Goodbye's are Hard

Our neighbors and good friends, Mat and Darbi Ryan, moved last Monday. It was a rough day. Actually, it was hard when they told us about a month ago that they were moving. I was depressed. Since we've been neighbors, Darbi and I practically spoke every day. We joked we needed a bridge over the road between our houses because we would run back and forth so often. Our kids played together all the time. Darbi and I met 7 years ago when they moved into their house. We had just moved in a few months earlier and saw this cute family coming to check out the house. I remember thinking "I hope that family buys it because they look nice." Well sure enough they did and the next spring we met outside. We didn't meet until then because of the cold winter months and neither of us were out much. But once we met we became friends fast. We've been though a lot together with having kids, sharing heartache, dealing with mean neighbor issues, watching each other's kids, picking up each other's kids from school, borrowing food items when we ran out, sharing desserts and recipes, sharing magazines, sharing life's problems and just talking about everything. It's rare to find a neighbor that you get along with so well. We talked about that a lot. We were lucky to have each other. I will miss her a lot!

They are moving to Alaska. I know crazy! Mat is going to be the director of the Fred Meyer store in Fairbanks, Alaska. Darbi really wanted to move there because she likes adventures and because it's a jump career and pay wise. They have a 5 yr commitment and then might be back down in WA after that. Best Wishes!

Big ol' moving vans rolled in front of their house and made it all too real. Their house is the one with the tree in front. This picture is the view from our yard. We were right across the way. Too convenient, huh?

On Sunday night, the night before they left, we had them over for dinner. 

Logan liked playing with Lindsey and would push her in the swing and play with her.

I put together a going away bag for them.

Top row: Anshu (another neighbor girl, good friend of Logan), Logan and Lindsey

Middle: Dallas and Kate

Bottom: Preston and Asher 

Darbi and I. It was hard to say goodbye. 

Mat and Darbi with their kids Logan (10), Dallas (8) and Asher (6). Their dog, Koda, is behind Asher. 

Kate with their dog Koda. All my kids liked Koda. He was good with the kids all over him. They will miss him. I told my kids they can play with Koda all they want because there's no chance of us getting a dog!