Friday, May 3, 2013

Never the same


We moved house yesterday, into the lovely house two streets away that will become our home for the next few months. As I spent the last two weeks packing our life into boxes, it occurred to me that Betsy will never be the same. She will never look just like this again. All the bits and pieces that my two small children create and bring home from school and kindy have been pulled down from the walls and many may not go back up there again. There will be new creations, new school awards, new interests and fads and the entire feel of our house will be different.


So with every box packed, pauses were made to snap pictures of all these colourful memories of the little children we have had living in this house. Roboboy was four and Liongirl was 18 months when we first moved into Betsy and there are so many memories of early childhood tucked up into the rooms of this house.



When we move back into the new improved Betsy, my little children will not be so little anymore. Roboboy will be seven and a half and Liongirl will be almost five. When we unpack their treasured items, some of them will not be wanted anymore. Will Roboboy still have all these favourite stuffed animals sharing his bed every night? I can only hope we have a few more years yet, especially for that vintage wallpaper dresser that makes me happy every time I walk past it.




Liongirl's room will be quite different when we move back as these big windows will no longer be there, instead there will be a set of high louvres. No doubt she will want considerable say in how we decorate her new room.




Despite a tinge of sadness over the fleeting nature of childhood, there is high elation over the hopefully fleeting life span of my remaining custard walls. This is the last section of wall in the hallway that remains custard, it will be the first to go when I get stuck in there repainting my very empty house.




Back soon with some pics of a very bare Betsy, serious deck demolishing action and hopefully the arrival of some excavators to start the old girl's makeover.

17 comments:

  1. Your house is so pretty and colourful makes me smile. So excited for you all and can't wait to see the after pics, I know they will be amazing xxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. All three of my boys hve the same quilt as Roboboy. They are forteen and twelve now and still haven't tired of it. Some things last a longer time than you might expect. I am living vicariously through your reno now. Can't wait to see the results!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for catching me up on your move...I can't wait to see your new home and all that it offers you in decorating possibilities....
    When we moved out of the little house we first bought and started our family in I was very emotional......but your right onwards and upwards....Heidi

    ReplyDelete
  4. At least you are close enough so the kids can see the day to day progress. They'll love the new place :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I like your nostalgia. I've never been able to drive past old houses I've lived in because I feel a bit like you. They're never the same once one moves or renovates. Having said that, I bet once the renovation's finished, you'll move back in and then wonder why you didn't do it all years ago! PS Love the sound of high louvres!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Moving house is the pits, so I hope your temporary relocation went smoothly. You must be getting so excited by now - it's great that you will be living close-by. I'm sure, like myself, you will be doing daily walks past the house during the construction phase. I too am looking forward to your pictures. xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love that photo of the two of them, hoods up and playing.
    I am sure that all four of you will be so pleased with the end product...and it will be great fun to unpack everything and to make Betsy into a home once again.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It's full steam ahead now! Very exciting. Looking forward to seeing all the progress. xo

    ReplyDelete
  9. hi mel...all great memories and a lot of new ones to come...always amazes me how quick they grow up....those walls will be covered in memories again in no time x

    ReplyDelete
  10. Exciting times Mel! Good luck, can't wait to see what unfolds. xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. How exciting: all those years of dreaming and planning is turning into a reality before your eyes.
    Your home is developing and growing up along with your family. x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sensational stuff Mel! It is sad letting go of the old even when you are striving for the new and improved. A great idea to take photos of all those art projects on the wall for when you want to reminisce with the kids. I must do the same even though I am not renovating everything still changes so subtly it’s hard to keep track of sometimes. Congrats on the big move and good luck with the first tools to his the house. Looking forward to seeing the reshaping of your house. Dinax

    ReplyDelete
  13. I like the look of your house now!! White VJ's and wooden floors, just lovely. But I agree, the custard has to go..
    I'm keen to see what you do...
    Best of luck and I'll look forward to seeing the results xx Deb

    ReplyDelete
  14. Gosh, an exciting new chapter in your families (and Betsy's too!) life. Lots of great things ahead, life is all about evolving and changing....blogs are a great way to capture this don't you think?! :) x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Very exciting for your little family, just take lots of pics to remember, and enjoy the journey.

    ReplyDelete
  16. It's nice that you took photos - you can remember how many happy memories you made in that house. And you've got lots more happy times still to come, how cool is that?! xx

    ReplyDelete
  17. wow just tearing up a bit here for you! xxxx

    ReplyDelete