Goodbye Downs Family!!!!!

Mommy is doing this post!

The same Sunday that Jarrett was baptized some of our very best friends moved away! Paul took a job teaching at Ringling College of Art and Design so the Downs family finally made it official and moved to Florida. We know from all the careful time spent making this decision that it is what is best, but we were all very, very sad!

We have been through so much together in the six years we have known each other most of it all good but there have been some emotional times too.

There have been many, many laughs and fun times. Including: parties, vacations, weddings, premieres, more parties :), late nights where the "had to be the last ones to leave," emergencies on rt 84 standing on the highway being spoken to by cops, funny pictures, more parties, train rides, Plane rides (not all fun... when you have to circle around and around due to tornadoes with Jen totally freaked out), Plain Whites concerts, Halloween parties with keys locked in cars, Karaoke, bars, long stories from Jen, Paul's awesome dance moves, I could honestly go on forever with all the great memories we have made together!
There have been many special times we shared: Our engagement with Jen being nervous she blew it! Our wedding, Cooper joining out family, telling Jen in the middle of the road that I was pregnant with Taryn, throwing each others baby showers, the birth of Taryn, Jake and Jarrett! Me being the first person to get to visit/ hold Eric and Sara, Having Eric's 1st and 2nd birthday parties at our house with Jen and Paul always bringing over way too much stuff! Nick and Paul becoming writing partners, finishing Some Assembly Required, getting agents and managers, winning pitchfest and getting to write their movie.

Basically we have been through everything together and it is hard to see them go, but we know from other friends leaving (and moving clear across the country on us... you know who you are!!!) that Florida is not all that far away and we can still be as close as ever. We love you guys!

These were just a few few old pictures of us. There were so many, but I didn't want to post too many so the first ones I found I put up!

Picture of Cooper and Paul * One of the first ever blog posts*

It was so hard to say goodbye to our friends that it took several goodbye attempts!
Sunday, July 31st- Official Goodbye #1
Nick and Paul took Eric and Taryn on a Date to see the Smurfs. Jen and I hung out with Jake and Sara at the house then we all had the famous Bob's BBQ for dinner one last time. Taryn even let Auntie Jen take her picture!

Friday, August 5th- Official Goodbye #2
I drove the kids to Jen and Paul's last day of work for the "Pimp Cane Party" which got changed and we missed but we still got to see them and ride down the elevator for the last time with Paul. Then we headed to Eric and Sara's daycare to get them. the kids had fun playing with their friends there and giving Eric and Sara their backpacks they had gotten them as gifts. Taryn was especially excited about all the "red candy" for Eric, which he shared very well. This was supposed to be the real goodbye... but it couldn't be sooooooo....

Saturday, August 6th- Official Goodbye #3- The actual Goodbye/ See you real soon!
The Downs family and the Simmons came over after the movers had taken all their stuff away, had dinner and the kids played some more. The kids stayed up so late that night because we all did not want to part... but it had to be done.

Can't wait to see you soon and drink our champagne!