Sad day, Happy day

Our Chardonnay left yesterday morning for her end of the year school trip to Washington DC. She will be gone until Friday evening. I had plenty of time (the entire school year) to prepare mentally. I think we barely slept Sunday night anticipating seeing our daughter off on her first very big trip away from home. Briahnna cried so badly on Sunday and said she will really miss her sister. I had to hold it together so I would not break down and make it worse for little sis.

I snapped this photo right before we left the house to drop our big girl off to where the tour buses were waiting.

Here's the crew saying "see ya later" to Chardie. Dwayne always asks me why I am never in any photos. Well, perhaps because I am always the one taking them?! Chardie's eyes suddenly turned red and some big tears dropped down her face. All the other families were "awwing" because no other child expressed that type of emotion. We all held it together and encouraged her to have the time of her life. (As long as you she followed my 1001 rules that I made her a hard copy of to take and study...kidding!)

I told another parent, "when that bus takes off, the tears will have dried up". Here's her bus driver. He was so sweet and assured us that their days are so jam packed with tours and events that they will be too worn out to get into any trouble.
We got a call at 10:15 last night from her thanking us for letting her go on this trip and that she was indeed having the time of her life. I am so excited that she is getting to have this experience. We can't wait to hear all the details when she gets home. I really miss her, but I'm so happy for her at the same time.