<p>Thanks for the hand truck advice...We're borrowing my Dad's and I wouldn't want it to disappear! Although, maybe I can make a killing renting it out...hmmmmm....</p>
<p>^maybe my dad should do that if i remember correctly i myself have been wheeled around on those since i was a baby(and yes I'm talking about handtrucks my dad uses them for work all the time) the last time i was wheeled around i was 10 and still at dad's old warehouse</p>
<p>2sonmama-good to have another Rotary exchanger on here. My D left for her exchange in Peru (far from earthquake zone) this AM. She was very busy saying goodbye yesterday to friend after friend, and despite efforts at packing for what seemed a month, she was up all night. And I almost was. Weighing suitcases over and over, removing items to get to the 50 pound limit. Wish I'd been a little pushier earlier in the week. </p>
<p>Tomorrow her twin sister goes off to college an hour from home. Feels like a piece of cake in comparison, though have been again packing and shopping and fixing bikes all day. May not feel a piece of cake when all done tomorrow. We''ll see.</p>
<p>Our move in time was 11am. My husband is still putting together a cabinet for our D. It went like clock work. They moved us in 15 minutes. We only had to carry her laptop up. My husband's screw drivers came in handy. Parents around her asked to borrow them.</p>
<p>The labels came in handy. Everyone was very impressed with how organized we were - I didn't tell them that I got it from CC.</p>
<p>The night before we left was rough. She cried, her sister started crying, and I joined them. My H slept through it all. She said she only slept for a couple of hours because it was her last night home. I hope it's not going to be hard on Sun when we leave.</p>
<p>we are catching the red in 13 days, shipping 4 boxes via UPS, taking 4-5 BIG suitcases, and hoping we can find a cab big enough in NYC to get to the dorms</p>
<p>We are being sure to dvide stuff up among suitcases ie not all jeans in one case, so if something gets rerouted, she doesn't lose all of one thing for awhile</p>
<p>we are labeling it call</p>
<p>we went through stuff again and pulled stuff out, but I just know we will come back with a full suitcase of stuff she can't fit, and my DH didn't understnad why that would even be a possiblity, hello!! you have a D</p>
<p>and I know I will be shipping stuff out and her shipping stuff back</p>
<p>Two kids packing like crazy here. My guess is that my daughter will still be packing tomorrow noon as we start up the vehicles. (Yep, got to take both cars...lots of stuff!) My son is very efficient and should be done round about one a.m. I hope I can sleep through it all; going to need lots of energy tomorrow and Sunday! Empty nest is just two days away :(</p>
<p>I am looking around the pile to go tomorrow and I just know it is not all going to fit into the room. I can't decide on whether just to leave some of it here or take it and then have to bring it back.</p>
<p>Daughter started packing her clothes yesterday afternoon. She decided to use her laundry bag which I thought was a pretty good idea.</p>
<p>D has gone on her new student bonding/backpacking trip. There are 4 huge suitcases in the hall for H and I to check when we fly up on Wednesday. I'm going to have to repack much of it - two are obviously overweight and one entire suitcase is taken up by her down comporter and pillows. What does she think she's going to sleep on at Christmas! Comforter will come out and we'll be making a Target run for a new one when we get there.
Now if someone can locate the (one and only) key to her car, I can move it and get to the toolbench and pack a couple of screwdrivers.</p>
<p>D just left this am for an 800 mile drive back to college...she's now a senior.
