The End of an Era

Yesterday, it was closing day on our old house.  We finished moving everything out and tidying up.  Then, we took the boys over for one last walk through the old place to say goodbye and give them a little bit of closure.  I have been feeling a little down since then.  Maybe because we are trying to cram our entire family into our tiny little rental property.  Maybe because now that we have everything out of the old house, I have a lot of work ahead of me trying to make it all fit .  Maybe it is because we still don't know whether we are building, buying, or moving out of Taylor altogether.  (I don't do too well if I don't have a plan.)  But, I think the real reason that I am down is because it is hard to say goodbye to a house that holds so many memories. We lived in that house for nine and a half years.  It was the home where I brought four of my five babies home from the hospital.  It was the home where they all learned to crawl, walk, and talk.  It was the home where I got to spend those quiet middle-of-the night moments that only mothers get with babies when they are nursing, cutting teeth, or sick.  It was the home where there were a lot of sibling fights, but even more laughter and play.

We put our blood, sweat, and tears into that house making it a pleasant, and pretty place to live. As I think about that house, I have so many sweet memories, like rocking my tiny babies; watching my little boys push their big dump trucks around and around the living room and kitchen in a big circle; cooking together in the kitchen; sending my boys off to preschool, and first days of school; waiting for the school bus to bring them home and talking about how their days went; homework; and Friday night pizza and movies.

It is really hard to say goodbye to a place that has been such an important part of our family for nearly a decade.  So, please indulge me as I share the last pictures I took of our little house.  These were taken during the moving process, so some rooms may seem a little sparse.  I know I took way too many pictures, but my mom has assured me that you tend to forget exactly how your house looked over the years, so I overdid it, getting every angle. ;)

Goodbye house. We will miss you!!

Utah Trip

I am a little slow in getting these pictures posted.  Life is still a little crazy around here and it is tough to find time to sit down and get a blog post up.

I am sharing some pictures from our recent trip to Utah.  I will be keeping commentary to a minimum and letting the pictures mostly speak for themselves.

Lake Powell on the way up.

Tad helping Grandpa Teichert mow the lawn.

Drake and Tad learning to skate at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

They boys at the newly renovated Monte L. Bean museum at BYU.  (This picture was snapped with my phone, so the quality stinks. Sorry.)

Drake on a hike just outside Bryce Canyon.

Jack in Bryce Canyon NP.

Dallin

Thomas

The boys at Capitol Reef NP.

The whole family at Capitol Reef.

This was a quick, but fun trip.  It was nice to see my family and some of my extended family again.  And, of course, I always love getting back for a visit to my home.  I miss all of you already!!