our first weeks in massachusetts.

Like I mentioned in my last blog post, we have been here in Massachusetts for over a month now. It has proved to be one of the most challenging, exciting, scary, fun and wonderful experiences of my life.

As soon as Eric and Nadine picked us up from the airport, I think I was in shock. I seriously could not wrap my head around the fact that I was across the country in a city I had only heard of and seen pictures of. When Ellie and I arrived, it was about 1:00 am (technically 11:00 pm in my brain) so it was dark out. While we were driving to our apartment, we went through huge tunnels, windy, bumpy roads, dodged maniac drivers and saw so many "foreign" things. I was as wide eyed and curious as Ellie was on our flight there. When we got into our neighborhood in the city of Quincy (which is just right outside of Boston. It's like Bountiful compared to Salt Lake. Also, It's pronounced Quin-zee. Just so you know), I remember looking and seeing trash EVERYWHERE. There were trash bags, and boxes full of trash and tiny trash cans. I asked Eric why the heck there was trash everywhere and he told me that trash day was the next day. Apparently, they don't have big huge city trash cans around these parts, so people just leave their junk out on the lawn and in the gutter. I was way grossed out at first, but now I'm totally used to it. In fact, I kind of like it. More on that later. 

Other than the trash, I couldn't see much because it was so dark. It felt like we were driving forever down a million windy roads when we suddenly pulled into a little parking area for our apartment building. Thankfully, it looked just like the pictures we had seen online! We walked down the stairs into our little basement unit apartment. It was nearly empty with the exception of a few boxes, a pack n play for Ellie in her room, and some essentials. The moving company was supposed to come by the time Eric and Nadine made it to Boston, but they didn't. In fact, they didn't show up for another two weeks after we had arrived. Yeah. We felt like hobos shacking up in some empty apartment for two weeks. I could write a whole post about how awful they were, but I'll stay away from the negative vibes. For anyone who hires West Coast Movers, beware. That is all. 

That first night, all we had was a sleeping bag. Our apartment is all wood floors so we slept on wood floors in a sleeping bag. I was so exhausted that I didn't really care at the time, but we were both really sore when we woke up. I was mostly just happy to be able to sleep next to my husband again :) When we woke up, I was able to get a better look at our new home.  I love our little apartment :) It's a two bedroom in an old building in a super cute neighborhood. We have a window AC, no dishwasher and we're paying more than I ever dreamed I'd be paying for an apartment but it was the best deal we could find here and we're grateful to have it! 

The next week was spent getting insurances set up, getting drivers licenses, buying more essential items and hitting up some cool attractions in Quincy and Boston. We're poor, so we've decided to get most of our furniture used. We started by getting to as many garage sales as we could find until we discovered Estate Sales. I've only seen these on TV before, but they have been so much fun!! Our first one we went to we snagged a brand new AC for 50 bones (they are usually about 300) 4 dining chairs for 10, an awesome fan, a bunch of kitchen supplies and the person even threw in a cute little kid chair for free. We've been going to these every weekend since we moved here :) The first weak here was a little rough for me because it was all so new! But then we went to church and I felt so much peace. Here's what I posted on Facebook the first Sunday : "This past week here in Boston has been in a word.. Overwhelming. New climate, huge culture shock, homesickness, and doing tons of things I've never done in my life. It's been really fun so far, but it's also been difficult trying to feel okay with the fact that I'm going to be living here for a long time. Then, this morning I went to church and immediately I felt a huge amount of peace and happiness. The ward was so welcoming and I felt so comforted. It's so amazing to me that no matter where I go, I'll always have this amazing church to back me up, to comfort me and to remind me that my Heavenly Father knows where I am and is there for me and my family. This Gospel is true! I'm so blessed to be a member of it" Seriously, the church is awesome. 

Nadine left on that Sunday after church. There were tears and words of wisdom and advice. Just a quick word about how amazing my in laws are. Eric's parents are just amazing. They put up with us for a year! They put up with me lounging on their couch during my whole pregnancy, they put up with a screaming newborn all hours of the night, they put up last minute babysitting requests and they never complained about any of it. In fact, they said they loved having us there and they cried when we left! I guess we were pretty good company ;) They are amazing parents, grandparents and in laws. I'm so blessed to have married into such a wonderful family and I'm so grateful to my 2nd mom and dad for being so hospitable and helpful this past year. I felt pretty bad taking Ellie away from them, they kind of fell in love with her a little bit. But Boston is only a plane ride away!
After Nadine was gone, we were suddenly completely on our own in a new state by ourselves taking care of our baby. It was pretty intimidating haha But when it sunk in we got really excited! This new chapter in our life is here and we're living it. Once the moving truck finally got here, we really started settling in. We finally really felt home. 
Back to the trash. We discovered that people leave stuff out to be taken that is perfectly good! In an effort to save us money, I've started refinishing cheap stuff we find. It's really fun and much less expensive than buying stuff new! 
Eric has started his new job as a pharmacy tech and he loves it, just like he loved it in California! He also starts school this week! He attended a transfer student orientation, and it made him super excited for school. He's going to do so well! While I get my photography clientele built up here, I need to work so I can help support our mass amounts of bills. I applied for tons of jobs, but I really did not want to put Ellie in day care. I ended finding a job with a housekeeping company where I can accept any job I want and clean houses on my schedule! So I'll work on days that Eric doesn't have school or work, so he can watch Ellie while I work. It pays well, I won't have to do it forever, I enjoy cleaning, and it's perfect for our schedule! 
We love our area, we love our ward, and we really love living here. I've only had one breakdown of homesickness, and it didn't last too long. I miss my family more than anything, but we'll be back in Utah in December for Christmas and Ellie's Birthday! I'm already planning her party. It's fine. 
Here's lot's of pictures from our first few weeks! Enjoy!

I saw this on our kitchen counter and it got REAL

Nadine and me at Wollaston Beach

Eric's new school!

First time on the Subway!

Quincy farmers market. This place has the best food! 

Fresh, delish blueberries from the market

Most of the houses around here look like this. I love it!

I found my dream house. It over looks the Atlantic ocean in Scituate Mass

I've been making really yummy food!

We got this couch for 70 bucks off of craigslist!

There's a park by our church where people just leave all their old toys. Anyone can play with them! It's like a giant toy graveyard and complete heaven for kids! 

Being a big girl in the shopping car!

Our bishop invited us over for dinner. This is his freaking house.