May 2019

We said goodbye to our old house. We were at a place where it needed to be refinanced in order for us to take care of some major repairs but refinancing meant we would most likely be stuck in it until we retired and we didn't want that. We didn't feel very connected to the area we lived in and it felt like the neighborhood was increasingly becoming less safe. So instead of refinancing, we decided to sell and use the equity to put money down on a house in a better area, one we felt absolutely comfortable retiring in.  We loved this little home and it served it's purpose for the 2 1/2 years we were there but we both knew deep down that we were never meant to stay there. 

This last home was the perfect spring-board to get us to our new place though. As I write this, the date is actually July 26th and we've been in our new home since May 11th. 

We have been so amazed at the quality of neighbors we have found here! The area is extremely stable, very few move out and most have lived here for well over 20 years. Our first few weeks were booked out from our new neighbors inviting us over for dinner. Everyone here has been so incredibly kind and welcoming. It's almost unreal! 

After one week of living in our new place, we were asked to head-up a Ward Activity. We decided to do a Skate Party / picnic since our back yard is the church parking lot. It was a huge success. We had almost a hundred people show up. The Elder's Quorum President said he had so much fun that he wanted it to be an annual event. Every one was still talking about how great the Skate Party was the next day at church. All I could think of was, "Yeah, we're back. Back where we belong."

This is where we want to stay forever, to retire here. We are so glad we moved. We have finally come home again!

I haven't taken many pictures of our new home. This is just us clearing out all the terrible Iris flowers out of our front yard. In the background, where the old UTA Ski bus is (that belongs to our neighbors from Haiti). They are SO incredibly nice! 

One morning our neighbor's from Haiti had a pregnant goat that got loose and wandered over to our yard. That was an adventure trying to herd her back. We had a good laugh!

Miriam made a 3D printed Bridge Four (Brandon Sanderson - Stormlight Archives) keychain in her mechanical design class. 

No matter how hard I tried, she wouldn't let her face show in the picture. It's a game for her... little stinker.

Micah's 14th Birthday 

Micah and his cousins Devin and Quentin

Micah and his cousin, Jareth

Quentin, Devin, Micah, and Jareth

Just a few days after Micah's 14th birthday, he was hired to be an Expo Server at Brick Oven Pizza. Yes, they hire at 14. Micah never hears the end of it though. People who eat at the restaurant are always commenting on how young he is and it bothers him a bit. But, as his mom, I think he's looking mighty old... just growing up way too fast.

Mother's Day 2019

Chandler graduated from High School. He's had this smolder face in every school picture. 

(Makes me laugh.) He didn't want to go through the whole graduation ceremony and I couldn't blame him. Those ceremonies can be so boring. He talked about leaving early but we weren't sure if and how he'd follow through with it. And sure enough right after Chandler received his diploma he whispered something to the guy and then ran out the back and didn't return to his seat. We left the stadium in a rush to find him. The good news is we got ahead of the crowd and ditched the packed-full parking lot in record time.  I asked him later what it was he said to the guy who handed him his diploma. He simply said, "Hey, I gotta go right now." And he let him go. 

Chandler's favorite cousins, Caitlin, Halee, Isaac, and Justin

I absolutely love this picture of Miriam and Chandler! I don't know what it is... maybe because it illustrates so much their personalities through the years. 

We had to do a back-to-back with Alexa reminiscing three years prior when She graduated from High School. 

Chandler with Grandpa Manwill and Janet

Last day of school for Amillia and Kaylee

Kaylee and her friend, Charlotte, on the right in the pink jacket... I can't remember her other friend's name.

Memorial Day 2019 visiting mom's grave.

Dad and his fiance' Janet

Bio family visits for Amillia with her half-siblings Kami and Hailen. Josh is not Amillia's bio dad but the dad of her siblings - so he's family too of course.