<p>Funny thing, I am running out to Target now to get some stuff for the Valentine goody box.
I already have some window clings that I bought from Joannes (the Christmas ones were a big hit), some candy and a movie. D is in a traditional dorm so she can’t bake, so I won’t send that stuff.</p>
<p>woody-I love the “kid valentine” idea. D will have a lot of fun with that.
And I have my fingers crossed for your D getting in her first choice sorority. Let us know.</p>
<p>I think my S would stop speaking to me forever if I sent him anything remotely resembling a Valentine’s gift!</p>
<p>Years ago I started the tradition of sending my boys a pair of Valentine-motif sleeping pants from Old Navy. It’s gotten to the point that last year when the Valentine pants were late to arrive S1 and DIL called me, concerned that I had forgotten the tradition. (I started including DIL when it became clear that one day she would be my DIL).</p>
<p>I also include silly things like the conversaion candy hearts, etc. And I always include one “embarrassing” item–the boys expect it and love it as much as they say they don’t.</p>
<p>Years ago when the girls were very little I started a Valentines breakfast tradition. Didn’t matter if it was a school day or weekend. Different every year - heart shaped pancakes, muffins, coffeecake, etc. I must own every heart shaped baking pan ever made! plus all kinds of fruit cut in heart shapes, cranberry juice with heart shaped ice cubes. (ok maybe I got a little carried away some years ;)) So I was dreading this year, the first w/o D1. But D2 is having a camp reunion at our house that weekend and I guess she has bragged about the <3 breakfasts, because there is great anticipation withn the group for “Mama PRJ’s Valentine Breakfast Extravaganza” ;)</p>
<p>Haven’t thought yet about D1’s Valentine care package :(</p>
<p>My mom and I used to do something similar but with dinner. Heart-shaped anything: hamburgers, red jello, anything we could come up with. I have very fond memories of it.</p>
<p>D comes home a couple of days prior to Valentine’s day and 1 day prior to her b’day. I’m still planning on sending her a box. So far I have mostly candy. I’ll also pick up some other goodies for her. Since she won’t be at school for her b’day I’ve also had a cookie cake sent a week before her b’day from Mrs. Fields. We’ll do a cake her with her presents when she comes home and I’ll have something small for her for Valentine’s day here since she’ll be home. </p>
<p>I also did the heart thing when the kids were small. seemed to loose that as they got older and weren’t always around do to sports. :(</p>
<p>oooohhh! Heart-shaped hamburgers - now there’s an idea!
Well, D got a bid from her sorority but of the 3 friends who rushed, one didn’t get a bid. She and the other accepted girl are going back the house tonight. Among questions re: fees, housing, etc., they plan to say - as nicely as possible - they will join if the 3rd girl gets a bid. I’m not sure I want to hear all of this drama. It is sooo not like her. On the other hand, she really is interested in their primary philanthropic effort as well as the whole social aspect. It seems a little “Betty Co-ed” to me but what do I know… I commuted to college.</p>
<p>I don’t know sororities from a hole in the ground, but I don’t think pledges can demand friends be in their pledge class. Or rather, you’d have to be one very confident girl to risk your own bid.</p>
<p>I used to do the heart shaped meatloaf - easy enough to outline in ketchup as well. Pink mashed potatoes and peas. With kids 9 years apart in birth, it seems I’ve made meatloaf on valentines day forever!</p>
<p>Havent given a thought to a v-day box for S, and honestly, for how much he acknowledges anything sent (including his passport) I am thinking he is undeserving. (you know I will cave - maybe).</p>
<p>and oh Go Vikings… although New Orleans is showing up big!!</p>
<p>Hmmm, heart-shaped meatloaf…I don’t know. H and I are just coming down from our high over Friday night’s meatloaf. This could be too much for us to handle!!</p>
<p>Over winter break, Eggson went to visit Grandpa who took him out to eat at the country club. It was understood that he could order anything on the menu (prime rib, steak, fresh fish…).</p>
<p>Dear eggson ordered meatloaf. He said they have it a lot at the dining hall and he has come to like it quite a bit.</p>
<p>Perhaps I should work on the heart-shapeded version.</p>
<p>You’ve got a few weeks to recover, Woody… I think you’ve still got it in ya!</p>
<p>JTerm has proven low key enough that it makes me slightly concerned that when the semester starts he’ll have come to see this past month as how college “should” be. 
