Goodbye Connecticut

Saying goodbye to Connecticut was one of the hardest things for me to date. Things got really busy really quick after Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Kent left, so I couldn't think about the leaving part too much, but every now and then I would imagine saying goodbye to some of my closest friends and I couldn't hold back the tears.

A week before we left our friends threw us a farewell party at Weed Beach in Darien. 

It was a little chilly, but everyone was really good sports, and we had a very enjoyable evening.

Wes just checking out the Arbuckle twins (the second set).

Brian.Nate.Jacob.Dave

Megan.Hanna.Shelley

Brian.Bishop.Nate.Tracy

Megan.Lindsey.Kathy.Lizzy.Nicki.Shelley.Kristin.Amy.Dayna

I'm kind of disappointed with my lack of pictures, but at least I got some.

I love all of these people so much! It was such a blessing to see how much love and support we were sent away with.

As our last week passed, we had a lot of last times:

Last play dates with the Farr girls-

And this is how we both felt when I told him he wouldn't see Sophie anymore:

It was a sad day.

Last night of Book and Cook Club:

Nicki was missing, which was a huge bummer, but this night was SO FUN!

I'm pretty sure I shed some tears afterwards knowing that I would no longer meet with these girls monthly to discuss a book, recipes and mostly just chat.

It can take a long time to establish relationships and feel comfortable enough to be yourself around friends. In the last year, I really started to feel established and comfortable and loved being with these girls and others in the ward. I know we're so lucky to have social media and easy phone access, but my heart truly cherishes these girls and I will always treasure the true friendships I've made in Connecticut.

Last outing to New York City-

Brian's co-workers were sweet enough to throw him a goodbye party and invited me to attend!

Luckily, Teresa arrived on a red-eye the morning of, so we didn't have to figure out babysitting or worry about being gone all night.

I met him and his co-workers at a lounge and besides the insanely LOUD music, it was very enjoyable to eat, chat and spend some time with the people he had spent the most time with over the last two years.

Sadly, no pictures were taken. It was way too dark and everyone left at different times. Brian loved his job and the people he worked with and we are both grateful for the wonderful experience he had at E&Y. He learned so much and it will definitely contribute to his new path in academia. 

Scott met up with us in the city, so we were able to spend the rest of the evening with him and Tracy getting Potbelly's and Pinkberry. YUM! 

Scott.Tracy.Brian

iPhone pictures stink, but you get the gist.

These are two of Brian's best friends and we were sad to leave them.

Scott and Camille ditched out on the east coast about 2 weeks before us, but Scott was back in town to gather up the rest of their stuff, so we were pumped to spend extra time with him!

What a great group of people we have been blessed to become friends with.

We sure are going to miss our random trips into the city. We love that place so much and will definitely be back to visit {frequently} if we never end up back on the east coast.

We heart NYC forever!

Last day of Joyschool-

Jared.Will.James.Thad.Alex

Seriously? How did we get so lucky to have the five cutest boys do Joyschool together?

These boys playing together is pretty close to the top of my list of things that I will miss most.

I cried the hardest on our last day of church when I took Thad out of his Sunbeam class, because I knew he wouldn't grow up side by side with them.

Amazing boys. Amazing moms. Amazing families.

We of course had to head to Shake Shack to have our last hoo-rah!  The boys made themselves right at home:

Thad just being Thad. Awesome.

Colleen.Shelley.Sara.Lizzy.Amy

I love this picture because I am the only one NOT pregnant!

How funny is that? Rebecca was there, but left before the picture was taken, so it was me and four pregnant ladies. Four pregnant ladies I miss dearly.

Like I said, that was our last hoo-rah -- Moving day was the next day, so we had to get down to business. Grandma Teresa definitely helped that business happen because #1 She is a work horse and can complete any project in half the time I can, and #2 she played with the kids to get them out of the way so I could do things she couldn't.

"Running Opposites" was introduced and has been played several times in the backyard this summer.

As you can see on Thad's face, he couldn't get enough!

Sunday morning after the truck was packed, Teresa took these terrors on a walk because there was NOTHING to do at our house and they were going stir crazy. Church wasn't until 1:00 and there was still lots to be done. She is the best.

And unfortunately these were the only pictures we got of her, but they are proof she was here and made this move go SO MUCH SMOOTHER than it would have without her.

After the big moving day and a delicious last supper from Valencia's, we got the boys and Teresa all packed up before church so we could head to JFK right after for their 7:00pm flight.

Last family photo at 23 Cottage Street.

