First Day of School 2025

Monday (August 25th) was also the first day of school here in PA. Talk about an emotional week for this momma! Thank heavens for technology that allowed me to talk to and hear about their day from Utah. It may be day 4 of school, but we finally got some pictures! Playing all sorts of catch up over here!

He does love me! 🥰 I sent Tanner this printable and begged him to print it and get a first day of school picture and he actually pulled through! Happy first day of college bud! Still feels unreal, but I’m so excited for you and all you’ll learn this year! Go Cougs! 🐾 (September 3, 2025)

Traveling with a Toddler

The day after moving Tanner to Provo, Keaton and I flew back to PA.  Mom drove us to the airport and even parked to walk us in.  It was so nice to have her help with Keaton while I got us and our luggage checked in.  Then it was a bittersweet goodbye at security.  We were sad to leave, but excited to get back to our family in Pennsylvania.  Originally we were supposed to get home at 9pm and were looking forward to seeing the whole family.   That was the longest we've ever been apart and we were missing everyone.  But thanks to multiple flight delays, and some crummy weather in Denver, we ended up not getting home until nearly 1am and everyone was fast asleep.  Landon was cute and popped out of bed to say hi.  Keaton was beyond spent and didn't sleep a single wink the entire travel day so he went right to bed.  But it was SO good to be home, just missing a giant piece of our hearts with Tanner in Utah.  

Thank heavens for the ipad.  We walked a million corridors, colored, ate snacks, went to the bathroom, watched planes, but eventually we succumbed to screen time.  This cranky toddler needed it during such a LONG day of travel with no nap.

 Don't tell his brothers but K-Pop Demon Hunters saved the day!

Just a 2 year old meltdown in the boarding line.  People are so good though.  So many who jumped in and helped try and cheer him up and distract him.

Lots of Spiderman too.

A New Coug!

Monday was a day I’ll never forget. I moved Tanner into his apartment at BYU.  We tried to have Grandpa's truck all loaded up as best we could the day before so we could just get up and throw in the last few things.  He told Keaton goodbye and we dropped Keat off at a friends house (shout out to Kathy Davis, she was a LIFESAVER!) for the day.  Then Grandpa, Tanner, and I took off for Provo.  He thought he would be the only one moving in that day in his apartment but we arrived to a couple of his roommates already there and others moving in.  It took a million loads thanks to Tanner's endless belongings, and we had a sad mishap when his choke cherry jelly fell out of the truck and shattered on the road.  I did my best to gather the glass jar and was covered in red jelly and scared a BYU employee pretty good.  Haha!  After hauling everything up to Tanner's 4th floor apartment (thank heavens for the elevator!) we helped him get some of his stuff unpacked so he was at least functioning with a made bed and hung up clothes.  Then we ran to Walmart to get him stocked on groceries and squared away his prescreption transfers so he was set to handle it all in the future on his own.  I think he basically has food for the whole semester!  Haha!  A quick lunch at Subway and then it was time to say goodbye, and man was that BRUTAL! Tanner was in tears, Grandpa was in tears, and I couldn't help but cry a bit too even though I was trying to stay strong for Tanner's sake.  I walked him back up to his room and talked him down a bit.  A few more hugs and I forced myself to walk away.  Gosh that's no fun!!  But, I’m so excited and happy for him, but leaving my baby 2,000 miles away is not easy. I loved my days at BYU and I’m praying he does too. Here’s to the newest Cougar in the fam! 🐾 Love you Tanner!! 💙

I was loading up Tanner's stuff in the truck when this bag fell out of my hands reveal a bunch of matches he was trying to sneak into his dorm.  If that's not the most Tanner thing in the world I don't know what is! 😂

We filled Grandpa's truck to the brim!

When you're back window is missing you make due......our fancy plastic wrap window.  Hahahaha!

Post jelly incident.  We tried to punk my Mom, but she knows us too well to be tricked by now!

Tanner SCORED on his dorm room.  The view out his window is "Y Mountain" and man is it gorgeous.  Being on the fourth floor has him up high and makes for the perfect view.

All the boys on his floor.  They are the "Kings!"

New Heritage Halls is NICE!  And once again that fourth floor paid off.  He has floor to ceiling windows looking out at the mountains in his living room.

Due to his autism, Tanner worked with his therapist and doctor to file for accessibility accommodations at BYU to have a private room.  I was nervous if that was the best idea, but I decided to trust Tanner's choices and I think it's been a good thing for him.  He has his own safe space to escape to when he needs it but he's still been social and met new people as well.

So proud of this kid.  Hard to believe he's already out on his own.......wasn't he just born yesterday!?  Man time flies!

I think we wore Grandpa out!  Don't blame him!  It was a long day and a lot of work!  Trying not to think about moving him out when the year ends!

And we had to facetime these goons to hear about their first day of school and show them Tanner's new digs!