Farewell, to our first home!

We just moved into a new home, and sold our old home in west Layton. There are so many mixed emotions that go through you when you move. I really didn't know what to expect. I thought that since we had been considering moving for a while I'd be well prepared for the final good bye, but I wasn't. It was especially hard going to our last day of church. I realized that all those who had influenced, and served our family for so many years would no longer be apart of our every day lives. It was especially hard for Kate. She would no longer be able to run next door to play with her friends. I've been reminiscing about our old house. It was the first and only place Dan and I had ever lived in together. All of our memories as a married couple, and a young family are there. It was really hard to just drive away. We are now moved in, and just attended our first Sunday in our new ward. I feel much more at home. I know that this is definitely where we are meant to be. We both feel so peaceful about it; the whole process went so smoothly. We couldn't have asked for a better moving experience. Last Sunday we went to our neighborhood walk about. Every month our neighborhood selects three homes to host a little social for two hours. It gets everyone outside, and visiting and meeting each other. Kate and Kirk had a ball, they both met new friends. One of the best parts of our move is that we are so close to family. Saturday we Celebrated the fourth of July. Usually we end up spending alot of time driving between family functions on holidays. Yesterday however, we were able to just walk through our back yard and we were at Dan's parents. We were also very close to my side of the family as well. I'm so excited for the convince of living close to family. The Fourth of July was a blast. Every year we have the tradition of eating breakfast with my family, then heading over to the Layton Parade together. It was the best parade experience we've ever been to, mainly due to that fact that it was cool and cloudy. We usually aren't lucky enough to find a spot in the shade. So often we end up standing in the scorching sun. But Saturday was gorgeous cool weather. Afterwards we went to the fair. The kids were each able to pick out a prize. Kirk got a sword (fittingly), and Kate got a fan (no surprise there). It's funny how Kate is such a girly girl, and Kirk is just all boy. Then we headed to my grandma Woolsey's house for her annual fourth of July BBQ. We always sit under the shade of a huge walnut tree. I was able to visit with my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Then we headed home got ready for swimming and hit the Mower's pool. We all swam, (except for Benjamin, he severely needed a nap). Then it was time to eat again. The dinner was fabulous terriyaki chicken, hot dogs, salads, and homemade ice cream. We planned to go to the fire works as a family, but I was totally spent. So Dan took Kate and Kirk to his brother's house to light fire works, while I stayed home with the baby and took bath and went to bed. I think I definitely got the better side of the deal on that one. My only regret is that I didn't get any pictures. I need to carry a camera in my van so that I can whip it out at any time.

I was trying to capture Benjamin smiling, and laughing. My camera doesn't snap photos very quickly so it's hard to get that perfect expression. He really is the happiest sweetest baby. He smiles all of the time.

Kirk did such a funny thing today. I've just begun Kate's birthday party preparations. (I feel like birthday parties are beginning to become a hobby of mine. The plans get bigger and more elaborate every year). So he has begun anticipating his birthday party. He said that he wanted a knight party. Our neighbor brought over a delicious chocolate cake to welcome us into the neighborhood. I offered my sister and her children some, and Kirk started to today freak out. He started saying that I shouldn't eat his birthday cake. I told him that it wasn't his birthday cake, but he was way past reasoning. So the only way I could calm him down was to let him stick one of his toy knights on it. We then all sang "Happy Birthday" to him! Afterwards I thought wow, I've really let this whole birthday mania get a little out of hand.