On June 8th, a new family, complete strangers will wake up in this home. OUR home.. the home we have lived in for 13 years, a home that is packed to every corner with memories, our memories. For 13 years, we have lived, grown, celebrated, struggled, laughed, played and worked together here, in this house. Here is where we brought two of our babies home. This is where we have watched all but two of our boys grow a "foot or two." And, while they were growing, we were busy oh so busy, sending them out the door to school, to soccer, football, and basketball games, to so many scout camps, to piano lessons, to rehearsals for concerts and highschool musicals. Here is where we have struggled, repented and forgiven over and over again in our quest to be good people to each other. I wonder if the new owners will feel a sense of our spirited house, or our sacred family moments? Either way, I know they are in for a real treat moving here and into this special neighborhood.. We love you all!

On June 8th, a new family, complete strangers will wake up in this home.  OUR home.. the home we have lived in for 13 years, a home that is packed to every corner with memories, our memories.   For 13 years, we have lived, grown, celebrated, struggled, laughed, played, worked together in this house. We brought home two babies to this house.    It is a home that we have truly made our's.   All but two of my six boys have grown a "foot or two" while here.  While they were growing, we were busy oh so busy, sending them out the door to scout camps, with science projects to school, to piano lessons, to rehearsals for concerts and highschool musicals. We pushed the boys to read and read and struggled with setting limits in technology.  We held many fun and spirited family counsels.  Read the scriptures and prayed together.  I wonder if the new owners will sense of the sacred moments, our special family home evenings and family prayers?  When they gather around the dining room table will the sense the fun and laughter we had there over many family dinners and birthday celebrations?    When they lay their little children down at night will they catch the peaceful spirit we felt there when I would lay down and read with my children?   

In preparation for our big move to Omaha, a truly life changing event in our family, I wish to pay homage to this lovely home, to our wonderful Stalbridge Circle and to our neighborhood.      And, I know that no matter how many words are shared here.. we will be only scratching the surface.   Ahhh life..   a bitter sweet journey.


Stalbridge Circle:


-My memories of this wonderful circle:   Night games!   Oh the joy!   I loved it when all the kids would come together and meet at our driveway and the night games would begin.    I adore the weather in Utah.. there was magic in the air on those nights as the sun would go down and the moon would go up.  I remember once, holding new 3 month old Scotty in my arms and standing on the driveway in the twilight, with the stars just coming out and the new full moon rising just over the mountain.    This little baby boy opened his eyes and looked around and I knew he could feel the "music of the night" as I was. 

We had many campfires in the fire pit.  We set it up on the driveway and enjoyed many pleasant summer/spring nights on the driveway, roasting marshmallows, making smores.   

Every season brought new adventures in the circle.  We built snowmen in the winter, piled leaves high in the Fall and all the neighborhood kids would play, jumping in the leaves.   

We hosted 2 neighborhood parties in our circle.  Everyone was great!  We brought barbecue grills to our driveway, set up tables, everyone brought food, we set up a volleyball net across the street.   We had a water balloon fight.   Everyone brought chairs and sat around talking.  One of those parties lasted until 2 or 3 am!   A few just stayed and talked and talked.   

One afternoon, we sat with the Jones on their lawn and watched a HUGE thunderstorm roll in.  It was very exciting.   So much rain fell that we had a river going down the street.  The lightning flashed and the thunder boomed!  The power went out and the neighborhood kids all ran around in the streets, splashing in the gutters.    

One Christmas, when it snowed about 3 feet in a day or so, I remember the peace and quiet of our circle.  There was so much snow, that the snow plows didn't arrive for days.  Everything was white and so very peaceful.   Steve hooked up a sled behind the Suburban and pulled the kids around the circle and in the neighborhood.    

The magic of childhood happened on this circle-- climbing trees, playing basketball, jumping on the trampoline.. making up games, creating hideouts, playing nightgames..having lemonade stands.. and I am sure I don't know the half of it, but I know that magic happened.  

The boys loved riding their bikes, pulling wagons around and around the circle. I particularly remember Jacob pushing his car around and around the circle.  He did this almost daily and he would run (he was probably only two years old)    It was so wonderful to live on this safe and happy circle with lots of friends for our kids to play with!  


We lived up the hill from the most magnificent park.  This is where we went to many soccer games!  This is where our kids loved to play!   This is where we went sledding in the winter!   This is where I would bring the kids on a summer night and we would sit on the hill and sip slurpies and watch the stars come out.  This is where we had a couple of parties with friends and played baseball and kick soccer.  This is where my kiddos loved to roll down the hill going as fast as they could.     And, for me personally, this is "my" park.. where I have walked and jogged countless times, shared special morning walks with dear friends, sharing the journey of life together.  I will treasure "my park" and these dear friends forever.   

