I suppose it's more than our ward; it's our family. We moved to Long Beach knowing absolutely no one except our friends in Irvine. In the five years we've lived here, we've made our ward our family, and it's oh so difficult to leave them. This picture is of us on our last day of church in our ward. I don't think there is another 10th ward anywhere else in the world. I'm going to miss so many things about this ward.
For the last few years we have been involved in activities for Donate Life. It gives us a great opportunity to tell others of our Katie. The two big events that we love participating in are the Run/ Walk and the Rose Parade Float. I can guarantee that where we are going, there will not be anything as big as what we get to do with Donate Life in California. I'm so desperately going to miss this.
I call this Katie's Beach. So many summer days were spent here holding Katie while my boys were entertained for hours with water and sand. Today we met up with friends to play at Bay Shore Beach for our last time. Here is the problem: I don't want to leave Katie's places.
When Walt Disney opened Disneyland he said, "Disneyland is your land." I took this literally. When we moved here and didn't know a soul, Disneyland became my land of friends when we didn't have any. Spencer and James' first friends were Mickey and Buzz Lightyear. When Doug worked late hours (and he often does), Disneyland became my land of sanity when I didn't know what to do with two energetic boys from dawn to dusk. When we should have been celebrating on Katie's first birthday, but spent the day crying instead, Disneyland became my land of no tears because I think it's illegal to cry at Disneyland. When everyone comes to Disneyland to vacation anyway, Disneyland is our land of memories with so many fun times with our family and friends. We are leaving behind "our land," and I'm not sure how to be a mom without it. 
I think I'll write this to Disneyland, and maybe I'll get something free :).
When Cortney came to live with us a year-and-a half ago, I didn't realize at the time what a tremendous blessing she would be to me. Unfortunately, Cortney isn't moving with us to Virginia, so we have to say goodbye to our daughter and sister. Whatever will we do without her? She will be missed more than words can say, but we are excited for her new adventure with the Holloways. I know she loves it already because, unlike us who live in the 20th century, they have WiFi. We love you, Cortney!
No shoes, no socks, no problem. I will desperately miss wearing sandals and flip flops year round. Of course that translates into I'm going to miss not having to worry about scraping my windshield full of ice and snow.
The City of Angels.
After five years, I think I have finally mastered the highways and byways of LA. I'm definitely going to miss such places as the Grove at Christmas...
being in the audience of TV shows....
going to plays and so much more. I love LA.
This picture was taken in February of 2005 of the boys at the Aquarium of the Pacific. It has been a great place for our family. I brought my little toddler boys here on excursions before they started school. 
And we have brought our family who visits for the Free Fridays at the Shark Lagoon.
Their favorite part is outside where the water squirters are. I'm gonna miss our Aquarium down the street.
On Sundays we like to invite people over for dinner after church, and for about the last year or so, Sunday has been dinner and Shang Hi Rummy. I'm so gonna miss this.
Every summer we come to the beach for a party. I love our parties at the beach!
Doug was in charge of decorations with the leaves from his banana tree. Doug has been growing his tree in a pot since we moved here, but had to cut it down since banana trees don't exactly thrive in Virginia.
Faith's first beach party.
It was pretty chilly at the beach.
My favorite part is the fire. I love roasting marshmallows, even if we do stink when we get home.
I'm so gonna miss our beach parties.
Almost five years ago, four of us met at my house one night with the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, and our book club was born. The numbers have grown, some of us moving away, and now it's my turn. This picture was taken in October of 2006: me, Lori, Stephanie, Dani, Keri, Bevan, Ashlie, Priscilla, Teresa, Tera and Genie.
We are not your run of the mill book club. Here we are on a field trip to NASA at Edwards Airforce Base, courtesy of Keri who arranged our tour when she went to work there. We got to have a sleepover at Keri's new house afterward.
I met with my book club for the final time this week at a beach party after we read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I just can't say enough about these women I love and how much I will miss them and our time together every month. We've laughed and cried, and I'm going to be crying for awhile now.
Faith never missed a book club.
Dani, Bevan and Anne.
Priscilla, Genie, me and Stephanie.
Stephanie made these cupcakes for us. These are the most delicious peanut butter chocolate cupcakes in the world. It is almost worth moving just for her to make these for us. Almost.
The awesome tide pools in San Pedro. Whatever will we do without our trips down the rickety stairs to find treasures galore. We're all gonna miss this.
If you ask me, one of the best things about Long Beach is the choice of restaurants. Sure you can eat at Chili's or IHOP if you want, but in Long Beach the best places to eat are the mom and pop places that you can only find in Long Beach. Oh, I'm gonna miss this.
