<p>siemom, yes indeed, GFs make a big difference. ShawSon in freshman year: “What is this laundry of which you speak?” This year: “I clean my room and do my laundry once a month” (whether I need to or not). Plus, he brought a lifetime supply of laundry home over Thanksgiving break (the toxic duffel bag). The difference. A girlfriend who sleeps there every night. [I’m surprised she doesn’t insist on sleeping in her room, but OK].</p>
<p>I don’t remember who was looking for the elf on the shelf (amanda?), but I saw them today at Barnes and Noble. Lots and lots of them.
We had a good visit here with D and S. I can’t believe that they’re going away again tomorrow. The stores are packed, so no shopping for now. Most of what I want to get I can purchase online on cyber Monday.</p>
<p>I agree with emilybee: Fogfog sounds superhuman.</p>
<p>Glad you all had nice Thanksgivings.
My daughter came home on Tuesday afternoon and worked at her Wegmans job on Wed, Thurs, Friday and today. And she had two papers to write that are due this week, a 5 pager and a 10 to 15 page paper, so she’s exhausted. No time for friends. She did get the smaller paper done, and has 7 pages done on the long one. And we managed to fit in watching the final Harry Potter movie tonight. She’s writing away now and will probably be up half the night.
I’ll take her to the train after dinner tomorrow. And cry driving home, as always.</p>
<p>Oh and Emmybet, my daughter has hinted that she needs a new Playbill binder, hers is full, and she brought soooo many home with her. So she will get binder #2.</p>
<p>Just got back from dropping DD2 off @ the airport for her oh-dark-thirty flight back to Texas. It was a great few days; I got to spend time with both my girls AND we found and purchased almost everything that they want for Christmas! I need to order a couple of movies for DD2 and then I’m done, except for a few more stocking stuffers. Yay!</p>
<p>I’m off to the couch for a little nap and then up to finish decorating the tree. DD1 is home to stay until after the holidays and DD2 will be back in 12 days so we will have one or both girls under our roof for the next 6 weeks. Yay again!</p>
<p>DH and boychild left about 30 minutes ago. It was nice having him home for the week but since he’ll be home again in less than 3 weeks can’t say I’m sad to see him go and he was very ready to go back. He worked Black Friday and yesterday from 12 to 10 and a few other days/nights earlier in the week so will have plenty of money in his pocket to tide him over until Xmas break. </p>
<p>Toe is much improved. I think today may be the last day I’ll need to wear boot.</p>
<p>Good morning all,</p>
<p>We are BACK home. We had a wonderful trip with some high and lows 
As I told DH it does not matter how it starts, it is how it ends that matters.</p>
<p>Today will be a busy day, cleaning, food shopping, laundry etc… One party later tonight :)</p>
<p>Hugs to all here and in Lurkerland 
</p>
<p>Good morning. We’ve had a nice visit with our girls, although we haven’t seen much of D2.
