and kept joking and playing around with him!  

He was digging her!

Hi Mom!

During the 8th inning, Neil Diamond made a surprise appearance to sing his famed 'Sweet Caroline' song.  He came out on the field right where we were sitting - it was pretty cool!

Cousins first time at Fenway together!

 

By the end of the game, AJ was ready to go!  

But one quick group photo before we left!

The Red Sox won - Boston Strong!

Michael made sure to buy his Boston Strong hat to help benefit the victims of the bombings before we left.

  

Our Little Family

We Have a New Cousin!

Yesterday afternoon I received a call from Lauren telling me that she was in the early stages of labor.  She had gone in for her 39 week appointment and was told she was 3cm dilated.  YAY! So it was back home to get her hospital bag and then time to head back into the hospital to deliver a baby!  During the phone call she had also mentioned that she was planning on calling her sister, Kristin who lives out in CA to tell her to hop on a plane to come meet her new niece or nephew!  Fast forward to later that night (while we were out at the casino celebrating our anniversary) and Kristin and I had chatted and we made plans to go pick her up at the Providence airport that next morning.  Fast forward another few hours to early this morning at 6:33am and Lauren gave birth to her beautiful daughter, Molly Addison Parsons!

Michael, AJ and I picked up Kristin at TF Green airport at around 9:30am this morning and drove her directly to the hospital.  I was able to sneak into the maternity ward with her real quickly to get a peek at my new cousin and the new parents.

Kristin holding her niece for the first time!

She is absolutely adorable!

Such a proud Cioci! 

Looks just like her Momma!

(I stole this picture from Kristin's facebook! She's beautiful, isn't she?!)

Another Doggy Friend

After AJ's haircut we went over to Auntie Lauren and Uncle Matt's house to hang out for the day.  While Uncle Matt and Daddy went to see The Dark Knight Rises, Auntie Lauren, AJ and I relaxed, went in the pool and had some down time.  Of course AJ made friends with their dog, Quincy and couldn't stop playing with him until it was time to go home!  They had a grand 'ole time!  Once the boys got back, we ordered some yummy pizza and enjoyed each other's company.  Thanks to Uncle Matt and Auntie Lauren for letting us hangout for the day.. we had lots of fun!

'I'm gonna get you Quincy and your ball too!'

'I got it!'

'Or maybe not...'

Even though he looks so serious - he was having a fun time with the dog!

Looking up at Uncle Matt and Auntie Lauren

Hebron Maple Festival

This past week I saw an article in The Reminder newspaper that there was a Maple Festival going on in Hebron this weekend.  The article mentioned that there would be all things maple there and who can resist anything that's maple?!  Certainly not us - so off we went to the Hebron Maple Festival!  We started our day off with a pancake breakfast accompanied by Auntie Lauren and Uncle Matt, who shared with us their good news that they're pregnant!! YAY - a new cousin!! We're so excited for them!  We also got to meet Mr. Maple Leaf!!

 We then all met up with Cioci Kimmy, Uncle Jason, Katie and Allie at the Siberian Husky sled dogs exhibit where we got to see some dogs race around the baseball field with a guy in tow on a cart.  So cool! They also were selling yummy maple cookies, which were our first maple goodies of the day.  Those cookies were delish!!  We then walked up and down Main Street and bought some pure maple syrup, ate some maple walnut ice cream, Michael tried coffee for the first time ever, and we had some maple milk.  We then made our way over to the Firehouse where Katie got to go inside a firetruck... pretty neat!  Hopefully Allie and AJ can do that next year!  While waiting for Katie to finish up at the firehouse I had some sugar on ice, which is quite interesting.  It's a bowl full of shaved ice with hot maple syrup poured on top of it.  The maple syrup basically caramelizes once it hits the ice because of the temperature change so it was like eating maple candy... not my favorite thing because it all stuck to my teeth but I'm glad I tried it!  We (I mean Michael) then tried to adopt a duck (no, not a real one!), but they were all gone so instead we went into a consignment store and I bought AJ some cute Mickey Mouse crocs for our Florida vacation!!  After that we headed back to our cars and and called it a day... what a great day spent with family and yummy maple goodies!

New Year's Eve

This year's New Year's Eve was just like last years.  We headed over to my parents house for our annual shrimp scampi dinner and then it was off to Kimmy and Jason's house for a little get together.  It was a pretty low key night - other than the champagne debacle on the couch! - and we rang in the new years with family and friends.  Thanks so much to Grandma and Grandpa for watching our little peanut so we could enjoy a night out!

Matt doing his serious thing.... punk! haha

Right after the champagne debacle!

Jessie and Mike

Wuey and Michael being silly

My love and I

Ok.. finally a good picture of Matt and Lauren

The hosts for the evening... Kimmy and Jason

All the girls

Something funny was happening...clearly!

This is what the boys did most of the night!

Thanks to Cioci Kimmy for taking all the pics!

Our Birthday BBQ

For the past three years, Michael and I have been throwing a joint birthday BBQ/picnic since our birthdays are only three weeks apart (mine is 5/25 and his is 6/15).  This year we didn't have the beautiful sunny weather like we've had in the past, but that didn't stop us from celebrating and having a good time with friends and family!

Yummy cake!

Dad and Allie-Cat

Dan and Chris

Colin and Michael playing some ladder ball/golf..whatever it's called!

Mom #2 and Cioci Sue

Gram and Uncle Steve

Dad #2, the chef for the day and Dan

Kimmy, Matt and Stacey (aka Monkey) playing a game

Laurie and I

Conner (apparently not happy at what he is watching), Cameron, Lilly and Katie-Bug

Cousin pic!

The Birthday Kids :)

The Brewery Tour gang - Matt, Lauren, me and Michael