Back to School 2009

'Back to School' this year has been a two week long process! Coral left on Aug 20th to attend the 'Late Summer Honors' seminar entitled 'Machiavelli in Hell' at BYU. She stayed for two nights in Helaman Halls and then moved into her own dorm that Saturday. She had classes each morning, study/free time in the afternoons and social activities in the evenings. She loved the course and the professor and made many new friends. It was all I had hoped for when I registered her- intense, interactive academics, and the opportunity to get settled-buy books, move in, etc.- before the crowds arrived. Her course merged into the Freshman orientation period on campus last week which seemed to involve standing in long lines for free meals and playing get to know you games with her 'Y Group'- something she seems to have a bit more patience for than I did at that age. Her roommate, Marissa Blake, from CA arrived with her mother early last week and the two girls are having fun figuring it all out together. I have been back and forth to Provo more than I planned, but it is nice to see all the arrangements coming together. When I see Coral, she shows signs of nervousness, but she seems to be getting everything taken care of when I am not there. She went to her new Ward on Sunday, attended choir practice, came home for India's birthday dinner and a father's blessing from Kevin and then raced back for Ward prayer- so much fun. I am so grateful for the opportunity she has to attend BYU and for all that she will experience there.

India started at Alta HS in the 10th grade and Niall began the 4th grade on Aug 26th. India has been coordinating outfits and hairstyles with her friends and is happy with her classes and teachers. She is, as usual, getting to know everyone and becoming known to everyone there. She has already wheedled an excused tardy out of one administrator! On Tuesday, she turned 15. She wore a crown to school-what a nut. I am looking forward to having her as my only female ally at home and seeing how she blossoms at this new time in her life.

Niall was sad that his friends from last year are not in his class, but he came home, after the first day, positive. He sees all his buddies at recess where kick ball seems to be the current game to play. Sadly, he is not as excited to get there as early as he did last year, because the playground monitors do not let him do all his favorite fun, but dangerous, feats of skill and strength on the play structures. He is tall and handsome and funny. He has reached an age where he can lift heavy things with or for me and can take care of some real responsibility for his own business as well as around the house- watering trees, etc.

Leith met his teacher Monday for his Kindergarten assessment. Today, he got up, dressed, ate, packed his backpack and then Kevin and I drove him to his first day of school. On the way, he checked one more time to be sure that I would not be staying with him. He played on the playground, posed grudgingly for a few photos, and when the bell rang, lined up with his class. It took 30 minutes to pick him up afterward because all the parents were taking more pictures and holding up the line. He colored a picture of himself in school on the first day- complete with a 'soul patch'. He also came home wearing a 'Class of 2022' college prep wristband!

People keep asking me if I am having an emotional reaction to Coral leaving for college. I have been saying that it all seems quite natural and that I am only excited for her. As I lay awake at 2:30am on Mon morning wondering if she had all the school supplies she needed, I began to feel as if I have been lying to everyone and to myself. On the other hand, I freely admit that I am a mess over Leith going to Kindergarten. I have been teasing him for months about keeping him home. I couldn't sleep much last night and had the 'early warning signs of a heart attack' as he was getting ready this morning. I have actually spent a fair bit of the morning crying- apparently, as I have no more babies at home, I will just turn into one.

Somewhere in all of this, I have turned 40 and although it is still quite warm, the air has begun to smell like Autumn. As the seasons change, we have all changed to a new time in our lives.