Last days in Breda

I am a bit behind on my posting.  We are back now in Seattle and I will try and recap as much as possible.  This blog is becoming more of a diary of our life than something to update the far off relatives and friends with.  No one is viewing it now that it is private.  So now I will keep it for our family.  It will be a good way for the kids to see photos and read the memories that they will likely forget.  So I will try and remember it for you and write down as much as I can.

Archie received a Recognition Award with his best friend Italo at school.  The two of them are peas in a pod and were gigging the entire time.  Archie was showing his belly and Italo was in giggles.

For their last day at school, Sylvie and Archie were the special helpers.  We also had a surprise for their favorite teacher Keri, for her wedding.  It made for a very special morning.  It was a fun morning but also tough.  I was teary and Archie didn't want to say goodbye.  He just ran away laughing when I tried to get him to say goodbye to anyone.  It was really heart breaking.  He just couldn't bring himself to acknowledge that he wasn't coming back.

During the week Italo turned 4.  He had a fun party in class and it was another special time to have before we left.  These boys love each other.

Keri made the kids some photo books.  We tried to get photos together but the kids were too wiggly and so we all tried sticking tongues out instead.

Playing outside with the kids for the last day.  They were able to stay the entire day which made it a great last day.

On our last day in Breda, we walked over to visit Italo.  The twins were sick so we just had a quick play outside.  Archie and Sylvie LOVE Italo and Italo is equally in love.  

And for the afternoon of the last day of school, we went for our last "Smurf" ice cream, the kids absolute favorite.  That flavor isn't in the US and they still ask for it now!

It was a good last week.  No more chores to be done, just friends to catch up with.  It was very difficult to say goodbye as we all knew that there is no chance that we will see one another soon.  It was also sad knowing that this would be our last week together since I would be going back to work the following week when we arrived in Seattle.  It was really hard to even envision what would lay ahead and how the kids would cope.  So much change for little people who didn't really understand.