<p>go2mom … I’m so sorry to hear about your sweet four-legged love. Be gentle with yourself. Your D is lucky to have a supportive, understanding Mom helping her through this crazy end-of-junior year compounded with this huge loss. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the info about housing deposits and admission deposits and ARGH … I’m not ready! But I’m taking notes!</p>
<p>And good luck to all the kids taking SATs and SAT Subject tests tomorrow.</p>
<p>So tomorrow DS11 is flying to another state for a 10 week summer research position after 2 short weeks home from college. DS14 is taking SAT tomorrow for the second time. And they just had a huge blow up over missed signals for sharing the car this afternoon! DS 11 stormed off to see friends for a last visit and DS11 is slamming doors and muttering that I don’t think he is responsible. I had planned dinner at our favorite burger and ice cream diner and a calm family time before tomorrow’s big events. Ugh!!! How do we regroup and settle down???</p>
<p>Evening.
K2 has finished exams and is a rising Sr.
SAT tom. ACT next weekend.
Expected to take a math course this summer and also do a camp related to the EC.</p>
<p>Busy few weeks.
Spent time with mom…hospice bed in place. Met on call nurse. Dying can be slow and difficult :(</p>
<p>K1 is home with an injury that side lined K1 from international competition this summer.
Will be doing a summer job or an “internship”…next few days will help</p>
<p>Hope all are well.
I will try and read last few pages during the weekend.</p>
<p>xoxo to all</p>
<p>go2mom – I know this is kind of late but I’m sorry about your sweet little pup. A dear friend of mine lost her dog and her mother the same year, and she said each one was as painful as the other.</p>
<p>I just got off a hour long conference call (trying to hire 2 new employees). This one guy (who decided 9 pm on a Friday night was a good time to chat) basically kept asking the equivalent of “if 2 + 2 is 4, then what is 2 + 2?” I lost it. How do you explain it? His question was more complicated, but the premise was the same – a question whose answer was so obvious it didn’t need to be asked. I think next time I’ll defer to the men on the call, who can buy some time by saying things like “just so I’m straight here – do you mean 2 + 2, or 2 plus 2?”</p>
<p>Is the vending machine working? Who wants to help me tip it over?</p>
<p>Son '14 still has three days of school, but good grades earned him exemptions to his finals. While many of his classmates take finals, he plans to assist various teachers in doing inventory of textbooks, etc. He does not say much about graduation, but I know he is a little sad to see the seniors go, as he had several senior friends. He pointed out that he won’t have too many people to hang with this coming year. Anyone else going through that?</p>
<p>The coming days will be busy ones. Son is going to referee a bunch of youth soccer games at a local tournament. He has a volunteer gig at a retirement dinner – NHS always helps out. There is a spring sports ceremony one night – not sure if he will attend. Has an appointment regarding the removal of his wisdom teeth. Meanwhile, his older brother will have surgery (hernia) in about 10 days. And of course, I’m busy with the end of the year things from the teaching side.</p>
<p>Oh, and from the college tour scene, this development: When Son '14 saw the list of kids set to attend an OOS school on his applications list, he immediately withdrew the idea of attending there. Oh, he likes the school, but he fears that he may not be challenged enough. Many are all right students - decent enough to get into the school but not overly academic. I understand his concern, and I said that kids do grow up and often change their approach to academics. He understands that, but he pointed out, it is much more expensive than other OOS schools that will offer more merit money. So, we’re off to find some new schools to see this summer. Isn’t this college thing great?</p>
<p>Morning All</p>
<p>Good luck to those taking the SAT or SAT2s today.</p>
<p>Classof2015— Are we trying to get that BabyRuth bar out of the machine…it’s been mocking me for days! :)</p>
<p>^ha! No – it’s the Twizzlers.</p>
<p>fogfog…I’m so sorry to hear about your mother. My thoughts and prayers are with you.</p>
