So....some of the highlights we left behind in Ohio were:
1. The girls' birthdays.
2. Darin's GRADUATION!
3. Saying goodbye to friends. :(
4. Packing
5. Moving - Driving for DAYS
6. Visiting family along the way.
7. Driving by myself with 3 kids for 12+ hours...this will be a LONG post
8. Arriving in California
9. New School
10. Easter (which I didn't take even 1 picture?!!!)
yada, yada, yada.....
1. The girls' birthdays were pretty hectic. Kate turned 5 on March 27th and Allie turned 7 on the 29th. (In between those days was graduation!) The girls were great sports about not getting a birthday party and understood that we needed to keep it simple. What mature little gals I have.
Our b-day tradition is to let the girls have their favorite breakfast in bed, however, this year they both chose cereal which is risky to eat in bed....they ate beside the bed. Kate chose H.S Musical cereal (as yummy as it sounds ;) ) and Allie chose a personal fav, Reese Peanut Butter Balls (SERIOUSLY YUMMY and prolly not so nutritious).
Kate went old-school with her cake request. A simple yellow cake, chocolate frosting, and M&Ms on top. Darin and I both remembered childhood birthdays with such a cake. Allie asked for something new, Ice Cream Cake....very yummy.
The girls love to open presents on both of their birthdays. So on Kate's b-day they got a beautiful and super-fun doll house complete with a Fisher-Price Family. K, I was SO impressed with this family because they came with 5 kids!!!! I told the girls they must be Mormons. On Allie's birthday they got presents that will be lots of fun in the car (and they were worth every dime!)! Leapster games, art car-caddy, movies, etc. Roman even got a present, his favorite, Elmo Sing-along.
I usually write the girls a letter on their birthday, in their journal, but those were already packed up so this is a reminder to myself to go and do it! They are such sweet girls. They are best friends and rarely fight. I probably don't appreciate that as much as I should because they've always shared and played well together. I remember that as soon as Kate learned to walk, Allie realized she had a new best friend. They would play in the basement for hours together and even now that we have TV (yay! sorry for all you "I just never I have time to watch it folks" but I'm so relieved to have access to entertainment! - whew what a detour) they would prefer to play together most of the time. Allie is so full of life and jumps right into the middle of whatever is going on. Kate is my observer who stands back for a minute to take in whatever is ahead of her and then joins in. I'm proud of each of them for making friends easily, for loving to learn, for being reverent in church, reminding us to have Family Home Evening (and being excited for it), reminding us to read scriptures and have prayers every night, being willing to help around the house (most of the time), and for the sweetness that they bring into our home. I think that word describes both of them equally...they are just sweet girls! I read a quote today that said, "Daughters are little girls that grow up to be your best friend." I hope that I can always have a relationship with them that is full of love and friendship...sure, I'm the Mom and the rule enforcer now but we also enjoy being together and that's the part that will last when they are grown.
Now that this is getting so long I realize that I'll have to post the other topics later this week.
BUT...you'll be happy to know that:
1. We sold our house today!!!! (closing isn't for two months which is a bit of a downer but we're still grateful!)
2. Darin is working and LOVING it!
3. We are making friends.
4. Allie already has a best friend that we just adore!
5. Kate starts dance lessons tomorrow. (They don't have a class for Allie right now.)
6. The girls have a new piano teacher who is REALLY cute in a hot-orthodontist kinda way. Yep, Darin has decided that he can teach them....oh the irony his Mother will enjoy as she reads this! LOL....Darin didn't love taking piano lessons but his diligent mother made sure he did for 10 - 12 years I think. He says he doesn't really play but now that Allie is playing he has to help her and whadya know, he ACTUALLY does remember how to play. funny thing, huh?! We inherited a 90 year old piano that is actually in tune (well for my ears :() ) and is providing for some fun Family Home Evenings.
7. Roman goes to nursery at church for the first time next Sunday! Hip-hip-HOORAYYY!
(interestingly enough, he'll be the 4th kid in nursery. yep him and three little girls. i hear another little boy should be joining them soon too.....very different from our Ohio ward which had 4 Nurseries with like 12 kids in each!!!! Our ward here is the most reverent i've ever been to! Lots of families with teens and not so many w/ little kids. You can imagine how many times we have to take Roman out of Sacrament meeting! Everyone can hear him yelling "ball" and "shoes" and his favorite, "et's GO!".
We miss our friends in Ohio SO much! I keep wondering when and if I'll ever be invited to another GNO or Scrapbooking night. I know that we moved to Ohio for Darin to get an education but my education there was just as valuable. All of my friendships were with such Amazing Women of God! Truly good-hearted women who focused on their families, their faith, their neighbors, and each other. I think, had I not moved there, what kind of woman/mother would I be now? Ohhhhhh, I still have a WAYS to go but I know that I'm better, I'm better because of each of you (those still in Ohio and those that left before me). I look back and think of our conversations and how uplifting they were, so many women are backbiters and full of jealousy and when they get together conversations are solely gossip and negativity....I can honestly say that I never heard such conversations among my friends. Oh sure, none of us are perfect but I like what I felt when I was with each of you and how it helped me to focus on the good in others and helping them to see what was good. I could go On, and On, and On about how amazing each of you are....and if you are reading this then I am talking about You! Thank you for sharing your light with me and please don't be a stranger now that I'm gone.
Missing you,
Sarah
PS - As we were packing up different friends stopped by to say goodbye and it made me sad. After Sanae left I turned to my father-in-law and asked if I would ever meet women this amazing again and he responded, "No." I was shocked by this reply and he said, "You had something special here and I don't know if it's possible to find it again. You all worked together like a family and in other places people have their own families and don't rely on each other like this." Well, I'm praying that the Lord will send some of you my way! Let's plan some seriously-awesome cul-de-sac that we can all live on, after all, it's gorgeous here!!!!
