After we closed the bakery, we were in desperate need for a vacation, so we decided to spend Halloween with our families in Utah. We drove down in two separate cars--are Camry and a U-Haul--so we could deliver two of our big exterior Great Harvest signs to the Bountiful bakery who was purchasing them.
We left Everett around 6pm right after I finished work, and drove through the night. We stopped somewhere in Oregon to sleep for one hour, and then continued straight through till the next morning till we made it to Utah. It's just under 14 hours to get there by car. I have always been so concerned about Christopher driving through the night when he's tired since he's fallen asleep at the wheel once before (under extreme circumstances), but he did a fantastic job! I, on the other hand, got incredibly sleepy the last two hours or so. It's an easy trip if we can trade off driving, but since we both had a car, we did not have that luxury. Luckily we made it safely (as did the really expensive signs we were hauling, thank goodness!).
Anyway, we had such a fun time. I was able to stay for almost a whole week, but then had to fly home because I was out of vacation days at work, and Chris and Sam were able to stay longer.
Here is a video of Sam fishing with Papa (Go to www.camillataylor.blogspot.com to see the video if you get this in your email).
Here are some pictures of our trip in no particular order (pictures stolen from Mary's blog).
Girls night out at the Olive Garden
Green Day! What?! The rest of the family didn't get the memo?!
First ever family birthday brunch!
Sam's costume--an astronaut
Fishing for prizes at the Taylor's
Halloween was wet and cold, so we didn't do much trick-or-treating.
We went back to this place for some Belgian frites and waffles.
Christopher and I celebrated our 6th anniversary in Park City. We had a tasty dinner at a French restaurant, and enjoyed relaxing. I took this picture as we were checking out to document that we had indeed been there.
We visited Uncle Bruce. Sam loved his police car.
Let's see, what else did we do? We got to spend time with friends, we ate out a lot, Chris and I got massages, I went out with the Taylor girls for facials and dinner, we played games, and had fun being with our families.
After I flew home, Chris and Sam stayed awhile longer in Utah, enjoyed an early Thanksgiving dinner with his family, and then went on a roadtrip coming home. They went to California to visit our friend Jordan, up to Portland to visit several other friends, up to Olympia to check the status of the new bakery there, and then came home.
Sam received this cute dog from Grandma Valerie, which he named Zoe (he has two other stuffed dogs named Zoe, named after Chris's family's dog Zoe. Sam took the camera and insisted everyone pose with the dog.
After a week of being home alone, I was so happy to have them back! We had a great trip, and hope to make it down again soon (not sure when, though).
Exactly two months ago today we closed our bakery. We drive passed it almost everyday, and yes, it is still vacant with big For Lease signs on the windows. If only the landlords would have agreed to give us a more reasonable rent price, it would still be occupied, they would have been making money, and we would still be in business.
We miss our employees, we miss our customers, we miss the fresh bread and tasty sweets; we do not, however, miss the stress. Boy do I ever not miss the stress! I don't think I am cut out to be a business owner. Christopher, on the other hand, has not been scarred for life like me, and would consider doing it again if the circumstances were right.
Here are a few pictures of our last day open.
Counting inventory and boxing up
The lady in red on the left was one of my favorite customers. So super nice!
Lisa & Megan
Leah, Kierstie, & Ruben
Me packing up the shelves
Sam packing up himself
Dixie works a couple stores down from the bakery at Big 5. She was the very first Everett Great Harvest customer when it first opened five years ago. She wanted to be the very last customer when we closed. The first time around she came in her pajamas, so she wanted to recreate that moment.
A picture of the first Everett Great Harvest customers
We LOVE Dixie! She is such a fun person!
Our last month open was crazy busy as people were stocking up and freezing bread to last them awhile. Everyone was so supportive and understanding. I think I only cried a few times our last day open (which is better than I had anticipated).
Life post bakery has been pretty good. I have read more books in the past two months than I had read probably the entire time we owned the bakery. We eat dinner at a more reasonable hour every night. We get more sleep. We have more time to play with Sam and make fun memories together. We learned a lot in the past 2 1/2 years, but are definitely ready to move onto the next chapter in our lives.
This fall Sam started preschool. We are just doing a little preschool co-op with some of our friends with kids Sam's age. We love it! We only have to teach every fifth week, it's free, Sam loves to be with his friends, and he is learning new things! Next year he will start kindergarten.
Sam's first day of preschool
Tour of the fire station
Learning about baking bread at our bakery before we closed it
Our little pilgrims (we're missing one boy who was on vacation)
Learning about measuring
Sometimes Sam gets a little over-excited when it's at our house
Back in September, my parents came up to visit for Sam's first Primary program. We had a great weekend together! Sam was ready and excited to give his part, but in the end, he refused to go up with his group. Later he was sad he didn't do it, so I let him say his part in the microphone during opening exercises in Primary afterwords. This was my third Primary program as the Primary chorister.
Here is a video of Sam singing "I Know that My Savior Loves Me." (If you get our posts in an email, you'll need to go to our actual blog to watch it: www.camillataylor.blogspot.com)
Playing at the park, feeding the ducks
We took a scenic drive to Bellingham following Chuckanutt Drive
We had such a good time with them! Visitors are always welcome!
