End of Summer 2026

Our vacation this summer took us to Central New York, Boston, Providence RI and the MA coast.  We also were introduced to the teen concept of "Mogging" by our three teenagers.  It is more or less trying to look cool/tough, in particular in a way to outdo others.  So, behold, the vacation of mogging.

Mogging in the O'Hare parking lot.

Mogging in Terminal 1.

Amy and Oliver

Ready for take off -- we flew to Syracuse and then drove down to Ithaca, NY

After enjoying a lovely evening with our friends Talia and Aaron who were in town visiting Talia's parents, we explored the Cornell campus.

Luke and Chad.

Oliver.

Amy and Oliver.

We then made our way to Boston.  We enjoyed a great lunch on the Boston Harbor.  We ordered oysters wherever we could.

Luke had his first Lobster Roll.

Mogging before our boat cruise in the Boston Harbor.

Amy booked a great hotel for our first night in the Boston Harbor area -- it was near the Italian area of town, which happened to be having a lively festival.

We enjoyed an amazing Italian meal.

Right near the Paul Revere statue.  

First gelato of vacation.

Early morning walk for these two.

We then moved to the Back Bay area where Amy had reserved for us an amazing set of hotel rooms right in the heart of things.  

Luke and I snuck in a quick tour of Tufts.

More Lobster Rolls!

We enjoyed an incredible small group tour of the Freedom Trail with an amazing guide.  

Back at our hotel, the hotel Amy booked for us had a ROOF TOP POOL!  Yes, please!

 

More gelato!

More oysters!

Oliver wanted a fish meal that came with a fish head.

Sword fish!

A rainy tour of Harvard Yard.

More rain at Boston College.

A break from the rain at the amazing Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Fun to see some John Singleton Copleys; John Hancock above.

Copley's Sam Adams, above.

Luke's Copley's Paul Revere.

We booked a fancy meal at a hot restaurant near our hotel.

We did a night walk through Boston Public Gardens.

We made a tour of Brown in Providence; first refueling with Chipotle.

Gelato girls.

For our last night, Amy booked a great VRBO in the coast overlooking the bay at Scituate.  It was a great house right on the water and the kids didn't waste a second taking advantage of it.

Mogging Mom and Dad.

That's more like it.

So much mogging!

Moggsters.

Oliver.

Everyone, get your hair ready.  

Nailed it.

Our favorite family pose for these two.

Oliver.

Luke.

Our vacation comes to an end, and we stopped for a Panera break on the way.

A great vacation.

I had my 30 year HS reunion, which was really nice.

I stopped by and saw everyone in Iowa City.

I got to see my special Godmother.

A great visit!