<p>Thanks you all, for your kind words about my situation with my little dog. It’s been a hard week and I still feel like I have “phantom dog leg.” Keep thinking she is underfoot. The kids are doing remarkably well although my son mutes any commercials on TV dealing with dog food or tick and flea relief.</p>
<p>go2girl was shocked to learn that she got an A on the AP Chem final, despite taking it under the cloud of the unknown that day. Probably the only good thing that happened that week. She’s off to take the Subject tests today but was in panic mode last night as she realized she is completely unprepared. She’s dropping the math 2 – the curve is brutal on that one and she can take in the fall if necessary. She’ll take a chance on chem and English lit. I know she’s exhausted and frankly, so am I. I have hounded her for months to take time to crack open the prep books I bought her for Christmas. She’s frustrated that she thought she could do it without it…the practice tests last night were a rude awakening. C’est la vie.</p>
<p>We still have school until the 14th. We’re heading to graduation today to see some of our favorite seniors cross the stage and a couple of graduation parties. Hard to believe that will be us in a year. </p>
<p>Congrats to all of you who have finished the junior year…it’s been a whopper.</p>
<p>Fog, I am sorry to hear about your mother’s decline. I hope that these coming days play out with serenity and peace for you and your family.</p>
<p>fogfog … so sorry to hear about your mom. My MIL was on home hospice w/ KaMaDad and I being the primary caregivers. The hospice nurses are angels on earth in my opinion. Angels.</p>
<p>DD14 is taking Math 2 & Bio subject tests this morning. I think taking them now was perfect timing … she’s been studying for finals anyway. Her practice tests went really well … so we’ll see. </p>
<p>After the whirlwind Collegepalooza '13 East Coast tour this spring break, she decided that her top choice (I think - at least today anyway) is Vandy. We visited over fall break and she wanted to go back for their PreVU program this summer … so her and I will do a quick girls only trip down to Nashville. Our state flagship is her safety … and she’s definitely got her head on straight about the odds of these reach schools so I’m not concerned. </p>
<p>Last day of school is next Thurs … so jealous of all of you that are done already. The week after she’ll start shadowing our family doctor. He’s young and cute - let’s just say DD14 is looking forward to this summer. </p>
<p>Hope everyone is doing well. I haven’t been around much and haven’t had time to really read back on this thread … the speed of life is ever increasing. 
Just one year from now and my firstborn will be graduating. I’m going to blink and it will be here.</p>
<p>Sigh.</p>
<p>Good morning! We had our dinner out. Everyone was civil. Up at 5:30 to help DS11 make an 8:00 flight. Dad took him while I helped DS14 get out the door fed and on time for SAT. Planning on this being final SAT go round. Good luck to all testers.</p>
<p>fog - I thought the late night tipping of the vending machine was for an adult beverage. Funny that Classof2015 was looking for twizzlers (love em!). Remembering that we are indeed in a hospitality suite I just order room service (and the emergency supply of chocolate and bottles stashed in the kitchen). </p>
<p>I’m also sorry to hear about your mom. Even though the mind is logically preparing for the progression, we may know what the next steps of an illness are going to be, there is no way to be prepared emotionally. Be kind to yourself. Sending hugs.</p>
<p>momreads - My S3 is also going to be missing many of his friends who are graduating this year. His EC is also a big part of his social outlet and the students don’t make a big distinction between grade level. S2 also leaves tomorrow for his summer internship. He’ll be home many weekends, but they are very close and I know S3 has enjoyed having him home for a couple of weeks.</p>
<p>Sending good vibes to all of our test takers this morning! I always stay on high anxiety untill I get a call that my kiddo is done with the test. It’s not so much a matter of the score, just they took the test, no irregularities, everything went fine, etc. I realize things can crop up later but I do feel better with the initial “everything went fine”.</p>
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<p>Yes! My DS really only has 2 good friends and they’re both seniors. 
