Goodbye 16 Tuttle

Yesterday, we said goodbye to our home of almost 12 years. It was the home that our kids pretty much grew up in. We moved there when Austen was almost 7; Peyton almost 4; and Hailey was just 1 month old. 

It was the house we thought we'd grow old in until it was not. Tuttle Avenue was the perfect place to raise our kids. The town was small (too small for me really as I prefer a little level of anonymity and moving from the city after 17 years was a bit of an adjustment). We loved the close proximity to town (we had a Starbucks when we first moved in) and the sports fields as well as the schools. Our kids could walk (although they didn't always). It was perfect...for when our kids were young. But, they are older now and it just felt like we needed a bit more space (even with Austen going to college). 

Austen and Peyton really wanted a home where they could hang out with their friends, and I wanted a change. Something different. Something to invest not only our money in but time too (no Austen and no Sadie will certainly give me more time these days). We can make new memories with our older kids here. Hailey will still go to the same school (something I promised her and would not trade on that for her) and already has friends in her new neighborhood. We're not quite in yet because it's a new build (but we are almost there and excited for our new house and neighborhood). An adult house for us for the second half of our kids' growing up years. 

While saying goodbye to Tuttle Avenue was hard (especially for Tom who designed that house), I know that we have so many more great memories to be made in our new house. Sometimes change can be hard but change can be really good too - opening up opportunities we didn't even know were possible. And, that's the lesson I want to pass on to our kids. 

So thank you Tuttle Avenue - for being a great home to our family for almost 12 years and giving us some great memories. We will always remember our times there.