<p>D is home - all is well with the world…
I picked her up at midnight - she looked absoluately wiped out, but smiling. She had pretty much gone without sleep for almost two days with the long trip home. She had a wonderful time - loved her village, her host family and the people - the whole experience. She was thrilled to come home to a hot shower! A mattress! Hot and cold running water! Fresh fruit! Even a warm house (quite warm); it is winter in South America and she said on many mornings when she poked her head out of her sleeping bag she saw her breath!
She is still sleeping and I am working from home today. We need to merge our “to-do” lists. I of course came up with a rather lengthy one focusing on thank you notes and shopping/packing. I suspect hers is more of the calling/visiting/hanging out variety. That’s ok - we still have a few weeks before she has to leave. I am just happy to have my little family together under one roof, at least for a little while.</p>
<p>Wonderful news Cooker.
I know that feeling of happy to have them under our roof…as kiddo got home this week too. I have my to-do lists and right now kiddo is focused on down-time, FB, food and sleep!
Kiddo just woke up…was up late with friends etc</p>
<p>Cooker - Sounds like your D had a great time. What a wonderful experience she will always remember. </p>
<p>12 Days til H & S leave for move in. H is getting very nervous and driving me crazy. He wants S to pack now. But, if S packs now he has nothing left to wear. OK, the Northface, boots and books can be packed. I send H info by email so he has a permanent copy of whatever he needs (dorm insurance, bank info, BBB etc), he tells me he never got them. yiyiyi This from an IT guy who loves his electronics and is always typing away on his crackberry. So now I will sit down with him and go over what he needs to take care of with S when they fly out. I think H is starting realize this may be the last summer S lives at home (even if the only time he is home is when he is sleeping) and is getting emotional. I have asked S to give up a couple of nights with his friends between now and the day he flies out to spend with H. He is staying home tonight and told H he would like to do something like go to the movies with him.</p>
<p>Places DS, DH and I need to visit in the next five days:</p>
<p>Walmart or Target for a customized long list of personal hygeine and cleaning supplies and other things deemed necessary from all the various lists</p>
<p>Old Navy for new boxers (DS prefers their brand over others, no clue why, but I have a coupon)</p>
<p>Hardware store for tool kit, auto safety kit and bike lock (this one is DH’s task)</p>
<p>Shoe store for new shoes (duh!)</p>
<p>BBB (because I have a 20% off coupon–probably a reading pillow)</p>
<p>Kohl’s (because I have a 30% off coupon)</p>
<p>and someplace for a printer and desk chair.</p>
<p>One store tonight, two tomorrow night, two on Saturday and two on Sunday. DS hates to shop so that would be his limit. Could have done one a day if he hadn’t put it all off.</p>
<p>Fridge and microwave (split cost with roommate) are already at WalMart in Columbia, Mo., ready for pickup on Wednesday.</p>
<p>His car is getting a new windshield today (hail damage from a recent storm) and a variety of repairs tomorrow.</p>
<p>He gets his haircut this afternoon.</p>
<p>What have I forgotten? Whatever it is, he has a car, money in the bank and a GPS!</p>
<p>^ I hear you about counting down the nights left in the house. Here everyone works full time with hour plus commutes each way and very early wake up times (that is except me :D). After dinner everyone falls asleep with digital paraphenalia in their hands in the family room. I look around with no one to talk to. It’s frustrating but the norm. I toss pillows at people to try to talk but get grunts instead. If I suggest they go to bed where they would be more comfortable they open one eye and glare.</p>
<p>It finally hit our S and he admitted it as many of his friends are leaving this week and next. His GF left two weeks ago because she plays a fall sport. He is already trying to negotiate a way to visit her at her school this fall over one of his 3 day weekends. So now instead of working on the unfinished to-do list, he is devoting most of his time to friends and FB with new roomate and GF. (It must be something in the air :D) He did take the early part of last night off and he and I went to the Indians - Tigers baseball game and we had a good time. Other than a local Alumni Club reception and send-off and a farewell BBQ at our house with the full local family, he will be mostly missing in action from dinner time on throughout the evening.</p>
<p>{{{{hugs}}}] to all feeling the empty next blues (or looming empty nest). I feel blessed that DS is leaving a bit later than others in the area. He’s been spending a lot of his time with friends, but I know they will all be gone soon, and he will still have time here with us before he leaves. Today he made cheese puffs (gougeres) to take to a party he’s attending tonight with friends. I think it is about the last hurrah as everyone will be leaving in the next week or so for school. </p>
<p>An update for those who remember my Eagle Scout story. He is finally having his Eagle Scout ceremony this weekend. His Mom called me with some questions then thanked me for everything I’ve done for her son, who she said shunned her and her husband from anything scouting. She was glad we had been there for him since he didn’t want his parents involved. It was nice to talk to her. He will be attending the local community college and hopefully with find his passion and embrace it. </p>
<p>She also told me that he really was inspired by my DS who gave the commencement speech at graduation. He told his mom that he knew my DS was on the quiet side and not usually a public speaker and was impressed that he would get up in front of the entire school and give such a great speech. He said it inspired him to try things that make him uncomfortable (like college). Made me cry to hear that! So now I’m crying again writing it. You can imagine the mess I will be when I have to hug DS goodbye and walk away!!!</p>
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<p>Are you sure we aren’t living the same life??? Sounds way too familiar!! :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Hypothetically, if one were to kill their offspring in the next couple days, do you think that hypothetical parent would get the tuition money back?</p>
<p>Quick question:</p>
<p>We have had a couple of communications from Direct Loans about a unsub loan to UNC. We completed the FAFSA In Feb and listed 10 schools.My D decided not to attend UNC in the spring. We have shredded the previous letters that were delivered and assumed that the system would catch up. I just received another with the dates of distribution to UNC. I can’t find a number to call on the mailing.</p>
<p>Do you think I need to call UNC Financial Aid office or can I shred this?</p>
<p>bajamm- Congratulations on your D completing her Gold Award!!! If the advisor signs the final report, council should approve it without any issues. Does she have to present her project before a board at your council? My D had to sit with 2 members of the Gold Award committee to review her project, after the forms were submitted. It was a formality, but it was something that had to be done.</p>
<p>Just got a text message from S asking if we had bacon in the house. He wants to come home and make breakfast for dinner for the family tonight. 
