"3 J's" invade Boston~

For Christmas, Brian gave me a flight to Boston to go visit my parents. It was so exciting and as much as I would've LOVED to have Bri and the boys come with me, I have to admit, this was a great opportunity spend quality time with my parents and my sisters, Jill and Jessi.

Jill flew from Salt Lake to Denver, Jessi flew from Albuquerque to Denver and then we all got on a flight to Boston together. To say we were excited was an UNDERSTATEMENT! I don't know if we were more excited to see Mom and Dad or be away from our kids! :) But we definitely needed a break and we had a fabulous time!


The first day, we walked around the city of Boston- we saw the Holocaust Monument downtown, rode the subway and had some great seafood for dinner! Boston is such an awesome city with so much to see. It's a very different feel back east than it is here in Colorado! I really loved it!












Here we are getting a little "tutorial" from my dad about the subway system.... ya... WAY CONFUSING! Thank goodness my parents are now pro's at that underground system! I was reminded more than once that if I ever got separated from them, just be sure to ride the "T" line.... AHHH!! Oh my gosh... trust me, I kept up with the group! I would've had NO CHANCE finding my way around by myself!













The next day, we went to the "Basketball Hall of Fame". This was probably one of my favorite stops on the trip! I don't know, maybe because basketball runs through my veins!!! It was so fun to share that experience with my dad~ many of you know he coached high school basketball for 30 years so he had a great time showing us around and telling us how the sport has evolved over the years. Strange how an old peach basket and a creative football coach can come up with a new sport that has turned into one of the most watched games of all time! Wow!











On the far left below, you can see the first "basket"... it really was an old peach basket! The high school football coach was trying to figure out how to keep his team busy during the "off-season" so he put a peach basket up in the air on a pole and the sport of "basket"-ball was born! Crazy huh? It took them some time to figure out they needed to cut a hole in the bottom of the basket though... until they did that, someone would have to climb a ladder to retrieve the ball every time it went in! Minor detail, right??











There were some great displays of old uniforms, letterman jackets and trophies that were interesting too. To say the sport has come a long way is highly understated! It was cool to see that old stuff! The first "uniforms" were actually "onesies" that really did snap between the players' legs! Over the top of the onesie, they'd wear shorts but keeping the uni tucked in was VERY important!




It was great to see the "inductees" into the "Hall of Fame" over the years. There were MANY! I recognized a few but not until way down the line to the more recent inductions! There were coaches, players, announcers and others. There were both women and men and it was fun to see how each of these people left their mark on the game. I kept looking for my Dad's picture hanging up there among "the greats" but I remembered: He was inducted (2 years ago) into the HIGH SCHOOL basketball Hall of Fame! (Wow, what an honor!) But in Springfield, Mass., at the college and professional level, there were a few faces I recognized from many years of watching basketball on TV~ Here is a group of some of my faves, including Pat Summit (University of Tennessee, Magic Johnson (LA Lakers), Coach "K" (Duke University), Isaiah Thomas (Detroit Pistons) and Lude Olson (University of Arizona).








We tested our "wing span" & our "vertical leap".... Mom came the closest to Kevin McHale's spread! GO MOM!!







Then, of course, we had to show the place how to "Slam the ball"! Look out boys.... the Excell's are "in 'da house"!!! Phi-Slamma-Jamma, baby!!!










We couldn't leave there without paying tribute to THE all-time greatest player of the game... Michael Jordan! I played a little one on one with him... no big whoop! Look at that defensive stance.... Go Jen!!!











I couldn't pass by the picture of Dick Vitale and not have a little "moment of silence".... He and I go WAAAAYY back! Here's the story: When I was a senior in high school, I was invited to cheer at the NCAA All-star basketball game in Seattle during the "Final Four" tournament. We had to do a mall appearance and we helped Dick Vitale promote his new autobiography that had just come out. He asked if anyone wanted to play a little "one-on-one" with him and I volunteered... don't ask me why! But, when he picked me to be his opponent, (funny how he picked a girl instead of a guy... ya, he TOTALLY thought he could beat a girl and not damage his image!) I gladly obliged! I really just wanted an autographed book for my dad but hey! Bring it on, Dickey-Vee! So, long story short, he missed a lay-up and I scored on him! Game over!!! BOOOOO-YAW!!!! Like I said, I have a little history with the guy so I had to pay tribute! (hee hee!!)










The next day, we went to the Food Pantry with my Mom and Dad. As part of their assignment, they go each Friday and help the local food pantry hand out food to those in need. It was so humbling to see these sweet people who so desperately depend on this place to feed their families. Most of the staff there are volunteers. Without them, there would be no help for these people. It was so neat to see how even little things like volunteering 3 hours a week can change someone's life. I can see the difference even one person can make and it was so neat to be a part of it. The people at the pantry LOVE my parents..,. imagine that! It was fun to see them serving the people of Boston. They are such great examples to me and my kids.


















After the Food Pantry, we went to the Boston temple. It was absolutely beautiful and located in such a serene spot on top of a little hill. We then toured around some of the Revolutionary War sites- Walden Pond, Louissa May Alcott's home & school, the bridge where the first shot that started the war was fired. My Dad LOVES history and this mission has been so fun for he and my Mom to travel around seeing so many of the great historical places. We visited a museum centered around Paul Revere and learned about how the war began.




















It was really interesting.... AND a little dangerous! Jessi flew into action swatting Paul Revere's horse on the hind quarters and I got caught on the battelfield and was "run-through" by a soldier on a horse! YEOWCH!!! (Seriously??? We are SOOOO dumb!)























We went to a REALLY old cemetery where many famous people were buried... among them are Louissa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau. Up on "Author's Ridge", people still pay tribute to these famous historical icons by leaving flowers and coins at their gravesites. It was kinda eerie but really cool!























We went to Henry David Thoreau's cabin on Walden Pond where he went for two years to "find himself". He wanted to completely break away from society and become one with nature and have a spiritual experience. It was a beautiful setting and I can see why he chose that spot to have his little hiatus!











On Saturday, my parents had to do a workshop so Jessi, Jill and I ventured out on our own! We went to Harvard University (AMAZING!) and also a huge bookstore located just off campus. It was so cool to see the architecture of those old buildings and walk around that beautiful campus.








Next up was Fenway Park... home of the Boston Red Sox! It was "Opening Day" for them and the NY Yankees were in town... we couldn't get tickets to the game but just being around the stadium was CRAZY!! All the streets around the complex were closed down and there were parties EVERYWHERE! Those Bostonians LOVE their Red Sox! It was really fun!











As much fun as the days were, the nights didn't disappoint either! In my parents' "humble abode", we found ourselves having "chair races" on the 100 year old floors... they were so slanted that all you needed to do was sit in a wheeled-chair and lift your legs up and presto! You have "chair racing"!! Hillarious! Jill was getting her hair colored, hence the crazy "do" on her... she's gonna KILL me for including this pic! ;)











Anyway, we played cards, games, laughed and talked late into the night. I don't think we went to bed before 3 am any of the nights we were there!








On Sunday, we went to church with "Elder and Sister Excell" (I LOVE saying that!), came back and had a yummy dinner together then headed off, reluctantly, to the airport. We were sad to have to go but realized it won't be much longer until they get to come home! Their release date is August 1 so it'll be here in no time!


Thanks Mom and Dad for the best trip ever! You were amazing hosts and tour guides. We are so proud of what you are doing and can't wait to see you come home soon! Loves!!!