End of Summer

We always end the summer with a beach trip followed almost immediately by the start of school. This time, Owen had a few more shifts at the Nationals (which Don, Mom Mom, and Allen crashed) before it was time to move him into his first apartment.

As juniors, Owen and his roommate since freshman year, Theo, decided they wanted a little more room and cohabitants that were a little more respectful of their surroundings. As a result, they ended up getting a campus apartment with former neighbor Owen T. and his friend Luke (known collectively now as "Tool").

We packed up the cars on Saturday, had a last family meal (and cuddle), before leaving the next morning to move Owen in (while Noa stayed behind to prep for their birthday party). We had set aside a lot of Grandma and Grandpa Z's extra household items, so Owen's first apartment comes complete with a vacuum cleaner, caphlon pots, a full set of steak knives, plates, glasses, an immersion blender, mixing bowls, knife block, and an eight person set of silverware (his roommates each brought two forks, spoons and knives, though Owen T., who had to arrive early for  pre-season training for the cross country team, also brought plates, utensils, a soda stream, coffee mugs and gladware). Mom Mom, not to be outdone, contributed a microwave and toaster oven.

As we were moving Owen's stuff in, Luke, a graphic artist, showed up with his parents. He brought a couch, a tv and gaming console, artwork, a white rug (which seemed overly optimistic to me) for the living room, and coasters. We helped them arrange the couch in the living room (SMCM provided a much less comfortable couch and some chairs, so it took a few attempts to get the layout just right) and then headed out for lunch and then to Walmart to pick up odds and ends.

When we got back we finished arranging Owen's room and then took a few last pictures before heading back to DC in order to switch cars with Steve and Megan (who needed our van for their move to New Jersey) and at least say hello to Noa's birthday party guests (who did not stay for dinner) before crashing in our somewhat empty nest.

(To see all of the day's pictures, click here.)