<p>We are making our son's favorite dinner the night before - but we just returned from his "farewell trip", a one-week bike trip with Mom and Dad (no other siblings) through Vermont. Each of our four kids gets a trip like this before college.</p>
<p>Although it's a big transition for both parents and student, the first year usually includes at least 2-3 trips to campus by the parents (Orientation, Parents' Weekend, a football game, etc.), so the transition is eased somewhat.</p>
<p>D and I have been doing some bike riding of late - trails through woods that we have always wanted to ride, but never did - that is, when she was 'a kid'.... oh oh, she's reached the age of majority already</p>
<p>--DO IT NOW!</p>
<p>We're going out to a family dinner on Friday night, then leaving Saturday for school.</p>
<p>We are doing a bunch of dinners out and will also do a manicure/pedicure. But since I am going to meet up with her at her college in between her orientation camping trip and dorm move-in, it is also fun to plan a dinner in the new college town, reminding us that there will be fun times visiting at college as well and that she is not, by any means, gone forever!</p>
<p>Is anyone besides me having sandwich generation issues where you are torn between needing to go visit a parent in need out of town while trying to do all the shopping and packing? :(</p>
<p>The whole family went to the local IMAX theatre yesterday to see Dark Knight, at son's request. It was fun; I felt like a tourist in my own city, and I can't even remember the last time we all went to a movie together. Beyond that, it's just lots of favorite meals and quality time with the dogs :)</p>
<p>An outdoor concert tonight--please no rain! And a long weekend on Cape Cod. He's so happy to be going back for year 2 that it's hard to feel sad about it, but I manage to feel sad anyway.</p>
<p>While packing, my D and I tried to have a session of "cookies and milk under the bed" just like when she was very small, but I couldn't fit anymore. </p>
<p>So we sat on top of the bed and dunked Oreos for l5 minutes. That's all the time she had, but we laughed a lot.</p>
<p>i live in boston and am going to college in chicago. my parents are making lobster for my last night in boston (per my request) as i will not be able to have good seafood until i return on winter break.</p>
<p>My daughter is going to Boston....I traditionally stay the weekend. get stuff for the dorm and have a special dinner before I leave Boston... like many have said the kids want to spend time with high school friends before they leave....in Boston I will have her to myself until the activities start on Sunday....</p>
<p>The Dark Knight is finally making it to our local cinema this weekend, so that's the plan for tomorrow night, and D's favorite Indian restaurant on Saturday, then she's off to the airport on Sunday.</p>