Saying Goodbye...

As we prepare to move to Colorado, we've struggled with what to do with the onset of school. After speaking with the principal, Mrs. Shoemaker, we opted to have you attend the beginning of the school year at Sunset Ridge. We did this because it'll help get you back into the routine, it'll give you a chance to say goodbye to your school buddies - and it'll have you out of the house as it's dismantled...something we envision might be stressful for you. So, here you were on your first, first day of school:


We hoped everything would go well with the sale of our OP home, and it did. After only a week on the market it was sold for more than we were asking for it (bidding war!) We were also planning for the worst and figured if we had to hang back for a month or more waiting for it to sell, or if our contract went sour -- then at least you would be learning something! So, in total you attended Sunset Ridge for a whole 1.5 weeks. You were in a stellar classroom with a dynamic teacher, Mrs. Engle. I'm almost sad you won't be staying with her - I think you and her would have gotten along GREAT. We put together a fun little treat that you handed out on your last day: a little plastic bag of fancy pencils, monkey erasers, and the little card below:


You went to school with 40 of those little treats. 22 were for your classmates and the rest were to give to kids who weren't in your class this year, and also to the kids in the cul-de-sac. You came home with only two left! You must be pretty popular!

As we prepared to move, we also prepared to say goodbye to you best buddies: Olivia, Mia, Gabbie and Lindsey. You all handled the news differently. Some of your friends seemed rather heartbroken. You seemed pretty "okay" with everything, though. As your last hoorah with the buddies - there was a pool party held with the whole Daisy troop to say goodbye to you.




Then we hosted a pizza and create-your-own-sundae playdate at our house.



We decorated a packing box for your special stuff:


we played "Pin the Kenzie on Denver" (BIG hit!):


and we chased cicadas in the backyard.


Your friends made you some special gifts: picture frames (from Gabbie and her mom Christina), scrapbooks (from Olivia & her mom Kristen), a bobble head dog (from Lindsey & her mom Lori), and I just know you're gonna cherish this mementos for a long time. We gifted each of your friends with framed pictures to remember you by - and a little package of stationary and pencils..with the hopes that you can be pen pals (just as soon as we know our address!).

On our last night in town - our house was empty, but we stayed in the driveway to have fun with the cul-de-sac friends. Nana & Poppy, Annie, Andrew & Kelly came too. You got to spend one last night with your BFF, Olivia, which is one of your all-time favorite things to do.




Throughout our departure, we received quite the send off. It's clear people think you're awfully special. Can't wait to meet a new group of people in Colorado -- who'll soon realize the same thing!