Thursday, May 23, 2013

Dear 6732 Clernates Dr,

It is 2 in the morning and I am sitting on your floor. You are completely empty, except for the sofa sets your new owners purchased from us. My family is gone. Britten and I are the only ones here. He couldn't sleep, so I had the idea of coming here to let him scream. The funny thing is, I laid him on the floor and he fell right to sleep, on his own. Maybe because he knew I needed to be here one last time.
On June 16th it would've been 13 years since I walked through your door as your new owner. The only thing waiting for us was a ward list and map. It was taped to the inside of a cabinet door.

I remember how excited Dustin and I were. We were home owners! You were perfect. You looked a lot different than you do now. Blue carpet and white and gray linoleum covered the floors. The main bath had tan carpet though. The walls were eggshell in color. And your basement only had one room done- now that I think of it, the carpet in that room was tan too and the hallway was maroon! The basement bathroom was complete. I remember when I opened the door it hit the toilet!
Things are different now. Your walls are an array of brown, tan, gray, white and gold, so colorful! The floors are laminate, tile, and brown and  gray/ green carpet. This all sounds awful as I write it, but it works. Had we stayed, you would've gotten new carpet throughout.
On the outside, you are just as lovely since that first day. We added shudders and new flowers, but you were lovely without. You still have the huge concrete pad in the back, but the garden boxes we added around it helped me to love it. I just always wanted more grass, but that concrete was just what my little ones needed. So many memories in that backyard. So many memories in you!
I think back to my kids jumping from the 8th step up, into the arms of their father. Your 12 foot ceilings were perfect for tossing them high into the air. He only ever dropped Aaron; he hit the couch and bounced right into Dustin's arms. No injuries.
Do you know how many pictures I have taken in your entry way? Too many! I used to complain about its size, but it was the perfect picture taking spot!
Each bedroom housed my children, their toys, and their stuff. If walls could talk, those bedrooms would have a lot to say. I might not want to hear all of it...
6732, thank you for being our home for the last 13 years! You hold a special place in my heart. You hold all the memories of my children being tiny. You welcomed 4 of the 6 from the hospital. You are where Dustin and I even grew up! I was 23 when we moved in and Dustin was 25. We were new to everything! You watched us all grow.
You saw the good, but also witnessed the bad. I believe there is a couple spots of cream of chicken soup on the wall, just over the window. I got mad at Dustin and threw it in his direction. I couldn't wipe it away. It served as a reminder for years to never lose my temper again. So many lessons learned.
I must end. I could go on forever. It’s the last night I will sleep on my green couch with a baby that wont sleep. He's asleep now and I’m tired.
Of all the places I will miss most, I will miss the front porch. We loved to sit on the steps and watch our kids play with neighbors, or even just them. We would sit till it was dark. Kids playing, adults laughing. All having a splendid time.
I will miss you, but don't think I won't drive by when I'm in the area. Take care of the next owners. Help them find the joy that we have found here. I'm leaving them a ward list and all your paint. And ,I'm leaving you my cream of chicken soup stain. Hopefully they won't notice.
 Thanks for all the memories! Hoping the new owners know how lucky they are!

Love,
Larae
Ps just for me to remember:
 
 
 









 

 

 

 


And the flowers have bloomed so lovely this year!! Wish they were in this picture.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Because of My Mom

Every Saturday night I find myself at Wal-Mart. Last night was no different. Hang on...yes it was. It was the night before Mother's Day. I don't know if your Wal-Mart stores are like ours, but you never, NEVER got to Wal-Mart the night before a holiday. It is C-R-A-Z-Y. CRAZY.
 
People were everywhere. Things were everywhere. There were no carts in the stall!! I took that as an omen and decided I would get in and get out as fast as possible. But first, I needed a cart. So did the older woman looking for one. I ventured outside and found two right by each other. I grabbed both of them. One for me, one for the woman. I came back in and asked if she was still in need of a cart. Her son came in after me and had one, so I left it in the empty stall. A man came in and grabbed. I felt good inside. I did my good deed for the day.
 
I had a short list. I headed to get milk first. As I came down the major isle, I noticed boxes of Suddenly Salad all over the floor. Someone had knocked them down and left them. In my mind I was thinking how rude. You should always pick up after yourself. My mother taught me that. As I left the mess behind, a voice came in my head saying, "What would your mother do?" I answered it with, "She would pick it up." My mom taught me to be helpful.
 
