Long Good-byes

The kids. my mom and I went to my grandmother's this weekend

for a quick trip.

We went down for a family reunion 

which includes a group of ladies known as

"the crazy aunts".

They are my late grand-daddy's sisters and

they are NUTS!

And I love every minute of it.

It was nice to see people I haven't seen in a while

and I got my first dose of saying my first good-byes.

I like to think my extended family is close...

we used to be a whole lot closer though.

We would spend a week at the beach together

EVERY YEAR.

We were always doing stuff, and seeing each other

(at least it felt that way).

Today - I quite possibly told

2 of my aunts

1 of my uncles

and my grandmother

good-bye...

Those were the longest hugs today...

And it really makes me dread the other goodbyes that are coming.

I am excited that my family,

my husband,

myself 

and 

our 4 kids

will be back together

back under one roof

daddy will be coming home to us every evening

we will get to see him every weekend...

But I am saying good-bye to my sisters, my dad and my mom...

My mom and I kinda grew up together...

We have been through a lot together...

And up until about 3 years into my marriage...

she was my absolute best friend.

My mom knew more about me than most moms know 

about their daughters.

I know I am lucky to have had my mom

right down the street for so many years...

But for the first time in my life...

my mom will not be 15 min away...

She will be 22 hours away,

by car

and 5 hours

by air.

That is going to be the hardest good-bye

and I am 

NOT

looking forward to that

one!

But its coming

and its coming fast...

Thankfully,

we have

Skype,

e-mail,

texts

and

phones...