Almost Time to Leave

We have had so many going away parties (and other parties) as the time inches closer and closer for Teach and her family to leave us. On Friday night, we got together for a spa night. My sweetie ordered tons of pizza and we had both guys and girls here. He also flooded the sandbox and they had so much fun playing in the water!

Curly and Baby Doll with my sweetie, Skittles, and Twizlet in the back

Skittles

Then on Saturday (after the dance performance, but we will talk about that later) Beauty and The Beast hosted a game night. Baby Doll and I offered to watch all the little kids and that included playing with toys and swimming with them in the hot tub.

Little Warrior, Twizlet, and Little Squire

Little Warrior, Twizlet, Skittles, and me

Then on Sunday night we had our monthly birthday party (that also turned into a going away party of sorts when Princess and her family drove up and stayed in their car, but took a few minutes to say goodbye to Teach). It was so fun watching Skittles open his gifts!! He is just so excited about things. His favorite was the bag full of percussion instruments, but he also loved the cars.

And Bossy loved the fireworks quilt we made for him over spring break.

I know, you thought we were done...

On Monday, Teach invited me to go along with her little family to the aquarium and then out to lunch. It was own private moment when I could spend time with my little cuties alone.

And then finally, on Tuesday night, Drama Queen had everyone over for hawaiian haystacks and a movie. We are just going to miss this little part of our family so much! It will be the first time anyone has gone so far away without an exit date of when they will return to us. We are all feeling withdrawal ... and they aren't even pulling away until Thursday morning.

Reflect on Reflections: Teach, Film Video 2007

I don't know how much you know about Reflections, but this video is from the early days of the Film/Video category when the rules were much less stringent and clipart or things from the internet were fine to use. Then they decided that you had to take all the pictures in your video. Not long after that, you had to have written permission from everyone in your video. 

This video would be impossible in today's competition, but back then, it was all perfectly acceptable. I think the opportunity to be creative is much easier with millions of pictures and clipart, but the PTA didn't think so. 

Anyway, please enjoy another of Teach's videos. She would have been a junior in 2007. I love that she has included both friends and family members here. That probably doesn't matter to you, but to me it is priceless. The early pics of Scout and Sport are so fun! And there aren't many pics of our dog, Daisy, especially not of her smiling!

Reflect on Reflectons: Teach, Dance 2006

I want to share one of my favorite Teach videos from Reflections. I'm apologizing up front because in 2006 they still required VHS and some of the video near the beginning is a bit rough, but if you stick with it, I promise it gets better.

If you remember, Teach was the Colorguard Captain at Bingham High School for 2 years. This video was made during her sophomore year. She had barely learned to really spin the rifle and she was a natural, but her dad was more than a little worried about letting her climb up on the roof of our house just to make a movie. Spinning the rifle and dancing made it that much more worrisome.

He finally agreed and she was so excited! It was one of my very favorites that she ever made just because she was so happy and some of her moves were just so unexpected. Oh, and Bossy designed and I made that flag.

I hope you enjoy it!

I can't sleep...

My heart is breaking. 

In less than a week, Teach and Twiz will pack up all of their possessions, including my sweet grandbabies, climb into their van and drive across the country.

No, it's not just an extended vacation... they are moving to New Jersey. 

And I am devastated.