I'm finding it hard to focus on work today, probably because today is the last day I will have family living in the same city as us. I've been dreading this day for months. What am I going to do without having my sister there nearly every morning and every night to talk to? Cooper started daycare a few weeks ago to transition him from Chelsey to daycare. He's taking it about as hard as I am. This morning as I was putting him in his carseat, he said, "Tetshey?" I knew he thought I was taking him to play with Chelsey and Ellie. "No, Coop," I said. "No, Chelsey. You're going to go have fun at school today with all the kids!" He cried, "No, no, no!" and shook his head. I could relate.
It's been a really great year having family so close. I mean, REALLY close, like within a mile or two from our house. We've had such fun times with my sister, my brother, my sister-in-law, and Cooper's cousins. We've had time to make a lot of really great memories.
Chelsey and I spent hours upon hours probably just talking. We also spent a lot of money at TCBY, and liked to talk while enjoying our sorbet. Liz and I had fun watching some of our favorite TV shows together after we both got our kids to bed, and sharing family meals together. Once she brought us over dinner just because. Does it get any better than that?! The kids had fun going places together and playing at home together. Cooper certaily learned a lot of things from Ellie, like how to imagine and pretend. My brother worked most of the year, but when he wasn't working we did have fun playing Carcasonne, Wacky 6, and Farkle.
Of course, when family is moving away, you always wish you'd spent more time together. That' just life, I guess. So today I'm leaving work a few hours early to try to squeeze in one last night of fun before they move away. It makes me sad to know that life will intervene, and we'll not be as close as we have this last year. But boy, we sure have some great memories! (And thank goodness for phones, email, and Skype!) I GOTTA go buy a webcam like today.
While only a small part of my family has lived close this year, it has helped stave away the feelings of longing for my other family members. But now...nothing is holding any of that back any more. How did I do this before they were here?! You do what you have to do, but part of my heart is leaving today, and part of it has always been in Utah with my other siblings and my parents. This just sucks.
Anyway, we made this photo book as a going away present for Chelsey. I was worried it wouldn't arrive before she left, so I wanted to blog it. Thankfully it did arrive in plenty of time, but here it is again for the rest of you to see what a fun year we had.
Love you Chelsey, Bryt, Liz, Ellie and Kate!!! We will miss you so much!!!!
Click here to view this photo book larger