Thankfully, she is caravanning with a friend.</p>
<p>S leaves this week for New Orleans, assuming Dean doesn't also decide to go there too. He'll be a junior.</p>
<p>I remember the move in days with some fondness. It's weird not to be more involved and let them just go on their own. We had 2 move-ins with D (freshman dorm, soph apt) and 4 with S---1st semester freshman in New Orleans, 1st semester at his "Katrina" school, 2nd "1st" semester in New Orleans, and then as a 1st semester sophomore.</p>
<p>While we've paid our dues, I miss not being part of it to see the room, help get it set up, etc. It makes it easier to picture his day-to-day life when we've been around the dorms and know what they're like.</p>
<p>So, I'm a tiny bit envious of all you going through it for the first time. Try to enjoy it, really. It's a special time.</p>
<p>First timer here...is it realistic to think we can fly in on a sunday...shop at BBB & target on Monday and then move in Tuesday at 11am? Also...we plan to bring 2 suitcases each (DH, DD and me)...should we be just shipping items by UPS instead?...I will make Avery labels (not sure how to do that, but will figure it out).....I love CC...its like having my wise Mom, who is deceased, here with me giving loving advice ;0)</p>
<p>After moving my son in at Hendrix College earlier in the week, my husband and I helped the students at Drury University where he works move in today. My words of advice: get there as early as you are allowed no matter which school. Parking will be easier for sure and there will likely be more enthusiastic and less tired "helpers" available. Both schools had plenty of water and help. I think I took up one small item for my son. Drury had several handtrucks to help with the big boxes. Be sure to have your son or daughter get signed in first to make sure their room assignment is what they think it is. Also, if you are taking a rug, consider the room dimensions. I saw a huge roll of carpet that would have fit two dorm rooms.</p>
<p>Curiouser--I totally sympathize with you about missing the opportunity to see my DSs room. I think it would be different if we were in the same part of the country and could more easily visit on a weekend during the year. 1700 miles is a long way.</p>
<p>Packing? We're unpacking what just arrived home from GAP year.</p>
<p>APOL, your schedule sounds fine. Most will be moving kids in on the same day they are trying to run around and buy whatever is needed. A free day to stock up should do it, plus give the 3 of you time for a nice dinner together. Just make sure to make a shopping list so you don't buy repeats of what you packed!</p>
<p>Great Lakes Moms - We have the same problem. One d left today for Argentina with Rotary for her sr. year in hs. Second daughter goes to college 1.5 hours away on Wednesday. Walking away from daughter 2 will be a snap compared to watching the 17-year old walk through security at the airport. Empty nest way too soon. My advice to all you first-timers. Don't go home and walk into their bedrooms until they've been away for a couple days. That's when it really hits you that your life has really changed!</p>
<p>We said goodbye this afternoon. Before we left, our D gave us a book. I waited until I got in the car before I opened it. She had a photo album made from Ofoto of our family from when she was little to graduation. I cried when I looked through the album. It is very hard to walk by her room. I can't say anything when someone asks "how did it go" because I get too choked up. </p>
<p>She is out tonight, first night out in college, it is also the first time where she is not going to have to tell me when she is coming back, who she is with and where she is going. But I am staying up to see if she'll call - not.</p>
<p>I knew it was going to be hard, but nothing prepared me for this...</p>
<p>Oldfort, she sounds like a considerate girl, and you should be very proud. Transitions are so hard....</p>
<p>The ex and I did the college trip today, and was quite a pleasure, all in all. Great roommates, wonderful nurturing environment. Seeing her proudly decorating her room, I knew she had arrived at where she needed to be, and am so happy for her. Compared to taking my son, alone, years ago to an unfamiliar part of the country, it was easy and less heart wrenching.</p>
<p>APOL,</p>
<p>BB&B has a "Pack & Hold" plan. Its sort of like a registry. Go to your local store ASAP and ask at the Customer Service/Registry desk. They give you a "gun" to "Zap" the items you want. They will find the store closest to your college and make sure they have the items available. Then they HOLD it for you to pick up on a pre-arranged day. Many items are Out-of-stock so I would go as soon as possible!! We just got a call that S's sheets are sold out so we ran to our local BB&B and bought different ones. I brought them home just to be sure I had sheets for him! This also gave me a chance to wash them first...although its just another thing to pack...Oh Well! Good Luck!!
I don't know if Target does this as well.</p>
<p>OldFort,
Your D sounds so considerate, making a phot album. Most of my friends would be happy just to see their children start to pack before last night.</p>