A sad goodbye...

We've known for months that today was coming. That didn't make it any easier though. :( Today was Kate the Great's last day as our nanny. There has been some serious tear-shedding in this house (and tearing up--by me AND the kids over the last few weeks as we anticipated this) today.

Since I work 12 hour night shifts, we have a small rotation of nannies who watch the kids on the days that I need to sleep after work. (Many of my shifts are on the weekends so this typically is just 1 or 2 partial days a week.) At this time last year, Milo had just undergone his abdominal surgery and was--slowly--on the mend from a rotten winter and many hospitalizations. We were looking for a new nanny and I was more anxious about it than I can even tell you. We prayed that we would find someone who could love little Milo and would tenderly care for both of our kids. Enter Kate. Also known as Kate the Great. Also known as an answer to our prayers. :)

Isabel, Kate, and Milo at the beginning of their last day together. The kids gave her flowers this morning.

Kate has been an amazing nanny, teacher, caregiver, friend, and playmate for the twins (and us!). She was entering her senior year of her undergrad work at CSU so we knew that our time was limited, but when she started with us, we had no idea how hard it would be to say goodbye! (She's off to grad school in Georgia.)

Kate bought them the cutest books. They have their names and hometown in the text of the story. They are SO excited. We've read them both straight through two times in the last 20 minutes. She knows them both so well--Isabel got a princess book and Milo got a teddy bear book.

Saying goodbye was so hard and so sad. We are so excited for her to go on such a big adventure and we know that she is going to do amazing things in this world. We're just going to--sniff--miss her--sob--so much!!!

5 things we love about Kate:

1. Our kids LOVE Kate. We've had other babysitters come and go and our kids have liked most of them, but they regularly profess their LOVE for Kate. You know that someone is doing it right if your kids are completely in LOVE with them. :) (Milo has plans to marry Kate--don't tell her boyfriend. ;) )

2. She is such a great example of charity and service. She's been on a number of service trips to build homes for projects like Habitat for Humanity--to name just one of of her service endeavors. While other college kids were going wild in Mexico, she was building homes in south Texas. She is pursuing a career serving others and is a person who will make such a difference in this world (and already has).

3. She has the greatest smile and is one of the most genuine people we know. Her smile and laugh could light up a room. She is such an honest and genuine person with so much light to share.

4. She is not afraid of an adventure! She studied abroad in Costa Rica and, now, is traveling across the country to go to grad school. She is embracing the change and the opportunity--makes for a very well-rounded person if you ask us. ;)

5. She nurtured our children and loves them so much! Since I'm here sleeping while our babysitters are here, I often overhear their interactions. Kate treated our kids with just as much love, patience, and nurturing while I was in the room as when I wasn't in the room. She treated this as much more than a job and--through her example and through her own caring--has helped us to teach our children to be kind, loving, and patient.

Great. Now I'm crying AGAIN.

We'll miss you and we love you Kate!!!!!!!!!!!!!