I turned around and went straight for the boxes. I picked all of them up. There were around twelve scattered, along with the boxes that housed them. I felt weird because people were staring at me. Haven't they ever seen someone picking up a mess before?
 
I was finished and headed to get my milk. I put three gallons in my cart (we drink lots of milk). I now turned to go get some baby oatmeal cereal for Britten. I walked past an isle and thought I heard someone quietly ask, "Can you help me find my dad?" I turned around and there stood a little boy, with a toy in hand, looking scared. I asked him, "Are you lost?" He nodded his head and said, "I can't find my dad."
 
"Let's go find him," I said. I turned around and saw a gentleman hiding behind some clothes. I figured this little boy had wandered and the dad was following him to see what he would do (been there done that). I laughed a little and asked the boy, "Is your dad wearing a yellow shirt?" He nodded and his dad came out. "You have to stay with dad, buddy." My heart was happy that this boy wasn't really lost. A week ago Becca wandered from me, but I didn't see where she had gone. My heart was racing! I'm glad I helped that little boy, even though he was never in real danger. After all, my mom taught me to have compassion.
 
I finished picking up the items on my list. It took me longer than I thought it would. There were so many people! I'd get stuck behind the person who would park their cart on one side of the isle while checking out the items on the other side. I waited. I'd get stuck behind the family groups who would take up the whole isle. Usually I would be a little annoyed, but this time was different. I started the shopping trip doing what my mom taught me to do, so I kept it up. I was polite and waited. My mom taught me to be patient.
 
I made it to the checkouts. The lines were long- they always are the night before a holiday. I was waiting patient and realized the line up ahead only had one person in it. Normally, I would walk right on up, but this time was different. I asked the man in front of me if he planned on going into that line. He said no. So I went for it! My mom taught me to be thoughtful.
 
Outside I loaded up my car with my few groceries. I jumped in and pulled out of my parking space. As I entered the cross walk, a few people walked right out of the store and into the cross walk (why do they always do that?). Instead of getting mad and giving them the 'eye of death' look, I smiled and waved them on through. My mom taught me to be considerate.
 
I made it out of the parking lot, full of thanks for my great mother. I contemplated the thought that if everyone would just live their lives by their mother's teachings, what a better world this would be. Thank heaven for mothers.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 



Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Kate turned 9

Kate celebrated her 9th birthday on the 3rd. I can't believe it! My kids still seem little to me, but in reality they aren't. Here's a quick rundown of her day.
 
She requested donuts for her classroom, so that's what she got. I loaded up 2 and a half dozen donuts and a baby and headed over to her school. She was super excited. She seemed even more excited to have some left over.
 
She requested to go out for dinner this year. I was the lucky one who accompanied her. She chose Chili's. I love Chili's too! We talked over dinner. After, we went shopping for her gift.
 
I was surprised at what she chose this year. She spent most of her money on clothes! Grace and Becca, maybe, but not Kate. I let her pick them out. She chose two cute outfits. One even had a skirt! $10 was left and she wanted it in cash (she has since bought a new bike lock). We also picked up her cake and ice cream, chocolate cake and cookies and cream ice cream!
 
On Saturday, she went to lunch with Grandma Lori. Then they went shopping too. She picked out a Lego watch. That screams Kate! She loves it!! And it's really made of Lego pieces!
 
I had fun interviewing her this year! Here are her answers:
 
favorite color(s)- blue, green, red
favorite food- steak and pizza
favorite candy- Symphony bar and a KitKat
favorite song(s)- When I am Baptized, Crazier by Taylor Swift
favorite book- Harry Potter series, Squish series
favorite outside activity- riding her bike
what she likes about herself- she can sing
what she wants to be when she grows up- cowgirl or a cop
favorite animal- dog or wolf 
freinds- McKenzie, Elizabeth,Sterling, Walker, Kaycee, Chloe, Whitney
talent- she can put both legs behind her head
favorite movie- Harry Potter
what she learned at 8- write in cursive, mastered her multiplication and division facts (the girl is great at math), learned a lot about the Arctic Puffin
her gaol for the coming year- learn how to do tricks on her bike
 
Kate we love you! We are so glad to have you in our family. You are always smiling. That makes everyone around you smile too. you are a beautiful, talented, lovely lady. Don't ever change for anyone!!