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5.02.2010

A Fond Farewell

On Friday, we signed all the papers for our old house & the new family moved in yesterday.
Good-bye, old house. I can't believe you are no longer my home.
I know when I last posted on Wednesday, things were still uncertain with our house closing, but prayers were answered & everything worked out!

We close on our new house in a few days & I am SO relieved, excited & thankful.

We took the girls by our old house late Friday afternoon (after we signed the closing papers) to say goodbye to our old neighbors & say one final farewell to the house.

I have to admit, it was emotional for me saying good-bye to that house.

We have really amazing neighbors that I will miss.
(I have written about our neighbors here and here.)

And that house holds some pretty amazing memories for Kevin & I.

Here is the camellia plant that I planted after my 2nd miscarriage in fall of 2005.
Whenever it blossomed, it was a reminder of our loss, but gave me hope. I will miss that plant & its beautiful flowers that came around every Spring.

This house was where we brought both of our girls home from the hospital.
Bringing Kate home - January 2007

And, Claire:
Arriving home with Claire - September 2008

One final picture of the girls on the front step:
I can't tell you how many pictures I have taken of them on our front step...Easter, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Halloween, etc. Almost every special occasion or holiday, I took a picture of them on this front step.

We let the girls run around the empty house one last time.
Kate ran around saying "good-bye" to each room.
"Good-bye old room!"
Claire looking concerned that the house was empty:
After we said good bye to the house, we said good-bye to our favorite neighbors.
Chris lived to the left of us. He is one of the most generous people I know.
Chris (also known as Chris Claus) is a wine distributor, (but doesn't like wine!) lucky for us!
Every week or two, we would open up our front door & find a bottle or 2 of wine on our front porch. We will miss having Chris as a neighbor, but he said he will still deliver us wine :)

On the right of our house, lived Brian & Gloria.
Brian & Gloria are the most Patriotic, Conservative & All Around American people that I have EVER met! They love America & they love politics! They would always invite us to their political fundraisers & tea parties (we never went). They are just the sweetest neighbors ever & just today Gloria called me because she is getting a new piano & wants to give me her old piano (a Baby Grand) so that the girls can learn to play piano on it!

Our neighbor across the street was Jim (and his son Dave)
Jim was also a great neighbor because he has a wealth of information.
When Kevin was rebuilding our backyard fence 4 summers ago, Jim is the one who came over & taught Kevin how to do it. They got the fence built in record time, thanks to Jim. Whenever we needed a laugh, we could count on Jim. Jim & I are both VERY sarcastic & we would always banter back & forth from across the street. I coached his oldest daughter in soccer 6 years ago & his son was in my math class 5 years ago.

Our final family picture in front of our house:
This is the house that we bought as a married couple....
but 5.5 years later, we sold it as a family of four (plus a dog)

It is bittersweet...It is sad to say farewell to this wonderful house where we made so many memories but we look forward to & anticipate saying hello to our new house where many more memories are going to be made!

19 comments:

  1. Tears coming to my eyes, what a fabulous way to say goodbye, but I have a feeling many great new memories will be made at the new Larson Lair!!!! : D

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  2. What a sweet post! I felt much the same when we sold our first home. Hope your transition goes really smoothly!

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  3. I know exactly how you feel... I remember when we sold our first home where we brought home 2 babies, experienced a miscarriage, had wonderful neighbors and memories. I cried as I went around that little house for the last time, I prayed for the new family that they would be as blessed as we were. It will always hold a special place in my heart. xoxo Nancy

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  4. What an awesome post, made me cry a little. How you bring out such emotion with nothing but a few words and pictures is beyond me, but its an amazing talent. Hope you guys enjoy your new home. Here's to wonderful memories and new beginnings!

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  5. Mel, beautiful post to commemorate such a special place! Something tells me no matter where your family is, it will be filled with love and laughter.

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  6. ahh...sad. just think -- so many more memories in your new home! can't wait to see the new place :)

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  7. This post touched me because we moved out of our first home nearly 2 years ago, and I still feel nostalgic about it. :) Hope you get settled in easily!

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  8. Oh what a sweet post about all the memories of that house! I can't wait to hear about all the new fun memories that come with the next chapter!

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  9. I am totally teary-eyed! And I kind of want to move into your old house... especially with a neighbor like Chris... :)

    Can't wait to see the new house and I hope you guys get in and get settled soon!

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  10. I am not going to cry
    I am not going to cry
    I am not going to cry

    I am crying
    just a little

    too close to home for me!
    I don't own the home I will be leaving in two short months, but my neighbors are what make this place so special
    The day I say goodbye is going to be UGLY

    I am excited for you
    your new home
    new adventure
    and wow..."closing on the house" are words I don't know that I will ever get to say!!!!!!

    good luck...the best is yet to come..right?

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  11. I can't imagine! When we move I am sure I will be a bundle of emotions saying goodbye to our first home. Good luck to you as you move into your next house and home.

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  12. WOW! That was a moving post. I have the chills.

    I'm sure it is Bittersweet...but can't wait to see pics of the NEW PLACE! And I know you will be so happy you said goodbye and documented this special place and day!

    Can't wait to see you this weekend!
    XO

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  13. Bittersweet, I am sure! So excited for your next chapter and know that you will make many new memories. What great neighbors and yay Gloria, how fantastic that you get a Baby Grand!

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  14. I am tearing up right now...what a sweet post about your house and neighbors. I think I would feel the same way if we moved...I don't even know how I would do it.

    I can't wait to see your new house...please share pictures!

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  15. this has got to be one of the sweetest posts. xoxo

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  16. This post makes me want to cry!!!
    I dread the day we have to leave the house we live in now... it will be the same as you guys. Our first home and we've brought both babes home to it!

    So excited that everything worked out! Can't wait to see pics of the new house!

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  17. oh that just really got me choked up! I cried like a baby when Scott and I moved out of our first house and we didn't have any babies there! I don't know why, but i get really emotionally attached to houses! I'm happy for you guys and can't wait to see pictures of your new home!

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  18. Awh!! Such a sweet post!

    I'm excited for all of the new adventures you'll have at your new house!

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  19. What a lovely post - it's amazing the attachments you develop to a house because of what you experience within its walls. I felt like that after we sold our home a year or so ago, as it was the house I learned I was pregnant in...the house we brought our little home girl to...the house in which I walked the halls every night with a colicky baby, etc. I will always have a special attachment to that house.

    What a lovely final picture of your family in front of that special house! You'll have to take a family portrait in front of your new home, as surely you all will make plenty of wonderful new memories there, as well. :)

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