It's hard to remember life without them...
Mike and I moved to Nevada in January of 2005. We met Jeff and Renee while we were still in the process of settling in. Coincidentally, Renee and I happened to be recovering from very recent miscarriages of our first pregnancies, and an instant bond was formed. They so kindly even let Mike stay with them for over a week until we closed on our home.
Our first few months down here were so blissful when we think back. So many evenings spent eating out or just lazing at each other's places. The first hot summer when we would just float for hours out on the lake to keep cool. But mostly, we lamented for the babies we did not have yet.
Soon enough, that changed!
Auntie Renee and Uncle Jeff meeting Dane for the first time. (March 2006)
Dane visited Carter before he was even 12 hours old. (August 2006) 
Next it was sweet little Camden. (October 2007)
And finally Nora, the little girl Renee had hoped and shopped for! (June 2008)
Of course they have all grown and love each other as much as we love Jeff and Renee.
But now the time has come for change. Jeff and Renee are moving on this week to Tucson to new adventures! Last night, we went to Red Robin and a local pumpkin patch just as we have done for the past years near Halloween. Dane and Carter had such an animated conversation at the dinner table!
Annual Pumpkin Patch family pictures.
All the kiddos lined up with their tickets, just waiting for the train ride.
Unlike years before, at the end of the night we had to say goodbye for what may be a long time. I cried then, and I have been fighting tears and a huge lump in my throat since then. Occasionally, I have even sobbed. Jeff, Renee, Carter, and Camden- we love you so much and can't imagine how this big hole will ever be filled. Thanks for being our family when we were so far from our own. We wish you many new friends and adventures in your new home. Come visit us in Minnesota soon and often!!
6 comments:
so sweet and so sad at the same time! but good friends remain friends also in the distance, specially now there's internet! My best friend has been in the Netherlands for more than 13 years now, and though the first couple of years she was greatly missed, we are still as close as ever!
By the way, i've been following your blog for quite a while now, but never commented before. I love reading about your adventures, good job, amanda!
Nice post. You all will be missed here. Jhett will have no boys his age to play with anymore! Glad we can still keep following blogs tho =0) And you can always come back to visit...
Hey. Wait a second. Am I missing something? You said, "Come visit us in Minnesota soon and often." What's that supposed to mean? Are you moving closer to me? Could it be true?
P.S. I'm very sorry for you all. Saying goodbye is never easy, and I know how much they mean to you.
Oh! Goodbyes are sooo hard! We've been wanting to get back to visit all of our friends in Vegas, but there won't be any left! Hugs to you, hugs to Renee, and lots of hugs to all those precious little children!!
Feeling for you - I hate goodbyes too and have done it a few too many times. The great thing is that with good friends each time you meet up it seems like you never left. Hope the tears will be laughter soon.
Reading your blog made me sad, but happy, too! We are delighted you are coming to MN, and will be close to us. This is truly a new chapter in your lives, and although anticipation of new experiences, and many opportunities that you've had to miss out on in the past because of the distance, closing the "old chapters" are still so painful. I relate well to your bittersweet feelings. I can cry feeling for you! Looking forward to seeing you more often, and watching Dane and Nora grow, too :)!
Love you all, Auntie Diane
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