No Place Like Home

We are moving from Utah back to Iowa early Saturday morning. It is definitely a bittersweet situation. It has been wonderful to live close to family again. One of the very best things about living near family is watching your children connect with grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles. In my opinion, the most difficult thing about living far away is feeling like they are missing out on those relationships. I am so thankful for the past eight months and the opportunity we have had to live so close to so much family. I get a lump in my throat every time I think about how much love and support everyone has given us while we have been here. Some of the highlights have included:

• Long summer days spent swinging and playing in the backyard. 
• Grandpa's awesome tree house.
• Tons of play dates with cousins.

• Celebrating Maddie's second birthday.

• Womens' weekends.

• Grandma's tea set.
• Friday night pizza--always from Papa Murphy's and always the Cowboy (seriously, you don't want any variety, Dad?)
• Cooking with pounds and pounds of garlic and onions because that's what my dad loves--gotta keep the landlord happy.
• Unlimited Cars and Dora fruit snacks whenever we visited Grandma Mary-Ann.
• Anytime Ryan came home, even if it was just for a few days between rotations. Those reunions were always super-sweet.

• Our entire month in Colorado. Living with Ryan's brother and his family was a great experience that I will always look back on with fond memories.

• Dinner at Layla's with Papa and Mama Payne.
• Ben and Jerry's in every flavor imaginable at our constant disposal. my dad is the Devil in disguise, I tell ya.
• Play dates and girls' nights with lifelong friends.
• Red Mango. I had to eat my words when I told my sister that it couldn't be "that good." I'm totally addicted.
• Spending so many holidays with family.

• Playing "Just Dance" on the wii on Christmas Day with all of Ryan's family. I would pay good money to see a dance-off between Ryan's dad and mine to the tune of "Walk like an Egyptian."
• Cookie bake-offs in my parents' sweet kitchen.

• Watching this little guy get chunkier every day.

• The circus with Grandma Maddie, the most memorable part being when 3 of the grandkids (Ike included) stayed on the train while both adults got off...it's funny now, but Grandma didn't think it was too funny then.

• Spending time with the Great Grandparents.

• Being able to attend Grandpa Hancock's funeral and Uncle Mark's as well.

• Having so much family to celebrate with when Davis was blessed.

• A tub big enough to swim in.

• Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory with my mom and dad.
• The Payne family Reunion. 
• Playing Celebrity at said reunion and laughing my arse off while Papa P. yelled at everyone on his team, calling them "a bunch of idiots!" for not guessing his uncanny impression of Christopher Walken.

What a fun eight months it has been. I am so glad we decided to come home during this crazy year. As my mom said, "I wouldn't trade the memories for anything."

Me neither.