Update on the Boyz

Since I have a few minutes free on this dreary Saturday afternoon, I'll give that update that I thought about on Thursday.... 

William....he's still loving college.  I saw him a few weeks ago when I was at my parents.  I called and invited him over to watch one of the football playoff games - which he wasn't really interested in watching...but he did like the idea of me doing his laundry. So, he came over.  He still has a few weeks left in this quarter then he'll be home for a week before the spring quarter starts. He's telling us he has high B's and low A's. He already has a job for the summer, so he won't really be home much between now and mid-August.  He'll be working for the camp he worked with last summer. This summer he'll be on a 12 week contract instead of a 6 week one.

Benjamin...Mr. 16....yeah....he still needs to practice his driving....especially the backing up in a parking lot.  We are considering letting him get his license within the next month or two.  It would help if he ASKED to drive, but he doesn't.  Acts like he really doesn't care...so....yea....we're in no rush, then. 

Soccer ended a few weeks ago and I must say: As much as I enjoy watching Benjamin play, I, also, enjoy having a free calendar!  I made the executive decision that we would NOT be doing spring soccer with the local rec league.  I just need a break - actually, I think he needs a break, too.  We might do the summer league....we'll see...  He will be helping Melissa with the sound board at the high school play. That'll keep him busy a few weeks in March.

Then there's Drew.  He still loves his job and right now he isn't traveling.  It sort of odd that he doesn't have any trips on the calendar, but I'll take it! I like him being home.  For the last month or so, he's been busy with our rent house.  The renters moved out at the New Year and just this week we got new renters.  Overall, the change over went smooth.  We had no major damage done to the house - love it when a Marine is our renter! It was very clean!   They really were good renters....just wished they had stayed longer.  The new family is an active duty Air Force.  And once again, we're hoping they will stay two or three years.

While we had no damage and did not have to re-paint  or carpet the house, we did find out today that the hot tub has a leak.  Boo hiss hiss.  Oh, well. I guess the money we saved with the paint and carpet will be put into repairing the hot tub.  Such is life.

This and That

Today ends the second week of school and so far both are doing well. Melissa will have an easy senior year with her only hard class is AP English. She is taking a class at the local Vo-Tech that involves learning business and life skills such as writing a resume.  The rest of the day she has a job working at the middle school office.  And is very happy!!  Next semester she'll have a typing class, so it'll get even easier!

Benjamin on the other hand has a tough load this year. Right now he has pre-AP English, Trig, pre-AP Biology, and Spanish 1.  After meeting his teachers, we decided he probably won't learn anything in Spanish...yea....that teacher is not a winner...  But we did like his other three teachers.  His English teacher is one the other two have had and we just love her! She goes to our church and is in charge of the spring school play. Ben will be learning in there!  His biology teacher goes to our church as well and we think a lot of her and her family. I have had two of her kids in my new believer's class at church.  Of course, being an Ole Miss Alumni helps!  His trig teacher is a Cajun - full-on accent and everything! He's new to the school, but seems to know his math....just hoping he'll be able to pass on that math knowledge in a way Benjamin can understand.

William right now is in a computer/video marathon.... Recovering from his six weeks of being a camp counselor (and computer/video-less)  He really seemed to have enjoyed his time at the camp. He's opened to doing it again next summer, but hasn't made up his mind.  Drew and I would like him to work the full 12 weeks of summer or get an internship in his field of study. He has awhile before he has to decide.  He moves back to school Labor Day...he'll be ready to get back into a normal routine, I'm sure.

The rain...yea....we're getting lots of it!  So far around our house and area, the rain  hasn't caused any flooding.  Of course, in the south part of the state, that's not the story. Yesterday we got a really bad storm and lots and lots of water! The ditches on our street were near full, we had a nice moat around the house (again) and one neighbor's driveway was covered in about 6-8 inches of water. But when the rain slowed down and then stopped, the water drained into the nearby lake without causing any issues. It looks like rain will continue on and off until Tuesday....hopefully, we'll see the sun again before then.

