Boston

Yes, we took this trip in May.  But it still deserves to be documented.  We loved this trip.

Boston is hands-down the cleanest large/famous city I've ever toured (except maybe Salt Lake).  It's truly beautiful. Historical and modern.  Big and quaint.  I really really like Boston.  If it weren't so expensive to live there, I would really lament not going to Tufts.  Luckily, I don't since we're probably getting out of here debt free!!  But anyways, I really enjoyed Boston and would totally recommend this location for a fulfilling vacation destination.

So let's begin our tour.  This is how it went: Caleb snuggled in his carseat stroller (which has now been retired, he's too big), me in all the clothes I brought on my trip cause it was colder than I anticipated, and usually Kim (my MIL) at my side, although here she's behind the camera.

Here's where the Boston Pops play for huge adoring crowds every Independence Day.  It really is right on the river with a huge park all around.

On the famous shopping street (what's its name?) at the bottom of Beacon Hill, a city ordinance requires all the signs to be electricity-free, so as to maintain a slightly more colonial feel.  It works and is really beautiful.

Walking & exploring.

Under the branches of this beautiful tree in Boston Common.  Here they had the swan-boat rides where a driver paddles you around the little lake.  It's extremely picturesque.

Of course ever since Tyler started reading sports writer Bill Simons, he thinks he has a right to cheer for the Sox like a native Bostonian.  I still don't see the logic, but the tour of Fenway Park was super interesting.  Bostonians like the past apparently, cause they like things to stay as they were.  It's one of the three oldest parks in MLB, very cozy and friendly.  I would enjoy going to a game there.

A statue of the famous Paul Revere along the Freedom Trail (which passes the meaningful locations in US colonial and Revolutionary war history.  There's a red brick/paint path on the sidewalk to follow through-out the city... very well done.

Some more sites along the trail.

Of course we had to stop for gelato, which we expected to be fabulous with the rich Italian heritage here, but we went to the wrong shop, cause it seriously disappointed!

On the freedom trail.

Caleb got a much-needed break from the stroller at the Frog Park.  So cute!  There were lots of cute kids there.  We did feel Bostonian-ish for a minute.

Caleb and this squirrel played together for several minutes.  It was the funniest things!  It would come close, then run a little away, then come close again, etc.  So funny!

Tyler was able to attend the conference for the American Association of Cosmetic Dentists with his step-dad while we were there.  Kim & Jim put us up in a lovely hotel room and we really have to thank them for inviting us to go with them.  We had a great time!

Tyler's Stationary Race

Once again this year the undefeated Dental Class 2012 Bike-Racing Team banded together to win the Race to Any Place (on stationary bikes).  The race benefits some good-doing non-profit, I believe in the disease research arena (Tyler: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society), but mostly I think these boys just go to win.  And why not?  They do it every year and love it.

Don't be fooled though, it does take some pain,

and sweat,

some perseverance,

and one strange (supposedly humorous), self-imposed threat (Tyler: This was actually the team to the right of us that put up this sign.  Apparently they knew we were the team to beat and were trying to motivate themselves) to win this race.

But in the meantime they did have some fun.

And of course, smiled for the camera.

Good job guys!  I'm proud of ya'll!

Caitlin's Wedding and Utah Trip

Okay we're on rewind again!  Now that we have some vacation time, Tyler's finally been able to work through all our photos.  This is going to be a long post.  Be prepared. :)

Just after finals in April we rushed off to Burley Idaho which has long been a special town for me and has become a special place for Tyler's family.  My mom grew up there and my grandparents both lived there until they died and are buried there.  We happily vacationed there every summer and spent many holidays there.  Life is just slower in Burley and I love it.  If it weren't for the cow smell in the wind, I would seriously consider settling there.

Tyler's sister Caitlin has been living there for a while and now we can claim native Burley-ite Steve as our brother.  We just love Burley.

The actual sealing was in the Twin Falls Temple.  My sister and BIL were in town and took Caleb so we could both be there.  (Thank you!!)  Of course he showed up after for the pictures.

The happy couple.

The rest of our temple-ground photos.

Joey just fell in love with Caleb during the trip which just melted our hearts.

Three generations of Johansen men.

