June 2016

June 1

We celebrated James' birthday 2 days early since that was his scheduled day off from work. I surprised him with breakfast burritos, then led him into the living room where I surprised him with dozens of kind messages from friends and family about how they first met James, memories of him, or reasons why they love him. He was surprised, and he read his best friends' messages first and he got emotional. He saved his parents' messages last and by the end of it all he was overwhelmed with gratitude. Also that day we had Korean BBQ and a Reeses ice cream cake. I love that man of mine! Happy 30th James! 

June 2

June 3

Happy 30th Birthday to James today!

June 4

Picked up Nana & Grandpa from Boston airport!!!

June 5

Nana & Grandpa at church with us in the Narragansett ward!

 Came home to find this New England bunny in our front yard. I made Nana's spaghetti recipe for Sunday dinner.

June 6

We went to the Rhode Island Antique Mall together while James was at work.

 He came home and we celebrated his birthday with two funny cards Nana picked out for him. 

 He wanted fresh homemade strawberry shortcake for his birthday dessert. Perfect summer treat.

 Nala wanted some too.

 I gave her kisses instead!

June 7

Nana & Gramps wanted to visit Historic Wickford. When they lived in Massachusetts they would make trips to Wickford for antiques and they'd sit on a bench, eat lunch, and watch the boats in the harbor. I actually found a photo of Nana sitting on the same bench with her good friend Jean years and years ago. We browsed the antiques, historic homes, and stopped for lunch at Beach Rose Cafe. I loved the clam chowder and grilled cheese, Nana raved about her fresh scallop roll and fries, and Gramps had a burger. We sat on "their" bench and watched the boats in the harbor together.

Beach Rose Cafe

You can see the same post in the background!

June 8

We went to Goddard Park and had a picnic lunch together. Nala had fun too!

Nala loves Nana

June 9

Nans & Gramps helped me pick out countertops & backsplash for our kitchen at Lowes & Home Depot. 

June 10

Nana read Go Set a Watchman, the book club book for this month. I went to Book Club and she stayed home reading to Nala :)

 Saying goodbye to my friend Ashley at book club. She's moving away!

June 11

James, Nana, Grandpa, and I drove to Sandwich, Massachusetts today to go antiquing with Nana's dear friend Anne. Not only did we find some amazing antiques, but we enjoyed delicious seafood at Seafood Sam's for lunch!

 Anne's house

 Butterfly shrimp, scallops, and clams.

June 12

Took Nala for a walk in the woods in our neighborhood, found a frog!

 Attended a wedding in Newport. Our good friends Joe and Meaghan got married! James and Joe are EM residents together.

 Dancing with Liv!

 Jamie, Ryan, James, Liv, Chelsea (James works with the guys as residents, and Liv is an ICU nurse & Matt's fiancee)

 Dancing with my husband

 Our year of EM residents at Joe & Meaghan's wedding. Jamie & his now fiancee Nikki, the newlyweds Meaghan & Joe, Lauren & Reese, Liv (Matt was working), Chelsea & James, Bryn & her then boyfriend.

June 13

Grandpa's chocolate chip cookies are famous in my family and to all who is on the receiving end of Gramps' cookies. So I had him make some with me to teach me his skills! 

 Poor James is so exhausted from working and studying.

June 14

Happy Birthday to my amazing Dad! Sorry Nana & Gramps were there to celebrate with you in Texas haha.

June 15

We drove to Sharon, Massachusetts where Grandpa grew up and visited Nana & Grandpa's old house,  and Grandpa's sister Bev. Then we visited my old house in Mansfield, visited with Nana & Gramps' good friends George & Jean Miller, and then out for lunch at our favorite pizza place of all time--Town Spa! For dessert we had ice cream at Flint Farms. Gramps' classic favorite is pistachio & Nana's is black raspberry. While we were there we ran into our old friends The Guilds from our days living in Mansfield. What are the chances!

 You can tell Bev is Gramps' sister.

I always loved the way George talks.

 Life-long friends.

 Best pizza ever.

 Something chocolate & peanut buttery for me.

June 16

Went to Rhode Island Antique Mall again, this time we brought James with us and we found some goodies!

June 17

I had to go get my blood drawn :( James held my hand! We had a pretty relaxing day after that, we watched Doctor Thorne on Amazon Prime video and Gramps played with Nala.

My eyes are all red from crying out of relief that the blood draw was over! Hate that phobia!

June 18

James drove us to Kennebunk, Maine where we did some serious antique shopping! We must have gone to a dozen shops and we loved every minute of it. We also LOVED the Maine Diner! Seafood chowder is making me drool just writing about it! We had a wonderful time, and the weather was perfect.

 Lobstah Rolls and Seafood Chowdah!

We stopped to admire the view, did some more antiquing, and also had saltwater taffy and ice cream.

 Perkins Cove Saltwater Taffy

Arundel Ice Cream Shop

 June 19

More antiquing!

 Meanwhile back home Nala is having a good time with a family in our ward.

Stopped at another ice cream shop on the drive home in Kittery, Maine! Mrs. & Me ice cream was pretty tasty!

 This trip was also to celebrate our 5 year anniversary!

June 20

Happy 5 Year Anniversary to us!

Nana & Gramps helped decorate our home New England style, antiques included!

 Before

 During

 Antiques on display

 Nala sleeping with a huge mirror right in front of her. All this decorating has her exhausted.

 June 21

 Final product! 

Took Nana & Gramps to the airport. Thanks for a wonderful visit! We love you!

June 22

Bath time for Nala. 

 After her bath haha.

 Celebrating Finn Lehnhof's birthday!

 Anniversary dessert at Besos.

 Roses in our backyard.

 June 23

 Residency Graduation Dinner:

Adam & Ashley Levin, Andy & Bri Bergeson, Chelsea & James Chapman, Brian & Bobbie Lehnhof, Brittany & Landon Wood, all lds EM residents.

Girls: Bri, Brittany, Chelsea, Ashley, Bobbie

Bottom: James' year of residents: Liv (respresenting Matt who couldn't go), Bryn, Jamie, Joe & his wife Meaghan, Chelsea, James, Reese (his wife Lauren wasn't there).

June 24

 June 25

We picked up our new white cabinets in Portsmouth, NH today! We loaded up the truck!

Then we went strawberry picking with Landon & Brittany Wood & their daughter Juniper.

June 26

June 27

We met up with one of my best friends Kim and her boyfriend (now husband) Mike. Mike did residency at Beth Israel (he's an ER doctor too!) and now they are living in DC! We loved exploring the Newport cliff walk and the Breakers mansion! We went to dinner after at Diegos. We loved the fish tacos there!

June 28

Had a special young women activity at Bielka's house. We taught the young women individual worth, then we played games and watched the Mormon version of Pride & Prejudice haha, so fun!

June 29

Today I walked Nala & babysat Zoe!

June 30

Babysat Zoe again and then went to a recruiting dinner with James & the residents!

Loved this eventful June!