📖 Memories

My favorite memory has to be the first time I ever came out to California to see you guys, it was the first time I ever flew on an airplane alone and Katie was there to pick me up. Katie might not know this but she is my favorite aunt, she always wants to know how I'm doing and ALWAYS begs me to come visit her. I have too many favorite memories to just narrow it down to one but I just love Katie, she is a wonderful person and I'm lucky that I get to have her as my aunt.

I loved having inklings group in the Raddon house. We would sit around Katie's dining room table — she always had something yummy to eat and we would discuss gospel topics. I always left feeling so full of inspiration to be better and grateful for the gospel. I also remember coming to a Thanksgiving at Katie's home. Everyone was always welcome and it was a place we felt that. I love you Katie and can't wait till you can be back in your home again.

Our family has so many fabulous memories Chez Raddon! Many delicious meals at that beautiful long dining table. Many nights on the back porch chatting. Marc and I even watched LA Story with Katie and Rich on their bed! One of my personal favs is when I took a bunch of teenagers to the beach and coaxed them all into the water where I was the one to get stung by a stingray!!! I limped to the car and got myself to my safe place: Katie's bathtub. Where I stayed and soaked until I wasn't in horrible pain. The Raddon house is a place of comfort, safety, peace, come as you are, good food, good beverages, and most of all — best friends. The very best part — is the family. Whenever I'm with Katie or her beautiful people, I'm better. It's where I always want to be.

I loved Nick's homecoming party SO much! It was an occasion where friends, past & present came to welcome Nick home. And the neighbors came too! It is a core memory of what the Palisades was to all of us; family & community coming together. And it will be again! 💗💗💗💗

It's hard to pinpoint one specific memory being in the "High Rads House", but perhaps my "most recent" was being there all together with family and friends (and a beautifully completed backyard and home) to welcome Nick back from his mission. How wonderful it was to have everyone gathered, enjoying our time together with fabulous hosts and hearing details of missionary life from Nick. I also have a very clear picture in my mind of Katie standing at her front door with Coco every time I came to drop off or pick up boys! Katie is always welcoming to everyone who crosses her door!

There are so many great memories at the Raddon household. My first memories are at the house on Jacon Way. I remember we were sitting around the dinner table and Katie and Rich proceeded to tell us probably the greatest story we had ever heard about Rich mistaking Katie for a rat, gently caressing his head in the night. We still laugh about the rat story all the time!

Katie teaching me how to make bread in her beautiful kitchen, praying and discussing conference talks around the dining room table, watching BYU football and eating delicious dinners on the back patio, mixing cold dirty Diet Cokes from her drink fridge.

Superbowl parties where Katie is playing host to all the wildness around her... all her girlfriends, young kids, and grown men acting like young kids!

Pool nights! Sunday night dinners. Sleepovers. Sitting out by the fire. Fashion shows with Clara. Riding bikes and electric scooters in the cul de sac. Jumping on the trampoline for hours. Eating all together and laughing so much we're all crying. Watching movies on the comfy brown couch. I have the best memories EVER from the Raddon house!!

Watching football, eating great food with lots of friends and of course watching Rich calmly cheer on his team!

I have too many (I was there like every other day), so I'll list a few. Thanksgiving 2023, I didn't have a Thanksgiving to go to that year. So Clara invites me over. I got to meet Clara's grandma as well as a whole bunch of young singles. The food that night was too good. My surprise 18th birthday party! I remember laughing so hard. When I crashed Clara's birthday and got to do an Irish jig with the family, because of course. Consecutive sleepovers, homecoming, dinners, movie nights, singing with Coco. Never a dull moment. Oh and how could I forget the pantry, where I spent most of my time. It was the most special house, which I mainly attribute to all the love and care that lived inside of it. I miss that house but I know casa Raddon 2.0 is going to feel the exact same, if not even better.

Ezra's baptism reception. Out in the backyard the weather was perfect. Tacos!!! Also of course book club in the library.

I loved doing Inklings at your house and chatting about conference talks and scriptures and all the deep thoughts (say that in your best SNL voice). And I loved looking at Jackie Leishman's print (I think one of the Yosemite ones?) that you had on the wall on the way to the bathroom. :-) And chatting on your back patio about all the things and for some stupid reason methylated vitamins always come to mind when I think about your back patio — maybe because of Ella taking methylated vitamins and laughing about the MTHFR gene variations because WTMTHFR. ;-) And of course your cute dog Coco. Give her a head scratch from me.

I remember a wonderful evening sitting in the backyard at Katie's house. Talking and laughing under the stars. No one makes me laugh as much as Katie — sometimes all it takes is a side glance and we are crying! Another memory is stopping by after a morning walk in our neighborhood for a "dirty Dr. Pepper." Katie makes the best drinks and really knows how to make the most mundane days into a party. I also remember gathering at the Raddon's for fun dinners outside — kids wandering, Coco running away, good food, and so much laughter.

When I brought my kids there for spring break and we got to hang out with you guys and live it up in SoCal for the weekend. Also that one time my high school buddies came and crashed at her place in Santa Monica. Different house, same fun vibes.

My favorite moment was at the old house when Rich decided the best way to celebrate Katie turning 40 was to roll out a wheelchair like "Congrats, you're officially old!" Then he got a bunch of guys to lift her up — in the wheelchair — and parade her around while everyone sang Happy Birthday. She's just sitting there getting hoisted into the air like a rockstar and probably thinking, "I'm going to kill Rich." Haha.

One of my favorite memories was probably during Covid when Nick, Sami, and I would work out together. I think that was one of the reasons why I was able to come out on top after Covid. I always enjoy going over there and spending time at the Raddon house — there is always a great presence there.

We were in LA as a family and we were invited to Rich and Katie's home for dinner. We were excited to go to see the remodel and swim in the pool. Katie had ordered tacos and we just had the best time hanging out, eating, swimming, and catching up!

I think my favorite memory at the Raddon house was dropping Nick off late after a stake dance and we ended up talking in your driveway and my parents thought I was lost haha. When we visited the house after the fire, Nick and I talked about that and how fun it was for him to grow up there! Also when my mom and I went to visit and you showed us your beautiful living room! I remember being in awe of it ❤️

Katie is always so welcoming! We have loved staying with the Raddons over the years. Always loved going with Katie to Kay's bakery or any of her other favorite food spots in the Palisades. Dave and I have fond memories of coming to watch your kids and playing in the backyard or going to the beach.

Having people over when I returned from my mission. It was stressful to set it all up, but the taco stand, the football game, everyone who came, it was perfect! The renovation was difficult and taxing, but it was complete and incredible