The fact that my parents have moved to Utah hasn't really settled in yet. I'm pretty sure I'm in denial. My parents moved to Newport a few months before I was born. I have such beautiful memories riding my bike to the beach; eating hot dogs at beach bonfires; going to dozens upon dozens of Newport Harbor basketball, football, volleyball, and track and field events; climbing the tall pine trees at the Windward Lane house; having my older sisters take me, their much younger sister, to the beach on 48th street; working to build the Newport Beach Temple; learning to play the piano from Merle Valdez on Redlands Drive; having Sunday Clayton cousin dinners; and watching my parents preside over their family with faith and inspiration. It was a wonderful place to grow up.
Harrison and I have gone back and forth helping Nona and Grandpa pack up in Newport over the last few weeks. If anything, we were just entertainment as I chased Harrison around the boxes and kept him out of the way!
The Wally's came over to help pack up. To say Harrison likes his cousin Eliza is an understatement.
He LOVES his cousin Eliza.
The biggest truck I've ever seen pulled up to 1607 Port Abbey Place
While the movers came in to load boxes to the truck, we made ourselves scarce to avoid injury.
First stop, Corona Del Mar State Beach.
The rock where we took many family Christmas pictures over the years.
Next stop, South Coast Plaza where we road the carousel twice. Harrison was in heaven. I have vivid memories of my mom taking me on this carousel when I was a little girl.
Last stop, the Wally's! Here is our crazy crew all together. M.E., Riley, Harrison, and I slept over at their house after the Port Abbey house was emptied.
We enjoyed our last minutes at the house together.
My mom has been the heroine during this whole saga. Within six months time, she put her house on the market, she sold the house, was released as Relief Society president, finished her coursework, finished her thesis, graduated with her masters, created a semester-long curriculum for her LDS institute class in Utah, packed up the house, scrubbed the house, and gave the keys away. Leaving the golden state where 30 years of good life have been led is really hard and she has done it with grace, faith, and fortitude.
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