The kids' farewell parties!

The kids weren't about to let a half empty house and a week's notice prevent them from throwing together a going away party before we headed out of town! I felt bad because months ago when we first decided we'd move during the winter break I had assured them I'd put together going away parties but with the craziness of trying to build a house and prepare for a move, the time had flown by and before I knew it we were a week away from packers arriving! Thankfully when you live in a time of texting and group messaging, within a half hour of putting our thoughts together, the boys had invited around twenty kids. Knowing we were in the midst of the holiday party season, I reminded them that with such short notice, most would probably not be able to attend. Well, I was sure wrong! Kids kept dripping in and by the end, they had thirty friends stop in to wish them well. I worried about what they would do but between foosball and shuffle board in the basement, games upstairs, and even a hilarious stand up comedy show by some of the kids in the dining room, they all seemed to have a great time. We never got a photo of everyone together but here are a few that hopefully captured most of them!



There was one important friend that was unable to make the boys' party and that was Mia! She was their first friend and turned out to be the last friend they spent time with before we left town. They have spent countless days together and we have been so grateful for how much the Thatcher family took in our boys and introduced them to all that Mason had to offer. Really it's because of them the boys even got involved in swimming. As a going away gift she drew this picture of the three of them together from Homecoming. So sweet!



On the Friday night before the boys' party, the Simon's threw Sage a going away party at their house with all Sage's church friends. It was so sweet of them and really made Sage feel special, not to mention she had a great time and always enjoys being with Taylor! We will sure miss the Simon family but will plan on seeing them here in Florida sometime soon!



After a busy Saturday night hosting the boys party, it was again time for Sage to celebrate only this time it was with her "school friends". Sage definitely has no shortage of friends but like most girls, she has a couple special friends she meets in her class each year that she becomes extra close to. This party was meant to gather all those friends together. They are so sweet and I can't lie that I am sad to have to see her say goodbye to them.



It there is one friend that Sage will miss the most though, it's Tanna. Tanna moved to Ohio from Southern California just last summer. Her dad was transferring from Oakley out to Lux and on a house hunting trip we met up with them for dinner. At that time we learned that not only would they go to our same church but they had a daughter Sage's age. A week or so later she had sent Sage a postcard sharing with Sage how excited she was to move to Ohio and meet Sage and what she liked to do. It was so cute. They became instant best friends. They both love to do crafts, cook, sing and dance and spent any free day together. The Dean family really reached out to Sage and made her feel apart of their family. Here are a couple photos from the last week of them with their BFF necklaces and playing on the frozen lake behind Tanna's house! They haven't let distance affect their friendship though as I regularly can hear Sage face timing Tannah and we know they'll see each other again!