Off to College!

The day couldn't come soon enough for Bryson, and yet, I know that HE knew he'd miss home because just about every time he walked past me for the past few weeks, he'd give me a hug 💖

The timing worked out so well for him to finish work at Silverwood and then have a few days to get his room packed... at least that was his plan.  My was that he could leave 2 bins at home that I'll store, but everything else had to go with him or given away or tossed... he has a LOT of stuff and my house is not a storage facility!  😕  It ended up coming down to just about the last minute, but he finally got packed and we were off!

Daddy and Bryson planned to play golf along the way in Montana and I got to laze in the car, read and take a nap... somehow it was comfortable!

We stayed the night in Dillon so we only had few hours to Rexburg and 10am check in!  I don't think Bryson slept at all he was so excited!  As we pulled into his apartment complex, I was feeling very conscientious of just how VERY pregnant I was... I told Bryson that I'd just stay in the car and when he questioned why, I explained that I knew that no college freshman wanted his pregnant mom waddling all over campus with him... his response was so sweet, emphatically insisting that he did NOT care and that he wanted me to come in with him. 💗  We got his stuff in his apartment, met his roommates and had just enough time to go grocery shopping before his orientation.

 

While Bryson went to frosh orientation, Nathan and I walked around on campus a bit reminiscing about the good ol' days.  On our way back to Bryson's apartment (his roommates totally took it in stride that I was pregnant with my 7th baby) I was vaguely aware of an oncoming couple pushing a stroller but it wasn't until they passed by that Bryson really brought them to my attention saying, "See honey, you're not the only mom bringing their kid to college with a baby!"  We laughed about it and continued on.  Sitting in Bryson's apartment a few minutes later, Nathan got a message on facebook from MY roommate my freshman year asking if we were in Rexburg and if we'd just passed a couple pushing a stroller...  What?!?  Turns out, that couple was my dear sweet roommate Emily!  We met up a little later at good old Carriage House #113!  

  

Nathan was totally our honorary roommate, so he got in on a pic too!

Emily and I are the same age and, while she's not pregnant, she has an 18 month old... made me feel a teensy bit less embarrassed!

Between family and friends dropping off their kids at BYUI, it was a par-tay!  SO FUN!

We were all going to meet for dinner later that night but since it was a lovely evening, Nathan and I decided to walk.  On our way there, we passed a group of guys that were just hanging out outside talking... they were vaguely looking in our direction and I have NO idea where it came from, but I rubbed my belly and said, "sorry boys, I'm taken!"  Ohmygoodness, the look of pure revulsion on their faces!!  Nathan and I laughed so hard the entire rest of the walk to the restaurant... DYING laughing. 

The next morning, it was time to say goodbye and get on the road... not going to lie, I was SO excited for Bryson but definitely was emotional at leaving my baby.

It makes it so much easier not only that HE is so ready and so excited, but also knowing he's in such a great place.

Despite my best efforts for him to NOT leave a mess when he moved out, I got back home to a lot of junk left behind.  Ugh.  Ummmm, not sure what I am supposed to make of this though...

August Recap

Jace and Daddy went 'gof ball hunting' one night and came home with a crazy number of  golf balls.  Jace soaked and washed them up so obviously Tyler turned it into an opportunity for play!

His favorite looks like a mini soccer ball...

With all his new golf balls, Jace wanted to make a display shelf:

I can hardly keep clothes on this kids most days:

Just trying on mom's jammies:

He loves to jump!

 

(I don't dare!!)

Nathan and Matt Stephenson went golfing at the Couer d'Alene resort:

Hike with Bishop Longhurst:

Bryson and Dallin had to work so it was just Eli, Hailee and Jace that we took to Come From Away:

It was a fantastic show creatively done with a minimal set and only 12 actors in the cast.

Hailee and Jace made 'forts' and had a campout on the back deck:

Just silly:

He *almost* knows what it's like to be pregnant.  Except not at all.

Mini Mandalorian:

No explanation:

A serious call on the calculator:

I love when Bryson runs into people he knows at work:

Schools Back In!

Bryson was overjoyed this morning when he didn't have to get ready for school with everyone else!  He may have rubbed it in just a little... 

Bryson still had to go to work, but apparently hasn't realized that growing up and work really isn't all it's cracked up to be.  Regardless, my 4 school kids were still pretty excited today:

11th grade:

FRESHMAN:

(I can NOT believe he's in high school!)

The lone Cotton representing the fam in the middle school:

(7th grade)

5th grade:

His teacher is Mrs. Romey.  He was pretty disappointed that he didn't get Mr. Gady like all of his siblings but if I know Jace, he'll get over it quickly enough and make the best of it.

And just for old times sake:

Since Dallin and Eli drove themselves off to school, I couldn't get a picture of them in front of their school... this was the best they'd give me:

I still took Jace and Hailee though!  Jace wasn't going to stop for a picture...

but then decided to humor me:

Too bad that by the time he posed there were other people in the picture! 😑

Hailee was sweet enough and didn't give me any grief about a picture:

Poor Tyler was so bored all day!  With 5 out of 6 six kids gone for the day, I was totally in cleaning organizing nesting mode and he was just wondering where everyone went!  Jace gave him plenty of loves when he got home though:

Nathan had tickets for the Spokane Indians game that night so he took the 3 school boys since Bryson was still at work (guess having to work instead of going to school isn't always all it's cracked up to be!!)

I've got so much to get done before Bryson leaves for college NEXT WEEK, and even more to do once he's gone before this baby comes!  Time is gonna fly!

XC Kickoff

After getting to run cross country in middle school, Jace was pretty excited to get to join the high school team and start practicing before school even started... they had some fun 'team building' activities leading up to school (his coach is amazing!):

Albino Twin Turkeys

Just so random.

We have 2 wild baby turkey's running around that are pure white albinos.  Every time we see them we're pretty surprised that they've made it another day without being picked off.