Beantown Babies Once Again

We are moving to Boston! Though most everyone knows of our news, it doesn't become official until I blog about it, right? Andy will be attending BU as a 2yr. endodontic resident starting in July. We are currently planning a trip in the Spring to find a place to live. Which I am anticipating will be difficult. BUT, we are so excited to be going back "HOME"!

Home you ask? Boston, considered home? If any of you knew how we felt about Boston when we left, you would be completely confused by this. Let me explain...

We took a trip up to Boston a year and a half ago. It was our first official family vacation, and it was the first time we got to experience Boston as visitors (which I totally recommend doing, its awesome!). We got to Hyannis late Saturday evening where we were staying with friends on the Cape. Sunday morning we got up early and drove into town to attend our old ward. As we were driving, a sense of nostalgia for this place we were so eager to leave behind just enveloped me. Almost to tears. I was so excited and so happy to be "going home". That is SO how it felt! I wasn't about to say anything to Andy, because I was pretty sure he would laugh at me or make some kind of snide comment, so I kept it to myself. We literally could not move away fast enough when we left, so this was certainly a strange thought. As I was contemplating on this happy feeling (really I was contemplating, WHY was I feeling this way?), Andy shocked me when he said "I feel like I want to slap myself for saying this, but this feels SO GOOD doesn't it? It feels like we are coming home."

This was way before Andy decided he would try to specialize. But when he decided, we both knew that his best chance at getting into a school would be at his Alma Mater, Boston University. After every interview, he would come home and tell me all about the city and all the insider info he was able to gather. He had some really good interviews, so I was very nervous about having to make a difficult decision when the time came.

We discussed all the factors and criteria we would have in deciding where to go. For us, it was easy. Which school costs less? That would mean that Boston was at the bottom of the totem pole. We are very familiar with BU's tuition, and the debt that accumulates is less than ideal. Hours before we were to find out if he got into a program I said, "If it came down to BU and another school, I don't know that I could choose the other school even though we've discussed its the better option. It just feels wrong." Through the whole waiting process, I was constantly reminded of that experience, driving in the car, and feeling that incredible feeling of coming home.

There is no doubt in my mind, that we are doing just that.

Nate's Baptism

Nate's baptism day was amazing. He was so excited. Andy was even more excited. Andy called it his "first" baptism, since he didn't baptize on his mission in France. Andy was also baptized in the very same font since his family lived here when he himself turned 8 years old. So this was a special day for everyone involved. The program was awesome; Grandpa Stubbs spoke on Baptism and Grandma Brox spoke on the Holy Ghost. The Brox's sang "If the Savior Stood Beside me" and Aunt Shanna got the hiccups right before, and at the very end of the song she hiccuped so loud that everyone heard and laughed. Some shared their testimonies, and my visiting teacher jotted down parts of the confirmation blessing so that Nate can remember what was said during his blessing. It was an amazing day, and the spirit was so strong. As a mother whose baby was baptized, I felt completely overwhelmed with love for him, for my family, and for my Heavenly Father.

New Aspirations

Nate and Jace have been playing piano for 2 or 3 months now, and I have been so impressed with how quickly they have learned something new! They both have taken so well to playing and are very consistent with practicing (I do nudge them a bit in that direction at times). Their skills are improving all of the time. So my boys have been such an inspiration to me with their willingness to learn something new, that I have decided to do the same.

Now I have always wanted to learn the guitar. I grew up in a musical family. My dad plays the guitar and the banjo, and he is amazing at the piano, playing only by ear. My mom is very talented at the piano as well, and is a beautiful singer. I grew up playing the piano and was the only one out of my brothers and sisters who stuck with it. I am decent, and even good when I practice a gazillion times.

Andy has a guitar that he never plays. So I got online, looked up free guitar lessons, and started with lesson one. The next day, I wanted to cut my fingers OFF. They were so sore! But I worked through it, trying to practice at least 15 minutes a day. It has been three weeks now, and I am STILL on lesson one. I learned three chords and I am having such a hard time transitioning from one to another. But guess what? My fingers don't hurt...

I may be slow but at least I'm consistent!

Love Notes

Since Drew has learned to read, a whole new world has opened up to him! He loves to sit and write things that are important to him. So when Andy saw this magnet board, he recognized the value in Drew's words. He may be four years old; he may be a little monkey that I have to get after occasionally; but through his words I am reminded that I have a little angel living in my midst. How grateful I am for his "werds"!

Bee City

Lobeco

There is this sweet little country produce store in Lobeco, just one town over. It has a great vareity of fresh produce, and they make the most AMAZING chicken salad sandwiches! This place comes alive around lunch time! It also has a little petting zoo around back with pigs, goats, rabbits, and a couple of bunnies.

We just had a severe rain and thunder storm, so this animal petting zoo was very stinky!

America's Next Top Model

Sara's modeling pics are finally up! For those of you who don't know, she was asked to model some bows for a bow company. I took over 300 pics of her, they bought 8, and have 4 up on their website. Go check it out! http://littlesunshinebowtique.com/index.php

Beach Bums

I was able to take the kids to Hunting Island for the day and we had a blast! We brought lunch and ate in the picnic area near the lighthouse. Afterwards we went swimming, digging, and hunting for shells. The boys also came up with a fun game. It was called: sling mud at each other until we get it in our eyes. Fun for them, NOT fun for me! This was the first summer outing we were able to go on since school got out. It is too hard to do things like this when I am watching baby Alex, so on the rare occasion that I don't have her, we have to take advantage! It was A LOT of work, (being by myself with all the kids at the OCEAN) but thankfully they are all getting old enough that I don't have to worry about them too much!