farewell to tennessee and a pickin' party

Hmmm.... I haven't posted in a long time because, 1: we just moved across the country and packed/unpacked all our photo and computer equipment and couldn't find the card reader to put photos on the computer and then lost internet connection to the only computer that we could put the photos on, and 2: I've been dreading having to write a post about leaving Nashville. :(

As suspected, we loved living in Nashville, made many dear friends and are sad to have left.  Our last few days in Nashville were spent doing necessary and stressful things like packing, scheduling moving trucks, car pick-ups, making phone calls about housing arrangements, address changes, etc., etc.  I don't remember actually saying goodbye to anyone, although I'm sure we did.

If we missed you, well, goodbye.  It was nice knowing you and if we didn't know you, I wished we had been able to get to know you better.  Maybe next time ;).  I feel especially blessed by friendships made in the places we have lived.  Particularly those friendship that were meticulous in the making.  I'd like to think that I could be very dear friends with almost anyone if I had all the time and situation to do so.  I love learning about new people and attempting to understand different opinions, circumstances, beliefs, and traditions.  I wish I had the social skills to make friends quickly and instantly, but for me it usually takes time, often years to make a dear friend. I wish I had many more years in Nashville to make dear friends of everyone.  On a happier note, we have already met many wonderful people here in our new city and I have high hopes for making some dear friends (sometime in the next couple of years :).

That aside, we did leave Nashville in mid-July. We drove across the country to a new state, city, and home (our very first home as a matter of fact!).  The house was even better than I remember and we are enjoying it here, but more on that later.  Here are a few photos of our last days in Nashville.  One of the highlights of our summers there were the Full Moon Pickin' Parties.  There are scheduled bands that come and play bluegrass music and lots of local people who come with their instruments and just stand around playing bluegrass music or "pickin'" as they call it!

Last night in Nashville, TN.

We'll miss this little old house (but not the goofy boys- they came with us!).

One more bedtime story.

Fun with glow sticks at the Full Moon Pickin' Party. 

 

"Pickers" at the Full Moon Pickin' Party.

One of the scheduled bands at the Full Moon Pickin' Party.  This photo was taken by Jack who offered to walk up to the stage and snap some shots!  He really got into it.

southern 4th of july recipe...

  ...Old Glory, check.

 ...a patriotic parade in Pegram, TN, check.

 ...boat loads of candy, check.

...parade popsicles, check.

...moonshine, hmm, I think I'll pass just this once.

  

...sonic speed bike riding, check Pete.

...check Ben.

...check Jack.

...fireworks in Downtown Nashville, check.

 

...from the cheap seats 

(across the freeway, on a hill, near the road, in the grass, with the chiggers), check.

...neighborhood fireworks, check.

 ...a farewell gathering with Wade's boss, Chuck Sanders, wife Becky and lab co-workers, check.

...swimming and lunch with friends (Millers), check.

...cookout with more friends (Bylunds), check.

...broil at 92 degrees, with 70% humidity for 6-8 hours, check.

...and you've got the recipe for a great 4th of July,
and a few of the things we'll miss about Nashville (except for the chiggers, of course)!

crazy 8's & a lego star wars party

Peter had his 8th birthday party with some of his good friends from here in Nashville in June since we were out of town on his actual birthday in May.  After the party, he said it was great and thanked me profusely.  He said his friends had so much fun!  I think it was a success!  We played "Don't Eat Pete" Lego Star Wars version, then the kids ate snacks and played downstairs.  Overheard at one point "If Bella kisses me again..."   The highlight of the party was the water balloon launch which I didn't get any photos of.  I drew a picture of Darth Vader on the driveway with chalk and we launched water balloons at it from the deck.  Later, they wanted me to fill more water balloons and it seemed this was the preferred activity.  We also destroyed a Death Star pinata and the kids played the new Lego Star Wars game that Pete's friend Garrett gave him.  Here are some photo highlights:

 

 

 

 

may=fun

Between a house-hunting trip to Phoenix, a baptism, two birthdays, 8 extra family members staying in our home, lots of fun activities with family, preschool graduation, the end of 2nd grade, and beginning of summer break, it has been a busy month of May!

Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins came to have some fun.  The kids loved catching fireflies!  

catching fireflies

Peter and cousin Brielle (They absolutely LOVED playing together).

Caught one!

Playing.

 

Couldn't get a better picture than this!

 

They filled the jar with fireflies!

 

Letting them go.

Storytime with Grandma V.

peter's baptism

 Peter was baptized on May 26, 2012 in Nashville, TN.  His Grandma and Grandpa Van Horn, Grandma Leslie, Aunt Corrine, Uncle Brandon, cousins Brielle, Aria, and Gavin all came to attend the service. Many ward and school friends and families also attended.  

 

2nd grade, the end

 

Mrs. Hamacher's 2nd Grade class, May 2012.

Receiving "Most Improved Reading" award (cuz he only started the year out at a 4th grade reading level!).

Mrs. Hamacher and Peter.

The last day of school, May 24, 2012.

Pete goofing around with some of his classmates.

This year is particularly sad because we will be leaving Gower Elementary and all of his dear friends.  We've had some fabulous teachers at this school during Kindergarten and 1st grade as well!

kindergarten, here we come

 And boy are "they" going to get a run for their money!  I just pray that both Jack and Ben get really loving, patient teachers who understand boys and their need for movement and silliness.  Here they are with their preschool friends.  I am so grateful to the moms of all these great kids who loved and cared for my boys despite their "energetic" personalities!  I'm really going to miss the great friendships we've made through preschool with the kids and moms.  I got to learn from some amazing mother's/teachers/friends and I will always remember them fondly.

All the monkeys.  They really are a great bunch!

That's more like it!