Brainy Specs... or... my education continues

So, amazingly enough, I'm surviving.  Kelsi is gone from our home, but thank goodness for the modern technology.  Email, Facebook, texting, IM'ing, Skype (we use FaceTime) and free long distance, whew! It makes a mom's concerns so much easier.  Kelsi is doing great, adjusting to life as a college student and an adult.  I remember those days, it was so much fun and there were so many opportunities to be had and so many people to know and meet. I am excited for Kelsi to look back in many, many, many a few years and have fond memories like I do.  She even has one of my same teachers (see, it wasn't THAT long ago), but I'm sure she'll never get brave enough to tell him so. Thats' OK though.

So I just wanted to share a little bit about the last couple of weeks before she left.  I kept trying to get her to go out and spend some time with me.  I wanted to go shopping, go to movies, visit people, go to the beach.  If you didn't already know, Kelsi is not much of a "goer-outer", but I was sure she would want to spend the last couple of weeks with her dear old (don't read too much into that, it's just a saying) mom.  But try as I might I couldn't get her to agree.  I was feeling a little bummed (she'd rather sit home than go out with me?), a little irritated (well, if we're going to be home we should at least be doing something productive like laundry, or mopping the floor) a little regretful (did I miss something in parenting101 that keeps her from wanting to spend time with me?).  Then finally one day it dawned on me... (Yes, I'm so dense... I know, I'm painfully aware) just because she doesn't like to do what I like to do, doesn't mean she doesn't like to be with me.  And just because we're home doesn't mean we have to be slaving away all day.  Soooo, we started on my education.

My Dr. Who education to be specific.

Now mind you I'm still in kindergarden in my knowledge of this exciting and very extensive series.  If you need to have more information on the subject go here.  Like with most things in her life, Kelsi knows the series like the back of her hand ("hey, that's new!" -- random movie quote). Anyhoo, Kelsi put together a very impressive list of episodes we needed to watch in the Dr. Who series, so I would know who everyone was and what it was all about.  I have to say it was really fun, and I totally appreciate the show and it's characters now.  The best part about it was the conversations we can now have.  We had to drive up to IKEA to get some stuff for school and the whole way up and back we talked and discussed nuances and characters and plots, different fan opinions, the writers and most importantly, "Brainy Specs". I now know how important and crucial Brainy Specs really are.  David Tennant, who plays Dr. #10, wears them, and I now am on board with the concept.

(you might recognize David Tennant better in this role,

Barty Crouch Jr. from the Harry Potter movies.) 

See how cute and smart he looks? This is a quote from the show on his "brainy specs", "You don't even need them, you just think they make you look a bit clever." (of course it's sounds much better if you say it with a british accent;)

Kelsi got herself  a pair a couple of months ago and I miss seeing her sitting over in the wingback chair with her Mickey Mouse slippers and Brainy Specs. But look how cute and clever she looks... hee hee.



Her friend Alex got some too, and I've heard that Angela is also sporting the Dr. Who look.

Kelsi is fun and witty and entertaining.  She likes quirky stuff like me. It's going to be hard having her gone when I see or hear something creative or clever that only she'd appreciate. Who's going to discuss these things with me? I guess that's the beauty of the aforementioned "modern technology".

Love you Kelsi

(remember to read with British accent)
Companion: Doctor!
Doctor: No No. I'm standing right here. Hello!
C: Don't be stupid! Who're you?
D: I'm the Doctor
C: Who're you?
D: The Doctor.
C: Doctor Who?
D: Just the Doctor.

AND I just couldn't resist putting this picture in for you! -- You're welcome!

Lookie What I Got!

Many of you may remember several months ago I wrote a letter to Brian Regan (if you need a refresher, go here).  A lot of you asked me to let you know if I ever heard back.  Well I did! Ok, it's no 8 page letter detailing his life or thanking me for mine... but hey I'll take it. I'm thinking of framing it and putting it next to our picture of Thomas Monson.

...I'd Swim the Ocean for You...

...Oh whoa whoa whoa, oh Kelsi... (song lyrics by Metro Station)

So she's gone and done it... my little chicky flown the coop.  She's all grown up, and gone off to college.  I can hardly believe it. 
Brad and I had the opportunity to go and take her up to Rexburg at BYU-I this last week.  What an incredible place to be. Even though I went to that school and I'm moderately familiar with the campus and how things run, as a parent it became much more meaningful.  What an impressive institution.  If there was any doubt before (there really wasn't) I can feel fully confident that she is going to be well taken care of.  The spirit definitely dwells there.

Here she is with her van full of belongings.

It seems like she is going to get along with her roommates.  They are all from Utah. Their names are Stephanie, Brenna and Bethany. I wish I would have gotten a picture of them together before we left, but I guess that'll have to be a post for another time.  This, however, is the building where they live.

I did get a picture of the sisters before the parting of the ways

She's got a full load of classes, which incidentally started today.  (Side Note: she called me while I was working on this post and said the first day went great with only one major detour  -- she was holding the map sideways and walked to the other side of campus before she realized she was lost).

So how am I doing you ask?
It's amazing how many emotions I can feel, one right after the other.

Excited
Worried
Expectant
Sad
Comforted
Happy
and also
"I'm prodigiously proud of her.  I defy even Sir William Lucas to produce such a daughter. (Just a little Pride and Prejudice humor there.)

Good Luck! I love you Kelsi.  I really would swim the ocean for you.