I am going to miss my boy. :(</p>
<p>Hi All</p>
<p>We did the BBB run today.
Kiddo hasn’t heard back from roommmate yet–so we handled what kiddo included in the message. The BBB run took almost 2 hrs! Who knew? I even brought in the wish list–and the assistant (shout out to Jessica!!) was able to key in the items. Problem was that all of the lamps, and many other items we selected were not available at the BBB …and we didn’t even select the one closest to the U!! So our BBB will be transferring a cart full of stuff from here tom morning to the other BBB…at which time it should all be ready for us on the other side (Fingers crossed) two weeks from today! And the asst here had to call the BBB to ask them to pull the very last comforter in the pattern kiddo choose. She was able to get the TwinXL–I had figured a full would be fine if no XL was left…so saved $30 with the XL…</p>
<p>Kiddo wondered outloud whether the U started later since so many things were sold out/out of stock and we had to find substitutes…(ah no grasshopper…remember those PMs I sent you with links to the BBB site to look at bedding options wich you ignored all summer while understandably busy winning medals and trophies!) Still glad kiddo did this today and that I didn’t do it alone because kiddo chose a few different things and we added to the list/left off other stuff…</p>
<p>Still have to decide between ordering the fridge or buying it</p>
<p>…and hoping the roommate match is good.</p>
<p>Thankfully the results for the testing required for NCAA came in so I am off to the UPS overnight box so kiddo can be released to train/compete.</p>
<p>Our younger kiddo is starting to realize the 2 week countdown means the older sibling will be moved out. Having been gone all summer–we are enjoying the chatter between the two of them…the days are flying…and the younger sibling is a little kinder, softer and more sentimental right now…</p>
<p>Kiddo has a potential schedule worked out and is looking forward to checking out the teachers etc.
I have asked kiddo to wait and see how things are falling into place and to check with the work-study. Until kiddo knows when the lab time is, and what else is expected, it will be hard to select a job. Hope kiddo can find the right thing,</p>
<p>Hugs to all…</p>
<p>I think it is finally hitting D that she will be leaving for college in just over a week. We leave Maine for home/Boston on Saturday, and then she goes to Pre-orientation the following Saturday. H and I will follow with the car full of stuff the following Friday (Pre-orientation is a 6-day hiking trip in the Green Mountains, so she needs a different set of stuff for that than for dorm life). It doesn’t seem real up here on vacation, but packing up to go home is making it all come too close.</p>
<p>AmandaK: Well, you’d certainly be entitled to it! A little soiling of the nest going on at your house?</p>
<p>HighHead…we had hoped for kiddo to do the FOOT trip too…yet after being gone all summer, I really wanted a to be together a few days. From what we saw in video and pics etc…the FOOT trip is amazing and the kids make friends and start off well. Kiddo has all the gear for a trip like that…just wasn’t in the cards. Hope we run into eachother at the parent stuff…Small world, you just never know :)</p>
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lol…snort…AK you are too funny. Did you sign up for tuition insurance ;)?</p>
<p>AK - I am glad you asked that question! I was thinking I needed Pepper’s frying pan - My D is definitely soiling the nest right now!</p>
<p>Amanda – I think you will only lose your deposit. 
:D</p>
<p>As you see from AvonHSDad’s countdown, we are next up to move in tomorrow. Took off work today to get all the stuff gathered and packed. Midafternoon, checked DS’ school email – he has an email from the head RA in his dorm, saying that one of their first dorm activities will be a party with the women’s dorm and suggested that they bring a set of dress clothes.</p>
<p>To which I say: HA! My son wore dress clothes, i.e. a dark suit, for prom and only for prom. His idea of “dressing up” is wearing cargo shorts with a collared shirt. He’s gone to the GF’s house right now, so I guess I’ll ask him later if he wants to throw in a pair of khakis and a golf shirt. [Seems like that email should have come a day or two ago, don’t cha think???] :rolleyes:</p>
<p>gsmomma, no one has told us she needs to go before all or part of the committee for her gold award report. I hope she doesn’t, she is about out of time.</p>
<p>The empty blue chest was out of the car on the ground behind the car when I came home from work today. It promptly got run over when D went to go to the bank. Now it is empty and in the garbage can and she has to figure another way to move clothes to school and store stuff while at school.</p>
<p>@amandakayak - very funny</p>