Comparisons and A Home Story

Lately I have been doing a lot of COMPARISONS. Thinking about how drastically different our lives are THIS year compared to LAST. Here are some visuals:

Last summer, at around this time, we were doing a lot of this-

and this-

and this-

THIS summer, at our new home in Evanston, things look dramatically different. We have been doing a lot of this-

and this-

and this-

Last year, I had 2 big boys-

and a baby-

This year I have 3 BIG boys-

1:

2:

3:

Yep, 3 GIGANTIC kids!

Or is it 4?

Sometimes I wonder?

LAST year, in St.George, we sold our house and had to be OUT by the first week of June.

YET we had nowhere to go until July. We were kind of homeless. So our amazing neighbor, Carolyn-

offered her SWEET digs for us to retreat to-

Isn't that so nice? She had her home all decked out for us, with a room for each of our kids and a full on suite for Steve and me. So cozy, so comfortable. It was our "temporary" landing place while we lived out a "nomad" lifestyle.

At this time last year, we took a lot of little trips, staying at relatives houses and fun hotels and resorts along the way-

While we were out and about, we started the long and stressful process of building a new house-

and it was then that we also discovered that our baby is allergic to at least 3 different kinds of antibiotics-

That was a fun surprise for a road trip! It is just one example of this CRAZY time in our lives. Full of ups and downs and rarely a moment to just breathe. Maybe that is why, right now, I have such fond memories of coming back "home" to Carolyn's house where we relaxed, recharged our batteries, and celebrated so many special summer days-

Her home was a HAVEN for us at a very stressful time in our lives. I am so grateful for her welcoming nature and for all that she did for us. Maybe that is why THIS year, I find myself looking back on those times and feeling a bitter-sweet homesickness. Most definitely for the home we left behind-

but also for the one right next door-

where we lived out our final days of ST.GEORGE SUMMER!


Last year, about this time, we said goodbye to St. George with visits to our favorite spots-

celebrations with beloved friends-

and enough packing and cleaning to make anyone want to scream!

It was an emotional time to say the least. I made myself get through it by channeling all of my energy into organizing and cleaning and trying not to think about it. I willed myself not to say goodbye, to anyone or anything, and tried my best (which wasn't good enough) not to be a complete bear to my husband!

By this time last year, we were moving from the desert into the mountains and it felt DRASTIC! Not only because of the dramatically different weather, but the surroundings and views were so different too-

Driving the streets of St. George, you see a lot of sunshine, palm trees, pristine and restored buildings, red rocks-

Driving the streets of Evanston, you see a lot of pine trees, old buildings, unkempt establishments, brown hills-

It felt very "campy" when we first got here. I felt like I was camping, rather than living, for the longest time. I don't suppose it could have anything to do with the fact that we lived here-

In this dingy and dirty town home that was more filthy than I can even show in a picture. Not only was it hideously ugly, but it lacked many of the "comforts" I had grown accustomed to in St. George. Namely, air conditioning (they say you don't need it here, but I beg to differ), T.V. or Internet, telephone, microwave oven etc. etc. Needless to say, we were sort of camping for the first few weeks, until we broke down and bought the a/c and microwave!

I REALLY did try my best to make this a comfortable, functional and clean space for my family, but you can only do so much. Sometimes it just is what it is-

Don't get me wrong. I am not trying to sound ungrateful. I am glad we had a roof over our heads and the necessities of life, but this move was OUT OF NOWHERE for me! It happened very quickly and I was not planning to voluntarily "rough it" at this place and time. Not to mention that living this way, camping style, was considerably more expensive than our cushy, easy, life back in St. George. Talk about a hard pill to swallow.

But, somehow, we got used to living with less-

and enjoying each other more-

By summer's end, I was tired of sharing my house with mice, and dust, and other people's left-over filth. I could NOT WAIT for the new house to be done. By November, it was finally ready and moving in was more than a dream! I was finally able to unpack all of our belongings and begin to make Evanston feel more like HOME, less like CAMP.

AHHHHHH! Never underestimate the power that neutral paint colors and NON fluorescent lighting can have on your life! Just look at this comparison for instance:

Here is Brayden amidst the unappetizing, unflattering fluorescent light with crazy wall color/cluttery background-

Now, look at him in our new house, which has enough NATURAL light coming in through the windows that I don't even need to flip on any lights (but even if I did, they aren't fluorescent) so even BETTER. He does look even cuter doesn't he?

I really am one of those people who are affected GREATLY by my surroundings. I DO notice the little differences and I appreciate them. I really do wish I could be one of those people who just doesn't care about WHERE they live. You know, those people who are happy to have any sort of shelter, no matter what it looks like. Well, I can wish all I want, it is just not in my blood. Chalk it up to growing up with barely enough money for the "shelter" (let alone any sort of "decorating") and constantly dreaming of the house I would one day have. I just crave calm and prettiness and cannot feel peace in disorder or anything I consider unsightly. Moving day did NOT come fast enough for me!

We moved in on a fairly stormy weekend and got settled JUST BEFORE the endless snowstorms of winter set in. Before we knew it, snow, upon snow, upon snow, began to fall. Each day the roof, the doors, the windows and the driveway of our new house were completely covered in snow.

And it stayed that way for 8 long months!

Somehow, we made it through what some have said to be 'one of the worst Evanston winters' ever! And we even enjoyed ourselves a bit while doing it:)

(don't laugh at my hand-me-down winter duds! I was happy to have them:))

AND NOW (just now) we are watching things thaw. We are noticing that SPRING weather (trees blooming, snow melting, grass growing) does not come to Evanston until MID-June as that is what is happening right now-

We are NOT swimming or running around in sprinklers to cool down for the kids' birthday parties-

Last Year's Water Party:

This Year's Obstacle Course Parties:

Actually, right now in Evanston, we haven't really even broken out our warm weather clothing yet. We still have to wear layers and bundle up in the evenings. This is UNHEARD of for St. George June weather!

Last Year's St. George Evening Apparel-

This Year's Evanston Evening Apparel-

At this time, in Evanston, we are not watching baseball season END-

we are watching it BEGIN-

The snow wasn't even melted here by the time baseball season ended in St. George. It was BARELY gone by the time our season started at the beginning of June! We pretty much freeze watching the games and are just NOW starting to leave the blankets in the car. Crazy.

Yes, the comparisons of last year to this year are STAGGERING! I am amazed at what this new life continues to look like day by day.

On a daily basis, I am GARDENING-

and BAKING.

I am trying to fill all these new, blank walls-

I am TRYING not to go crazy with NO YARD for my kids!

We are hoping that by this time NEXT year, the comparisons will not be so drastic. That we will be used to our new life in this CRAZY different town, totally foreign atmosphere, and unpredictable climate. We are hoping that by this time next year, home won't seem so far away and home will feel more like where we are right NOW.