<p>Happy to have kiddo under the same roof. Ran some errancds together including the bank–to order a new debit card–as kiddo’s has split/broken off at the magnetic strip.</p>
<p>Took kiddo for a haircut and then got some help with housework–cleaned bathrooms and kiddo vaccumed the entire place. Finish some grocery shopping and took kiddo for a Five Guys burger for lunch. </p>
<p>Right now kiddo is in room–playing music LOUDLY–and waiting for laptop to repair (the hard drive maybe got jostled in transit last night? idk…)</p>
<p>Have asked for some gift ideas for the holiday shopping.
Have been listening to all kinds of stories.
Good to be in the same room/car etc so the conversation just flows…</p>
<p>So happy for all of you whose kiddos have made it home and for the rest of us whose reunions are approaching quickly! Talked to DS last night; he has a crummy cold and sounds very tired. Classes cancelled for Tues but not Weds - which makes no sense! Expect lots of R & R for the weekend and cannot wait! Enjoy and look forward to hearing all the stories our kids are willing to share. Happy Thanksgiving to all!</p>
<p>I did finally get out of bed and spent two hours raking but called it quits. Now I’m vegging until it’s time for my yoga class. <em>ducking</em></p>
<p>Slithy I’m so glad someone is quick witted around here, I am going to have to try those out. I’m sure he’d at least leave a note, right? I think I could manage a note. Everyone in her grade is the oldest child in their family (or so it seems at least) and the keeping up with tooth fairies and other magical elements has never been my forte. I have lots of good excuses why they fail to leave cash for teeth - maybe it was too dirty? maybe it’s the fairy convention, they’re on vacation… bad mom right?</p>
<p>The thing is, I remember the conversation I had with myself as I was packing the little urchin away, and I remember thinking to myself - “Well that is hidden good, as long as I don’t forget next year where I hid it, HA!” And that is all I remember.</p>
<p>DS called earlier this evening. His ticket home is for a 530 flight on Wednesday out of DCA (Washington Reagan National) as his last class ends at 2 pm and he can get to the airport in 30 - 45 minutes or less. He announced that his profs have decided to cancel his Wednesday classes and he is now free on Tuesday afternoon.</p>
<p>Fare difference is over $600. DS will stay and study on Wednesday. He was advised to go to the airport early Wednesday morning the direct flights are showing ticket availability so he might have a chance to stand-by and get on earlier.</p>
<p>So much for school schedules and buying early to save. I think I need to borrow Pepper’s frying pan for a swing at the academic calender planner! :)</p>
<p>Now we have to figure out the Christmas break although he told us he has confirmed that his last final exam is on Saturday the 17th at 4 PM! :eek: Looks like he will fly home on Sunday morning.</p>
<p>Captain - so sorry for the late switch up. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that your son can get on one of those earlier flights. Bluejr also had some classes cancelled on Tuesday. For us it simply means the Mom Shuttle leaves earlier to get him so really no big deal. If it was the difference of an entire day home I would be reaching for the frying pan too!!!</p>
<p>Avon: I hear you! S2’s classes were to be done on Tues. so I booked the flight – early to get a good fare – after his classes were to be done. Then his Tuesday class was cancelled and his last class on Monday was done by 10 AM. We found out a couple of weeks ago, so gulped, paid the $150 to change the ticket and he came home yesterday. So much for my efforts to save money! I’ll help you to whack the academic calendar planners with that frying pan!</p>
<p>AmandaK: Maybe you need the system that my aunt and uncle told me that they use to keep track of things that they “hide” in the house. After putting things in safe places and not remembering where they were, they now videotape themselves. Probably wouldn’t work in my house as I probably wouldn’t be able to find the camcorder when I needed it, but works for them!</p>
<p>Wow! I was away for a few days. You’ve been chatty…I need to go back to catch up!</p>
<p>AvonDad, we have the same thing for Christmas. D’s last findal was to be Monday, Dec. 19, so in September we booked her flight for Dec. 20. She texted just this past Sunday that the last final is now Dec. 15 and can she come home earlier? I told her she would have to pay the change fees (I figure if she is telling me on a Sunday, that might mean that it was on her syllabus all along and she didn’t pay attention, she certainly didn’t just find out in class that day)</p>
<p>She decided to stay there and pick up a few shifts at her off campus job since she was going to have to take a few weeks off to be home.</p>