Both of my D’s return to school tomorrow morning, so we get one more day :).</p>
<p>Emily, I’m glad to hear that your toe is better.</p>
<p>Safe travels to all the kids returning back to school. To those feeling sad to see them go, just remember that they’ll be back before we know it.</p>
<p>^^how true!..14 days for us…kind of silly, but I’m not complaining…hope everyone had a great visit; the weather certainly cooperated…</p>
<p>D1 off to the airport with the spouse. One of my SILs commented that there’s been a signal change in D1. Last year on T-day she had to be continually nagged to help, while this year she was continually asking what she could do to help. A pleasure to see how she and D2 are so close. </p>
<p>D1 didn’t work on a paper that’s due later this week, so she’ll have a busy time of it for the next few days. But I did get to see her Connect Four computer program. It warmed the cockles of my heart to see her typing in Unix commands that would’ve been a total mystery to her about three months ago.</p>
<p>D managed to pretty much ignore the paper she has due- I think tomorrow. But I am staying out of it. She decided to stay here an extra day and leave tomorrow to make it to her first class as the weather is dry and campus is only 90 minutes away. She hung out with us, puttered in the kitchen, watched shows and stayed up way too late on the computer. She is definitely on college sleeping patterns which is the first time this semester we have seen this. Most likely related to the ongoing bronchitis that she is recovering from. She just needs the sleep. We are having a great time- done little to no shopping, but each night have all “cocooned” together watching lousy movies (e.g. Home Alone 2). It’s just fun to be together. We will see her somewhere between the 12th and the 16th and her spring semester does not start until February so we will have a long spell together. Everyone who has seen D says how relaxed and happy she looks, remembering how she looked through the last few years. Hurray for college!</p>
<p>I’ll confess, I hate hellos and goodbyes. I hate this short type of break where I am just getting used to the extra towels in the bathroom (and the mess), and the sound of him sneeking back in the house at 1:30 am, the late night Wii sessions with his sisters… I was just getting used to the additional person again and now, across town, my boy is heading out with 3 other boys in a car for the long 6 hr ride back home to school. I will feel much better when I get the call that they are back safe and sound. I know alot of people felt their kids had grown up or matured or got snarky around family or rolled their eyes at curfews…and I’m sorry. I am sure they will grow up to be independent and strong. If it is any indication, my son will be living with me forever because he is a sweet boy who brings a penguin hat back for his sister (who loves penguins), sleeps over on the floor of his sister’s room just because they asked, spent some time with friends but not too much, played in the pep band at the homecoming game and told us over and over that college has made him appreciate his family and home so much. There will be 3 weeks till the next hello and then he’ll only be home for 2 wks. There’s no long break or winter term unfortunately, but they do get out early in April.</p>
<p>Dropped off DS at the airport about an hour ago for his flight. He spent more time at GF’s house that at home as he had dinner there again last night. With DD (HS 2014) at an overnight, we surprised her with one of her “birthday” gifts a week early. It only took 4 1/2 hours but we got her room cleared out, the walls stripped clean of pictures and other adornments, and the room prepared for a new paint job which was completed at 12:15 this morning. She got home around 9:30 this morning and was shocked but excited as it was the color she had picked out and tested a week ago. Now she is debating whether to read her 100 pages of homework or put her room back together. :D</p>
<p>The TG break was short but sweet. DS will be back home in three weeks for a 3 plus week break. He said he will be glad to get back to school as he has a lot of reading and studying to do plus a 15 page paper to outline. Its amazing how the study habits have improved in just the first semester in college.</p>
<p>Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend. Its just 21 days or less (or none for a few on quarters) until the kids are back home for the Christmas/winter break. :)</p>
<p>^^ awww, Ak, that was a really sweet post!</p>
<p>I have to say this break is the first time I’ve been the “leavee” rather than the “leaver” and I don’t like it ONE BIT! In August we dropped off S2 and left from there for our anniversary trip to Europe, so no time to be sad about the empty nest there. Then during our October visits to both boys’ campuses, again, we came to see them and we were the ones to leave, and they stayed. This time, yuck, we are the ‘leavees’! The silence in the house is deafening except for the dog whose snoring decibels have increased exponentially, or at least that’s what it seems like though it could be that the relative deadness of the house makes it seem all the more loud…</p>
<p>Not.One.Bit. :(</p>