-Anne 


Now to our home.   

Living Room:

This is a sacred room in our house--a place where we shared Christmas together, love was given and shared.   Where "family" birthdays were shared and gifts were opened and hugs and wishes were given to the "giver" of birthday gifts.   This is where priesthood blessings were given at the start of a new school year.  This is where our precious missionary son Eric was set apart as a missionary.   This is where Jacob was ordained to the Aaronic priesthood (we got special permission to do this at home :)    This is where the Knudsen family gathered to sing the Hallelujah Chorus and we nearly raised the roof off the house!   We had family dinners here, Thanksgiving too.. extending tables all the way across the room!  This is where we had a Christmas open house with our neighbors and everyone shared a song, a story or played the piano.  This is where our piano sits and where was have enjoyed music..  

I love this sweet place, the fireplace and my pretty living room.   

-Anne

Jacob
Basement
When we got to this house the basement was just a giant concrete room. Dark, scary, lonely, perfect for timeout which is exactly what we used it for. But after a few years we refurbished it and made it into the beautiful basement we have today. The basement is the place where we would play video games and watch movies. The basement is best known for its infestation with spiders. Yeah, we get it spiders, it's dark and gloomy what a perfect place.

Dining Room:

Ohh the Dining Room.   This is a place where we have spread out science projects and any other school project that needed room to complete..   Oh my! This is where we have held family council, where we have read the scriptures together... oh these were sweet and funny times.  This is where we knelt in prayer.    And, this is where we have had Sunday dinner and special celebrations.  We have hosted many extended family dinners here and it has been a place of joy and sharing.  

I love this pretty dining room with its graceful bay window and coffered ceiling of warm oak.   I was blessed to find a gorgeous dining room table.  I know this was a gift from heaven to afford us sweet family times.   It has been a blessing indeed.   

-Anne 


Kitchen:

The life center of every home.    This is a place of so much activity. Laughter, chatter, play, scolding, reminders to get chores done, corrections, etc. etc.   

Family Room:


Library:

A special place in our home.  A peaceful quiet place next to shelves of books.  It is also a place where Scott could line up his toys all the way down the hall and he did.  I have many memories of him building train tracks and creating villages for as far as he wanted.   This is a sweet place to relax without the distractions of TV.  I love this sweet place and will miss it.  

Scott's room:

Love this room of pretty blue and warm tan walls.   On one wall of his room I painted trees and installed a "moon in my room"  that I can turn on at night, so it lights up looking just like a moon.  Also I put stars that glow in the dark on the ceiling.   I have enjoyed many evenings with my Scotty here reading to him, saying prayers with him and tucking him in.. more often than not I would lay down with him and look up at his stars and moon... sweet...   On a snowy evening one night, we pulled the blinds up and looked out his large window at the snow laden branches of the tree outside his window.. and breathed in the peace of the snowy winter night..   

The middle room:

This room has been occupied by every boy except for Scott.  It was the jet and airplane room.  I painted jets all over the walls and the words in wispy cloud letters,  "carpe diem"  and "off we go into the wild blue yonder."  It was a fun room for my boys and I hope they enjoyed it. 

-Anne   

Upstairs Hall:

We have many many memories of this long upstairs hall.. We have had races galore!  "mom, time how fast I can run!"   "Hey, I will race you!  On your marks, get set, ready, go!"  Long halls and boys go together!!  

-Anne 

Master Bedroom:

My favorite room in the house.  I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful room.   This was a gift to me from my Heavenly Father who knew this mom of six boys would sometimes need a peaceful place to escape.   ha ha!  This powdery blue room with its beautiful fireplace, valuted ceiling, beautiful windows with views to die for was just what I needed.   This sacred place was where we would sometimes read scriptures as a family, where we had many family prayers, one on one talks with our children, where Steve and I would escape and talk and cuddle,  where we watched a movie once in a while, where we comforted our children in the night, and where our teenagers would stop to check in with us after a date or a night out with friends.    

-Anne 


Backyard:


Oh my..  this was a place where the kids jumped on the trampoline, where we set up obstacle courses (for our spy birthday parties)  where the kids played in the water, where we had campfires with friends and where the neighborhood kids let loose and played like crazy.   We had a lot of fun.   

Pet:

We would be remiss if we did not mention Snickers.. our beloved dog.