The luncheon and reception were both in Burley and very lovely.  Somehow we don't have any pictures of those.  We are so glad we were able to be there.  We love Caitlin and we love Steve.  It was a great day.

During our down-time we visited the graves of my grandparents.  I've been there lots of times and I love going back.  I still painfully miss my grandpa and think about him often.   I wish I could hug him and talk to him again.  I wish he could be here with me.  I just miss him!

We went with Claire and Dave, although I'll have to search my other camera for a picture including them. :-/  Still, I love how these turned out.

Once Caitlin and Steve left town, the rest of us did too.  Since Tyler had a week off, we decided to visit some of the people in Utah we love and miss so much.  First we headed to Elk Ridge to visit Tyler's cousin Kevin and his family.  I usually don't think Tyler & Kevin look much alike, but here they do!

Krystina works for BYU Broadcasting and she gave us a tour of their new facility.  We weren't allowed to take pictures inside, so here's one of the doors.

And here is their little angel baby Samuel.  He is so happy and smiley.  So cute!

While south we got to have dinner (at the Art City train restaurant in Springville) with my great friend Marnie who was my mentor and neighboring teacher when I taught 5th grade in Orem.  Her daughter Lindsey is still perfect.  I miss being close to them!  Marnie is so good at being a good friend.  (And isn't she beautiful?!  She's always so put together.)

Of course we had to visit where we fell in love.  (I'm sure the singles who live there now thought we were super creepy walking through and taking pictures...)

Happy happy happy memories.

At some point in Provo we ate at Cafe Rio.  A must.

Next we paid homage to our alma mater and looked around to see what's new.

We had heard about the Jimmer craze on campus, but it was funny to see it in person.

We ended our BYU tour sitting on the grass in front of our favorite building (The Maeser of course) reading the Daily Universe and pretending we were students again for five minutes.  It felt good.

Next we hiked past Bridal Veil Falls along our beloved Provo River trail.  

Our last stop in Provo was for MY FAVORITE BURGER & FRIES ON THE PLANET.  Burgers Supreme.  If you're still on the fence about fry sauce,  go here, order the #4 Cheeseburger meal, get extra fry sauce for your fries, (they even have Diet Dr. Pepper on tap), and you'll be converted.  We were happy to meet Tyler's old roommate Logan there.

After our lovely tour of Utah County, we headed north to Bountiful to spend a few days with my dad's parents and my mom who flew out to meet us.  I love being with Grammy & Grandad.  They have so much to share and are so funny too!  They really enjoyed Caleb and were so cute with him.  At this point in Caleb's life he had taken a few steps on his own, but refused to really walk.  However, he spent hours pushing chairs around the porch and his stroller around the lawn.  It was great entertainment.

I love this one.  I can't believe how much baby chub Caleb has already lost since then!

Now watch out.  Here's the best picture of the whole bunch.  This will be printed and framed.

While in Bountiful my mission trainer and great friend Andi came to visit with her twins.  We had yet to meet each others' kids and it was great fun!

Our last city to visit was Logan.  On our way we stopped at Costa Vida for lunch.  (Truly, I like it better than Cafe Rio - better pork, better dressing, and the best Horchata).  In Logan we stayed with my dad's sister and her family (so fun, thank you!) where, I have to mention, we slept on the most glorious mattress ever created, and had a fun time seeing the sites of Aggie Land.  Jackie gave us a tour of campus.  (She is an expert at this point.)

The legend of the A is pretty funny.  Apparently my sister is a true Aggie.

We're making an A, can't you tell?

Even though I thoroughly enjoyed Jackie as a little kid, it sure is fun to be sisters as adults.

Together we ate some of the yummiest toast at Hazel's Bakery on campus, had ice cream at the Gossner dairy, watched my cousin play lacrosse at Skyview HS, ate lunch at Kimi's favorite place Juniper, perused Jackie's favorite used bookstore Books of Yesterday, stocked up at the Pepperidge Farm outlet, and then fed the ducks at First Dam.  It was quite a day!  Logan is really beautiful.

Lastly we had dinner with all the Reeders at Kamin Thai Restaurant which was delicious and fun.

We had such a great trip with our boy and seeing all the people we love.

Thanks to everyone who welcomed us into their homes and made time to see us.  It was a blast!