Mount Uncanoonuc

UNCANOONUC   Translation: Woman's Breasts 

 (see pic below)

I guess some lonely ol' Indian, weary of solitude and traveling, looked up and got pretty excited at the sight of these mountains.

Anyway, Matt and I went for a hike this afternoon up the mountain. It was foggy so we didn't have the best view from the top (apparently you can see the city of Manchester when its clear) but the hike was great.

It was misty/foggy the whole way up so some of the pictures aren't too sharp. 

Here we came upon a spider colony, there were webs EVERYWHERE. Arachnophobia anyone?

I unfortunately looked up in a tree and saw some large victims cocooned in a web.

No picture needed. It was pretty cool though.

??? not sure what is going on here

This man-made cave has been around for hundreds of years. 

Maybe the lonely Indian stayed here...

Matt...ready for a snack.

At the start of the hike there is this huge field of flowers and plants for sale. It smelled AMAZING. Hopefully you can get an idea of how lush and green New Hampshire really is. 

I thought Seattle was green but NH totally dominates.

On the drive home Matt and I were talking about names for our future kids,

 a common topic of conversation.

Lo and behold we see this bunch crossing the road.

 I wonder what they named all their kids?

A Good Book

I am finally getting re-acquainted with my favorite hobby...reading! Since I was little I've loved getting lost in books and the feeling that when you open the pages you could just transport to different a place and time. Throughout college I just never felt I had time to read for pleasure. There were just too many other assigned readings that took up all my time. 

But I am finally back and have a list of probably 15 books that I cant wait to read. Earlier this summer I read (and loved) The Secret Life of Bees. 

Last Thursday I finished this gem, These Is My Words.  

I wont post a synopsis or anything  and I realize that many of you have probably already read it. (I am a little behind in the current 'good reads'.).  It's got a good western feel to it if you like that kinda thing. Honestly, it's set in a time I would like to go back to and if I could, I would be this woman. Anyway, if you haven't read it, do. If you have read it, I hear there are two more: Sarah's Quilt, and The Star Garden...any reviews on those two??

Sweet Caroline

"Things to do in my life" checklist:

1.) See a game at Fenway. Check!

This weekend, Ma and Pa Cook planned an amazing overnight trip to Boston for the four of us.  We had SO much fun. I know it's an excessive amount of pictures but I just couldn't cut one more out. 

Bryson got home from work and we left right away to meet Matt in Boston. We dropped our stuff off at the beautiful Hotel Commonwealth. It was literally down the street from Fenway.

  

You can see that CITGO sign from the stadium.

Oh Yawkey way, every bit as awesome as I imagined.

My first Fenway frank, haha, plus the extras which Matt said I HAD to try.

The Fam! I love this picture. Luckily, we took it before the downpour

and one hour rain delay.

The Champs!! Making their way around the field on the duck boats

KG made sure to say hi to me, as expected.

The two biggest Sox fans you'll ever meet. 

The game was so fun, I loved every single rained out minute. There really is nothing like watching a baseball game from  classic American Fenway. So much history and so much loyalty! 

Saturday morning we got up, grabbed Dunkin' Donuts bagels (a favorite in the making), and headed to Quincy to take a tour of John Adam's birthplace and home.

Matt getting into character.

Bryson and Matt infront of the Adam's MASSIVE home. We loved all the history and the chance to see the untouched rooms and walk the hallways that our 2nd and 6th Presidents walked. Very cool.

This was the Stone Library, home to over 14,000 books covering every topic imaginable. During the tour I noticed one titled, "The Ages of Female Beauty." Interesting...

We had a blast and I just loved the history at Fenway AND the Adam's residence. We learned a ton and just had a wonderful weekend together. 

Not only do my in-laws let us invade their basement... they plan wicked awesome stuff for us to do together. Needless to say, I am having a great summer:)

GREEN with Envy...

The Rolling Rally will commence in an hour through the streets of Boston and Doc, Pierce, Allen, and KG finally get their rings. I have really, really enjoyed staying up late every game night with the Cook Crew cheering on the Celts!  

What a great series. Especially for a Kobe-Hater like me. Man the Lakers are an UGLY team. That's another bonus to the win...no more having to look at close up shots of Vujacic, Walton, and Gasol. 

 Eeeewww.

 I'd much rather look at close ups of the Parquet Posse for obvious reasons. Seriously.

Lakers Suck. Sorry A. Swapp and S. Brady :)

Dad.

