Goodbye, Greenville!

 

Last week was momentous for us.  Mark finished his final days of work at GE and received this beautiful framed print of downtown Greenville, signed by his co-workers.  It was a wonderful way to commemorate his career here, and to remember a place that we have called home for the last six years.  We've been saying good bye to many of our friends and wrapping up loose ends in preparation to move after Christmas.   

 

We visited Main Street for the last time as a family, which tugged at my heartstrings.  Almost every landmark there holds a special memory for us, and we reminisced over the many, many occasions that we have enjoyed our beautiful downtown area:

Luke posing with one of the statues on Main Street.

 

Of course Leah brought Clayton downtown, too!

Leah's car buddies.

 

We also went to a Greenville Road Warriors Hockey game, and had a blast!  Both of our kids were enthusiastic fans, cheering loudly, "Go ROAD WORRIERS!"  It was too cute to correct...

 

 

 

It is always amazing how the Zamboni is one of the biggest draws of the game.  All of the little boys lined up at the end of each period to ooh and ahh at this machine.  What fun we've had attending all of the minor league sports and family friendly activities in Greenville!

 

Leah and I volunteered in Luke's kindergarten class two days last week, to help the children make gingerbread men and decorate gingerbread houses:

  We've enjoyed participating in all of the holiday units so far this year, and Peanut really does think that she's a part of the class, too.  She even went to lunch and recess with the big kids while Mommy photocopied and helped the teachers last week.  In between the Christmas-themed activities, the kids completed their morning classwork, and Leah cracked us all up when she grabbed a worksheet and got right to it, practicing her "handwriting":

 

We're certainly going to miss Luke's teachers and his wonderful school!

 Leah and her best friend, Colette, had a playdate at the zoo last week.  We adore the Greenville Zoo, and have spent numerous days at this attraction with family and friends.  Colette and Leah are such cute little buddies, who took Kindermusik class together and share a standing weekly Ladies' Lunch date with their mommies afterward.  It was fitting to share our last zoo trip with such special friends:

 

We've also had a fun time playing with our neighbors this past week.  Braden was Leah's age when we moved into our house, and we have had lots of adventures with his family.  We have great neighbors in Greenville who have watched our children grow and we've loved our neighborhood pool and playground during our time here:

 

We've also had some quiet time at home, reading to Clayton and creating winter-themed crafts and snacks.  As a stay-at-home mom of young children, I have spent more hours in our Greenville house over the past six years than many people spend in their homes over decades.  I know every inch of this house, and have watched it transform from what seemed like such a large, empty space for a married couple to a home that fits our family perfectly.  We've lovingly tended gardens, chosen paint colors, taken pride in completing home improvement projects, and have filled our space with toys, laughter, and love:   

 

 

Last weekend, we attended the birthday party of one of Luke's friends who is turning six.  These 4 kiddos made up our original playgroup and we have been celebrating birthdays together from their very first year.  How I treasure these mamas and the bond we formed during our first years of parenthood together in Greenville!

Too big for our laps now!

 

Halloween 2010.

 

In the beginning...

 We are blessed to have dear friends who we consider our family here in Greenville.  We've shared countless meals with them, celebrated holidays together, and have supported each other through many stages of our lives.  The Bertrands lived in Roanoke when we did, and we were lucky enough to move to SC around the same time as them.  Through their family, I joined my Book Club, selected a preschool for our children, found doctors, and built friendships that we will treasure forever.  Luke and Leah look up to William and Emma so much, and we know that we will see them again soon: 

Greenville will always hold a special place in our hearts.  It's the city where our children were born, and where they spent their early childhood years.  Luke and Leah's birth certificates will forever remind them of their beginnings in South Carolina, and Greenville is the town where Mark and I have lived longer than anywhere else besides our childhood homes.  We built a strong foundation here, and shared a full, rich season of our lives where we formed lifelong, lasting friendships.  We created our family here, and Greenville has been a wonderful place for us to live and grow.  As we say goodbye to Greenville this week, we look back with wonder at a city that exceeded our wildest expectations, and with love at a town that we are proud to have called home.