#cashforcollege

I paid her five bucks to carry my bags today.

Shelby's post and photos

My friend Shelby texted me a few months ago and asked if she could take some photos of my condo before she moved.  She wanted to remember the style of my home and maybe she would do a post on her blog.  I was thrilled.  My condo is hard to photograph (maybe I need better lenses!) so I was really happy Shelby wanted to do it (FYI--she has mad photography skills).  Well, today she posted the photos on her blog.  I love the photos...and Shelby and her family. 

Note: There's a story behind this book.  I had been wanting a copy of Uncle Tom's Cabin and I was in an antique shop and picked up this book, took one look at the pages and of course had to buy it.  I wonder how old that ELLEN was when she wrote her name on the book?!?

Many hands make light work

Last night a group of us did some yard work and tidying up at my friend Kimberly's house before she got home from a long vacation.  There were some very helpful kids and a nice neighbor who brought his weed whacker over to help out.  It looks so tidy and nice.  Welcome home, Kimberly!

Peach pie

I'm trying a new crust recipe from my friend Jessica Osborn.  I think it's going to be delicious.

Rambling around on my day off

Lots of loss

This week the Hammers are leaving for the windy city.  They will be missed.

Bye, bye, Becca

Boston's loss is Roosevelt, Utah's gain.  Go and teach, Becca!  You're awesome.  I feel luck to be friends with all three Beecher girls.

I don't really know how to swim...

…I never got the breathing part down.  My mom says I had more lessons than Mark Spitz (who knows who he is?!?).  Adrie has been wanting to teach me to swim and today we went to the Lexington town pool.  I might still be a beginner but I'm a better beginner.  Let's go swimming again!

Seen on the way to work

I love riding the subway with friends.

Happy Pioneer Day!

#weareallpioneers

Adrie's got game

"I was scouting out Mark Wahlberg in the MIT gym.  He was a no show, but these guys needed another player.  Just playin' a little three-on-three." 

Where's Adrie?

Overheard on the radio

"Boston has two seasons: winter and road construction."

Clara's blessing day

The sisters, the smiles, the salt water sandals!

She loves that Boston behind her

#havingtwins

It won't be long before they double the size of their family.

TBT: University of Utah picnic

Our first University of Utah picnic at Legg Lake in SoCal: the Pattons, Pitchforths (our cousins), Jensens (our fake cousins), and Smiths.  All the parents (but my dad) met at the "U" and we all ended up living not far from each other in Southern California.  I think we had 4 or 5 of these fun gatherings.  #uofu #heightordernotageorder #goodfriends

Red barns

I couldn't even count how many red barns I saw in upstate New York over the weekend.  They are everywhere!  And I love them.

Seen at Niagara Falls

Bastille Day

If Robes was here today he'd be making a French meal for Bastille Day.  #belgiumbrusselsmission #frenchmissionary

Toll$, toll$, and more toll$

We are on our way home and I'm curious how much I've spent on tolls (to Niagara Falls and back).  I'm glad I have an E-ZPass transponder; it makes it faster (not free, but faster).

RPO

The Jensens had extra tickets (first row mezzanine) to the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra "Pixar in Concert" so lucky us got to go.  It was in a word FANTASTIC.  They showed clips of the 14 Pixar movies while playing parts of the soundtracks.  It was one of the coolest concerts I've ever been to. 

Niagara Falls

Because only one of us had a valid passport (OK...I printed the wrong form for Adrienne to fill out...my bad) we had to see the falls from the American side.  We all know the Canadian side is more spectacular but we had no choice.  It was still worth it and now Adrie can cross that off her Bucket List.  If the Maid of the Mist hadn't been so expensive we would have done that but instead we got to see a groom take his bride's garter belt off!  Only in America.

International Museum of Photography and Film

We made a quick stop at this museum on our way to Niagara Falls.  We didn't have a lot of time so only saw the Lewis Hine exhibit (and the gift shop).  The exhibit was fanastic (I've already requested a book about him from my library).  And the gift shop was too! 

Hill Cumorah Pageant

Attending the Hill Cumorah Pageant was really the main reason for our road trip.  I had been twice before (years ago) and Adrienne had never seen it.  Five of the eight Jensens were in the pageant (though we couldn't pick them out of the 750 cast members).  It was inspiring and powerful and worth the trip.

Mormons?!?

A resounding YES (they were parked in the Hill Cumorah Pageant parking area).  And no pressure, my friends.  No pressure.

The Sacred Grove

Spending time in the Sacred Grove was definitely a highlight of the weekend.  It is a beautiful and peaceful place.

Palmyra Temple

I drove to Palmyra back in 2000 for the Temple open house.  I stayed with the Jensens (the same friends we stayed with this weekend).  It was nice to see the Temple again today; of course it is beautiful.

When I stayed with the Jensens back in 2000, they told their kids I would be visiting and I met them the night I arrived.  The next morning their daughter Samantha (who is currently serving a mission in Germany) asked where "the visitor" was.  I was sleeping in the basement and she came downstairs to greet me.

The Jensens are great friends that feel like cousins really.

1st stop: Aunt Katie's Attic

A few years ago my friend Leah and I happened upon this amazing antique shop in Scotia, NY.  I opened the door and saw so much Pyrex my jaw dropped.  It's one of my very favorite stores in the whole wide world, so of course it was our first stop today.  I found a few items (that I couldn't live without) and it was fun to slowly walk through the entire store.  One of the things I bought was a big red letter "E".  Guess where it was from?!?  An old Dairy QuEen!

Throwback Thursday

Summer vacation in the California desert (excuse the glop on the photo).

Seen in Newport: princess on a bike

Maren: a series

She calls me Auntie

baby Cecily

Ever had a mammogram?

I just had my 15th.  My favorite line: "don't move."  Really?  #ouch

Rules and more rules

Homemade lobster rolls

My friend Ally invited Adrie and I over for homemade lobster rolls.  They were the best EVER. 

Goodbye Carlsons

I get tired of 15 friends/families leaving every summer.  But I am enriched by all these Boston friendships.  #godbewithyoutillwemeetagain

Newport, Row-die-land for the day

Beach girls

I dropped them off at Easton's Beach and went to a shaded parking lot to read/nap.  It was a beautiful Rhode Island day.  We made a pit stop at IKEA on the way home for meatballs and a few items.

The most important thing I did today...

...(and believe me there was very little to choose from) was make homemade peach ice cream.

Crew

I love this photo of 3 year old Crew watching the fireworks.

Fake July 4th

Because of Hurricane Arthur they changed the fireworks to tonight.  And then they bumped the fireworks up a half hour.  Good thing.  It poured a few minutes after they were over!

Saving space for my people

Tonight's the night

Because of the weather, the Boston Pops concert and fireworks are tonight!