Our best memories of times with Erin.... So hard to choose but a constant theme is summer, water and fun. One trip in particular stands out. My kids (Erin's cousins) got to spend time with the Drumm kids at Assateague. Every year they would ask if we could do it again. Recent snow left us snowbound at home and cleaning out closets and we found a picture story book Katelyn had written for school when she was probably 8. Pictures she drew of her time with her cousins finding ghost crabs and swimming in the ocean. Camping at Assateague with their grandparents. They played wiffle ball on the beach. Erin, my fellow scientist, always had something to teach us about the creatures she would find.
We live 2 hours away from their cousins so visits are never as frequent as we wish but the second they get together it is like they had never been apart. Out came Me Ma's silly hats and "treasure" hunts through the basement ensued. And Pop Pop's pool! Oh how much fun they have making raft forts and doing crazy things off the diving board! No matter how long they stayed at Me Ma and Pop Pop's house it was never enough. When Katelyn was 2-4 she would cry everytime they packed up the car! And eventually that changed into pleas from all sides for sleepovers. The boys to our house and the girls to theirs and an exchange arranged for the morning midway. Memories that will have to last a lifetime as they are now all we have. It still can't feel real. I pray for a day that the memories will fill the hole in our hearts that is left behind. We love you Erin! Happy Birthday! We hope you knew how special you were to us! Ryan (6) summed it up best when he said "she was always so nice to me." She was always so kind to everyone. We miss you so much.
Love,
Aunt Debby, Uncle Brendan, Katelyn, Cameron, Nicholas & Ryan