<p>I am happy to lend out the frying pan but since the demand seems to be at an all-time high I need to set up a lending system like a library has. :)</p>
<p>So nice to read about the homecomings! </p>
<p>Thing 1 is arriving this evening-Thing 2 actually said last night she was “excited” he was coming home. He has come home a couple of times but this is different because it is longer-I told her it will also be different because her brother will be spending much of his time with his HS friends-the ones he hasn’t seen in three months. It was music to my ears though to hear her say that-the girl who couldn’t get him out of here fast enough and would never miss him-she loves him! I already knew that but it still was special to hear-my daughter is not one to express her emotions.</p>
<p>He is excited-he loves the holidays, loves being with the family, is excited to be seeing his friends, is planning quality time with his dog, etc. He also is excited because he will be activating his new iPhone tonight-the rest of us have been using ours for a week and I must say they are pretty amazing. His phone barely can receive calls so he is going to be blown away by this. It is so bad that he has been unable to make an appointment with the eye doctor to move his visit up from January because he is having trouble with his contacts. I asked him did it ever occur to him to borrow someone else’s phone to make the call? That got a major eye roll from my girl! </p>
<p>He is still the same dopey kid who left here in August-and I think I am happy about that. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for all the morning laughs, actually went back and tried to catch up but by the time I got to this page, I forgot all the things I wanted to say!</p>
<p>Yale/Harvard Weekend was great, the tailgate tragedy of course was horrible. I spent the morning worrying about the poor kid driving the truck and praying that he had not been drinking ( he hadn’t thankfully). Then felt horrible for the woman who was killed. They had a moment of silence at half time! And the band was great (Was that your son Yalemom2015? I really am suffering from CRS this morning!) </p>
<p>Surprise went off beautifully. Arrived in New Haven at 11 at night and texted my D and my two older kids who of course were in on it. My D3 was like "why do you need to drop something off to me now??? (nice to see you too kid!) Well I got out of the car and hugged them, then told D3 to grab her “surprise” out of the car. She opened the door and her friend jumped out of the car hugged her and they both fell over. The look on my D3’s face was utter shock and she was laughing, crying etc. It was so Great!</p>
<p>Anyway, have a house full,all 4 of mine plus two friends, still waiting for friend #3 to arrive tomorrow. We picked up an extra International Friend at the game. Oldest D came over at Half-time and said, hey so and so is not going home for Thanksgiving and has no where to go can they come to our house. Of course we said yes, although oldest D and friend has classes Monday and Tuesday, they assured me they could skip so we all piled into our car on Sunday a.m. (2 adults and 6 kids) and drove home. Has been wonderful, everyone has been baking, eating, watching movies etc. I haven’t washed a dish since I got home. I have a feeling this week is going to go too quickly. </p>
<p>^^^ Love that EAO…so glad the big surprise was a SURPRISE!</p>
<p>Have to share a little tidbit…</p>
<p>Kiddo was helping me clean the house, I was doing bathrooms and kiddo was vaccuming etc. Kiddo got an email…
from a coach - regarding this past summer’s sport/int’l competition…where kiddo captures a gold medal…</p>
<p>Seems the trophy and wall plaques, and pics are now up in that institution’s clubhouse.
My student’s pic and name are now on a wall next to others who have done well–including Olympic athletes.
My student said that the community at that elite level is so small…and we knew that…
I just was mulling over “who woulda thunk it…??” When I encouraged my student to try this sport back in middle school–that the sport would continue on…and here I am cleaning my house/baths with my kid–who’s name is now on this wall… It leaves me a little stunned. Same wonderful kid on the couch…who’s name is on a wall somewhere…</p>
<p>Off to the grocery store today.
I thought I had it all done yesterday–yet changed my mind about what to fix for dinner this evening…so instead of Take n Bake Papa Murphy’s pizzas, we are doing fondue…
a leisurely meal and maybe Scrabble tonight…</p>
<p>I was going to read through quickly just to catch up, but after the last few pages, I have to comment. First to fogfog: that really is something; we never know what is going to 'click" with our kids and it is often surprising the paths that they travel. Congrats to your student for having come so far already.
