Trip Update

Well...Obviously Jon and I are back from Charlotte. We LOOOOVED it! What a great city! We see soo much more opportunity there for us as a family than in West Virginia. We are sooo anxious to get there and we feel like we'll be really "starting life". I think these feelings come from the fact that we always knew that WV was temporary...so we tried to keep that mind set.
Charlotte seems to have the big city appeal - but the small town feel. You can be in the city - and then drive 5 minutes and be in a neighborhood subdivision. It's great! The best of both worlds. It will be very hard to start over...I can't even think about it right now...but it will only strengthen us again.

Ok - so now for the good part. Kennedy and staying over night. Whew. Well - the first day with Tina - all she did was cry. She stood by the door and pointed and cried. She wouldn't watch her videos or play with toys or EAT! Tina even told me that she tried to feed her a chocolate donut - and she wouldn't even take that! :) ha-ha. :) She cried herself to sleep a couple of times - one time sitting straight up on the couch...and her head flopped in between her 2 little legs. Tina said she felt so sorry for her - but she wouldn't let Tina hold her or comfort her. :) She even tried to take her outside (because she loves being outdoors) and Kennedy just walked to the driveway and pointed to the car as if to say "I know this will take me to my mommy!" :)

By 2pm - it was time to take the stroller and walk to the school to pick up the big kids. When Kelsey came out of the door - Kennedy was a new woman! She was so excited and was playing with Kelsey. The minute they got home Kennedy was running to the kitchen doing the sign for "please" and pointing to the refrigerator.
Tina said she couldn't get the food fast enough for her! :) She was even eating plain pieces of bread...just shoving food in! :) The girls played dolls and house and blocks and had dance parties.

Then came bed time. :( When Tina pulled out Kennedy's pajamas...Kennedy lost it! I think she realized..."OH MY GOODNESS...I am spending the NIGHT here!!!!!!!!!!!"
Eventually she cried herself to sleep and slept until 4:30 am. Tina finally got her back to sleep around 6am but then it was time for her to get her kids up for school! :) What a good friend right!?

The next day was better...she kind of seemed to adjust and get in the groove of things. :) Let me tell you...Mom and Dad couldn't get home fast enough. We were originally planning to look around some more that morning...but instead - we just showered and hit the road! :)

IT was a tough thing to do - but we did it! We all survived. I did have a wonderful time with Jon - we had adult conversation - ate at an adult restaurant - and just really were able to love on each other. We felt like we were dating again! :)

Thanks to all who prayed! :) Wish we lived closer!!