Thursday, June 18, 2009

Top 10 Things I Love About New England

If you told me I would be writing this post two years ago, I would have laughed (or more accurately, cried.) It was a very tough move from California to the east coast for me. I once told Ryan I would rather gouge my eyes out than live in New Hampshire. Well, I've come a long way, baby. It's amazing what two years can do. I have come to appreciate the unique things that this part of the country has to offer. So without further ado, here is my Top 10 list of things I love about New England.


10. The fall. This picture says it all. Beautiful. If you want to visit us, the best time of the year to come is the second and third week in October.


9. The spring. Follows autumn closely on my list. There is nothing better than the blossoms on the trees in April to raise your spirits after a long, crappy winter.


8. Boston sports fans. If you thought Kings fans were nuts, you haven't seen anything until you've been to a Red Sox game. Jeff and Stacey, am I right??



7. Got a hankerin' for a donut? Good news. There is a Dunkin Donuts (aka "Dunks") just a block away. What? You are out in the middle of nowhere? It doesn't matter. There is a Dunks nearby. I promise. Ryan passed 6 on his way to work from our old apartment.


6. History. Want to teach your kids about the Revolutionary War? Just drive 45 min down the road and you can walk the route Paul Revere took on his midnight ride or visit the sight of the Boston Tea Party.


5. The accents. I will never forget getting off the plane in Boston the first time and trying not to laugh hysterically how people were talking. It was wicked funny.


4. Ice Cream. The seasonal road side ice cream stands are to die for. They sell home made ice cream with flavors like Purple Cow and Moose Tracks, not the store bought mass produced junk. I celebrate the day when The Big One opens for business in the spring.



3. No state income tax or sales tax. Live free or die!



2. Nature trails. When you can only be outside 6 months of the year, you tend to take advantage of the outdoors more. This is my favorite place, Mine Falls. I ran countless miles training for my half marathon here. I also took a sweet tumble on my mountain bike. Biggest, nastiest bruise ever. It was on my butt so I couldn't take a picture, although I was tempted.


1. NorEasters. It is kind of fun when you know a big old storm is coming. You can just hunker down, light a fire, and enjoy watching the snow fall. This will also be on my list of Top 10 Things I Hate About New England. Stay tuned for that post coming this winter.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Christian Clark Thomas

2 months

13 pounds 6 ounces

24 in long

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Baby Blessings and Weekend Fun

Christian received his baby blessing last Sunday at our ward in Merrimack. Ryan gave him a beautiful blessing which of course Christian wailed all the way through. I knew we were in trouble right from the start when he decided he was hungry as soon as we walked through the doors for Sacrament meeting. He wasn't interested in a bottle, he wanted the real thing. Of course it was the one time I couldn't take him out. Oh well. Ryan's whole family was there. Phil and Tagg stood in the circle as did Matt Rogers, Ry's mission companion and long time friend. Afterward, we all came back to our house to celebrate with a little BBQ. Perfect weather, fun company, yummy food...what a great day!Matt, his wife Sarah, and their two kids came up from Connecticut to spend the weekend with us before the blessing. We started the day with a little go-cart racing and batting practice at Mel's Funway Park. Matt and his backseat driver Noah took the gold in the go cart challenge. I was the champ in the batting cages, but I only did wuss pitches. After watching Ry and Matt try to hit 65 mph fastballs, we decided that the slow pitch softballs were probably more our style. Yep,I missed my calling as a softball player. To think I wasted all those years on basketball and volleyball...
After such a fun and eventful weekend, we all needed a little nap.