First Day of School-2021

I really do love that it's still hot when the kids start school at the end of August. It seems that the summer is never ending but this kind of keeps us on track. This year I was dropping Katya off at BYU, so I missed the boys' first day of school, but they survived. 

And...drumroll...this year we only had TWO children starting school in North Carolina.

Alex headed to 11th grade. He knows it will be his busiest year yet, not just because of rowing in full force but also because he has such great ambitions to take many AP classes--five, to be precise. They still have to wear masks at school, and Alex absolutely despises it. 

Mark is going into 7th grade!!! He's got a lot to look forward to--especially band, Mark is one of the percussionists. He is in 8th grade math--NC Math 1, and that is his favorite subject still. 

Here are the boys! Last year with such a huge difference in height as Mark is slowly inching upwards. 

Oh, and look who interrupted our North Carolina news channel! Katya sent us a picture of her first day of school that actually happened on Aug 30th, a week after the boys. 

There we go, as fresh of a freshman as one can get! In front of the Cannon Center.

Hoping the kids have a fantastic school year! What a wonderful period of their time when they know it's their season for receiving education and discovering more about themselves.

Lyana. 

 

Winston Salem Open-2021

Mark was so excited that Winston Salem was actually happening again this year! 

This time, he took Robert to go with him. 

We usually go to WO on Thursdays, for the quarterfinal matches, but because of work schedule, this year, Robert had to go on Friday, the semi finals. 

They got to watch a bunch of doubles matches and get autographs! 

In the semi-finals, Mark got to see Ivashka (from Belarus) beat Ruusuvuori (from Finland). And then watched Ymer (from Sweden) beat Alcaraz (from Spain). 

Here is Mark with Ymer after the match. 

It's always a fun day to go watch such great tennis and so close to home! We can't wait till next year!

Lyana. 

 

Katya Starts BYU

Getting Katya to BYU was quite an ordeal because, you know, we don't really know what we are doing with this college business. Katya is our Guinea pig basically!

For a few days before Katya was scheduled to fly out, I was SO anxious and stressed...I was feeling a pressure of time...time to spend with Katya, make sure the family is gathered, that we've done everything we could do prepare her (we haven't) and worrying till the last moment whether or not we did a good job parenting her. Seriously, I need more confidence in that....Because, to be honest, Katya has turned out pretty amazing. 

We got to UT on a Saturday night, visited a bunch of good friends on Sunday and Monday and then on Tuesday, we were ready to move her in.

It was Katya and me for a full day, shopping for all the dorms stuff, exploring a bit of campus and getting her set up. 

In case you have forgotten--we are at BYU.

Some random guy asked us if we wanted a picture together by the sign. How could I refuse?

We went to Costco and bought a bunch of necessary things. 

And then rolled up to Helaman Halls where Katya would be staying. Winter in style--she was persistent she would wear this winter parka...will see. 

We found Katya's mail box at the Cannon Center. 

And, of course, her dorm room.... what an adjustment! We got all our stuff into her room and got to work. 

But we did take a break to go to the Wilkinson center, aka the Wilk.

"Y"s are everywhere.

Not much has changed on this side of the food court, but wow--the food choices and technological advances for ordering are quite impressive on the opposite side. 

We explored the Bookstore. 

And then finished moving Katya in, setting up her bed and closet. 

Katya using her amazing building skills, independently. 

We kind of set it up like this, but I am sure a week later it looked completely differently. 

AND! We got to see Liz and Ashley who had just flown in from Japan! Ashley is Katya's roommate, a friend from childhood when we all lived in Misawa. 

We are just so excited that they will have each other and already have a basis for their friendship! 

That night we went out to eat together to Brick Oven Pizza and had a wonderful time! I mean we all were such close friends in Misawa and then later in Europe! These are friends for life. 

At the end of the night I took Katya back to her dorm room, with her leftovers. And knew...it was time to go... 

Oh, what a wonderful daughter she is! So hard to let go! But she is ready! She is on her way to do her things, her way, carve her spot in the sun, while bringing joy to herself and others around her. This "squishy kiss" is my last attempt to hold on. Time to let her out of the nest now....

We love you, Katya!!!

 

When You Drop off Your Kid at BYU

Utah will always remain a special place in our hearts--after all, that is the place where we met, got married and started our life journey. Every time we get to go to UT, we have dozens of people and places we want to visit. This time was no different. 

When you think about it, we actually don't go to Utah that often... 

The main person I wanted Katya to connect with was my former host mom, Lisa. It was so great to be able to stay at her house, to catch up about life, to show Katya a glimpse of the life I had when I was a foreign exchange student there. 