Work for Drew and I both is going well. Both of us are getting some projects done and off our desks.  Last week Drew was working in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  I sneaked off and stay over with him for two nights. We were able to catch up with one of his brothers and a friend from college.  As much as I love my children, it's nice to just be Kelley and Drew for a few hours instead of Mom and Dad.  He'll be off again next week - this time to DC....wish I could join him there! I did so enjoy my time in DC last month....just wished it could have been longer and had been able to see a few more friends in the area.

We do have few trips planned for this fall....trying to get a few football games in, but not sure if Ole Miss will be in the mix...the calendar is already getting full.

Solving Problems

Late Thursday William made it home from his week at orientation at the camp he'll be working at later this summer. Over the weekend I was doing some of his laundry and saw some underwear that I didn't recognized.  When I asked  him about it, he said, "Yeah, I bought them."

"Why? I thought you had plenty."

Him: "Well, I didn't have enough to last me a full two weeks until I did laundry."

Me: "But you could have just done laundry early....."


Him: "Nah..."

Like other males in my family, he bought new instead of cleaning.

Problem solved.

Off To College

Friday I took William to college - and as normal in this life: I did it by myself.  Yep.  Drew was traveling. The original plan was for leave after Drew returned at noon, but the college changed the check in times from 1-4 to 9-1.  There was just no way for Drew to get there in time. So. Just me.

When we got there, the parking was crazy full! We finally parked at the end of a row that was marked with red lines for a fire truck. I didn't think they would be towing people on check in day, so, we went with it. 

We got there around 10:30-45ish and were the last of the four roommates there.  William was upgraded from a normal dorm room to an on-campus apartment that has four private bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a small kitchenette. Two of the room mates are from the Houston area and have known each other all their lives - their parents all went to college together. They took the two upstairs bedrooms.  One is an engineering major and the other is finance.  The other roommate is from Arkansas and is, also, engineering.  The Arkansas boy seemed quiet like William - the Texas boys were more outgoing.  All the parent seemed nice.

Within a short time we got everything unload from William's car - with the help of the Texas boys and their fathers. William really didn't have a lot of stuff....we didn't buy him a microwave or refrigerator as the apartment came with those.  We decided NOT to buy him a tv as he can watch a lot of things through his laptop.  The Texas boys brought a very large tv and sat it up in the common area, so I was very glad we didn't buy a tv.

I didn't stay very long....just long enough to help William make his bed....unpack his things...have lunch.  Then I left.  I really didn't feel like I left him at college, because I knew I would see him the next day as we had tickets to the football game.

But leaving him after the football game? Now that's when I felt like I left my son at college!

He told us before the game that he and the room mates hung out a little Friday night - found some of the free food one of the campus groups were offering. While they were at the event, William ran into some high school friends and they all ended up going to one of the Christian groups facilities and playing games.  Sounded like a good first night at college to me!

His classes doesn't start until Thursday, but the school  and different groups have lots of things planned to keep the students busy - especially the new freshman students. I'm sure they'll have fun!  William just needs to pick up one more book from the bookstore, but is set for his classes.  This quarter he's taking two seminar classes, an English class, and a Calculus class...all of the classes are mid-morning to early afternoon times...I think it's a good starting schedule.

He's excited, I think....not that he shows  a lot of emotions! But he's right where he's suppose to be.

Orientation

This past week William and I went to freshman orientation. Overall, it was slightly overwhelming...lots of information.  But by the end I do think the professors he'll have will be good for him. He'll be in an honor's program that offers small classes. This way the professors will be able to get to know him. I like that.

Also, this week I was able to see William in a causal setting with some of his peers....most of whom he never meet before.  I was relieved to see he was at least trying to connect to them.  Every since he was in the seventh grade we have tried to get some help for his shyness.  Only to be "blown-off" by the school counselors and teachers.  Everyone said "oh, he's fine. He'll out grow it." 

Well, he never has! We've had some major issues with it.  But this week, I think I finally saw a small sign that maybe in college he'll out-grow some of it.

Praying that's the case.

He left before me due to me working on Wednesday.  When I saw him Thursday morning, I asked him if he knew anyone in his group.  He said no.  I said, "All new people, huh?" I got a grunt in response to that.  Then I said, "You don't like new people, do you?"

"No! No, I don't!" was his reply.  I just had to laugh.  That's my William.  But by the end of the time there he was more relaxed....and hopefully, he'll realize all those new people aren't so scary after all.

Praying that is the case, as well.