{2 weeks}

This morning I was vacuuming the blinds & baseboards & putting away the last of the laundry. I was busy. I washed out cabinets & washed glass doors. It was not until I finally was able to shower, & then blow dry my hair that it hit me. 2 weeks. 2 weeks till all this normalcy changes. This house is the house we have lived in the longest. Its home. So while I was chasing the damp from my hair, I cried. It different this time than last time. Last time i was leaving Taralyn, Tamsyn, & Laura. I was leaving a ward that had become my family. It was truly about the people with that move. This time its about life. We have built a life here. School, dance, lacrosse, church, scouts, piano, swim, sitters, grocery stores, neighbors, speech. It feels like I am starting all over again. I will need to find all these things all over again & I cannot wrap my head around how it will be even 1/2 as good. & the other part of it is...I never really even got over the move from TN. I still miss those sweet people. That ward was the most wonderful ward family. They took us med students in! Maybe that's just how it works...you never really stop missing any place or people you consider to be home. Some good friends, the Snell family threw a going away party for the 5, complete with water balloons, pizza & cake. Everyone loved it. It was super hot so the water was a welcome relief. The littles were so warn out that they fell right asleep at nap time. The Snell family are incredibly generous. they have Tre over, & occasionally all our boys over almost everyday. Their son Brandon has become Tre's other half. They are always a pair. This move is gonna be hard. But momma keeps a big happy face on for the kids! I know in my heart that this is exactly what we are supposed to be doing! & that makes it all bearable. 

(Presley gives rolly polly bugs a thumbs up!)

{first best friend}

This is Issabella. Presley's very dearest & best friend. They love each other so much. If one of them is missing it has been told to us that the other is quiet & walks around looking for the other all day. Presley wakes asking for her beautiful friend & as of last week she really REALLY wants to look JUST like her. I about die of laughter overtime Presley asks to have dark skin too. Poor dear. It does not work that way. I love how simple the world is to children! This little girl will be missed so so much when we move. Just today Her momma & I were chatting about how sad it is we won't be able to watch their friendship grow with them. I hope these two best friends will remember each other always. I know I remember my very first best friends & I think of them often. I feel like Isabella has done wonderful things for Presley. Isabella is sweet, while our little sissy is sassy. That sweetness has rubbed off on pres a lot. I am so glad Presley has found such a darling friend in her first year of school. 

{ball}

Each year the kinder teachers & staff throw a fairy tale ball for the littlest students of HOE. The children dress as their favorite fairy tale character & dance with classmates & mommies & daddies. They make paper crowns decorated as they wish. Maddox followed in Britton's footsteps & wanted to represent Jack & the Beanstalk. He was the beanstalk & then we printed out a photo of him climbing a tree, cut it out & voila! Its Maddsy climbing Maddox the beanstalk. He thought it was the best. It was darling watching him & Philip & Pierce playing together. Rumor has it that those 3 are the ring leaders of the class. They kept yelling " lets scream hug!" they would hug each other & scream. It was hilarious. Then they asked to take a selfie with Philip's Mom's phone. what a riot those 3 are. 

{the pack}

 The scout program is great here. We are so incredibly grateful for Tre's leaders & his little buddies who have made scouts & church so fun.  Last night was T's very last pack meeting with these great kids from church.
L-R: Sam, Austin, Douglas, Tre, Joey, Vincent, James, Joseph, ,Luke.
Leaders: Doug Devore, Kacee Carlson & Beate Hall

{not packing}

I have only taken down curtains to wash & box them. That's all. I know why I am putting it off. I am not ready to wrap up our life here. Its been an extremely easy 4 years. The previous 4 had been so  wonderful & filled with my life long friends, but also they were incredibly hard & painful. I am a bit nervous of the next years that await us in our new city. I was praying one afternoon while Cooper napped & I received a strong impression that a challenge awaited us, possibly the largest of  our lives. That frightens me, but when I spoke to Rod about this he said a challenge doesn't have to be bad. It can create growth & maybe that's what our family needs. These promptings come to me now & again. They always come to pass & when I am obedient they lead me & guide me.  Moving is hard. for everyone. Today I had Cooper & Presley's little friends Wesley, Fiona & John over to play. Presley played hookie from school. I want to sneak in as much time with these sweet little friends as possible. This is the only home, church, schools, friends, that Presley & Cooper have ever known. Presley turned 1 only 2 weeks after we moved here. I hope they hold onto these happy memories. These children are truly joys in our lives. 

& I'm still not going to pack anything today. 

I'm running out of time, but that's okay because time with friends is just more important right now.