Good-bye Seattle

Well, the time had come.

Amongst all the craziness of preparing to move from one end of the country to another, we had to make some time for friends and to say some good-byes.

One day, we met up at the zoo with some of our favorite buddies. We threw all naps out the window and spent the entire day at the zoo. My friend had the idea to take a few pics of our cute girls together at the Rose Garden next to the entrance for memories sake, so we started there. Oh, the memories! Instead of being cooperative and cute together like they are (they have been besties since they were in the womb) they were crazy and started picking the roses apart. We didn't stay long because we felt bad they were destroying the rose garden! But they had a good time, of course - and the rest of the day was just as fun and just as crazy. Silly kiddos!

It's important to remember to stop and pick smell the roses.

Okay, a hug here and there as they ran around smelling/picking/destroying the rose garden and as their brothers ran crazily around us and Hazel started getting hungry. 

I have to say that those last few days before the big move were a bit crazy. My dear friend watched Sawyer and Aspen one day so I could get some more packing done, and then had us over for dinner. LIFESAVER! Not only that, but one of the dearest friends I've ever known. It's not often you cross paths with someone who understands you so well, and just happen to have kids who love each other like cousins and best buddies. Max has been like a big brother to Sawyer, and Ruby has been the one and only girlfriend Aspen has ever known. Luckily, we snuck in one more get-together to say good-bye. I kept putting it out of my mind - but the day had come to say good-bye to Seattle and all of the friends who had been like family to us. 

We also had a casual good-bye party at Matthews Beach one evening. We picnicked and the kids ran wild and so many of our friends stopped by I didn't know who to talk with every time I turned around. Some sweet friends even gave the kids some surprise gift bags with little treats and games to keep them busy on our loooong drive. And those came in super duper handy! (Danielle, I am still amazed at how many hours those slinkies and glow in the dark things kept the kids occupied! and Cassandra - those sticker books were amazing! thanks!)

I try hard not to get too wishy-washy, but I had a few moments where I was feeling very wishy washy. I mean, no turning back now, right? I had to give hugs and say good-bye. I got to see a few of the kids I nannied for all those years during college and before I had kids of my own. They have all turned out to be such amazing people! I even had the privilage of doing Senior pics for Claire - I met her when she was 6 years old and now she is this beautiful senior girl - she's down to earth, super smart, student-body-president - and has a great balance. So many people I could talk about. So many memories. Leaving Seattle was like leaving a lot of my life behind me. I kept thinking about this little song I learned in elementary school: 

Make new friends, 

but keep the old

One is silver 

and the other

Gold.

Seattle is full of Gold.