Ariyona...

When Addy started kindergarten, I wondered how Brighton would adjust to not have a built-in playmate at home with her all day. I remember my Mom telling the story of how sad I was when Holly went to school. We lived close enough to the elementary school that if I was outside playing in the yard, I could hear the children playing on the school playground. So, of course, I thought they could hear me too. When I was feeling especially sad or bored, I would go out into the yard and yell as loud as I possibly could, "Tressa and Holly! COME HOME NOW!!!" You can imagine my surprise then as the first day of school came and went with not even one little mention of the girls all day. Days turned into weeks. I was starting to wonder if Brighton even realized that the girls were gone!
Well now, here we are in Idaho. The older girls have settled into school, made new friends and seem to be adapting really well. But, Brighton is still really struggling with the change. Now, she asks me every day, multiple times a day if it is time for the girls to come home yet. Meeting the bus is the highlight of her day. I have to admit. It is a highlight of my day too. Just watching Brighton's excitment and enthusiasm is enough to make it a highlight for me. We start walking down the street. Sometimes we get to the end of the street and wait at the bus stop for the bus to arrive. But, sometimes... Sometimes... the bus makes it to the bus stop before we make it all the way to the end of the street. Kennady and Addy get off the bus, cross the street, and start walking down the sidewalk toward home. As soon as Brighton spots them, she starts running and exclaiming, "Kennady! Addy! Yea!!!" Then, when she meets them, she throws her arms around them and gives them each a big hug.
Also, every day, without fail, she tells me that she "wants to go home to Ariyona." The other day, BJ was home eating lunch and overheard her saying this. He asked her what she missed about Arizona. Her answer: "My home. Take me home to my home in Ariyona." We explained to her that Daddy doesn't have a job in Arizona so we are going to find a new home in Idaho. She said, "Daddy, take me home to Ariyona and I will find you a job." Poor, sweet little Brighton. Change is hard sometimes, isn't it?


(Picture taken on the walk to meet the girls' bus today)