Day 16

August 30, 2018

Let me just say that it is somewhat stressful staring a child at university.  Somewhat.  So many things to work out.  Spent the afternoon today on the phone with financial people, insurance people, working out all the details, all the things...

Also spent some time on the phone in the midst of trying to work out all the things with my precious college student who was taking all my efforts at working out all the things oh so seriously...

I love you Abbey Joy!  

Day 15

August 29, 2018

Got my first day of school pic as promised...

In other news...  Some dear friends are spending a year in the states leaving their animals behind.  The girls and I have been somewhat shamelessly begging Jason to let us temporarily adopt one of these sweet animals in their absence.  If you know my dear husband at all, you know this would be quite the stretch for him- cat lover he is not... I guess he missed us so much during our three week separation (that has now turned into almost 4 weeks!) to give us anything we want :).  Or it may have more to do with him returning home to our apartment that had been vacated for almost 2 weeks and killing almost 30 roaches during the first few days home.  Deciding to call in reinforcements.

Anyway, meet Leo, our newest temporary family member...  Scoping out the kitchen at night for the roaches to come out.  Lovely I know...

Day 14

August 28, 2018

Let me just pause for a minute here to say we are already two weeks into "Maddie's last week at home" and we have yet to be at home and MAN, two weeks goes by fast!  The next year is gonna fly!  (don't read this and get scared, Maddie.... Everything is gonna be ok ;))

So today was spent on the road from Birmingham to Memphis and then hanging out with my parents at the hospital while my dad gets checked into his rehab center.

My little travel buddy is tuckered out...

Maddie and Naomi arrived back to Jordan quite capably on their own.  (Maddie was only moderately irritated that due to Naomi being an "unaccompanied minor" they had to be escorted everywhere they went in every airport...).  Anyway, I ended the day with the realization that I would miss Maddie's last first day of school!  The first day of school of her senior year!  I made them promise they would take pics and they were quite thrilled I'm sure...

Day 13

August 27, 2018

And then sometimes our plans unexpectedly change.  Due to some health issues my dad is having, we made the decision to send Maddie and Naomi on back to Jordan so Bella and I could stay behind a week longer to help my mom out a little in Memphis and have some more family time.  The day became somewhat crazy as we made all the last minute arrangements.  Bella and I drove Naomi and Maddie to the airport and then on to Memphis.  Due to some craziness at the airport when ended up stopping over for the night in Birmingham and got to spend another evening with Abbey- bonus!  

Who, by the way, was such a good girl and took her first day of school at college picture without me even asking!  I've obviously done something right...

Ended up being a super long day, but so worth it!

Day 12

August 26, 2018

Back to Georgia for one last day with cousins and day at the farm before heading back to Jordan after a whirlwind three weeks!

Day 11

August 25, 2018

After a whirlwind three weeks of college visits and sister quality time, it's time to say "see you later" again.  Never fun, never easy, actually I think it gets harder and harder.  But somehow time seems to be going by faster so I don't know what that means!  Love these girls and how much they love each other!

Day 10

August 24, 2018

Today we finished up  parent/family orientation and were able to put the finishing touches on Abbey's dorm room.  Maddie and i had to leave campus around 5 when Abbey's whirlwind weekend of Freshmen orientation started.  

Did my momma's heart good to feel like we got her room somewhat settled and homey the way she liked it...

Maddie working on her chalkboard frame for her desk...

How do you really feel about goodbye, Mads?  

 Settled and ready for class!

A little watercoloring and Netflix binging...

Day 9

August 23, 2018

Samford orientation day 1.  We were apparently too exhausted to take lots of pictures, but SUCH a beautiful campus.  Excited for my desert raised girl to get to be surrounded by this much green...

Day 8

August 22, 2018

Samford move-in day!  Craziness that this day is finally here!  

Abbey's move in time wasn't until 2:00 in the afternoon which was nice to have a little longer window of time to say the first set of emotional goodbyes!

And the ever so important photo shoot by the fence on the way out...

No worries, there's just barbed wire on that fence...

Silly girls...

We did eventually get to Samford and dump Abbey's stuff in the room.  Her roommate had been moved in for a week so her side looked pretty!

2 Target trips and 1 Walmart trip later we were pretty exhausted!

Thankfully 2 more days of orientation and a few hours of down time and we had plenty more time to set up dorm room stuff...

Day 7

August 21, 2018

I mean learning to drive on a car is so over-rated when tractors are available...

Another fun farm day between college visit day and college move-in day.  

So many emotions, so little time...

Day 6

August 20, 2018

Yet another college visit in the books.  This time with a very cute tour guide...

Practicing make-up together is a sister necessity...

On the road again...

Day 5

August 19, 2018

So much sweetness...  

Day 4

August 18, 2018

Trip to Memphis is never complete without the zoo...

More goodbyes to precious great grandparents.  Doesn't get easier!

Notice the common denominator in the wrestling...  Once an instigator, always an instigator...

Calm on the couch without Maddie...

But across the room...