Hike to Cecret Lake

 It is somewhat of a tradition for us to hike to Cecret Lake every year.  Last year was a crazy summer and we missed it, but this year we decided to get there early so we wouldn't miss out again.  It turned out it was just a bit too early because the road that we normally take was still closed for the year.

 We ended up following a family on another path.  They seemed like the knew what they were doing and would be good guides. 

 Turns out they did know what they were doing, but the path that they took was so STEEP!  It was crazy hard and I was wondering how the boys were going to take it (and poor Josh with the hiking backpack on).  Turns out that our kids are major troopers and they were such good sports through the whole thing. 

 They kept saying this is hard, and Nelsons do hard things.  I can't tell you how many times that little motto has saved us.  One of their favorite things about the hike however, is that they got to clilmb to their hearts content.

 We could not keep McKay's hat on.  He had a great time on the hike.  He has been on this little hike before, but he slept through the whole thing.

 These little backpacks have been so great, and I just think they are so cute.  I am glad that even my older boys will still use them (Palmer found a "cool" rock at the beginning, picked it up and carried it through the whole hike...thank goodness for the backpack.

 McKay also fell asleep on this hike, that backpack must be so relaxing.  I don't think it was as relaxing for Josh.

 As we always do, we brought bagels, cream cheese, and nectarines just like Josh and I did when we did this hike when we were dating.  That was the beginning of this tradition.

 Usually there is a little snow when we do this hike, but this year there was a lot of snow.  I guess we usually don't go this early.

 Our family at the top by the lake. 

 See those little heads at the top of that huge rock?  The actually climbed up the back of this monster, but still it freaked me out a bit.

 He fell asleep on the way down as well.

 After we headed to get something to cool off.  We are a little addicted to these icees.    It was a lovely day!  Can't wait until next year.

Last Day of Boston

 I am finally getting around to our last full day in Boston (the next day we just flew home).  This is good because I now have picture of Phoenix to post and in 2 weeks I am headed to California, so I definitely need to catch up.

On our last day we headed to church in the morning.  Luckily we had found one earlier in our trip when we had been walking around the city.  It was lovely and the people were all welcoming and nice like always when we visit wards out of the state. 

 We went to this cute cafe for lunch.  I think I said it before, but the food in Boston was amazing.  We didn't see very many big chain restaurants and I think it is because they wouldn't do very well! There are the most amazing cafes everywhere. 

 The only problem with eating at all of these wonderful little places was that each of them seemed to have the most amazing and unique desserts and we simply had to try them all.  And we did...

 Any cafe that randomly has fresh peonies on the flower in old milk bottles, is already ahead in my book.

 Can I tell you grateful I am for Josh's sense of direction?  Josh is a bit of a home body by nature.  He loves traveling when we do it, but it isn't something he usually is just DYING to do.  I am a travel junkie so I come up with the trips and Josh gets us around them.  We are a good team.  To tell you the truth I probably wouldn't travel that much without Josh because I would be so lost all of the time.  I am always amazed at how fast he masters getting us around.  Not my talent :)

The picture above is on the T or the subway system in Boston.  This particular stop had the beautiful chimes that would make music when any of the cars were going or coming.  I thought it was pretty charming for a subway station.

 I decided to change out of my dress, but Josh always stays in his church clothes the whole day and we ended up matching...not on purpose I swear.  I think people thought we were such nuts because Josh was walking around in a tie on a non work day and we were in the same color...We even got asked if we liked a certain soccer team that's colors were orange and white.  It was awkward funny.

 Cute Josh really went all out on this trip and I was in heaven the whole time.  I grew up loving lighthouses and the ocean in general.  Josh planned a tour of a lighthouse for us on this day.  As we went on a huge boat out to the lighthouse we were able to see all of amazing boats out on the ocean enjoying the sunny and COLD day.  It really was so so cold most of our trip.

 Sailing is one of my dreams...someday.

 It was so fun to get to see the view of Boston from the water.

 I probably took a hundred pictures of this lighthouse.  It was everything I had hoped it would be.  I felt like I was on P.E. Island with Anne (for all of you Anne of Green Gables buffs...I am one).

 Everything was just perfect and picturesque. 

 For all of those horrible people who didn't read the website saying that flip flops are not aloud on this tour, they had these to change into.

 And guess who had to wear some :)

 We had so much fun together.  I loved every second of being with Josh on this trip.

 The steps we climbed to see the light in the lighthouse.

 Josh and I both had to restrain ourselves from bursting out "Brazzle Dazzle Day" from Pete's Dragon.  It really was so interesting and amazing to be up by the light.  That is it to the right of us.

 We had a long time to just relax and tour the island.  We went looking for shells and just enjoyed the salty crisp air.  It really was euphoric for me.  Josh loved it too.

 I really do think I got pictures of about every inch of this island.

 Handsome guy I saw there.

 We actually saw 4 lighthouses on this little trip.  The one above was one we passed on our way out to our tour.

This lighthouse was out by the one that we went to.  It is actually pretty far away, this picture is just really zoomed in.  I wished that we could have gotten close to it.  The whole time we were out I just kept saying "This is so amazing."  It really did fulfill a dream I have had for a long time.  Now on to P.E. Island :)

 This day happened also to be Father's Day, which was a bit unfortunate that we didn't get to celebrate it with the boys.  Josh and I went out to dinner in the North End where all of the amazing Italian Restaurants were.

 The food here was unbelievable and the windows were pushed back so we could enjoy the lovely evening.  We got to sit right  by the open windows and it was awesome.

 Josh really is such an amazing dad.  We celebrated later with the boys.

 Our final indulgence of the trip (gelato) I think one of the things that I loved the most about the food in Boston is that it wasn't only good, but it was so PRETTY!

I love our short trips that we have been able to do, they are just perfect.  I am usually completely ready to come home when they come to an end.  We always miss our boys a ton.