Tales of a Shoebox Princess

We are here in Utah with Hayley, just about ready to start the process of getting her settled into college life. Today's to-do list: 1. Bank account 2. Check in to apartment 3. Get student ID 4. Buy books 5. Die from little child going to college syndrome We'll see how much of that gets done. We also have to eat. The trip out was many funs! Devil's Tower, Independence Rock, saddle seats, and general goofiness. Jim's best one liner was "I-80 is my least favorite interstate." Who has a list of favorite interstates? Hayley noticed a sign for a place called "Extra Space Storage." She thought that was redundant, but I suggested maybe it's the place where people store their extra space. (I don't have any extra space, so I'm only guessing) Anyway, it was a nice trip. I'm not going to upload any photos right now because I am hungry, so I want to go bug Jim and Hayley to get going so I can eat something. 

What does the robotics team do during the summer? They build a parade float for the Lakefront Days parade. I don't think we would have ever heard about the parade without vigorous interrogation of our robotics boy. I don't get why he doesn't share stuff like HE'S GOING TO BE IN A PARADE! When I was a kid, watching the Foley Fun Days parade on my grandparents front lawn, all I dreamed about was being in a parade--either by being some fair princess, or by being in a marching band (and I was later, but we never marched in any parade except the homecoming parade through downtown Excelsior, and that was just a shorty mcshortshort parade with floats made by various school clubs--mostly the football team and the cheerleaders and the dance team), or by riding around on one of the Shriners' go-carts. So I don't understand Budge's lack of excitement for BEING IN A PARADE! I'm glad I weaseled it out of him so that Jim and I could go. We invited Katie and Christ

...as in my vehicle, my albino Dodge Caravan. Since Matt got his license, he has driven Vanna more than I have. Two kids with driver's licenses and various places to go at different times, and only one car between them. It won't last long, since the two-kids-one-car situation is only in place for another few weeks, but it's still strange to say, "take the van." The norm for dinner has also changed. It's rare to have the kids home to eat with us. The transition to empty nesters is ramping up. Wildlife on walk report: This evening's walk was a two-bun affair. The two I saw were quite frisky.

into the future... 10 things about this summer 1. Paul is working for my brother, much like I work for my brother, but I get to do a lot more sitting than Paul does. Paul is a stable boy, essentially. He's glorified go-fer, but he's doing stuff like fixing a car, assembling a wind machine, cleaning out a chicken coop, splitting wood, babysitting hyper little cousins, among many other things. Every job Mike says he's given to Paul is an experience Jim and I could never give Paul. I hope someday Paul looks back fondly on his time with Uncle Mike. 2. Two kids got their driver's licenses!!! Both had difficult (and very different) paths to achieving their licenses, and much was overcome! That's the last of the licenses to get. No more driving to seminary, and much fewer drives to kids' work. 3. Jim and I are planning the road trip out to Utah to take Hayley to college. We plan to see Devil's Tower, Yellowstone Park (Old Faithful), Jimmy, and Beartooth Pass.