Goodbye, Ithaca

Preston and I spent last weekend in Ithaca, savoring every moment of what would be our last time there!! At 128 Brook Way, atleast.

The last bath. In Mommy's old bathtub.

Good-bye, tacky plaid sofa and flowery throw rugs. You will be missed.

Gracie napping and remarkably ambivalent to Preston's not-so-delicate presence.

Last nap, in a makeshift bed in the completely barren spare bedroom.

Snuggling with Mom on the back porch. That's a big baby!

More testing of Gracie's toddler-patience, which is turning out to be quite impressive, actually.

Boxes, boxes everywhere. Preston and Gracie were unaffected.

Celebratory last-breakfast donuts! Preston was awestruck by this particularly attractive chocolate donut with sprinkles. Up until now, he thought sprinkles only came on ice cream. Life just keeps getting better, kid.



Notice the plate, one of Mom's amazingly artistic childhood creations, back in circulation for Preston's enjoyment, 20+ years later.



Probably difficult to see, but this is the last remaining documentation of Mom's and Uncle Mike's astronomical childhood growth, as noted on the door frame in the kitchen. I'm guessing Preston will have a similarly broad span of markings.

Bye-bye Ithaca! Preston will likely have absolutely no recollection of this fine establishment. But here it is, kiddo. The house where Mommy grew up. And regardless of subsequent age and/or location, has always thought of as "home."
In ode to Brook Way, here are the things Preston liked most about this house:
1. The 1st story rooms are all connected like one big circle, and Preston made countless laps each time we were there. At increasingly faster paces as he grew, of course.
2. Ascending and descending stairs! This was the 1st place he ever did it.
3. Going upstairs and climbing into "Mommy's bed," and admiring the stars on the ceiling.

Post-Ithaca nap, back home in Syracuse. Mommy also felt this exhausted, emotionally. :(