Chelsea goes to Michigan -- GO BLUE!

It seemed like the time would never come, but on August 27th Chelsea and I flew out to take her to school at the University of Michigan!! Since she would be living in an apartment just off campus, I spent 5 days there helping her get set-up and ready for life on her own.

We'd been able to get her connected with her roommate, Erica Shirts, a violin performance major from Provo, Utah! And LDS, which is a great blessing. Erica had already been in the apartment for a year, and her roommate was moving out in early August, leaving a place for Chelsea. Erica had been gone all summer, and wouldn't be coming back to Ann Arbor until a few days after we got there, which would give us a few days to get Chelsea all settled before Erica got back.

Here's Chelsea in front of her new apartment at Broadview Apartments

And it was a darn good thing we allowed for plenty of time, because when we showed up at the apartment (which was supposed to be vacated by the previous girl, and perfectly clean), THIS is what we found:

Can we just say . . . heart attack???!!!! HOLY CRAP! We stood in shock for the first 10 minutes, cried for the next 10 minutes, and then got busy taking pictures! We couldn't imagine that anyone had actually lived like this. And what about that whole thing with the apartment being ready for Chelsea to move in on the 27th?? We got on the phone with Erica (still in Utah) and gave her the scoop. She got on the phone with previous-roommie, and gave her the word. The girl said she'd be there the next morning to get her stuff and clean up.

Well, that kind of put a kink into our move-in plans, but we filled the first day with necessary errands and looking for the stuff she'd need. By the next afternoon, previous-roommie had come, cleaned (well enough), and taken her stuff. The next surprise was realizing that after she took HER stuff, all that was left in the apartment was a tiny sofa and a kitchen table. Seriously, that was it. No chairs, no lamps, no nothing. (Other than what Erica had in her own bedroom).

At that point we got even busier! Chelsea had a bunch of meetings with her department during the couple of days before school started, which gave me some time to run around looking for cheap furniture. I ended up getting some great stuff at a couple of thrift stores. In total, I paid about $170, and here is what I got:

Coffee Table

4 Antique Kitchen Chairs

Two end tables for the front room

2 Standing lamps and 1 Table Lamp

Nightstand for Chelsea's room

A full set of dishes

Desk Chair

Shutters for decorating

The next project was dealing with the disgusting white walls. The room looked pretty worn out. She has her own bedroom that's big enough for two girls, but for now, she's got it all to herself! (Quite a difference from the tiny dorm rooms her classmates are in.) So, we decided to paint! Chelsea got her new friend and classmate Grace to come help us, and we went to town.

What a difference!

We also had to buy her a bed at Costco, and got some make-it-yourself Sauder furniture to fill in the rest of the necessities -- 2 bookshelves, a desk, and a behind-the-toilet cabinet. And guess who put it all together . . . ME! I have such a handy husband that I never have the opportunity or need to do such things myself. Well, I have to give myself credit, I did a darn good job!

Here I am tearing my hair out trying to put together the etagere (toilet cabinet)

So, after lots of hours and lots of work, she has an adorable bedroom and a great apartment! Here's the finished product:

The much improved (and clean) bathroom

with the cabinet that about made me crazy

The kitchen and dining area

The front room (complete with the coffee table, end table

and kitchen chairs from the thrift store)

We did take time out on Saturday to go to the first Michigan football game of the season. Amazingly, it was against the University of Utah! That stadium is unbelievable -- the largest stadium in the entire country! There we were, with 108,000 other crazy fans in "The Big House." It was just a sea of "maize" (Michigan-ese for yellow). I proudly wore my "Michigan Mom" t-shirt and sat with Chelsea and her classmates in the student section.

In the nick of time, I was able to finish everything before heading back to the airport. I left the same day Chelsea went to her first day of college. And, of course, I HAD to take her "first day of school" picture as well! She resisted, but I got the shot:

First day of school for Chelsea!

I was so sad to leave, as I knew I would be. I cried the whole way to the airport, but knew she was ready for this new adventure in life. I'm so proud of her, she's mature beyond her years, and if anyone can do this, it's Chelsea!

First Day of School 2008!

You know what they say about mid-August every year? Actually, we sing about it. "It's the most wonderful time, of the year!" And I'm NOT talking about Christmas. It's BACK TO SCHOOL TIME!! Actually, it's not that I want to get rid of my adorable kids, but they NEED to be at school! I've had enough of the lazing around being unproductive. It's time to get to school and learn something! So, I had to take their annual "first day of school" photos on their way out.


Something happened to Alex's photo, but at least it shows he was here -- laces untied, wearing a DHS Ambassador t-shirt, and his new favorite plaid shorts. He's starting his Junior year of high school at Dixie High.

Nathan is ALWAYS so excited to get his picture taken . . . NOT. But he managed to at least give me a smirk. This is the boy who pretty much wears a blue shirt every day of his life. Anything else is a bit too "flashy." Nate is an 8th grader at Pine View Middle School.

And then there's Spencer. He'd take Marco to school with him if he could.

Ok, dog-gone (ha!), so here's the boy and his backpack, on his way to 5th grade at Sandstone Elementary. I can't believe my baby is in his LAST year of elementary school! That's the part that makes me kind of sad. I want to freeze this one in time.