Rochester Recap

Although I'm currently wore out from the previous week, which I'm now referring to as Tour de Rochester, we had a blast the whole time!

The weekend before the boys left for the boundary waters was my friend Andi's 30th birthday. Some of you may remember Andi & Kendall from my prayer requests for Kendalls health over this last year. She decided to have a fiesta with sidewalk chalk, games, pin the tail on the donkey & (of course) pinitas! She had Mardi Gras necklaces as an extra reward for winning a game & my competitive spirit came out...let's just say I ended up with the most beads & got the final prize for having the most necklaces. It was a Barnes & Noble gift certificate. Her other friends probably hate me & my ability to turn a friendly birthday game into a brutal competition ,but something just comes over me....I need help.

Becky in her party hat!

filled with candy & other goodies


giving it a try

John won!

Pridie's pup

Megan

The following day we hung out in the cities to celebrate her actual birthday with some shopping & a visit to mecca AKA the West Elm store.

I went into work Mon-Wed & got to see all of my co-workers. It made me realize even more how hard it is to work at home with no face to face interaction with ppl. on a daily basis. It's all a trade off, but this one is a pretty big one. I really enjoyed every minute of being in the office!

Thursday when John got back from camping, he crashed until the oath swearing ceremony later that evening. After the ceremony we stopped by small groups weekly meeting. It was so nice to join them in prayer requests & catch up.

from Beka's garden!

Phil & Jake

Justin

all the girls minus Ashley (Jessie, Kerri + baby!!, me, Beka, Andi)

Luckily John was recharged by Friday. We decided to venture out to Oxbow park & zoo. We always wanted to check it out when we lived in Rochester, but never got around to it. It was a really neat place & made us regret never taking advantage of the nature trails and camping area when we lived in Rochester. All you locals check it out! That evening we joined some friends at 300 First for dinner & fellowship!

petting zoo area

isn't he the cutest?

Jacob Black

I think they were looking at the otters...

VanDalen's at dinner

John's plate before... John's plate after!

Beka & Andi

the Koens

most of the crew

Beka, Andi, me & Jess

the boys version of a nice picture

J at dinner

Rochester is such a special place to us. We will always feel at home whenever we visit there. It was a unique chapter in our lives that, like every chapter, helped form who we are today.

What a great week...and now you know why I'm exhausted!