the move - part 1

Goodness gracious!  Has it really been over a month since my last post?  I am terribly sorry.  Well, to say that we've been a tad bit busy, would certainly not be a lie.  I'll pick up where we left off, how's that?  So that would be with our last week of school.

Saying goodbye to JDE was so difficult.  It's a school building that always has open doors and a welcoming feel.  We have been beyond blessed with great teachers, staff, friends and parents.  Each of the boys' teachers gave them a special goodbye party on separate days to accommodate the mother - me.  Wasn't that thoughtful?  We love and adore them so much.

Titus's farewell party was on Wednesday, Oct. 19th. He was allowed to choose his favorite party treats.  Oreos, pretzels, Popsicles, and Capri Suns were on the menu.  Mrs. Albin had each of the students write a letter to Titus.  He was delighted beyond words reading them over and over with his classmates by his side.  Titus absolutely loves correspondence so this really tickled him.

 Poser!

 Mrs. Albin - heart, love, smiles

 See how thrilled he is??  I told you.

 Mrs. Albin's 2nd grade class.  We will always remember you and love you all!

Elijah's party was the next day, Thursday, Oct. 20th.

Mrs. Hobgood and my dear friend, Anna Beth, took care of all the details.  Snacks, gifts and letters.  Yay!

Oh wow!  A class picture from our field trip to the UNC Planetarium.  And, everyone signed it!

So very special.  Thank you, Mrs. Hobgood.

 Best buds - Dalton & Elijah

 Another great friend, Spencer

 and, Sean too.

 Much love to you, Mrs. Hobgood, and the rest of the 3rd grade class!

Here's the boys in the morning waiting for the bus one last time.

 There they go!  Have I mentioned that their bus drivers have always been wonderful.
Sigh...yet another thing to miss about NC

 At this point, I teared up and couldn't stop the river of tears from flowing.
Thankfully, Beth (my neighbor) had been walking up to say "hey".  She was sweet enough to give me hug until I gained my composure.

Later that afternoon I headed to JDE one final time for Joseph's party on Friday, Oct. 21st, which just so happened to be their last day of school as they tracked out with the rest of their classmates.  Mrs. Barton made him a photo book with pictures that she had Mrs. Hardy take the last week of school.  So sweet of her!  The room mom, Mrs. VanNess, along with some other moms organized a fall holiday party and incorporated Joseph's goodbye celebration along with it.  They had lots of snacks and games.  It was a very emotional time for Joseph and me as we've known and grown to love these kids and their families over the past 6 years at JDE.  Joseph was given so many special and meaningful gifts from his buds.  He will cherish these memories for a long, long time.

 Mrs. VanNess reading his goodbye poem

Such a clever poem in his honor

 Each student was given a scrapbook page to decorate and write on for Joseph.  Then the pages were assembled in a precious keepsake book.

 Ernest

 Alex, an avid Yankees fan.  He actually bought a Phillies helmet and his mom had each classmate sign it.

 Caleb

 The wonderful and loving, Mrs. Barton!

To the 5th grade class, we loooove you tons and gobs and even more than all of that.

By the time I left school that Friday afternoon it was so late, I ended up beating the boys' bus home by minutes.  Shawn came out to greet them.  The bus rolled up and dropped them off.  Poor dears they looked so sad.  As the bus turned around to go back up our street each kid had put their windows down and were hollering, "Bye Shays!  We'll miss you!!" 

I lost it.  Shawn held me as I sobbed.  Oh my, this is so hard. 

"the move" to be continued...