The Move

waiting for the taxi van upon landing in England (we filled it to the brim with our 28 bags)

our cross-the-creek cousins tearful goodbye

besties torn apart - Isa was one of the fam :( 

We applied for this job over a year ago. Heard nothing for about nine months - like, it just disappeared. We even visited Cheltenham on our 2 wk UK adventure (to celebrate Darren's graduation) but we basically wrote it off. Then in a flurry of excitement, it was back on the table and Voila, he landed it. The kids had had over a year to get used to the idea, let it sit and settle, see it pass by, miss it and then realize that yes, we did want to go if we got the chance again. I must say I'm proud of their courage in accepting our invitation to do this together. With Kenna just about to enter high school, and Annie going into Junior High, they've felt the sting the worst, but have been bravely enthusiastic about the exciting change and newness, especially imagining the European travel that will be available to us.

tantrum to dead asleep during LONG customs 

getting creative with Danny's sleepy head

just a couple of the injuries during our move week 

late night games/feast/goodbye party - miss these peeps

My dear Mom recently passed away so the lead up to this move has been unique. The grieving, family engagements/trips, and settling of her estate has taken the forefront of all my energies this summer, so a couple days before we were to pack up, things got serious and we filled our 10 trusty green

sweet girl wanted lunch at my
parents' gravesite after her baptism

duffels with everything we might need for the next two months while our stuff would be in transit. With school/sports starting soon upon our arrival, the "to do" and "to pack" lists on my phone were significant, and Darren was a true magician selling/fixing/buying/arranging in timely manner - we managed to keep just ahead of the packers and get it all done. Darren was in and out of town that week (driving the minivan to CA for shipment and a prior-planned sibling trip), and our movers weren't super professional (some disturbing stories there) so it was hairy with me running on just a few hours sleep a night. But we made it into our hotel, borrowed a car or two (thanks Steve & Skidmores), hosted Summer's baptism, swam, ate and lived it up with friends & family for 11 days, (even popping into the ER three separate times for a car crash, broken foot, and head wound!) By the time the painful goodbyes came, our emotions were running high and many tears flowed. We so treasure our close family relationships cultivated there, and the exceptional friendships that have blossomed between our children and their peers. It was a hard goodbye.