saying goodbye

Since our house ended up selling so fast, the goodbye's came a lot quicker too!  We told the kids that they would have to finish their school year at a different school and they reacted with excitement.  Stockton was okay the whole time but Molly got more emotional the closer it approached moving day.  I felt horrible when she went off in tears to catch the bus that last day.  I met both of them after school so we could say goodbye to teachers.

Mrs. Tew was Stockton's Kindergarten teacher at Rees.  Stockton said about her, "She's funny, she's the best teacher, and I like her because she does fun things."  Stockton's favorite memory from Mrs. Tew's class was when she read "Pete the Cat and the New Guy."  

Mrs. James was Molly's 2nd grade teacher.  Molly says, "She was really nice and she would do science Friday and none of the other teachers did that.  She would let us have parties and she let us have a class pet and one of us got to be the zookeeper.  We had fun jobs."  Molly's favorite memory from Mrs. James' class was having reading groups together and when it was her birthday because she got to go up to the front of the class and get interviewed.

We also needed to go visit Mrs. Brickey (formerly Ms. Stanton), Molly's first grade teacher.  She talked to her still everyday and we sure love her.  Anyone who gets her for their teacher is super duper lucky.

We loved, loved, loved Rees Elementary.  I think it was one of the hardest things for me to leave behind.  It is a great school, with an awesome principal and great teachers.  Every experience there with our kids has been positive.  I was nervous leaving a great school behind.

The kids started school in Heber on April 27th.  Their new school is called Old Mill Elementary.  Molly got assigned to Mrs. Rail and Stockton had Mrs. Palmer.  We weren't there long enough to really form an opinion about the school but the kids had a good last month and the school rankings show Old Mill with a high rating (higher than Rees, actually).  I'm sure it will be a great school for the kids and they are both looking forward to 1st and 3rd grade at the end of the summer.

It was a drizzly sort of day and it rained harder later that evening but the kids still played outside all afternoon and soaked up the last hours with their SF friends.

Brynn, London Valentine, Lily Stephenson (in front), Maggie Stephenson, Alleah Wood, Hailey Fawson, Molly

Brynn with her very best friend, Owen Reed.  She talks about him the most and to anyone who will listen.

Troy Fawson, Stockton, Clay Reed (Stocky's bestie), and Owen

We had originally thought that we would move all the heavy stuff Saturday morning (the 25th) but ran out of things to do around 3:00 on Friday.  We have awesome neighbors and friends, though, that gave up their Friday night and came to help load up the heavy stuff at 6:00 last night.  Some friends came by and we said a few more goodbyes.

Brynn and Taytumn Gardner.  Taytumn's mom was my visiting teacher and these girls always had so much fun together.  They are the same age and the same size!

Elsie Wood, Peyton Phillips, Brynn

Alleah Wood and Molly

The Howard family: Lance, Leanna, Hazel, Rhys, Calla, and Kel- our garages have faced each other for the last 3 years and they were really the best neighbors.  Stockton loved playing with Rhys and Hazel, Lance and Justin were wood-working buddies, and I knew I could call on Leanna for baby-sitting or a missing ingredient...anything, really!

Stockton and Hazel-when the Howard's first moved in, Stockton and Rhys played together more.  Over the last 18 months or so, Stockton and Hazel have had more in common and they have been great friends.

Calla and Brynn

Saturday morning was moving day but we had a few more things to finish up.  We managed to be completely out by around 11 so the kids had some time to visit a couple more of their friends.

Molly and Maggie Stephenson

Molly and Hailey Fawson

And so many other friends not pictured here, some still there, others who moved away before us.

Our neighborhood was so awesome and has been so great for our kids.  Pretty much anytime they needed a buddy to play with they could walk outside, knock on someone's door, and they'd have a playmate.  They have missed that a little bit.  However, they are good buddies and with Molly's imagination and creativity (and a yard!) they have done just fine.

My mom took a picture of me and my big pregnant belly and little 2-year-old Molly on the front porch six years ago.  I wish I had it...I will have to go retrieve it from her computer.  How our family has grown since then!

**Ivy update, 6/4:
Not a lot new to report, still in the same routine but in the last couple weeks Ivy stopped blowing bubbles and started growling (she gets progressively louder the fussier she gets), got her first ponytail, upgraded to her saucer, and was 13 lbs 1 oz at her 4-month well-check.  She still smiles at anyone, giggles a little when she's tired, eats every 2.5-3 hours, takes short naps but sleeps awesome at night, and is developing some wonderful chubby thighs.  She is also starting to reach for things and has a firm little grip!