I ventured out to Venture X (the co-working space my team likes in downtown Denver) on Thursday. I sported my Nebraska scarf, walked by ann Iowa bar which made me smile, enjoyed a coffee and did happy hour with my coworkers. While I wasn’t super excited to rally in the morning to go downtown, it was an easy bus ride and always good to see coworkers. I even caught a rainbow on the way home and wrapped up the night with a fantasy football draft and Husker victory.
Marshall and I are fortunate to have friends from so many different parts of our lives - many of whom still reside in the Denver metro area.
On Tuesday night, we went out with the "22 parents" (the parents of Drake's high school friends) to catch up. We really never hung out together prior to the boys leaving for college, but it has been fun to get together a couple times a year to catch up on the boys as well as each other's lives.
Tonight, I hosted the NWU Willard ladies for fondue. It is difficult to get this group together as we are very spread out so it is always nice when we can actually make it happen. It was fun to host and always good to catch up.
Tanner is wrapping up his first week in Iowa City and will start classes tomorrow. "On Iowa" week includes lots of different activities for new students to help them get involved and meet people. I'm not sure of all the activities Tanner attended, but I do know he attended the Ultimate Frisbee team throw around at Hubbard Park, as well as his Engineering small-group session. He also attended Kickoff at Kinnick (where they wave at the children's hospital kids for the first time), participated in the "block I" photo and attended the President's Party on the Pentacrest. Here's to an exciting year ahead as a Hawkeye!
Marshall got Drake moved into his home for the next nine months as well got some groceries to set Drake up for the first few weeks of cooking. In Oxford, they name the houses and Drake's house is called "Pizza Hut." He's living with four other fraternity brothers (with two others in the garage apartment). It's a great location close to Uptown and walkable to classes. Here's to a great senior year (gasp!).
Our first week at home as "bird launchers" has been a busy one. Matthew and his Spanish friend arrived on Sunday night (two busses after I did) so the house has been "full" which has been great. Marshall got home late Tuesday night after moving Drake in on Monday and working remotely on Tuesday. On Tuesday night, I had my fantasy football draft in Denver which is always fun.
On Wednesday, I did clay magnets with the "Women at Snapdocs" group which was actually pretty relaxing. I also finished the lego set that I started with Tanner. Later, the men in the house headed to trivia and I joined some friends for appetizers, stories, laughs and some tears. I'm so thankful for us having these great friends to support us through this next phase of life.
On Thursday, we grilled nice steaks for Matthew and Nabil and enjoyed dinner on the back patio. Friday night, we went to the "last splash" at the pool and caught up with friends. We wrapped up the week with a date night dinner at Parma. Here's to embracing the new phase of life with positivity.
After a long day of driving on Saturday (with a quick drive through campus to show Marshall the University), we moved Tanner into his home for the next 9 months. We had an early time slot, parked right in front of the dorm and moved in, in just three loads with the help of an On Iowa volunteer and her cart. The move in process was very smooth and we were able to get all unpacked before Tanner's roommates arrived. We grabbed some lunch as well at the dining hall which is a short walk across the street from Tanner's dorm.
The dorm set up turned out pretty well and they actually have a great deal of room even for three people. The dorm floor is mostly girls so that will be something that Tanner will have to navigate as there aren't as many boys to make friends with on the floor unfortunately.
Marshall and I walked to Target for a couple of last minute things, dropped them off at Tanner's dorm and then Tanner walked us to the minivan. It was certainly hard to leave, but I think Iowa is a great school for him. We're so proud of him for what he has accomplished and excited for what lies ahead. I didn't do a great job with the pictures, but here are a few. Go Hawks!
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| saying goodbye |
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| palindrome at over 232k miles on the minivan |
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| minivan was packed! |
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| closet space |
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| final configuration - Tanner has bottom bunk and desk along the wall with the windows |
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| decorating |
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| "his space" |
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| Lucky charm from Matt |
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| view from their room |
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| at a coffee shop in downtown Iowa City waiting for the Uber - all the feels |
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| playing 2-person euchre before dinner |
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| Alaskan salmon for dinner - not the type of the food the boys will get anytime soon |
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| al fresco dining |
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| brothers |
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| our creations |
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| Snarf's lunch together on Friday |
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| gonna miss my coworker. :( |
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| saying goodbye to the Wrights |
The LeBeavys arrived around noon on Friday and the cousins biked from Plummer to Harrison. Marshall, Jim and I picked them up in Harrison (and also enjoyed a beer, picked up cinnamon rolls and celebrated with ice cream). It was much less busy than in the past - not sure if that was weather or it being later in the season.
The rest of the weekend, was much warmer and we spent more time on the dock and in the water. Although it was still chilly on Friday, and I don't think the hot tub has ever been that full!
The boys both got up behind the boat for the first time together and even did a trick!
The boys rode to the airport with the LeBeavys around 4:00 on Sunday, while Marshall and I flew out Monday evening after working for the day. How wonderful we could all be together for the weekend - we. definitely fortunate. Wrapping up the summer at the cabin was a perfect way to close one chapter and start the next.
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| looking for fish |
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| the fish he captured with his calluses - and making $150 for it! |
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| morning boat ride on the lake |
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| the boys both up behind the boat! |
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| annual boat pic |
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| one of the prettiest sunsets we have seen at the lake |
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| quite the view for my office |
