December was both sad and joyful. We have had the chance to reflect on how much we love our friends and experiences in Ohio and reunite with our family in Colorado for Christmas. Here is how the month went.
With our Ohio house under contract and our home in California under contract we began the process of saying goodbye. We took as many opportunities to gather with friends as possible as we finished up the last month here. Also, Matt started working in California shortly after Thanksgiving and so was out there for much of the month.
Here is Sheri with her friend Carly. They worked together on their Christmas Mini Mall poster. Sheri and I made many, many crayon gingerbread men. Carly has been a good friend to Sheri this year and they have had some very fun times together.
This is me with my girlfriends, Meryn, Stacey, Diane, Beth, Kira, and Mallory. We have grown closer through our CrossFit workouts, and of course through church service and other fun activities. These are some committed, generous, creative, powerfully good women! I have been so lucky to be included in their circle. Here we enjoyed a girls night as we anticipated two of us moving.
Sterling had an Orchestra concert on December 3rd. He has been so lucky to work with Mr. Brosius who always has an optimistic, encouraging, friendly attitude.
As the weather turned colder and we prepared the cats for the move we allowed them time indoors to help them get used to being confined during our move. They loved coming inside until all the movers came near the end of the month. That kind of scared them, but that is a story for another day.
On December 5th Nassim and I took our boys to see the Piano Guys in concert. Christian had been looking forward to this since I took Sterling a few years ago. They absolutely loved it!
Here is a moment from a day Christian was building with Matt's boyhood Lincoln Logs.
On the 7th we were able to create gingerbread houses with the Kleins. This our last family activity with the Kleins. We will miss their friendship very much!
On the 8th we had our ward Christmas party. We have loved our ward so much! We have so many wonderful friends here!
Here is Sheri with a school project. I decorated very minimally for Christmas since we were about to pack mid month.
On the 13th I had a girls' night organized by friends from church. It was so good to connect one last time with these sweet women! (Beth, Kasia, Ann, Mikayla, Nannette, Jill, Meryn, Kaitlyn, & Mallory)
We squeezed in as many play dates as possible. Here is Christian with Hunter.
Here are the boys with the Kleins. They enjoy hide and go seek, light saber battles, and of course video games.
The Owens made a special trip to spend time with us before we move too far for short visits. Talk about incredible friends! They were able to be with us on our last weekend in Ohio.
Here Eve is being a sweet older sister to poor Sheri who twisted her ankle.
Our last Sunday was sad and sweet. We will miss everyone here! Stephanie Hoyle has been an incredible friend to us and an amazing Young Women's leader to Eve! She has cared for EACH of my kids and me in a special way! We will miss the Hoyles tremendously!
Sterling and Brady Hoyle. Good buddies!
Here is Eve with the Young Women. They have grown to really love each other.
Here I am with Kasia. She has a unique and thoughtful perspective that I have come to really enjoy.
That evening I held a Christmas piano recital for my students. I have loved each of them and really enjoyed teaching!
I love their crazy personalities!
I love their sweet mothers too! (Katie and Joleen) (Mallory shown in previous pics)
I was grateful that Kristen and her family were here for this as well! They were a great help!
Our last week was filled with packing, cleaning, movers, saying goodbye at school and last minute gatherings. Oh, and Christian lost his first tooth! We shared dinner with the Whitneys one last time. They are so wonderful! While there, Denton helped Christian tie a string on and without much effort, out it came.
Eve got to have a special last Young Women's activity where they shared funny memories and wrote meaningful letters. They were all very teary and tender hearted.
As the movers packed everything up we slept on the ground.
Christian got a few last play dates with Yug and Param. Their mothers have been so kind and fun to get to know!
Christian and Tanner played together one last time.
Here is Sheri with friends at school.
The kids with Mrs. Werling, the most awesome gym teacher ever! She gave them goodbye gifts.
Sheri and Mrs. Prendergast, her music teacher.
Sheri and Mrs. DiSilvestro, her Cog and math teacher.
Sheri and Mrs. Petrosino, her 3rd grade teacher.
The kids' last day of school. They even got gifts from Mr. Reggie, their bus driver.
We said goodbye to our good neighbors, the Tanners (Kim,Travis, Austin, and Gracie)
The Thomas family hosted a farewell open house for us. They have been endlessly generous and kind to us from the minute Matt visited the ward before we ever moved here to the night before we left Ohio and beyond! We feel such gratitude for their friendship!
Eve and Elaine Rieser, her 8th grade English teacher and friend from Dublin 1st ward.
Us and the Webers. They are such down to earth, fun, and generous friends.
Eve and her friends.
The Awesome Hoyle family! We're going to miss them immensely!
Sweet Jill Skousen. They will be moving to Spain soon.
Eve was also able to have one last evening with her school friends where they exchanged Christmas gifts and shared memories.
During all these last minute goodbyes we were packing, coordinating with movers, cleaning, returning last minute things to schools, libraries, friends, and preparing everything and everyone for transport.
We had a short night's sleep and then headed to the airport very early on the 22nd. We were very sad because despite multiple searching attempts we were unable to find Rascal before leaving. More on that in another post. We barely made the flight.
Despite our heavy hearts, the kids were excited to fly in an airplane for the first time (most of them). We were also excited to see family in Colorado.
We were able to enjoy a full moon on one side of the plane . . .
And a sunrise on the other side of the plane. It is a bit symbolic of leaving a beautiful full life and watching the sunrise on a new chapter in our lives.
Saying goodbye is so hard. We wish we didn't have to. Hopefully we will have a grand reunion in heaven. We will always be grateful for our time in Ohio.
I will continue our December in my next post.
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