boston – the marathon and a super-fun family trip

I’m sorry about the delay. I started this post over a week ago, but things have been a little busy…

So, picking up from where I left off, Easter Sunday we rolled out of here and caught a plane in ATL.

Move over Jolie-Pitts.

We took the shuttle from the hotel to the train station and from there, the T to the race. It was quite a process as many stops were closed and there were thousands of people everywhere. We made it to Boston Common and played around a little, exploring the sights. Joe started in wave 1 at 10am. The route goes from Hopkinton to Boston (with a few hills in between). So while he ran, we kept busy.

BUT, I got some good video, including one of this guy:

Now let me say, I was overwhelmed by the Facebook world (and by incoming texts). I renamed it “Joebook” for the day. Our friends and family were posting updates, comments, and pictures all day. It was emotional reading the things people said about Joe. I was getting updated via text quicker than I was receiving the alerts from the BAA (Boston Athletic Assoc.). The support and love was just unbelievable. {Joe and I continued to be amazed as we heard from people who watched online and followed Joe from work, school and home.}

The best picture from that day is this one, posted by Uncle Donald who captured Joe crossing the finish line at work:

He may never run a marathon again (his leg was hurting in the first mile), but he did it. He said he could feel the prayers the whole way and knew that’s what got him to the finish. When I finally found him (we went to opposite family-meeting areas), it was emotional. Both of us cried as we hugged. He told me how hard it was. Someone asked him later if he was happy crossing the finish line. All he felt was relief. But it was an incredible experience – for him and for the rest of us.

Now, if you know Joe, you may doubt that really is his last. I am not so sure myself. But if it is, then I say – what a good one to go out on!!

Hannah, Daddy’s #1 cheerleader, was super happy to see him. She and Joseph didn’t get to see him run because of the crowd. And poor Joseph had a rough afternoon. His nap time was right around the time Joe was finishing. He fell asleep for a while in the stroller and then woke up surrounded by lots of people and lots of noise. I guess he was scared, but he never stopped crying. He was better afterwards…

We visited the Bunker Hill Monument and then went over to the Charlestown Navy Yard to tour the USS Constitution.

Hannah and Joseph couldn’t wait to go on “the big boat that doesn’t go anywhere”.

Joe showed them all kinds of things on the ship. They had a ball exploring Old Ironsides.

The whole gang:

Hannah and Joseph were just interested in playing in the pew boxes.

We ate lunch at Quincy Market (right by Faneuil Hall). The lobster rolls were delicious. Afterwards we had ice cream, before walking to Boston Common.

We stopped along the way for photo ops. My sweet girl:

Joseph had fallen asleep in the stroller. We had to wake him up when it was our turn to board a swan boat.

My mom took the kids back to the hotel and Joe and I went to dinner in the North End/Little Italy district. A date – totally unexpected. Thanks Meme!

We picked up cannolis and headed back to the hotel.

Hannah loved the climbing structure in the lobby, and Joseph loved the construction and music exhibits. Both kids had a blast throughout the place (it is huge).

No rest for us… Our next stop was Boylston Street. Joe wanted to go to the finish line and to Marathon Sports. We saw the site of one of last year’s bombings and bought t-shirts at the store.

After a little stop at the Lindt chocolate store across the street, we went back to the hotel to recharge. It was our last night and we went out to a great dinner at Legal Seafood.