To my in-laws

For the past 5 months, we have lived in the house of my in-laws as if it were our own. And I want to thank them.

And for the past 3 months, we have lived all together and we have managed to eat, sleep, wash, play and just about maintain our sanity. We have had fun, played cards, done the washing, been out walking, been shopping, visited family, laughed a lot, drunk wine in the afternoon and sung songs in the evening. And I want to thank them.
We have followed each other about turning off lights left on, closing fridge doors, picking up clothes, swept floors and rearranged furniture. And I want to thank them.
We have played with the children, we have told the children what to do and what not to do, we have contradicted each other and irritated each other. And I still want to thank them.
We have sat talking for hours on end and shared thoughts and secrets. I will always thank them.
We have hugged and kissed each other every day. I thank them.

We have passed an eventful few months and I am so grateful for our time here. For the time my children have had with their grandparents, for the comical things they have said and done which will be remembered and treasured forever, I thank them.
For the sights and sounds they have planted as memories for me - such as Amelia with an air rifle shooting birds out of the window..(with paper 'bullets' I hasten to add, but quite a sight nevertheless!); such as Cesar Snr chasing the chickens around the garden trying to get them into their cage; such as them shouting at each other relentlessly then suddenly dissolving into fits of laughter and hugs. All these and more, we will take with us as memories of a precious time spent together when we leave later this week and I thank them.

I am writing now because I know we will be very emotional as the week slips by. There have been times when I have struggled because this isn't my house and I'm not always able to do things my way here but the good outweighs the bad and the really good outweighs the merely good. And that's not bad.

So, to my in-laws, that crazy, irrational, enchanting pair - os quiero muchisima - I love you both very much.

Thank you.