Parting is such sweet sorrow...

The first time I saw Monica she was wearing a cute pair of designer jeans and I thought to myself "I need to meet her...she looks like someone I could be friends with".  The ultimate act of judging a person by their looks...but I just had this feeling.  Then I saw her again at swimming class and she was so sweet.  We chatted about our little girls and about having just moved to La Grande a few months prior.  We exchanged phone numbers and from that point on our friendship grew.  We bonded over movie nights, playdates, shopping trips and dinners.  We supported each other through everything.  When Eric was deployed to Iraq Sophie & Monica became a part of our family.  We spent as much time together as possible.  Our girls quickly became best friends and whenever we are out together we are asked if they are sisters.  For that matter Monica and I look like we could be sisters.  Recently we even began to joke that we are like sister wives...raising our children together.  The bond that Monica and I share is a special one...I believe we both came into each others lives when we needed someone the most.  I can't picture life in La Grande without her.  These past two years have been full of wonderful memories together.  Saying goodbye wasn't really an option.  We are to close of friends and friends don't say goodbye.  Taylor & Sophie are the lucky ones.  They don't fully understand the change that is happening...and I am just fine with that.  They have spent the majority of their lives as best friends and that doesn't have to change.  Thank God for texting, skyping and road trips.  There will be more effort required to see each other...but it will always be worth it. 
Thank you Monica and Sophie for blessing us with such a wonderful friendship.  Taylor and I will both miss you so much and are truly heartbroken.  We love you and are so happy that you will finally be back together as a family under one roof. 
Here are some pictures of the girls growing up together over the past two years....

Thanksgiving with Family...Lots of Family!

This was a special Thanksgiving as we were able to spend it with lots of family!  I set a table for 28 people and we shared a beautiful dinner together with lots of reasons to be thankful this year.  Having my Grandpa say our prayer with Grandma sitting next to him was just one of those many blessings to be thankful for.  The Nelson family has grown to over 40 people and we had most of them with us!  The following day we went to cut down a Christmas tree for my parent's house!  Tay loved picking which one and watching Papa cut it down!  Before heading home we spent a day with Gram & Grandpa in Vancouver...as you can see Tay and Ryder were spoiled as usual! 

This year we are thankful for our wonderful families, friends and our beautiful children! 

Friends.

These pictures are something we will always cherish, especially because Tay and I will soon be missing our best friends Monica & Sophie when they move to Seattle next month.   I just had to share these pictures.  The first one has been quite the topic of conversation on Facebook.  The photographer has had over 50comments and "likes" of this picture.  People just love it.  Of course I was dying because it's MY DAUGHTER screaming at her poor little friend!  Gotta love the 3 year old meltdowns.  We wont ever forgot them thanks to this picture!  So thankful we have these shots though to capture their sweet friendship!

Trick-Or-Treating with Rapunzel & Pascal

Rapunzel & Pascal

Pascal, Rapunzel & Cinderella

My little man....6 months old!

Snow White (Alaina), Cinderella (Sophie), Rapunzel (Tay)

Face Painting at the Fall Festival

Halloween was so much fun because we had our little man with us!  Taylor was so thrilled to be Rapunzel and to have her little brother as Pascal.  She told anyone and everyone that was willing to listen "I am Rapunzel and this is MY Pascal"!  We had so much fun Trick-or-Treating and taking the kids to the Fall Festival.  Ryder did so great, he loved watching all the people and was so freaking cute in his little costume!  Our best pals Sophie & Monica were with us and as always we had a great time together.  I can't believe Halloween has already come and gone and now on to the holidays! 

How I have missed you so....

Big Mans first trip to Gardner Village!

Carolyn and her sweet Taylor Bell

Ryder and Denise

Harrison, Taylor and Ryder

Dori and I with our little men! 

Oh Utah...how I have missed you so.  Ryder and I recently flew to Utah to see my bestie Carolyn and her cute family.  She helped me soak in all that I have been missing since we have moved.  It went a little something like this.  Friends, Zupas (Favorite) for lunch, Friends, Garner Village, Yummy dinner with some of my favorite BG Girls. Next day Catch up with Clients, Lunch with Denise at Cafe Rio (a Favorite), Shopping, Dinner at Rumbi (yet another Favorite).  Next day The Zoo with Ck, Dori and kiddos, Dinner at...you guessed it ZUPAS, oh and little more shopping! 
It was so fun to take Ryder to Utah where Ryan and I started our lives together and our little family began.  The five years spent there made such an impact on my life.  I was blessed with such wonderful friends and will carry so many memories with me forever. 
Thank you CK for being such a wonderful hostess...you really are the best!

Mark & Michelle say "I DO"

The first stop on our California road trip (in Sept) was Malibu to watch our great friend's Mark & Michelle say "I DO"!  It was a beautiful wedding and we were so thrilled to be there.  It was the first time we left Ryder and had a night off...well a few hours...but it was a great evening!  Thank you to Gram and Grandpa for staying at the hotel with our 2 kiddos and letting us enjoy a night with friends!