<p>My inlaws arrive two weeks from Weds for about 24 hours and I still get freaked out about making the house immaculate…though I haven’t exactly started on that yet… My inlaws would NEVER be critical either–it’s just ME. The good thing is the house starts out loking pretty good for Summer that way.</p>
<p>I often use the visitor “excuse” to get my house clean. I invite people over so I HAVE to clean it. Pretty pathetic. I n fact any time my S sees me cleaning he asks “who is coming over?”</p>
<p>Isn’t that the reason to have company for dinner?</p>
<p>It is at our house!!!</p>
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And so it is! </p>
<p>Heck, we go to an area of RI called by its Native American name of Quonochontaug. Everyone just ends up calling it Quonnie since the pronunciation is a mystery unless you live there!</p>
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I knew someone in college from “skinny-atlas”, so I knew this one. Also had a friend from “Lou-i-vul”.</p>
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Me, too.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion of buying the laptop early and having the kids “play” with it. My DD is still deciding what she wants and what she needs on hers. I like the idea of calling the college and finding out what she needs.</p>
<p>Love the idea, thanks for sharing that. My DD has lots of friends that will be staying at our local Community College so this will be a fun way of being able to share some time with them before she leaves.</p>
<p>Intro - new to CC but have been reading and getting info for a while. Mother of 2 girls, both graduated this past week. One is headed off to ASU, Barett Honors college to study Music Ed. My other one will stay at our local Community College. Glad to be here.</p>
<p>Welcome Bandie Mom!</p>
<p>We are in graduation countdown - D is taking her last final as I write, graduation rehearsal tomorrow, in laws arrive Friday, grad party Saturday, and graduation Sunday. Only 5 dozen cookies and 1 batch of punch left to make for the party :)</p>
<p>I got a little misty-eyed dropping her off at school this morning for the very last time, but I actually think it will be harder when school starts again in August and I only have one D to drop off. For the first time in 15 years. Sigh.</p>
<p>We are using the graduation party as an excuse to paint ceilings, de-clutter the house and barn & get the yard spruced up. After S graduates from high school in 2010, there won’t be anymore excuses, we will have to motivate ourselves!</p>
<p>PRJ–those “lasts” definitely do that to us. your grad party sounds like fun
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slumom–love your strategy–I’ve always used special occasions as an opportunity to paint, and fix up…funny didn’t realize we all did that 
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<p>waiting for college freshman s to return for summer…he felt so bad he couldn’t be here for his sister’s graduation, so its a good excuse to celebrate again…</p>
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<p>Oy something else to worry about!</p>
<p>We also use graduation parties as an "excuse"to update around the house! We replaced outside light fixtures, foyer chandelier, painted trim, deck and some rooms, some new landscaping projects and lots of heavy cleaning! Two more weeks until grad party and three until graduation. Still need to finish video and scrapbooks. Prom pics went well. Wish there was a place we could all see pics of the beautiful kids!</p>
<p>yes it is a good may to motivate H otherwise he just yesses me. We painted ithe inside finally. some walls were original painters flat white. I said we need a color my H says it is a color “white” anyway now he loves it. Still there is lots to be done and if it isn’t OH well. I hope they are here for D not the house. Oh yes the bare light bulb in the dining room will have a pretty light after the ceiling is painted from the upstairs leak.the house is not a wreck just always seems “undone”</p>
<p>Once I realized that my parents were going to be the only graduation guests, my desire to do big projects waned. I am trying to fertilize the flowers more, but I don’t think all the pots and beds will be totally full within the next 10 days.</p>
<p>Had a lot to catching up to do with this tread today! </p>
<p>Well, we’re all done with high school here! Spent Friday running around finishing up stuff, D’s graduation was on Saturday, she hung out with friends that graduated last year that evening, Sunday was pool party at our house with her guy friends and their families and then luckily Monday we got to recooperate! </p>
<p>Wasn’t till I sat down with D on Mon and just chatted for a while that we both got teary-eyed talking about what a great guys her friends are and how much she’ll miss them. (Her closest friends are all guys and they consider of her as ‘one of the guys’ as well!) Her girlfriend that was supposed to come totally bailed on her and didn’t even bother to call or anything…grrrrr! So anyway, we are done, now she just needs to get her license…get a job…clean her room…that last one should take probably until she leaves for college!</p>
<p>I feel like I have spent so much time planning/researching this year for so many things for her, that I’m kind of feeling the need to come up with some big project…</p>
<p>Y’all who are done seem to be handling it very well!</p>
<p>Missypie,</p>
<p>I was doing OK till I really thought about it, then got teary again this morning! I think D would give me the eye-roll if she knew about that! LOL!</p>
<p>S has been in graduation countdown mode since his AP exams. Senior trip to amusement park, springfest, club day, jamboree, etc. etc. </p>
<p>For anyone who checks in over in the Alley at the Cafe, the reason I need a few tall cools ones is all the gardening/yard work – which of course, is being done for the upcoming graduation party. Which could all be for naught, except for grandparents, since my somewhat rude relatives have yet to RSVP! Oh well, we’ll still have fun and the house and yard will look great!</p>
<p>Bought my dress today for graduation – which is June 5. Prom is June 3 – private schools are on their own schedule!</p>
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<p>Cali_mom: I’m not sure it will even happen then with my D! If you figure out a strategy to get it done, WITHOUT fighting during these last precious days/weeks/months, let me know!!</p>