To amandak: I really like the “occupy north pole” idea…thanks for the chuckle ST.
To emilybee: now, that sounds like it was a good day.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.</p>
<p>Must be a common trend; D was supposed to have an exam this morning; last Friday the professor makes it a take-home due yesterday…but flights last night were already booked; even with the change fee…</p>
<p>Coming today; fingers crossed for the massive rainstorm to hold out here in NJ…</p>
<p>Another mom of a kid with a Tuesday class cancellation here. Very frustrating. We did not pay for the change to the earlier ticket - between the fare differential and the penalty, it was just too steep. D understood. She will get some sleep, do her laundry, and share a cab to airport with beloved roomie for original flight. We did change the Christmas ticket though. She found out last week that she could come home 3 days earlier. Fare was cheaper, so net-net with penalty, it was not too bad for the extra sleep/family/friend time at home. I am curious to see how the dog reacts to D’s return. </p>
<p>My neighbor is a prof at the state U here. His wife tells him to let the kids know at the BEGINNING of the semester if pre-Thanksgiving classes will be cancelled. She has kids that needed planes tix so she gets it. </p>
<p>Wow, that Elf on the Shelf product seems quite sinister to me! Definitely would be lost “somewhere safe” at my house too. </p>
<p>To those with kids home already - ENJOY! Safe travels to all those waiting for their students. Big hugs to those who will not see their kids this week.</p>
<p>Good morning. I just picked up my turkey. We have a nearby turkey farm that has great free range turkeys, but it gets very crowded and last year I waited for an hour out in the cold. This year I got smart and went early. </p>
<p>Thanks for the laugh, ST. Amanda, I would be totally burnt out if I had four children, but DD3 sounds adorable.</p>
<p>EAO: I’m so glad that the surprise was a success. Enjoy your very full nest.</p>
<p>Fog: Wow! I’m not sure whether I’m more impressed with your son’s athletic accomplishments or his willingness to help with the cleaning.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about the aggravation with last minute class cancellations. It’s really hard to know how to schedule flights ahead of time. D1 takes Amtrak, so it’s easy for her to reschedule her trains. D2 is flying, but none of her classes were cancelled. She said that the profs at her school get subs instead of cancelling class. He BF is picking her up at the airport tonight. My H considers that a mixed blessing!</p>
<p>**1 1 1 day (or possibly none) to Thanksgiving break **</p>
<p>:) The turkeys are hiding as some of the kids are home and more will be landing today! (If they set their alarms and make their early shuttles and flights! - :eek:) :)</p>
<p>The last minute changes to class schedules are frustrating and I empathize with everyone in the same situation as our S. Now we will be smarter for next year.</p>
<p>(Based on kids touching down at home on the Wednesday before TG. Some kids may get the full week and will land at home sooner.)</p>
<p>EAO - Great surprise planning and execution. I did something similar a couple of years ago for AvonMom’s birthday when I flew her younger brother into town from NYC where he was at a conference (he lives overseas). It totally knocked her over. I can still hear that scream of shock and excitement. It’s great when it all comes together. :)</p>
<p>I think we need to collectively get Pepper a couple of additional frying pans this holiday season so we can fully stock her lending pantry! :D</p>
I’m so glad someone is quick witted around here, I am going to have to try those out. I’m sure he’d at least leave a note, right? I think I could manage a note. Everyone in her grade is the oldest child in their family (or so it seems at least) and the keeping up with tooth fairies and other magical elements has never been my forte. I have lots of good excuses why they fail to leave cash for teeth - maybe it was too dirty? maybe it’s the fairy convention, they’re on vacation… bad mom right?</p>
I think I need to borrow Pepper’s frying pan for a swing at the academic calender planner! :)</p>
Well I got out of the car and hugged them, then told D3 to grab her “surprise” out of the car. She opened the door and her friend jumped out of the car hugged her and they both fell over. The look on my D3’s face was utter shock and she was laughing, crying etc. It was so Great!</p>