The last picnic

We had to say goodbye to some of our best friends at the beginning of this month, the Matthews family. With their graduation at the end of May, they put out for jobs all over the country and picked one in Anchorage, Alaska. Missy and I seemed to have the rare kind of friendship that just is, there is no effort on either side, just an instant connection. It was also a happy coincidence that we both had two children within close age ranges. Elise and Esther seemed to have an instant connection as well, I remember both Missy and I watching them with satisfaction go down slides holding hands (I think that was the first time they met) and whenever we were out on the playground, as soon as Esther and Elise saw each other they would run towards one another with their arms outstretched and hug like they hadn't seen the other one in weeks. We invaded there home many a time and Missy would always feed us happily, she embodies the type of mother and woman that I would like to be....someday:) But Missy didn't leave me and Esther friendless because she also introduced me to another good friend, Erin, who I am now training to run a half marathon with in August (her daughter is Susannah, the little girl in the pretty red dress.) So even in parting she still in a way took care of us:) We really love these guys and will miss them terribly, but look forward to watching them grow up and seeing them every Christmas!

It was downright impossible to get a picture with all three of them looking at the camera so I chose the one with our guest of honor, Elise, looking at us.

Having fun on the slide together, one last time:)