Visit from the Folks

After their Nauvoo temple mission ended, my parents came to visit--delayed one day due to Hurricane Sandy. 

We spent a lovely day at the Boston temple and nearby Lexington and Concord (above Old North Bridge)

On Saturday the whole family went to the coast and an aquarium at Rye, NH

We went to a science museum in Manchester.  Dad liked the lego replica of the historic millyard.

A walk in the nearby conservation area (complete with ticks)

Trevor passed Drivers Training class (no license until he has more hours on the road). Jason's lawn job ended last week and now he's cleaning a medical facility at night.

Fall Colors

The Fall Foliage season is a big deal here.  Here's a picture of our side yard.  It's hard to capture the beauty of the area because the trees are so tall and numerous.

We went to the White Mountains (about two hours away) at the height of the season and the busiest weekend to see what it was all about.  When we first arrived at Fraconia State Park we paid to hike the Flume Gorge amidst a throng of people in the rain.   It was very beautiful and reminded me of  Silver Falls OR.  We got soaked.  It was very cool to walk along water falls among falling leaves. 

The next day we went on some less traveled paths (for free) and saw a beaver dam and blue heron up close as we followed the river. 

We saw where the "Old Man of the Mountain" used to be up high on a granite cliff before a rock slide removed his profile nine years ago.  He's on our license plates and highway signs.

 

Instead of spending the money on a tram ride, we decided to hike up Cannon Mountain to see the view.  It was VERY steep.  The boys made it up to the top and I almost did before I turned around to carefully make my way back down.   The view was amazing and it didn't rain that day.


We stayed in a ski lodge outside of town.  I loved that we didn't have internet in our room, so we played games and went swimming.  Jason and I listened to one session of conference in the lounge (we shared ear buds) and we listed to another one on the way home the next day.

Columbus day was a holiday here (except for Jason).  After we got home from our trip, Trevor and Curtis played in the leaves before mowing the lawn and Jonathan worked on the deck.

Other highlights of September:
Trevor's 16th birthday.  He's enjoying his guitar class at school and programming a robot with Jonathan.

Jason working overtime seeding and aerating for a local landscaping company.  He drives a company truck and wears a uniform.  He likes the work and is saving lots of money (finally).

End of summer, beginning of Autumn in NH

It's been a month since my last post and a lot has happened since then.
I started a new job, part-time as an accounting clerk for an engineering firm.
The hours are perfect and I'm getting the hang of it.  It was overwhelming at first.

Curtis and Trevor started school this last week and are adjusting well.
They have a lot a help at first from "para professionals" (no aides in NH)
Trevor has two computer classes and guitar for elective.
Curtis is getting used to a locker and homework every night.
Their schools are much smaller here because we live in a small town.

Jason is working as a cook at a restaurant and likes it.  He eats for free!
Jonathan tore out the deck, patio door and rotten wood underneath.
He replaced the wood and put in a nice french door.  Now the deck...

On Saturday of Labor Day weekend we went to the coast.
My boss told me a good place to go so it much better than our 1st attempt
(4th of July to a crowded postage stamp next to the road).

This time we went to the only island in NH and it was great!
The island-town is New Castle and Great Island Common is a big park.

Trevor had a blast burying Curtis (who was a willing participant).
Jason napped while I read.  It was too windy for badmitten.

We also visited some old military forts, one on the island
and the other across the bay in Maine.  Jonathan liked this, of course
and Curtis was so excited to drive over the bridge into Maine.


The leaves are starting to turn in our backyard.
Next month's post I'll have pictures of the NH fall colors.
I know I paint a rosy picture of our lives here.
The biggest challenge is early-morning seminary.
Jonathan drives an hour each morning to take Trevor.
The main thing we miss about OR is friends and family.


BTW Curtis had a great time at scout camp.
We had a big court of honor in our yard end of August.
Another highlight of August was going with Curtis and Trevor
to the Boston temple for a youth baptism trip.