A couple of tender mercies

One of the highlights of Boston was getting an email from my friend Rochelle. We met through blogging a few years ago but since Texas is super far from Washington it was kind of hard for us to get together. When she told me that she was coming to Boston with her husband for a wedding I was so excited! We were able to get together for lunch and had the best conversation. Her husband, Greg, was a gem and was happy to entertain C so Rochelle and I could enjoy our short time together. During the few moments C was occupied with his food Greg also got to participate in the conversation. I was feeling particularly frustrated with my life at the time and they both had some great words of wisdom and encouragement. That visit was a tender mercy for me and I can't wait to see them again when they come out to Logan this summer.

Another tender mercy I had was being able to reconnect with my dear friend Sherene. We both grew up in Oregon but she moved to Boston when we were in high school. It had been over 20 years since we had seen each other. I was so happy that we were able to get together.

I especially loved that we were able to get our kids together. 

Gabby and Eden totally hit it off...and Dylan was such a good sport hanging out with C.

Being able to reconnect with an old friend is some of the best therapy. It's crazy what a couple of hours of talking and sharing can do for the soul. Spending time with these two amazing women did for my soul...

Candlepin Bowling

As the days got closer to us leaving we wanted to have one last get together with some of our Boston buddies. We decided to go candlestick bowling. What you've never heard of candlestick bowling? Well that's probably because you aren't from the Northeast. There are only a handful of candlestick bowling alley's in the Boston area and thanks to Groupon we got a screaming deal on a couple of lanes for a couple of hours.

The main difference between candlestick bowling and regular bowling is that the ball is smaller and there is only one size and weight. Then the pins are tall and skinny and there are 12 pins you have to knock down.

Maya and Eden had fun helping Kruz get his ball down the alley...

Jerrica was awesome. That's what happens when you are born and raised with candlestick bowling.

Maya took this game very seriously. It was fun to watch her play.

Rich was pretty good. His Washington farm boy raising somehow prepared him for this game....

Or maybe it was just his candlestick bowling fashion sense that pushed him over the top.

Camden loved it! Anything with a ball and any sort of throwing or knocking down is right up his alley.

The only problem was that he didn't quite have the speed needed to get the ball all the way down the lane at a reasonable time. So this is what he would do while he waited for his ball...

The little kids balls didn't always quite make it to the end of the alley so Aric had to get them...

It was Kristen's idea to do this little outing and I'm so glad she planted the seeds. 

We had so much fun!

Oh I love this picture of Julian! I miss this little man so much...his smile melts my heart.

These little guys were more excited about the pizza, soda and bouncy balls...

Maya and Cherise

There was more monkey-ing around going on then actual bowling but it was so fun! I'm pretty sure the other bowlers were happy when our two hours was up.

I LOVE this picture! It totally captures how much fun we all had...

I'm normally pretty horrible at bowling but I had hope for this candlestick business, but that hope didn't really end up working out for me. My form was pretty sweet though...

Aric of course had fun kicking our trashes...

It's not fair that this guy can do anything well the first time he tries it...so annoying! I had to give him a big kick on his way down the lane.

I love bowling shoes! The look of them anyway, I always have to get past the whole "how many feet have been in these things before mine"...So Gross!

I hate goodbyes so we just pretended that this was a fun night out instead of our last get together :(

We had so much fun and I 'm so glad I have these pictures to remind me.

Church Folk

When we made the decision to go to Boston I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I knew that I would have a support system A) because I had family there and B) because I knew I would have a church family. That is one of the things I love about being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I could move ANYWHERE in the world and show up at an LDS church building and I would have an instant family.

These are some of the members of my Boston church family...

Elder Udy...we met him our first Sunday. He was teaching my friend Jerrica about our church. It was her first Sunday too. We had him and his companion over to eat many times. He went home the week after we left. The crazy thing is that this guy grew up in the same town in Utah that we moved to!

Jerrica and Julian, we met then on our first Sunday in Boston. They became instant family. Jerrica is an amazing person that has gone through so much in her life and continues to thrive in the midst of trial. We got to be a part of her journey as she embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ and it was such a neat experience that our whole family will cherish.

Camden and Julian were two peas in a pod. They loved like brothers and fought like brothers...but mostly loved :)

Mary Ann and Sue Olsen...Camden's Sunbeam teachers. Oh. My. Gosh! I cannot say enough about these two sweet sisters who loved and adored my son from the first time they met him. A few nights before we moved they drove 30 miles one way during Hurricane Sandy to give him his good bye package because they were going on a trip and didn't want to miss saying goodbye to him.

