Rhode Island RULES!!

This week we are visiting Nina (aka Brian's mom) in Rhode Island..truly a beautiful state! We flew in Sunday and the girls enjoyed the plane ride so much they wanted to do it again!! Lucky for us their grandmother was waiting for them, a golden carrot that lured them off their 'carnival ride'. Right away we found ourselves on an adventure. Nina had heard rumors of a farm opened for raspberry picking and away we went. I must say that the farms in South County Rhode Island are like none I've ever visited. In Tennessee we have a few wonderful, fun pumpkin patches we visit in October..maybe I should go during the summer and check them out? But really, the farm we went to Sunday (the Farmers Daughters Farm) was artsy and ornate, full of flowering plants, herbs, fruits, veggies..really over the top! Can't wait to post pictures. We left three overflowing pints heavier and $15 lighter. One can only guess how many raspberries left the vine and went straight into the bellies of the pickers..we gladly paid for the berries!
On Monday we headed into Massachusetts, Foxborough to be exact. Patriots Place was the destination..and what a destination indeed! Who needs a football game to go to a stadium when it shares a parking lot with some of the best shopping and eating around? We all had lunch together and then the two obsessed Patriot fans (the apple doesn't fall far) dropped the other 3 off at the movie theater while they toured, slack jawed, the Patriot's Hall of Fame. Those two were elated to experience that together, and I couldn't have been more relieved! The girls and I visited the most luxiourious, plush movie theater I've ever witnessed and settled in for 90 minutes of cartoon comedy in the movie Despicable Me. After the movie and the Hall of Fame, this car load headed over to reunite with an Aunt and 2 cousins.
What a fun night that was! We were greeted at the door with a cute little Grace yelling "Mommy...Kendall and Mallory are here!" Leave it to a kid to break the ice! Tears and laughter, smiles and hugs greeted everyone at the door. And then there was food! and food! It was such a nice evening. Brian reconnected with his cousins and they shared stories..old and new. Nina and Aunt Ethel were able to relive some old memories and though they are not sisters by law anymore, their memories were fond and their friendship runs deep. My girls were elated to meet another cousin, as was I. And did I mention the food? Let me brag on Aunt Ethel's culinary skills. Italian through and through, she woo'ed us with her antipasto and wow'ed us with her homemade meatballs. You know when you look forward to meeting someone new you tend to pray for something in common? Well..God gave us that and much more! I couldn't be happier for Brian and Kerin and David...for "Aunt Mickey" and "Aunt Ethel", for the newest in this story line Kendall, Mallory and Grace. I've said it before and I'll say it again..there is nothing so sweet as family. Nothing. We left happy and stuffed. Most importantly we left feeling blessed.
Tuesday was a day of new adventures. We lounged in the morning, then slipped on our swimsuits and headed for the beach. Toting chairs, blankets, towels, sunscreen, sand buckets and chicken legs...what? Yep, chicken legs..raw. Brian took the girls crabbin' and they had a blast! Dozens were caught with Brian's chicken leg tied to a piece of twine technique and the girls swift use of a net. The rain ended our day and sent us to the docks to buy lobsters (lobsta) and little neck clams. We brought home our loot (9 blue crabs they caught too!) and were treated to a feast fit for royalty! Kendall loves the clams! Mallory liked the lobsta..but she wanted most to play with the crabs. Once she realized she could pick them up (they had already seen the inside of the crab pot) she picked 2 to play with. What the heck..we let her. Where in Tennessee will she ever get a chance like that again right? And once again, another night of going to bed overstuffed and happy!
So today we're approaching lunchtime and everyone is still in their pj's! It's a rainy day and we've vetoed the trip to the aquarium. I'm sure there will be a trip out, just not sure where yet. Do not fear though..hungry we will not be! We have a long list of restaurants just waiting for us to visit...today will not disappointment!!