Goodbye, Columbia!

These last few weeks have been a really big whirlwind!  Mike had an interview in Bolivar at the end of September.  We found out that Michael had gotten the job and moved, all within about 8 or 9 days.  It's a good thing I had started packing the day he found out he passed the bar, huh?  :)

We went to China Garden, because when we went to a Chinese restaurant in Bolivar, it was literally NASTY, and China Garden is seriously amazing.  Emily had her first ice cream cone, and loved it.  She kept making this little pucker-y face, and it was so cute.  

She was also obsessed with crab rangoons.

Andrew wasn't impressed with the food at all, but loved the koi and the ice cream.

  We have really loved living in Columbia.  It was hard to leave, for sure.  Everything happened so fast, and seemed so surreal that it took until right before we left for it to truly sink in.
  We have met so many amazing people, and had so many dear friends.  Our friends, the Jensens, have always been such great people, and so giving.  Jana offered to watch the kids one day so we could have a little less "help" around the house.  It was really hard to say goodbye to her, and super hard to watch Andrew say goodbye to Soren.  I fully realize that that he didn't know what was happening and everything, but watching them say goodbye and hug and knowing how much Andrew loves that little guy...it was tough, and made me cry.
  The Moores had us over for dinner.  I can't even begin to say how wonderful they are.  They have meant so much to us, and we respect them so much.  They have fed us so many meals, watched Andrew for us, gave us great advice and fun, and even offered once to let us use their car so we could get to church when our car was in the shop.  We will really miss them.
  And that brings us to the Bells.  For you loyal blog readers, that name will not be unfamiliar.  We will never be able to look back on our time in Columbia without having so many of those memories involving our amazing friends.  Birthdays.  Christmas.  Halloween.  Playing Halo.  Watching our kids grow up. Talking about silly things.  Talking about serious things.  We love those guys. And we are really going to miss them.  We'll never forget you, Cheeks and JiggaB.  May the rocket launchers be always plentiful for you, and all those you love. 
  

  We left at 8 pm.  Right before we left, we had a prayer.  And we cried.  Columbia is where we raised our babies.  Andrew was only 2 months old when we moved, so really we raised both Drew and Em there.  We grew closer as a couple, and as a family.  We had a ton of fun, and really loved the city.  Although we're excited to be moving on with our lives, we will always be grateful for the 3 years we were living in Columbia, MO.