Tearful Good-byes

We took Sammantha down to the SeaTac Airport on Saturday to meet her Mom and fly back to Minnesota for the summer. We usually try to make a day of it. We went to Seattle center. The kids rode some of the amusement park rides. Then we all went up the Space Needle. I hate heights. I can't watch as the glass elevator flies up towards the 520' viewing platform. Victoria was a little freaked out by it. She didnt cry or anything, but she cringed the whole way up, gritting her teeth and everything. Sammantha had her face plastored right against the glass. She doesnt have any fear of heights. Lexi was nervous, mumbling that she was going to die. But, she forgot about it once we got moving and she oohed and awed. I thought Josh might pass out. He was so pale. But he did look out a couple of times. He thought it was very cool as it scared the crap out of him. Once at the top, we went out on the mezzanime. Josh looked very pale once again. He moved very slowly, holding on to anything bolted down for dear life. He made his way to edge and checked out the view. I made the mistake of touching him. He just about collapsed. Poor guy. But, once the initial ickiness wore off, he was able to enjoy it.

Then it was time to head to the airport. We are very familiar with SeaTac. We waited for Sammantha's mom to unload off the plane, take the underground tram to the main termianal and make her way through security at the top of the escalator to the baggage area. After 40 minutes, Darin decided to go look around, in case we some how missed her. Well apparantly, there is now more than one set of escalators from the underground tram and she had come up the other ones and was waiting at the other end of the baggage area. She and Sammantha had a nice reunion and we all chatted for awhile.

Then comes the hard part. It time to say good-bye. It's 9:30pm and we still have a 2 1/2 hour drive home. There are lots of hugs. Lots of tears. Victoria won't kiss Sammi good-bye. She doesnt really understand what is going on.

The drive home is very quiet. It usually is.

We miss you already, Sammi. So so much!!!