Lisa still lives in the same house as twenty three years ago. She gave me comfort that Katya always had someone reliable really close by, in case she needed help. 

We got to go to church in my first official ward, Hillcrest 6th ward in Orem. Katya and I got to meet a few people that were still in the ward and who remembered me! 

Heather stopped by to hang out with us. She and Merik (her son) live nearby. Heather was my younger host sister. It was wonderful to see her!

Here are Lisa and I. I believe Lisa hardly has changed! I have so many pictures from my high school/college years taken in front of that fireplace! 

We also drove to Rachel's house for a quick visit. It was great to see her! I am wondering if the last time we saw her was when we were in Budapest as they were living their on a state department assignment.

And on Sunday evening, we got to hang out with the rest of the Wilson family--Ralph's family. All these people are like my second family and have known me for over two decades! When I was a foreign exchange student, we used to go over to "next door" every single Sunday to hang out with the extended family--grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. It was surreal to me to that so many people from the same family lived so close by. I know it wasn't always easy because sometimes they had drama, but overall, it seemed it worked great to create unity and a feeling of family ties. 

This time Tori, Brett, Elaine, Katya, I, Clarice (my youngest host sister), Sherisse, two of their kids, Mark (my host brother), Roger, Berkley, Jack, Diane and Brabara are in this picture. We are missing Ralph himself, my cousins Alicia, Adriane and Alexis and their families and their mom Connie. It's a BIG family. 

I was so happy that I was able to introduce Katya to them! 

On the next day that we had free before checking Katya into the dorms, we decided to set up a "college friends reunion". I know Katya knew, but still it was fun to tell her and prove to her that I was once a college student myself as well-haha. This time I decided to visit my friends that I met my freshman year--they were not in my ward, but we became really close buddies from December till the end of the winter semester in April. 

Gary-Anne--I mean, Gary and Alice-Anne--were just good friends to each other their freshman year, although we all knew they had a major crush on each other. After their missions and dating they actually got married and now live in UT. It so happened that Gary's 40th birthday fell on the day that we were visiting. Alice-Anne managed to keep the secret about the "special guests" (us) and we showed up completely surprising Gary! 

Alice-Anne managed to invite our two other great friends and their families--Will and Rob! We all were a gang our freshman year! It was amazing to catch up, to chat about where our lives have taken us, to reminiscence about the past and share how much we all have learned. It was so natural to talk to them all although we truly hadn't talked to each other for twenty years! 

I was so happy that we got together and that they got to meet Katya! I am also so proud of who she has become and it's always a joy to show her off to family and friends we haven't seen in ages! 

I know it's not the last time we'll be in UT, so we'll have to pick out another set of friends to see when we come! Grateful for these opportunities. 

Lyana.

 

Saying Bye to Katya

This saying "bye" to Katya deserves its own post. Although, to be honest, I have to kind of whizz pass this as thinking about it too much will bring too many sentimental feelings and nostalgia. 

So! Knowing that Katya was leaving for college in late August created a bunch of internal pressure for me to make sure to almost "cocoon" her... I was thinking the whole time...."last birthday together, last tennis tournament before she leaves, last beach trip when she is living at home". It was all a bit sad and exciting at the same time.

Most importantly, I was feeling bits of regret for not doing enough, doing too much, saying too much, not talking enough--and every possible scenario you can imagine. Time couldn't be turned back and I was having a difficult time accepting it. 

Disclaimer...as I am writing this three months after she left, I can say that it took me a bit of effort to start thinking more about everything that we did right to raise such an amazing human being and stop beating myself up for falling short in some ways. 

Katya did a wonderful job trying her hardest to participate in the last family activities and spend time with the boys. 

She cheered for Mark during his soccer match. 

And spent a bunch of time playing games which is something they all love to do. 

She drove them around and took them out to CFA for milkshakes. 

On the day of her leaving home, Saturday, Aug 21st, she said "bye" to our Pepper. 

Said "bye" to her room. 

And took pictures in front of our house. 

By then I was actually feeling better about this whole leaving home thing. 

Katya and her best parents ever!

I know how much the boys will miss her. 

It's such an exciting and sad feeling at the same time to watch her leave for college.

On the way to the airport. "Last ride to the airport together"

And the most difficult "goodbyes" of all--with her brothers. 

Okay, maybe this one was the toughest one of all. 

Seeing these three like this melts my heart and brings me to tears. 

Oh, we love you, Katya, so much!!! This is just a beginning on a new chapter of your life! Life is full of the new and unknown things and experiences. Excited to watch you grow and learn and laugh and have fun and follow your dreams. 

Our family is adjusting to this new phase as well, not dwelling too much that we are missing her a ton. 

Lyana.