Chico

For the last weekend of Arran's school break, we headed up to Chico in the hopes of relaxing and catching up with friends. We packed up the van and picked up the kids from AWANAs on Thursday evening, to maximize our time there and make the drive as harmless as possible.

It is hard to believe that around this time, three years ago we had just moved there and were adjusting to a new way of life and making new friends. I was feeling overwhelmed with a baby and a two year old and isolated, as our house was so far from most of the others and juggling the two nap schedules made it almost impossible to get out. Now it seems strange to think that we have been back here for two and a half years already.

Arran especially has such fond memories of there and Bryttain loves to visit. One of Arran's favorite people in the whole world is Eli. When we arrived there, Eli was four and Arran was two and he immediately became Arran's hero. I was telling someone over lunch on our first day there that Eli has rock star status with our kids. We have only to catch a glimpse of him and shouts of

"Eli!"

"Eli!"

"Eli"

erupt for all around to hear. He is the cool bigger boy, who actually makes time for them and has fun toys and ideas for games.

Playing with Eli - good times!

Eli's older sister Hannah, loves babies and is such a good little helper. She seems to have grown up so much over the last couple of years.

The weather was perfect and the kids had so much fun, running around with friends. There are time I do miss the feeling of safety and the freedom the kids were able to experience there, it is so far removed from the world we live in. Sometimes I wonder if we will ever end up back there, but I guess that there are positives and negatives everywhere we go.