Farewell Mountainview Drive!

As the crocus and daffodils burst from the earth in bloom and the pear trees lining Mountainview Drive exploded in blossom, we were inside imploding our things into boxes to organize for our departure at the end of April. It is times like these that remind me of some of the personal characteristics that stand between us and perfection. For example, we cannot shed the old unimportant for the new important and therefore do not throw much of anything away. We collected all of the empty boxes stored throughout the house and abandoned in the basement and easily filled the truck bed (even after filling the intact boxes with flat corrugate and compressing everything else) for a run to the county recycling center. Upon arrival at the center, Mick was escorted to a special bin reserved only for the high volume contributors - the HOV lane for the recycling center.

Joni posted a number of items on CraigsList.com and sold many of the items she had gathered after our arrival in NJ. A living room couch, 3 office desks, 2 office chairs, a dresser, a 5-piece bedroom set were among the items sold. We even sold the old mud terrain tires from the truck (stored in the basement for the last three years!). Joni is so proud that she either broke even or made money on each of her sales.

Mars arranged for the movers to pack us up and move the house goods to storage for a few months as we sort out our plans. As three men packed things out to a truck, Joni and Jessica Craig (a wonderful young lady from our church here) thoroughly cleaned the house. When everything was out of the house and every corner was cleaned, we walked through the empty house reminiscing and saying good-bye. It was striking how large the empty house seemed.

From this, we move into the Marriott Residence Inn.  We'll keep you posted as the plans develop.

A view into the entry way from the 2nd floor landing

The roller rink (basement).

The master bedroom (part of it)

The kitchen and its queen!

A view of the family room from the 2nd floor landing.

7,000 Miles and well worth it!

The first of April we flew to California, spent the night with the Rosells and then jumped on the I-15 racetrack for the trip to Idaho.  We were bound for a long anticipated event - Graig's graduation from BYU Idaho.  The trip was smooth enough that the cruise control was nearly always engaged, even through Vegas.  We stopped in Provo, UT to have an early dinner with Jamie and David.  Our stop gave a spring storm sufficient time to build up for a dumping of snow to entertain us for the remainder of our drive through UT.  From just outside Provo to Brigham City we drove through a blizzard where the visibility was often measured in feet.  Welcome to springtime on the Wasatch Front!

Friday we went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  One that Graig enjoys, then rushed
to graduation where he received his diploma.  It was a proud day for Mama and Papa Ward!

April 8, 2011, big day for the Ward family.  Nicole's mom and sister and children were able to be there along with my parents and also Graig's friend Josh.  What a great evening!

Saturday morning was the commencement exercise in the new BYU-I conference center.  The new building is beautiful and the speakers were excellent.  I loved how they allowed no yelling or calling out and held the applause to the end.  I always get chills when I hear the graduation song.  Congrats Graig!!!

And it wouldn't be a memorable event if we didn't get the Granddad/Graig pose. 

 We had a fun weekend with family and friends playing games, eating, and seeing the "sights" in Rexburg.  On Monday Janelle, Jamie and I helped Nicole in her first grade classroom.  I walked the track with the children and earned 4 coins.  I then read a story to the class - I absolutely love doing that! - and we also helped at stations.  Nicole is a great teacher and you can tell her students love her. 

We left for Provo/Springville after school was out.  We spent the evening with the Harmers and had a great Cafe Rio style dinner at Bob and Karyns.  Tuesday morning we drove back to Brea and Wednesday afternoon flew back to New Jersey.  Now only 2 weeks until we are out of the NJ house.