The end of the Kori era

My sister Kori and her family are moving tomorrow. To Utah.  Far far away.

 I'm taking it pretty hard.   

I tried to be happy for them when she told me they were moving, then I got in my car and bawled.   I bawled while I was writing this.  I don't think I realized how much I depended on Kori until I realized I was losing her.  I know she's not dying, but seeing them almost every day to seeing them twice a year is a big change.   It is the end of an era- and I'm going to miss it.

Grandma Tayrien, Kori and John at our apartment for Kori's birthday when they were engaged

Wedding dress shopping

Sisters!

Kori has been my safety net for 8 years now.  When Matt and I were dating long distance I would come down to visit and sleep on her couch.  She took us to the movies when we were dating.  She took us to dinner at Wendy's the first night we moved into our Mesa apartment.  She was so excited to have family close.  We were the first ones to meet John when they started dating.  I helped them paint their house when they moved in.  A year later- 9 months pregnant with Spencer, Kori was at my house painting what is now the twins' closet.  She came and drove me to work when I locked my car keys in my apartment so my class of 5th graders wouldn't be left outside waiting for their stranded teacher.

Baby Spencer the day he was born.  I guessed the right gender, date, and almost the right time of his birth.  We moved into our house the week after he was born one street over from them.

I would watch Spencer so they could go to the temple or on dates.  I had hardly any kid toys back then.

Back when I was a professional auntie.

Spencer

 She was so happy when I quit teaching to stay home with baby Charlotte and we could do mom stuff together.  She threw me two baby showers, and I threw her one shower and a surprise 30th birthday party.  I've been so so lucky to have her.  She is wonderful at helping and anticipating when I'm going to need her.  We were in the primary presidency together for 3.5 years.  We conveniently alternated having newborns each year so the other one could walk the hall with the baby while they screamed during sharing time.  I don't think I could have had that calling with my baby twins if my sister hadn't been the president.  We lived one street away for 6 years.  I don't think it was a coincidence that we happened to find a house in the same neighborhood/ward- even though we really didn't try to do that.  I think God knew we would need each other with our young kids.  We've handed everything from spare keys to tricycles over the back fence.  I had to lift each one of my kids up to say hi to her or John. 

We watched each other's kids more than anyone else.  She was one of the only people I would ask to take both of my baby twins and Charlotte.  She would take Charlotte in the mornings when the twins were newborns so I could take a nap.  When I would tell people I have twins and a 2 year old they would ask if I had a night nanny, or a cleaning lady, or hire a teenager to come help or clean.  Does my mother live close?  No.  But I had 2 sisters close by and that's how I survived.

Baby shower for Charlotte with my mom and sisters

Charlotte and Spencer

Spencer, Charlotte, Cai

Kori's surprise 30th birthday party

  I love how I would run into her even when we didn't plan it on runs around the neighborhood, at the Mesa freedom festival, the library.  We went to the consignment sale together, the relief society broadcast, did my first 5K with her.  

At the hospital when Tanner was born.  Charlotte and I stayed the night with Spencer when they went to the hospital.

 I guess I'm mourning the comfort of knowing she is there.  My kids love her and John and their cousins so much.  There are friends, and there are cousins, but there is nothing quite like a cousin friend.  There's nothing quite like a sister either.  We would see them  almost daily, sometimes more than once a day.   At church every week, park days, plus all the family holidays and parties.  And we would still plan trips to the mall, zoo, park together.  Charlotte and Tanner were in preschool together this year.  They won't be in the same class in school.  Olly prays for "Bencer and Tanner and Tanner's cars."  He calls them his best friends.  He asks to go to their house all the time.  We took turns watching the younger kids and taking the older kids to the summer movies.
 My kids are obsessed with Savannah.  They love getting her to repeat things and bring her all their girly toys.  Savannah loves coming to Auntie Erin's house and it took awhile to get there.  I won't get to see them grow up.  I feel like I'm losing 3 of my kids and my kids best friends.  And that's hard, but I know it was hard for them to make the decision to go.

Baby shower for Savannah.

Church Truck or Treat 2011

Baby Savannah wearing the same dress Charlotte and Abby wore their first Christmas

I'm excited for their new adventure.  John's excited about the new job.  They will be close to John's parents and 2 of his sisters.  We have a couple of cousins that live in Utah.  Kori was more than ready for a bigger house and yard.  She is very adaptable and friendly.  I'm sure she'll make friends quickly.  She isn't sentimental like I am.  Odds are they will probably love Utah and stay there forever- but part of me secretly (okay not so secretly) hopes they'll get sick of the snow and move back someday.  

Thanks for the million little things you've done for us- that added up to so much more than I can really put into words.  We love you!  We will miss you so much!