I lived there for thirteen years! We moved there when I was four-years-old. It's amazing how many memories a house can hold.

In December of 2013, my family and I moved out of our house to the house we live in now. There were so many memories in that house! Growing up, I played with my next door neighbors at least everyday. My parents bought a swing set for the backyard which I fell in love with! It had a little tree-house part with a slide and two swings. Everyday after school, I would go play for hours. When I was a girl scout, I went to every neighbor's house and tried to sell cookies. All the neighbors knew each other. We had ice cream socials and talked all the time while doing yard work or getting the mail.

In 2007, I went away to summer camp for four weeks! I got a letter one day from my mom telling me that she had a huge surprise for me when I got home. I could not wait to see! When I got home a few weeks later, I got to see my surprise! My mom and grandfather had painted my entire room and closet pink! I loved it! Before that, my walls were just plain white...boring.

In 2010, my dad built a pond, waterfall, and patio in the backyard. Let's just say, it was the new home of many frogs. I loved sitting on the patio at night listening to the water or sitting by the fire pit.

That house has so many memories in it. My family brought our first dog home there and that was also the house I left for my first day of kindergarten from. In 2013, it was time to go. I wanted to stay forever. I know the saying, "The house is not where the memories are. The memories are in your heart."

The two moving trucks came early in the morning. I knew that it was the day I would have to say goodbye. Later that night, everything was gone. It was the first time I had seen every room in my house completely empty. I walked around to each room. The dining room, the room where we had many, many holiday meals. The living room, the room where we opened Christmas presents every year. The family room, the room where I watched Spongebob Squarepants for hours. The sun room, the room where I played with my Barbies and wrestled with my mom and dad. The kitchen, the room where I learned how to make eggs for the first time. I walked upstairs. My dad's office, the room where I was afraid to go in because it was always a huge mess. My parents bedroom, the room where I would come in every morning and jump on their bed to get them to wake up. The "hang-out room," the room that used to be my bedroom and later became my sister's room. The guest room, the room where my grandparents stayed almost every weekend. The laundry room, the room where the washing machine shook so hard that it felt like an earthquake. Lastly, my bedroom, the room where I had grown up. It stayed pink until we moved out. I had many sleepovers, Barbie play dates, and dress up parties in there.

I love my new house and have loved making new memories here. I know the memories at my old house will stay with me forever, even though it feels like I left a part of my heart at the old house.

However, I will never miss the late night runs in between houses bringing heavy boxes over. I will not miss having to bubble wrap all the picture frames, dishes, and other miscellaneous items. I think my family can agree with me on that.