Dorm Sweet Dorm: Moving Week for Aubrey

 Aug 27-Sept 1, 2025

Aubrey's big move in day to college finally arrived. We flew in on Wednesday and after gathering all the luggage (so much luggage!), finding our Turo rental car and picking up dinner, we made it to her dorm about 8:00 pm. Brinley was awesome and met us there with more stuff Aubrey had brought up earlier in the summer or had shipped from Amazon to Brinley's apartment. 

The move in felt a little frantic. We were on a time crunch. It was late in the evening. Her other five roommates had moved in earlier in the week. New student orientation started the next day, and Aubrey wanted to spend the night in the dorms. Also, we had to make one million trips up to the fourth floor because this girl did not pack light.

Home Sweet Home-Heritage Halls #6

Aub and Bryn--I love this picture (I'm not sureAubrey would- I never quite know with her.)

It was also exciting though. It was fun to meet a few of her roommates. It was fun to see Aub processing her new environment. I loved that Brian was able to be a part of the move-in experience. (I helped with Brinley and Parker while he stayed home and earned the big bucks and took care of the younger kids.) We were like worker ants, and it was fun to see Aubrey's room unfold into a livable space.

Aub and Bri

Me (How she found room for all her clothes is a mystery.)

Her living area is shared with 5 other roomies. I love the big windows.

Brian and I made it to our hotel in Orem around midnight Texas time, and I noticed Aubrey's carryon bag in the backseat of our car. It had her phone charger and debit card in it. Ugh. I texted her but she had gone down to checkout a welcome party near the sand volleyball pit. I went to bed knowing this would be her first of many starving college student experiences where she would learn to figure things out, but I did worry about how my somewhat anxious girl would handle it. 

Headline: She Survived. 

(She borrowed a charger from her roommate, skipped breakfast because she had no food or money, and really appreciated her first free lunch at college during student orientation on Thursday.)

Thursday, Brian and I headed back up to campus for parent orientation. There was an info fair in the corridors of the Marriott Center. There were lots of information booths set up sharing opportunities on campus: service clubs, tutoring, campus safety and so forth. The booths had brochures, pens, stickers, and candies, and the area they opened for the 5000 visiting parents was definitely way too small. 

Then we went into the arena, the parents in one area and the students in the main sections, and they showed us BYU. It was called a Cougar Rally. It made me so excited for Aubrey! They had the infamous dunk team plus Cosmo come out and show off their skills. Then we saw performances by the Folk Dance team and some singing groups. They showed a video w/ campus activities,  and the sports teams' achievements. They had the Yo-Yo club perform. Honestly the whole thing had me a little teary. It really made it clear that there was a place for everyone, no matter interests or talents, at BYU.

Following the Rally, there was a convocation, where two students and President Reese spoke. Then we broke for lunch and breakout classes. They had 10 classes offered, and you chose the four you wanted to attend. Brian and I decided to divide and conquer, so we could double our information. I went to a class on the counseling services provided on campus, the Women's Service Center, the amazing resources available in the library (stuff and staff), and parenting in this new young adult phase. Each class was only twenty minutes, and honestly, they were all exceptional. There are so many resources and opportunities available on campus. I left the day knowing it would be helpful if I remembered some of the resources available to help direct Aubrey when she is in panic mode. Also, I left knowing she was in good hands: amazing professors, solid resources, and many opportunities to get involved and succeed.

This is BYU's sesquicentennial year.

Thursday evening, we met up with Brinley and Derek for dinner, and then Brinley and I went to a pep rally thing at the stadium. Derek needed to prep for his student teaching, and Brian wasn't feeling great. The incoming class was taking their "Y" photo, and then they had the band, cheerleaders, football players and coach inspiring the audience. The stadium event ended in a really cool drone show. My favorite was probably when an image of Brigham Young, in between Go Cougs and Cosmo dancing, lit up the sky. It was so unexpected and made everyone laugh. I wonder, looking down from heaven, what he thinks of that?! 

Aub is in the top left-ish area

Friday morning brought an unexpected call from Aubrey. We were planning on grocery shopping later that afternoon, but she had ditched student orientation and was ready to finish up her room. We picked her up for lunch at Zupas, and we headed back to Walmart for storage options, food, and lots of miscellaneous items. It was so nice that Brinley had a flexible schedule this week and was able to join in and help often.

The checkout lady complimented Brian on his quick thinking on getting both of his girls set up for college at once. Also, several times throughout the week other students were sweet to introduce themselves and welcome Brinley. She was very diplomatic in her responses, but it was funny. She is married, pregnant, 25 next month, and in her final year of her Master's program. 

One kind of funny thing happened Friday afternoon. We had unloaded groceries and were in the middle of helping Aubrey hang pictures, organize her room, put together rolling carts etc. Her roommate, Maecee, walked in and casually invited her to go to Swig.  Aub dropped us like hot rocks. It was kind of hilarious and also awkward. I was glad she was making a point of being social and getting involved. It did leave me alone in her apartment finishing things up until Brian was back from the store buying duct tape for a broken drawer. Silly girl. 

Getting there....

Saturday morning, we were all able to go to the temple together. Brinley had booked reservations a month earlier, and Aubrey wasn't 100% on board. She wanted to leave her schedule open so she wouldn't miss out on social opportunities with new friends or roomies. She was also worried about getting good seats at the football game. I get it. I didn't want to pressure her, but I was really hoping it would work out, and it did! She invited her roommate, Maecee, and we were able to do baptisms at the Provo City Center temple. 

Then we headed to Great Harvest Bread and Jamba Juice for lunch for the girls. Brian dropped Aub and Maecee back at Heritage and met back with Brinley, Derek, and me to get food-manly food-at Burger Supreme. We had a couple of hours before we met back up at the Hale Center Theatre to see the musical Footloose. I am taking a break from purchasing theater tickets when we are in Utah visiting. The tickets are expensive, and the last two have been disappointing. We decided to slip out during intermission to head to our VRBO to watch the BYU game and enjoy the evening together.

Brian and I knew it would be a busy time settling Aubrey into school, but we were hoping to see his family while we were in Utah. However, they were all out of town for the long weekend. It was kind of weird being so close to where Keith, Jeff, and Bruce live but still so far away! It was nice that with our Utah and Idaho trips this summer, we have enjoyed some time with our Gwilliam fam.

We weren't sure if we'd see "the kids" again before we left, but luckily it worked out. After church, we headed back down to Provo/Orem. Brinley and Derek were sweet to whip up a chicken fettucine meal, and Aub had a break between afternoon church and ward prayer so she could join in. We visited and played Skull King, Ransom Notes, and Monopoly Deal. 

Overall, it was wonderful. 

I loved that 1. Brian was able to be a part of the college move-in. 2. We could see Aubrey feeling less anxious/more settled by the day. 3. We were able to spend more time with Brinley and Derek. 4. We were able to serve in the temple together. 

We will miss our girl, but we are so excited for the opportunities she will have at BYU. While she is adjusting to her freshman year of college, we will be adjusting to our empty nest stage of life. Here we goooooo!