Matt and I were asked to speak in Church for Father's Day and as we were discussing our talks this weekend it was really fun to reminisce about individual memories we have with our Dads. We have both been blessed to have such great examples and amazing Fathers. We love you both SO MUCH and are grateful for all you do! Happy Father's Day!

Perfect Moments

So I've been talking to my mom about this lately, the idea of perfect moments. Everyone has had at least one and they can come at any time, place, with any person.  It can be a whole day or just 30 seconds.

Since I've been in New Hampshire I've already had several and I'm realizing how easily I forget these glimpses of perfection. So, I've resolved to carry a notebook around so I can just write a paragraph here or there whenever I feel like it (my mom's idea... she's smart).  I'll share a couple that I plan to document in my handy dandy notebook.

Just earlier this week the weather was hot, thick, and humid. I loved it. I spent my days out by the pool hanging out with my ma-in-law, and reading "The Secret Life of Bees". At night I watched the Red Sox and the Celtics with the whole Cook Crew. Perfection. To add to that, one night while watching a game, a lighting storm started off in the distance and when it finally was in the backyard, 7 flashes of lightning would spark before the thunder would crash.

 I stepped outside and sat on the steps in the backyard enjoying the sticky heat and the magical display above me. For a moment I remembered being 10 or 11 and my mom waking me up in the middle of the night to go sit out on the front porch with her to watch the storm. She'd even let us kids run out into the puddles in our pajamas once the downpour hit.  As I sat on the steps there was no rain to dance in, but I enjoyed my old memory and in the same moment, made a new one.

I had a great moment today, and it confirmed to me another reason to love East Coast people.  They love to make small talk and they are genuinely interested in what you have to say, at least that has been my experience thus far.

Today at the gym I got on a bike next to a man in his 70's, he was probably 5'2". I paid no attention as his buddy walked over and in a Boston accent said, "Hey Ray, where are you going today?"  Ray took a minute to catch his breath and said, "New York today Otis."  I figured he was talking business. Then Otis smiled at me and said to Ray, "I bet you woke up once this pretty girl sat down next to you," turning to me "You would wake anybody up I bet."  I laughed, embarrassed, and said I doubted it but thanks.  

Otis continued talking to me saying "I always ask Ray where he is going in his mind on that bike. Sometimes it's New York, Minnesota, the Cape. He just goes places." Ray grinned at me, a warm grandpa grin. I grinned back, wondering where he was at that moment.  

Awhile later when I got off the bike to leave Ray said, surprised, "Exactly how tall are you?!" ( I can't count how many times I've been asked this in my life.) "Almost 6 feet." I realized I was towering over this miniature old man on a bike. "Good for you," he said. "I hope you got a letter in high school sports or something. It's great to be tall. You be proud."  I said I was and that I did get some letters and then I thanked him for the chat and walked away.

There is  so much to be enjoyed during our day to day interactions with other people. I don't shy away from chatting with strangers anymore. Yeah there is the occasional weirdy (stacie's term) but there is also a chance that someone you've never met will make you smile, laugh, and make you want to bike to New York in your mind.

Adventures in Bedford

I want to start this post by congratulating Matt on completing the first of eleven weeks with his internship at AIG!! I have been getting up with him at 5:30am every morning to make his lunch and drive him to the carpool pick up. We'll see how long I last but he is the real champ because I could go back to bed but he's got work til 5 and gets home around 6:30.

 Anyway he is doing great and I am so proud of him. While he was hard at work on Friday, I got to have a VERY fun day out with the girls.

Celebrating Kathleen's 20th (not 21st!) at Cheesecake Factory.

We waited an HOUR to be seated...but it was worth it. Then we spent

a couple hours at the amazing Natick Mall.

After the Mall we parted ways with Kathleen, Taylor, and Jordan and 

met Matt downtown to head over the Boston Temple

It was so neat to spend time in the Temple with family and friends. We

even met Elder Nelson who was in town for a Temple fireside. After that it was

on to another great meal. Mom and Dad Cook are taking VERY good care of us!

Today Matt and I got a little sun at Hampton Beach. It was really fun to go

back because the last time we went it was on the day we got engaged.

SIDENOTE: I have found that East Coasters have a much easier time making small 

 talk with strangers even if it is TOO personal and in an accent that I am

still adjusting to!

Before we left Provo, Matt gave me these two 'scrapbook' pages with a

list of ten things  we would do this summer. Everything from

a Red Sox game to hiking the White Mountains. Well, our first weekend

was a success and I look forward to many more!

We really are having so much fun. I'm learning how to get myself around, I got a job, and I 

look forward to spending my afternoons by the pool with Janice while Matt slaves away at

work because in the fall its back to the role reversal:)