Thankful Thursday

Okay, last day of the month! It's been a busy month...among other things, we've had my road trip to Carhenge, orientation for Asher at UNC, promotion and anniversary celebration at Karate West, celebrating Nathan's birthday and a belated Father's Day, the anniversary of my dad's death followed the next day by my gram passing and moving Asher into his dorm, Asher starting classes, moving Micah to his dorm at CU, my gram's funeral, Micah's orientation, and Micah's first day of classes. 

Yup. Tired. Along the way, some things didn't get mentioned but I'm thankful for them all the same...

1. Garage door. The night before Asher's UNC orientation, Nathan and I heard a loud, yet unfortunately familiar noise. A spring on the garage door had sprung. Having replaced the other spring less than two years ago, we knew what was what. Thankful, then, that Nathan was able to get the same business out to fix everything while Asher and I were in Greeley.

2. Micah being 18. Also while Asher and I were in Greeley, Micah had another infusion appointment. Previously, I'd had to go to all appointments with him to sign paperwork. (We'd tried just sending him to other appointments on his own this past year, as he's more than capable and willing and has a fair number of appointments, but since he was a minor I always had to sign something.) But. Now that he's 18, he was able to sign on his own! Whew.

3. Deliveries. With all the moving into dorms this month, I'm particularly thankful for Amazon and Target orders and the delivery people who bring me those orders.

Yup. There have been a good number of deliveries. ;)

4. Boys. Relatedly, I'm also thankful to have boys. Overall, they seem to pack less than girls heading off to college. :) 

(Side note: After the minimalism of Noah and Asher and a number of moves with both of them, Micah's packing was a fun new experience. He definitely had a different approach than his brothers (unsurprisingly). Even with that, though, he definitely packed and required less than a lot of the girls we saw moving in. Plus, he carried it all himself, lol.) 

5. Volunteering. Between move-ins, I also started a new volunteer position with The Matthews House. Once a week, I pick up snacks for a couple of the Homework Helpers sites from the Food Bank and deliver them to the sites in Loveland and north Fort Collins. When necessary (not weekly), I also grab more snacks from the Food Bank to take to The Matthews House office for the other Homework Helper coordinators to pick up. (Some of the Homework Helper sites qualify for the prepared weekly snacks and others don't.) It's only an hour or two each week, but it's nice to be able to still help some. I appreciate that I have the time to help.

6. Climbing with Micah. I'm thankful that once upon a time almost five years ago Micah decided he wanted to try rock climbing...and that about four years ago I decided to join him. Initially, I was just climbing because I figured I may as well since I had to be there while he climbed. From there, I've gotten to the point of climbing on my own because I enjoy the exercise and challenge. The day before we moved Micah down to Boulder, he and I went climbing together...

...and this is what I got when I asked for a picture to commemorate it. :) I'm not a great climber or anything but I'm thankful for the activity and very much appreciate all the time it's meant with my boy over the years.

7. Movie date. After getting Micah settled and through orientation, Nathan and I took a break and went to see the new Mission Impossible movie at the theater...

It was lovely.

8. Nathan volunteering. And then on Sunday, Nathan volunteered with the local EAA chapter to help at the Loveland airport. The EAA has a Ford Tri-Motor plane that tours and was offering flights. In appreciation of his time, Nathan even got to go up in the Tri-Motor!

Thankful that Nathan could have that experience and that the afternoon storm held off until Nathan was done at the airport. 

And now I've been enjoying a quiet week getting things in order...cleaning up after the moving out process and dealing with paperwork that had been put on the backburner and tackling miscellaneous other mundane tasks that still need doing. I've also been making sure that tuition bills are getting paid and class materials were all acquired. And I've continued my regular boot camp and climbing schedule and am starting to plan some new September goals.

Super thankful for this full life of mine...and also thankful that September is looking to be less crazy. :) Whew.

First Day of School

Micah's first day of classes at CU was yesterday. He only has one class on Mondays and it's actually in his dorm...literally across the hall from his dorm room. So, he took this picture for me of him crossing the hallway, lol...

(His only comment about the class, by the way, was that it was hot. Given that it's in his dorm and his dorm has no AC...it'll be uncomfortable for a bit...but very convenient and appreciated come winter.)

As part of the business school, his freshman class is divided into cohorts of about 25 (based at least partially on living near each other, too). They take the same four classes this first semester. So, Micah met them yesterday and had another couple classes with them today. Because of his transfer credits from his AA, Micah only has the three classes with his cohort and then two additional classes that he picked (one in business and one in philosophy, which he's planning to minor in). 

And this morning, on his way back to his dorm from the rec center (for a workout before classes), he took this picture of the flatirons and shared it with me...

Yup, CU has some pretty awesome views. :) Here's to a great adventure at CU for my Micah!

CU Boulder

Whew.

On Tuesday, Nathan and I moved Micah into his dorm room at CU Boulder. We loaded everything up and stopped for pizza on the way (at one of our favorite pizza places in Boulder) before navigating the easy move-in signs to the parking area for Micah's dorm. Got him checked in and rearranged the furniture in his room how he wanted it then loaded everything in. Thankfully, since it was one of the hottest days of the year here (yes, just like last week with Asher's move in, lol), we didn't have too many loads and were able to get a cart to help carry things. 

Micah's got a single room in one of the business school dorms (all the residents there are first year business students). It's an older building and doesn't have any AC, and Micah's on the second floor. Yeah. It was hot. ;P 

After we finished moving stuff in, we walked to check out the bookstore and the dining hall then went back to finish up a few things before saying our goodbyes. 

The last picture is when Nathan and I stopped on our way home to get cold drinks. :) I'm not sharing pictures of his room from Tuesday because it wasn't "finished" yet...

So, then on Friday Nathan and I drove down again to attend the business school orientation. We enjoyed the 20-some degree cooler temperatures and dealt with the rain...listened to some good speakers, had a picnic lunch and sat through a presentation for parents. We then met back up with Micah (who had been off doing student sessions) to bring a few more items for his room (that had been forgotten or refused before) and get those set up. 

So, here's his room, though he hasn't been spending much time in it (since it's been so hot and since he's been out and about getting to know campus and Boulder). We haven't heard from him much since move-in, but I know that he's enjoying his freedom and is more than ready for this next adventure. Classes start Monday...

Gram's services

So, I think I mentioned before that services for my gram would be next month but that got changed. They'll be tomorrow (8/23/23) in Prosser. Sadly, given a number of things (like Micah's college move-in today and parent orientation on Friday and the high cost of last minute plane tickets), I won't be heading out to WA. I've been helping as I can from here and thinking of those in WA. (Extra thoughts for those affected by the fires and smoke!) 

If you'd like to read her obituary and/or leave a message or memory, see here. 

Off now to load up the van with Micah's stuff...

First day of school

Asher's first day at UNC is in the books! He says his first two classes of the day were just standard first day stuff but seemed fairly happy about his third class today...which is smaller and has some exciting things on the syllabus (like an overnight trip to Estes Park and a ropes course and other stuff...it's an Outdoor Adventures class). He'll have his other two classes tomorrow.

And here are some pictures...

The first picture was taken back in March during a campus tour. We were told that it's tradition to take your picture with the bear statue, Northern Vision. (Yes, the mascot at UNC is a bear.) Next is a picture of Asher and me during his transfer student orientation on August 11. And, finally, my awesome kid sent me this picture this morning on his way to his first class.

Yay!