I held myself together pretty darn good for most of church. We had to leave about a half hour before it was over, so when the goodbyes started happening, so did the tears. Nicole started it when I said goodbye to the Primary presidency. When the valve opened, there was no turning it off.

I was sad that I wouldn't walk those halls with those amazing ward members every week and that we would no longer be members of the Darien Ward. I've said it before and I'll say it again -- living far away without family would be near to impossible for me without the gospel. These people are what made living a couple thousand miles apart from those we love most not only possible, but most of the time EASY. So yes, the tears were flowing and they turned on full blast when I pulled Thad out of Sunbeams. He was a little nervous when he saw me because my eyes were red and I was acting funny. He was a good sport and gave everyone an awesome high five! We stopped and said goodbye to Emily, Lizzy and Natalie in the nursery on our way out which didn't help one bit with the water works.

When that part was finally said and done, it was hard but definitely worth it. I can't be grateful enough for the three years I got to spend with such amazing people and I just kept thinking that it was so hard because it was so, so good.

After dropping Teresa and the boys off at the airport (and not getting a picture of Super Grandma with a backpack, stroller, car seat and two children) we headed to Greenwich to have dinner and visit with the Farrs. 

Now the Farrs are friends we will have forever no matter how far apart we live. I think that is very apparent if you have read our blog at all in the last three years. They were there at the beginning and there at the end. They definitely fit into the "best friends" category and will always stay there. 

They made us a DELICIOUS dinner and we were able to visit for quite some time. Something that I have always loved about them is their ability to share and convey their emotions. They told us how grateful they were for our friendship and how much we meant to them. It really tugs at your heart strings when someone is able to share that with you and it really meant a lot to Brian and I as we sat at the dinner table with them -- especially because the feeling is mutual. 

What a cruddy iPhone picture, but I don't even care. I love this beautiful lady!

Brian sure misses working with Tracy every day.

Can you see why?

 Haha! Get it? Accountants counting!

There were definitely tears as we drove away from their darling family waving to us from the porch. I just kept thinking how things would never be the same. When we do see them again, it most likely won't be at their house on west Division Street and it won't be us just heading home after a play date or a late night hangout after Brian and Tracy get home from work. Things will be so different, but I know so good.

We got home and did our final walk through with Emmy and Ernie (they were very pleased with everything because Teresa and four wonderful ladies from ward cleaned like nobody's business) packed up the final odds and ends and listened to the eventful flight Teresa was able to partake in.

On the way to the airport I told Teresa, "If you have Thad use the bathroom right before you board and buckle him into the car seat, I bet he will be fine the whole flight." Probably the worst thing I could have said. Shortly after take off, Thad was playing the iPad and squirming a bit. Teresa thought he was moving with the games (and knew he would of course tell her if he had to go potty because he's four years old and I can't remember the last time he peed his pants) and didn't think much of it until Thad said, "Grandma, I need to go potty!" as he was peeing his pants. Now what? She quickly gets him out and they all head towards the bathroom: Teresa holding Wes and the backpack, just in case I packed some extra clothes, and Thad waddling down the isle with the wettest pants saying/crying something like, "It's a lot, Grandma!" A lady offered to hold Wes, but Teresa didn't dare turn him over to someone else, so they all three squoze in and the circus began -- No extra clothes to be found (why would I? My four year old doesn't pee his pants), soaking pee up from the shorts with paper towels and Wes just unrolling the roll of toilet paper. Teresa, being the Super Grandma that she is, just laughed (so she wouldn't cry), got things cleaned up and got the boys back to their seats. She FINALLY got Wes to sleep about an hour later and thought she was in the clear when Thad's squirming started AGAIN! What? She just took him?? -- Don't worry, he had to go again! Teresa thought she would take that lady up on her offer to help and have her hold the sleeping child, but that lady was fast asleep herself. So again, Grandma, Thad and a sleeping Wes all made it to the bathroom and Wes slept until the toilet flushed. So they started all over again! Luckily it wasn't too bad from there and they were able to get settled for the rest of the flight.

This is of course your living nightmare as a mother sending your children with other people. But luckily Teresa just took it as it came and says she would do it all again if she had to. What lucky people we are to have such wonderful family!

We woke up bright and early Monday, April 29 and headed out of Norwalk at about 6:00am.

This was our last view as we drove away:

Man, how I will love this house and this street forever. The ways I grew as a woman and mother and the way we grew as a family will always be so special to me. 

What a wonderful adventure we were blessed with. I can't think of a better way we could have spent the last three years.

Goodbye, Connecticut.