He’s clueless enough that he has no idea what their plans are for next year, so I don’t know if either one will still be in the area.</p>
<p>Hope all SAT takers this morning are feeling relieved and at least temporarily stress-free this afternoon. DS thought the Math Ii wasn’t awful. Still waiting for DD to get home from SAT I. She was not happy with any of her ACT results, even after tutoring, so decided to give the SAT a try. Based on the PSAT, I really expect it to be in line with her ACT percentiles though.</p>
<p>Like many of your kiddos, reality has set in and DD is realizing she is going to miss several of the graduating seniors and is worried that next year will seem “empty.” I think that’s part of the reason for her mini-meltdown last week, when she declared that she “wasn’t ready” to be a Senior and we need to find some colleges to look at closer to home because she doesn’t know if she wants to go far away any more! We have put all college talk with her on hold until she less stressed. Although, with a summer full of work, summer AP work, music lessons, and college apps, I’m beginning to wonder if she is really going to feel any less stressed?? :(</p>
<p>Still trying to get in a few more college visits with DS, but he finishes school this week, and then starts a full time job in a lab next week, and then goes right into summer practice for cross country, so I have no idea how we’re going to pull it off. Anyone have any firsthand knowledge of U of Richmond? CDS says that a visit is not “Important,” but wondering if it would help in the quest for some $$…</p>
<p>Fogfog–I recall how sad and challenging it was when my Dad was in hospice, so sorry to hear about your Mom.</p>
<p>My s was one who retook the SAT today, his idea, as he is aiming for applying ED and wants to improve his score, he came home feeling very confident, the prep he did on his own he feels really helped. My d graduated college last Friday evening and it’s been a whirlwind, as she left for New Orleans the next day. Looking forward to summer, even though it’s really always summer down here.</p>
<p>KaMamom – we’re also planning to do one of Vandy’s Prevu days, still trying to decide the best date. Did you already register? Wondering how long it is to get a response when you do.</p>
<p>blueiguana–I agree, whenever my kids were taking these tests, it’s like we’re on high alert.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry, Fogfog. Prayers for you and your family. </p>
<p>Sorry to hear about go2family’s dog. We just got our first dog, a puppy, about a month ago. I was not a dog person and never really “got” it. So I was really surprised how quickly I became attached to ours. It brought back my feelings of worrying about my newborns. And now I can understand how hard it must be to say goodbye to your pet.</p>
<p>Three SAT sub tests today. Hopefully they went ok. The proctor who checked in the kids put my kid in the wrong room and son had to question his placement when it became clear that he was not in the right place. Then later proctor threatened 2 other kids in the room to disqualify their scores because he thought one was looking at the other’s score. I think that shook my kid up a bit.</p>
<p>lindz … yes, I registered a couple of days ago. Some of the first several dates are already booked! The response is immediate - if it says it’s available, fill out the form online and voila! you’re in! We’re doing July 22 I believe.</p>
<p>So sorry about your mom fogfog… Your comments made me think about life in general. </p>
<p>D came home from SAT feeling a little bit disappointed. D took the first practice test yesterday for Math2 and didn’t do well. Since she wants to go into engineering, she needs good Math2 scores and will probably have to take it again. </p>
<p>She has three finals next week, two big projects due for Lit and APUSH, band concert, and on top of that she needs to get five volunteer hours before Friday for NHS. Her Robotics team coach scheduled a mandatory meeting on Tues. </p>
<p>One good news, she felt good about the other two tests, though she didn’t take practice tests for those subject tests.</p>
<p>ChrysanthMum - I wouldn’t sweat the Math2. I’ve shared before here how Jr yr spring about undid my rock solid S2. His Math2 wasn’t bad but also an e’school admit he know there were going to be so many students submitting 800s. He retested in the fall and bumped about 80 pts. They are simply spread so thin right now. Your D may do beautifully and put it behind her, but if she needs to retest it’s nbd.</p>