Flying the coop!

It seems like just yesterday I was posting about Naya and Sodie's search for the right college and all the trips we took to investigate the schools that were possible choices. We had so much fun romping around campuses and documenting important features of each one...like this shot, for example:

(one of the ladies' rooms at Hendrix College in case anyone is impressed and feels they must add this school to their own list of possibilities)

We visited 7 schools and often stayed in hotels ("YAY!" says Toucie) on these "girl trips" (and did alot of this):

And finally, all the searching yielded a favorite. Applications were filled, essays were written, and fingers were crossed. Then one day two letters came in the mail and suddenly "a possibility" turned into "a plan". My Sodie and Naya had both earned full scholarships to attend their top-choice college. I really don't know how to compose the sentence that would convey to you how proud I am of these two girls.

We tried to make the most of the rest of our summer together, but before I knew it it was time to pack the cars up (Daddy had to drive a separate carload full of stuff!), move them into a dormitory, and kiss them goodbye.

(move-in day)

(how many honor students does it take to screw in a lightbulb?)

(Naya and Sodie trying to settle in...Mado looks right at home already)

(Roomies!)

(my last walk-and-talk with them before driving home)

(time to say goodbye...feeling lucky to have each other)

(some of our trip was rainy and gray)

It was a sober ride home for Mado and I. Mado took alot of the photos in this post, but this last one is my very favorite:

"Objects in mirror are closer than they seem"....do you see that, girls? Those are Daddy's headlights reflected there....we are only as far away as you need us to be.