My Backyard

In anticipation of everything getting moved out of our house I've been taking many pictures to try to capture the place I've called home since 3rd grade. I love this house and I love all the memories that I've had here. As I've thought about it, I've decided that my backyard is my favorite place in Chico. It's my favorite because of all the memories that I've had in my backyard. Here are some of those memories that come to mind....

1. When we first moved into our house our backyard was just an acre of weeds and dirt. I used to think it was fun to go out into the weeds and pick "flowers" for my mom. She was so kind and always accepted my gift with such love.

2. My dad was involved with the young men program in our ward and our backyard was a perfect place to hold a mud football game. My mom, sister, and I did some shopping while the boys were playing. We came home and opened the garage and there were all the young men changing! I was in 3rd grade! (so that memory was more of the garage but the mud football game that caused them to change took place in the backyard)

3. We planted fruit trees in the back of our backyard which were great. One evening we were having a bbq with the Ysasagas and Ashley and I were out exploring the backyard. We walked by one and almost stepped on a snake. I know this might seem silly but we were so scared! It was HUGE! By the time our dads heard us yelling and came running to us, it had slithered away so Ash and I really the only ones that know how BIG it was!

4. I loved when our pool was built. It was finished while we were in Alaska over summer break. We got back to Chico around midnight but we wanted to have a first swim in our pool, so our whole family jumped in! We had no lights so we really couldn't see what we were doing but it was so fun to have that family moment.

5. Growing up we always were playing with our neighbors, the DeLeos. My favorite thing to do was play wiffle ball in the backyard. Our yard was a perfect set up for a game! Whenever someone hit the ball in the pool it was a home run!

6. The first (and only) time I ran away, I ran away to a corner of my backyard.

7. I loved sitting on a ladder, picking cherries off the tree and eating them.

8. I'm pretty sure almost every birthday dinner of mine was a bbq in the backyard

9. The first time I held hands with a boy was in my backyard

10. The first time I kissed a boy was in my backyard (and yes, the hand holder was also my first kiss)

11. In the winter we used to sit in the spa and see who could run and jump in the pool and swim around the longest

12. I helped my dad build Sadies dog run that's in the backyard

13. We used to sleep out on the trampoline all the time.

14. My high school graduation party was in my backyard.

15. Even though at the time I wasn't the biggest fan of yard work, I love how beautiful our backyard always is.

16. Playing basketball with my family was so fun. We used to go out and play H.O.R.S.E. all the time, the boys would usually win but it was so fun!

17. Just sitting outside after having Sunday dinner with the family and chatting

I've loved this house and loved living in Chico. It still doesn't feel real that soon I won't be coming home to it. It will always be my favorite place in Chico.