Our First Month in Minnesota

The summer continues to fly by as we've been settling into our new home. It's hard to believe we have already been here for a month! There have been plenty of home sick moments, but for the most part we feel like we are settling in really well. I feel like we are "home" when we are in our apartment which is a really great feeling. Getting around town still feels mostly foreign but I'm sure that will get better with time. It's the little things like finding our new favorite grocery store (out with the Smith's, Dan's and Harmon's and in with the Rainbow and Cub Foods!) that still aren't quite there yet.

We have such nice people in our new ward who have reached out and been so kind to us. We have been invited over to people's houses for dinner and even went out on our first official date with three other couples in the ward. We hired a babysitter for Brody and headed into the "big city" (St Paul) for dinner for a night filled with adult conversation and relaxation. It was amazing!

The weather's been great besides one hot spell the first week we were here, which I have greatly appreciated as a big hot pregnant lady! Brody and I spend most of our days going to the parks that are close by and Brody is loving it, especially when there are other kids there to watch and play with. We are trying to take full advantage of this weather before the 10 month long winter that we keep hearing so much about kicks in... (Heaven help us!)

Eric has been adjusting well to his new job and really loves what he's doing. He is such a hard worker and I am so grateful for all that he does to support our family. We've been trying to take full advantage of having him home to ourselves on the weekends when he's not out working hard. There's a free zoo in St. Paul that we went to and the cutest little farmer's market that we've been going to each week. It feels good to be getting into a normal routine after years of sporadic schedules with school and my working. Of course, this baby will be arriving just as we are really getting adjusted so I know we'd better not get too comfortable!

Here's to more exciting "firsts" and new beginnings that lie ahead!

We get HUGE thunderstorms out here with the loudest thunder you've ever heard. Brody thinks they're pretty cool.

Ridin around town trying not to get lost with mom.

Our new favorite summer treat.

Our ward camp out = a little boy's paradise!

Play time with dad after work! Tackle football, anyone?