Me and one of my faithful visiting teachers. Sadly, I didn't get a picture of my other one, but these ladies saw me every single month I was in Boston. They checked up on me, brought me cookies and gave me a little lesson, LOVE them. 

Eden and her sweet Activity Day leader Erin Johnson. I was so worried about my girls making friends and feeling comfortable and I was so grateful that the Lord sent Erin to my Eden. She made Eden feel like a million bucks. We found out that only weeks after we moved, Erin and her husband moved to Utah...just like 30 minutes away! 

Camden and Vaughan Larsen...Vaughan was the most amazing Primary chorister I have ever seen in my life! Camden fell for him the first Sunday we were at church and poor Vaughan was attacked every Sunday. I had to remind C that Brother Larsen was not a jungle gym but a person!

Eden and Emmy...these two hit if off right away and Eden loved having an instant buddy.

Maya and Nikki Dallin, her YW leader. Nikki is a Jr. High art teacher. She offered to give Maya free art lessons every week. She was so wonderful for Maya. Nikki was an answer to my prayers, she had a profound impact on Maya and I will always be grateful for the love she gave to my girl.

One of the things Nikki taught Maya how to make were sock monsters. So when Nikki had her baby shower Maya wanted to make some sock monsters for Nikki's baby girl. They turned out so adorable!

I made these headbands. It was fun to get creative and do something crafty...made me wish I had known how to make these when my girls were babies. I would have made hundreds of them!

Kailah and Kruz, these are my friend Kristen's little ones that my kids ADORED! The girls loved babysitting them and Camden still insists he is marrying Kailah someday.

And last but not least...

Jerrica Pompulous, Kristen Raleigh, Me and Cherise Hadley

These girls were my sunshine. They each brought something so special to my life. They were my everyday texts, my Sunday hugs and even my emergency contacts. I love them and miss them so much! 

There were many others that I just didn't get pictures of but they are equally as special to us. Each one is a blessing in our lives. They have become a part of our family history. These relationships will be a part of us forever. I cannot imagine my life without them in it. Heavenly Father led us to Boston for many reasons and one of those reasons are so that we could be blessed to have these wonderful people in our lives forever.

Matt and The Lost River Gorge

The very best thing about Boston was the friends we had there. One of those friends was Mr. Matthew Deane. Crazy thing is we only officially met in May when I got to see in real life my bosom friend, Liz, whom he is married to. It only took moments to realize that Aric and Matt were bosom friends too. Well the irony of it all was that Liz moved to Utah days after I arrived in Boston but Matt was left behind in New Hampshire for four months to finish up his job. So we tried to hang out with Matt when we could.

Camden stuck to Matt like bees on honey...they became instant friends.

One of the things he told us we had to do while he was there was go to the Lost River Gorge glacier in New Hampshire. It was quite the trek but TOTALLY worth it!

*WARNING: Tons of pictures*

So we started out with a yummy brunch at this AMAZING restaurant...

There was a Beatles train running above our heads...first sign that this place was going to be AWESOME!!!

MAPLE BUTTER...YUMMO and that's all I am going to say about it.

On the way we past a sign for this cool town...

Next stop...the Lost River Gorge.

It's so hard to explain this place. It is visually incredible and I can't even imagine how long it took to build it. You just walk along these walkways and bridges...

...then if you can brave the damp, dark, cold, small places you go through the caves.

Camden thought it was fun at first...

But soon realized he wasn't a fan...

He definitely preferred climbing on the rocks that were not in dark, damp, small places. I seriously think my little guy is claustrophobic.

Maya on the other hand was freaking me out on how comfortable she was climbing on stuff...

Some of the places we had to squeeze through were quite tight. You had to go through this "squeezer gauge" to make sure you wouldn't get stuck inside the cave.

I'm telling you some of these crevices were TIGHT.

Aric really got into this adventure, he made sure to show his excitement in every picture I took. Honestly does he not resemble Buster from Arrested Development??

Matt and Aric were being quite ridiculous the whole time. The 3+ hour ride there should have prepared me for the insanity that was in store with these two characters. It was like gas on fire or like Hall and Oats...

Matt was good for teaching the children some pretty cool tricks...

It was such a fun way to spend the day seeing something and doing something we will most likely never do again.

If you are every in that neck of the woods it is well worth your time...Thanks Matt for the fun times!!