Saying Goodbye ... through this very long post.

 Just a warning ... you don't have to read this.  It's too long.  I know.   But I guess I am using it as a journal in many ways.   I want to have this to look back later.   I want to the kids to have all of this documented. So, feel free to scan the pictures without feeling like you are missing anything : )  And it took my days to write it, so I sure wasn't going to spend any more time proofreading.

 We went on a visit to Lake Charles last week.  I cannot believe that it is really happening ... but my mom and brother are moving here.   Like, really.   In 4 days.  The house sold very quickly ... first day on the market, first showing.  The family that is buying it could not be nicer.   But, it is all very bittersweet.  The six of us went and got in the way, but enjoyed every second of our "goodbye" trip.  I'm going to miss this place so much.   I have so many incredible memories from growing up down Miller Lane.  

When we drove up, my mom, aunt, and brother were bringing some trash to the burn pile ... so we all tromped out there.  The boys were a little perplexed about "burning trash" since our HOA doesn't exactly allow fires in the backyard... unfortunately.

 

Dinner that evening.

The next morning we went to 11am mass, and stayed for Ava's baptism.

Ava is just a few weeks younger than Maggie ... Emily's youngest daughter.

She is a doll.

 Her big sister, Anna, snuck up on the alter and was hiding...

so adorable.

 I'm so glad that we were there on the weekend of her baptism!

Afterward, we went over to Emily and Darren's house for a delicious lunch.

The kids had a great time and made a mess of their front porch.

That afternoon I walked around and took some pictures of my favorite places on the property.
It's so strange walking around there ... I haven't lived there for 13 years, but somehow it feels like yesterday.   So many memories come back.   I guess I was quite a tom-boy, always fishing, riding go carts, ... it was just the best place to grow up.  No fences.   No cars.   Really, it just was amazing to have such freedom as a kid.   My neighbors and I would play in the woods, bringing our bb guns in hopes of seeing a snake or anything we could shoot at.   I can just see giving Jackson a bb gun right now.   I miss being a kid in the country.

One of my favorite spots.   The rope swing is now growing moss on it.   We had a trampoline next to this oak, and would jump as high as we could and then jump onto the swing.  I don't know how I never had a broken arm.   Lots of memories on that trampoline ... with Cary, Chelsi, Kelly, Jessica... and then Kourtney, Emily, Mary ... The trampoline lasted for a LONG time.   BECAUSE... my dad made us cover it with a tarp, then attach bungee cords to keep the cover on.   Then prop it up on old coca-cola crates.   What a pain.   I remember friends coming over and asking if we could jump on the trampoline, and sometimes I would just say, "no...it's too much work." 

It's funny how you can be so attached to trees.  I mean, how incredible that this oak has been right there for 100 or 150 years... who know.   Driving underneath is coming home.

Wish I could transplant it.   

The boys would have shade in our backyard ; )

We did take some irises from the "swamp" and some blackberry bushes with us...

I hope they make it.

It's crazy how I am crying just looking at these pictures.   I guess it's not only saying goodbye to the property, but also to my dad in some ways.   I just am always scared of forgetting the little things about him.   And when I'm home, I feel him.   I remember so much more.   His voice, his movement, his presence.   Like when I look at this pond, I remember catching mudcats and he would make me throw them out into the grass.   He told me that they would hurt the bass and brim by taking over the pond.   I remember him standing in the pirogue and falling in, and I was terrified... and then couldn't stop laughing.

How proud was I when I caught a bass, and how much I wanted him to be right there to see it while he was mowing, or working in the garden.   I miss him so much.

I used to call to my grandmother (you can almost see her little yellow house through the trees) and say "Mawmaw!  I caught something!"   She was always on her front porch or in her garden.  

How lucky were Daniel and I to have her next door.   And she ALWAYS was happy to see us.  

And she was ALWAYS cooking something.  And ALWAYS smiling. And ALWAYS praying.

Our sad barn.   I remember when dad was building it.   I remember all of the plans he had.   I remember Honey, our horse, sticking her head of the window on the side.  I remember jumping out of the hay loft with Jessica.  Oh, it just looks so different.  The remains of the gocart are rotting away.   And everything is falling apart.  

 

Honey's little stall.

Fancy stairs up to the loft.

No way was I going up there.   I know I wasn't alone in the barn.  I was WAY outnumbered by wasps, spiders, rats, and who knows what else.   eek.

I think I am more of a girly-girl at 31 than I ever was growing up.

Another favorite spot ... a little opening at the end of our property where we would go into the woods.   There were old 4-wheeler trails, and we would explore and try to build tree houses.   But never had but a couple pieces of wood.   We would bring nails, hammers, string, pocket knives ... and try to make anything.   I remember one time a bug landed on me, and my neighbor Cary screamed at me, so I jumped and tried to swat it off, meanwhile cutting my thumb with the knife ... think I was widdling a stick ... who knows.   But we went to Maw maw Bea's house and hid in the bathroom while we dug around and found a band aid.   Don't know why I didn't want to tell my mom and dad.   Guess we liked being sneaky.  I still have a scar on my thumb ... when I look at it, I feel like I am right back in that moment.

 

 On Monday Colin left with the boys and drove to Alexandria.   He stayed that night, and then came back the next day with Charlie.   The older two got to spend some time at Mawmaw and Pawpaw's house.

Monday night,  Emily and Kourtney came over to visit.   It felt like old times.    I love how we can talk like no time has passed at all.   I will really miss this part of "coming home."   I just have to lure them to Allen to see us! : )

It rained so much while we were there (and still is raining from what I hear).   The good thing was it brought the temperature down to a very "pleasant" South Louisiana level.   Oh, the humidity.  And mosquitoes.

Walking down Miller Lane.   Checking out the turtles and tadpoles in the ditch.

Cami, the new owner, asked us if we wanted to bring Charlie and Maggie out to the stables where she keeps their two horses right now.  She said we wouldn't believe how nice they were.   She was right.

This is a TERRIBLE picture.   But just imagine bricks on the floor, and very, very fancy stalls.   And a huge chandelier in the middle. 

This horse is special.   I don't know why.   But it is.   Because it costs $500,000.

Picture worthy, I thought.

He loved being the only boy around.   I don't think he missed Cooper and Jackson for a second.

We watched Cami's daughter during her lessons.   So nice to visit with them.   It is so nice that they are going to love "our place" on Miller Lane. 

Went to visit some friends, Maria and Kate on Tuesday morning.   It was so strange just having Charlie and Maggie at a "play date."   Whew.  It was easy!  I almost felt guilty.

 

Therese and Giana kept me smiling the whole time.   I mean, look at the goggles!

Back at the house ... Charlie was entertaining Maggie and helping mom and I pack.

Enjoying the rain ...

: ) Cannot believe she is going to move here.

Airplane.

I know it is going to be so hard for my mom and brother to leave.   It is hard to imagine having such rich, sweet memories anywhere else.   But we are going to try!   Raising our four children is full of wonderful moments every day ... even if it is not set in a place this beautiful.  

One more post to come on our last couple of hours in Lake Charles.  

And then many, many more of new experiences and memories with Mom and Daniel here!