<p>My baby is 18! Finally she will be home from school on Friday. It has been a long 3 months. I am busy working on a welcome home sign filled with pictures of her family and lots of glitter. Anyone else planning a special welcome home? Her request for a favorite meal is homemade mac n cheese. I am also bringing a big balloon to the airport. And I bought a few cute little gifts that I have in number order on her bed. I can’t wait!! Saturday we are going shopping together like old times.</p>
<p>I’m jealous–my soph baby is going to see his Uncle for thanksgiving this year, which both are thrilled about. However, it means I have to wait until 12/20 to see him again 
He’s been calling lately, though, and we’ve had great chats, so…it’s…ok… Enjoy your reunion!!!</p>
<p>My freshman (S#3) arrives home for the first time next Tuesday! I’m stocking up on all his favorite foods and the dogs, fresh from the groomer, will be coming to the airport with us.</p>
<p>Our son will be home for a week. He’s planning time with his girlfriend and then (presumably) will have some face time with his parents and the dog. We’re planning a regular, low-key week. I know he wants to see friends and visit his high school. And I hope he’ll recognize (and appreciate) his pristine, dust-free room with its visible carpet, freshly made bed, and safe air quality.</p>
<p>I remember my first visit home from college. I felt smothered! My family had moved, so I had no local friends to hang out with. It wasn’t an especially fun time, and I was glad to get back. I don’t want my son to have that memory of his first Thanksgiving as a college student.</p>
<p>Our golden is seeing the groomer tomorrow! I am glad that my senior son comes home a bit later so I can focus special attention on my daughter. Then I can make my son’s favorite dishes, not mac n cheese.</p>
<p>Why is it we sent the dogs to the groomer before the kids come home? Mine is going Wednesday before Thanksgiving as I have a few non dog lovers coming for dinner, so I want the pup to smell her best!! I would have like to take her this week before the kids get home, but by Thanksgiving she will look like she has never had a bath. My pup is one big tomboy and loves to roll in the grass and walk through the creek on her weekend hikes.</p>
<p>Lucky you, I hope you have a wonderful time together!</p>
<p>Our son isn’t due home until December 13th. It will have been 4 months since we’ve seen him. He is so cute - talking about all the family time he’s looking forward to (absence really does make the heart grow fonder). My husband and I know that will last about 24 hours, then he’ll be off catching up with his friends 24/7 ;)</p>
<p>I have to pick up my 2nd year grad student (!) from the airport on Tuesday afternoon. We haven’t seen him since 8/15. It is still fun to have him at “home.” He is more enjoyable to have around the house than he was when he was in college. :)</p>
<p>Not taking the dog to the groomer before DS comes home in Dec but maybe I’ll break out the dog shampoo and the hose :)</p>
<p>Younger D went to a summer language program, spent one day at home, then headed back to college for her fall semester. So, when we pick her up at the airport late Monday evening, she will have been away FIVE MONTHS with only that one day in August at home! This is the child that held my hand into the 6th grade. I can hear a weariness in her voice that tells me its time to come home - this last week can’t go by fast enough! Doesn’t help that she got sick last week and is now buried with work to do!</p>
<p>I’ve cleaned and air freshened her room, washed and gassed up her car, and have a shopping list prepared so I can make her favorite meals the two days before our traditional Thanksgiving meal (which she loves). I’ve decorated more than usual for fall/Thanksgiving and raked/leaf vacuumed the yard on several occasions so “home” will look lovely when we drive up. I bathe the (her) dog and that is done - so even though he is old and now suffers from a heart problem, he looks lovely! She has not seen him since the diagnosis - it will be a tearful reunion.</p>
<p>I’m so excited to see my dog (we have two, but one is more my sister’s and one is mine). I joke with my mom that I miss the dog more than I miss them, because at least I got to see my parents for parents’ weekend! ;)</p>
<p>I’m also extremely excited to see old friends, some of whom I haven’t seen since last June.</p>
<p>S1(senior) and S2 (freshman) will be come next Tues. night. Our state u’s only get three days for Thanksgiving. They will be back in less than 2 weeks for Christmas break though.</p>
<p>We saw S1 twice already this month which was great. S2 was last here mid Oct. for Fall Break. He is one of those “sons who don’t call or write” as evidenced by the fact that he has not called at all in the 6 weeks that have passed since FB. Hopefully, we’ll have some actual conversation when he’s here in person. I’m not holding out hope of seeing much of them. They are both usually out the door soon after arriving home…gotta see those friends. </p>
<p>I did send an email asking for special food requests for Thanksgiving. Haven’t done one bit of cleaning…will wash S2’s comforter before his arrival. The dog has taken over his bed since S2 left for college,lol.</p>
<p>It will be sort of a bittersweet Thanksgivng for us. S1 will commission in the U.S. Navy when he graduates in May. Chances are good that this will be the last Thanksgiving (and Christmas) together for awhile.</p>
<p>Apparently my room is clean for the first time in a looooong time.</p>
<p>It has also, according to my mom, become the room where all the laundry accumulates before it gets done. :)</p>
<p>I told her, “As long as I can still sleep in that bed when I come home, you do whatever you want with it.”</p>
<p>My D left July 7, was home once for less than a week the third week of August. She will be home Dec 13 and gets to stay home for over a month! Hurray! We can’t wait to have her here under our roof. Her room has been unnaturally clean for too long. It’s disorienting.</p>
<p>I am a little sad because I can’t see either of my college age kids for Thanksgiving. They are spending it with their father’s side. Christmas will be short too:(</p>