He did tell me today however that he is loving this sculpture class he is in and finds himself in the studio a lot. He also happened to mention he has gone there two sunday evenings only to find the professor there as well – so he’s thinking he’s definitely been earning points on the “process” part of the grade. Now… it’s still up in the air as to how he will do on the actually critique of the “art” itself!</p>
<p>Hello all
My last post was on page 513 so I am not even going to try to catch up. Been gone for the past 9 days. Hope everyone and their kiddos are all OK. No word from my wayward boy. Hope that is a good thing :-/</p>
<p>Woody, congratulations to your daughter and her intentions around the girl who didn’t get the bid say quite a bit about her character! Please let us know how it goes. </p>
<p>D has a male friend who really wanted a bid from a particular fraternity and, at the same time, he and another friend agreed to live together next year. Yup, the friend got a bid and will live in the house next year and D’s friend didn’t get a bid. He showed up last night to go to the house’s party and they wouldn’t let him in. I feel so badly for him. From what I can tell, there are some really good things about the Greek system and others that, well, really suck.</p>
<p>good to see you back, #TM. I’ve had some communication with my wayward son but unfortunately I think he’s back to his old lying to mom ways. He forgets that I can see facebook wall to wall with some of his friends so I know exactly what he’s been up to- and it hasn’t been Saturday night studying. So everything I hear I’m taking with a grain of salt. </p>
<p>D just started rush on Saturday. Two days of round robins where they visit every house. Then they pick their favorites and sororities pick theirs. If they match up, they proceed to the next round. She’ll find out today where she goes next. I think she has a good attitude and is realistic about where she fits in the pecking order. She just wants a group of girls to be friends with. </p>
<p>collage1, same thing happened to my son that happened to your D’s friend. Hopefully he can find other activities to engage in.</p>
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<p>I agree and that’s why I was so surprised that my D, who herself was sometimes left out of friend groups in HS and who often defended and befriended the kids who didn’t fit in, would be drawn to a sorority.</p>
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<p>shhh… isn’t this a “flaw” in FB privacy that we don’t want the kids to know about? 
I don’t think my D knows that I can see her wall-to-wall posts either. </p>
<p>welcome back #tm!</p>
<p>woody- Congrats to your D. It’s unfortunate about her friend, though. Sadly, the prospective new members really don’t have a say in who gets a bid. Your D can choose to join the sorority and still stay friends with this girl, or not join. I remember situations like this from my own college days, and it was always a tough one. Good luck to your D in making her decision.</p>
<p>Second semester rush is so much humane than first semester rush. Lots of schools have the students go to school two weeks early in the fall for rush. If they don’t get a bid, that is how their college experience starts - with utter rejection. The stories I hear out of A&M and other schools are just heartbreaking.</p>
<p>Missy- That’s true, however I came in as a transfer student and rushing/pledging right away gave me an immediate connection to my school. So if it works out in your favor, first semester rush can be a good thing.</p>
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<p>Right…you either have a great feeling of acceptance or a great feeling of rejection.</p>
<p>Both of the girls I know at A&M who rushed this fall got bids, but each of their roommates didn’t. Tears, drama, misery. Then classes start!</p>
<p>D seems to have a good attitude about the whole process. I’m hoping for the best. Rush is stressful but at least it’s over in a week and she does have plenty of other activities should it not pan out. </p>
<p>Analyst, I enjoyed reading your posts about cleaning S1’s house- I fear that will be me next year. Everytime I see D it’s all I can do to restrain myself from cleaning the dorm room and most often I am unsuccessful. I hope next year’s roomie will force her to clean the apartment together at a designated time!</p>