<p>ah well, as many have cheerfully pointed out, Christmas break is around the corner, and I have not been as enterprising as others here with my decorations, so that will keep me and my snoring dog busy for awhile.</p>
<p>fogfog, my curiosity has been piqued by your potato focaccia recipe, I found one at epicurous.com and I think I might have a go at it. We love gnocchi, and Italian food in general. It feels like it might be a nice addition to our repertoire.</p>
<p>loved your post AK! My d and I ended up spending a good part of the day and evening together yesterday and it was quite nice!</p>
<p>Amanda - Your son does sound like a real sweetheart!! You can always hope your kids will have a good relationship with one another. You can foster good family values, but in the end it is up to them to interact on whatever level they choose. How amazing to see your son choose the level of devotion for his sisters that he has. :)</p>
<p>I’ve always been the ‘leaver’ dropping Bluejr at school as I refuse to give up the extra time. It is a luxury with him being so close. Soon enough he’ll insist on riding with friends and I’ll be the ‘leavee’. Either way it will stink. We dropped Bluejr at his dorm…not even really at the dorm as it was game day and we were diverted to dropping him on the sidewalk. So there I was handing him his laundry on the sidewalk, hugging him goodbye, saying “I guess I’ll see you in three weeks”. I jumped back in the car, headed to tailgate with friends before the game and unexpectedly started crying like a fool. It will have to get easier, but I don’t know when.</p>
<p>Hi all - D is on the plane back to school with her undone homework. It was a great four days. D’s time was equally spent between family and friends. Got the hair done, the perscriptions filled, and the new (for 18 and up) license taken care of. Little bro enjoyed some time with D. We had about 10 kids over in our basement Friday night (including the ex, a boy we all think is terrific); so fun! D seems happy and relaxed, but does admit the work is demanding. Thank goodness her winter break is longer and is coming soon. I felt so empty after watching her go through security at the airport. As pleased as I am that she is happy at her far away school, I miss her terribly. Safe travels to all. Hugs all around!</p>
<p>H, DD, and DD BF left here at 4:15 am this moring for the 3 hour drive to the KC airport. I called H at 8 am to see if they were on their way back yet and he said they weren’t even at the airport yet. The flight was scheduled for 8:35.</p>
<p>H had taken a wrong turn on the west Des Moines mixmaster and ended up going west on I80 instead of south on I35 and didn’t realize it for awhile.</p>
<p>D got to the airport at 8:30 and was in line to board at 8:35. She (we) are lucky that the plane was late getting there from a previous flight and so they were late boarding for hers.</p>
<p>What a day to have to think about seeing if there was a seat on a later flight.</p>
<p>D is gone … BF is taking her to the airport. I’ll feel better when she’s on her flight, even better when I know she’s safely back at school.</p>
<p>She won’t be back until the 21st, maybe not until the 22nd, depending on flights (exam schedule has only just been finalized). She’s going to be working hard from now until then.</p>
<p>She says she’s happy to be going back - she has good friends and enjoys what she’s doing. I heard lots of ups, downs, and in betweens, but she is solidly on track. </p>
<p>We’ll be out there in two weeks to see her play, maybe see her a little bit (maybe not!). It’s almost more exciting to know we’ll get to spend that weekend with D1, who wasn’t with us this week.</p>
<p>This really feels like a landmark - I know when the semester’s over that will be quite monumental. Such an important time in her life! H and I are pretty calm about her leaving; we’ve gotten used to our empty nest. She was really a joy to have here these past few days - we saw her wonderful growth and enjoyed her very much. Maybe because she can be more high-maintenance we’re especially glad to have her go back on such a good note!</p>
<p>Five hours down to drop him off, five-plus hours back (weather and traffic, boo). He was happy to be getting back to his dorm, looking forward to checking in with friends (which warms my heart). We’ll see him in another couple of weeks for the long winter break, but even so…twenty hours of driving in less than a week was worth it!</p>
<p>I put ShawD back on the plane at 2:30 today. She saw lots of friends, worked with me on her nursing application, spent a bit of time with us and two cousins (one who is probably four years older than ShawD has turned into a real mensch and potential role model for ShawD). ShawD has such positive, infectious energy that when she’s positive, it’s just a pleasure to be around her. That’s how the weekend was. She’s basically got five finals in the next two weeks and will be back in a little over two weeks.</p>
<p>The only shame was that ShawSon left for school before ShawD arrived. They get along very well at this point (not true when they were younger) and really like each other. </p>
<p>I have been working on a deal all weekend. My continued absence has not endeared me to ShawWife, but it is a big deal for my little company.</p>