<p>Thanks for the coffee bajamm. D1 is leaving this afternoon for her trip with the chorus to Berlin and Prague for a week during her spring break. This is the first trip that she is going on that I won’t be seeing her off. The school has hired a bus to take them back and forth to the airport. We checked with her phone service provider to make sure she won’t get charged roaming while oversees. I told her to send me an email when she has WiFI that they arrived, and not to bother trying to contact us.</p>
<p>Thanks Bajamm! </p>
<p>Terrible damages in several states 
Hope everyone is safe :)</p>
<p>S1 will be home today S2 tomorrowLife is good</p>
<p>Thanks for breakfast, Bajamm!</p>
<p>Gsmomma: You D’s trip sound very exciting. Wishing safe travels to her and any other kids traveling today.</p>
<p>2ED: Enjoy the time with your sons! How nice that they’ll both be home together.</p>
<p>OOhhh I guess I haven’t been reading closely enough or something, I didn’t realize spring break was here now for some of our kiddoes. My D’s spring breaks isn’t til next week and my S’s the week after that. D is going to Florida on her spring break for the rowing teams spring training. I am not sure what the difference between Florida and Louisiana is, other than Florida isn’t home. (it’s not like a big snow storm will hit LA like it might hit the midwest)</p>
<p>Anyway, she hasn’t asked for any money for the trip, so maybe it is paid for by the team? And, we will take S down to NOLA to see her during her last weekend and his first weekend of spring break. The rowing team will be back in NOLA for that weekend to host a regatta.</p>
<p>It is going to be 85 degrees and sunny in south Florida today. C’mon down. Why is my crazy kid in Boston and staying there for Spring Break?? Whatever makes him happy.</p>
<p>My D is home for spring break and gonna take advantage of that 85degrees and sunny FL weather by heading to the beach today!</p>
<p>My S’14 has spring break the following week, so he’ll have school all week while she’s home and then she’ll be gone when he’s on break. No family activities planned for either week due to the non meshing schedules.</p>
<p>D will have to go back on Fri as she has sorority events Sat and Sun so it’s a short break for her.</p>
<p>Morning all! What a wild week, weatherwise - I hope all are safe! Safe travels to everyone and their kids during spring break. DH and I leave one week from today so are in “what are we taking and what’s the weather going to be like” mode this weekend.</p>
<p>Mamom - older DD’s freshman roommate spilled a Sprite on my D’s laptop the FIRST DAY of fall semester. She did get it cleaned up and it worked pretty well afterwards. I’m actually typing on it right now - I “inherited” it when she bought a Mac last year. So there IS hope.</p>
<p>GSMom - what an awesome trip for your D! I’m sure she will have a fabulous time and see some beautiful sights.</p>
<p>Pretty nice day in PA, especially since my son will be home in a few hours for his 2 week break. We just found out that I’d better enjoy seeing him while I can - his application for an 8 week Italian course was approved. 3 weeks at school then 5 weeks in Siena - he gets to study in Tuscany! </p>
<p>Of course, he’ll be gone for June and July, but I’m really thrilled for him. This time last year I was already dreading his departure for school; things change. I feel so mature!</p>
<p>“Emilybee, roads in Boston are pretty dry, hopefully they are up in Colby too. Although i will worry with you.”</p>
<p>Thanks! I know that Thursday Lewiston got about 9" of snow so maybe roads not as dry as in Boston. But I’m assuming he is back at school now and sleeping so I’m done fretting. </p>
<p>+++ for your D’s computer. </p>
<p>And for those whose kids are home on break, enjoy!</p>
<p>My son is on the train in VT, headed home to PA. It will be a long day for him. After he gets to NYC, he has to rush to catch the bus to take him the last leg and it will be close. I’m making his favorite cookies for the late night welcome.</p>
<p>My daughter also started her Spring break by flying to NC and got out of Nashville just before a tornado touched down there. She said it was 83 degrees and sunny right before she left! Scary weather.</p>
<p>arisamp- D was issued with a 1098T listing scholarships she received. It was on her bursars account as a PDF. You may want to check, it wasn’t mailed to her.</p>
<p>Our accountant is running the numbers to check if it makes financial sense for D to file on her own. She has scholarships that cover full COA. Our understanding that if we file with her on our return we will have to pay tax at our higher rate on the room and board portion.</p>
<p>My D is also on her way home for her 2 week spring break, train arrives at 4:57! Like Scoutsmom she just got accepted to similar program but to Paris to learn French, 5 weeks at New Haven then 5 in France, then knowing her she will probably want to visit her Best Friend who lives in Italy, glad I will have her for the two weeks now.</p>
<p>GSmomma, Prague and Berlin are both awesome, hope she has a wonderful time.<br>
Mamom, hope the computer is works and not too sticky when it dries out!</p>
<p>Hugs to Fogfog whos Kiddo can’t come home for Spring Break for sports training.
Kathiep cookies are a great idea, glad your D is safe, tornados are so scary!</p>
<p>Crazy weather around the country, hope you all stay dry and safe!</p>
<p>Have a good weekend.</p>
<p>Mamom, hope the MacBook dries out! </p>
<p>D is on her way to San Diego with her acapella group for the first 10 days of Spring Break, then home for just a couple of days before returning to school. And she, too, will be spending most of the summer in New Haven, working full time in the lab where she got the job this semester. I only just learned that she is the only undergraduate working there; everyone else is a grad student. So I am even more impressed! She currently plans to take August off (has not yet confirmed anything with the professor, but it sounds pretty loose) to spend time relaxing, but we’ll see what actually happens when the time comes. I agree with those who have commented on how far we have come in a year!</p>
<p>Lots of crazy weather going on. Glad no one has had any weather related issues. </p>
<p>I am jealous of all the kids who get to travel. I hope they have a great time. Midterms next week for my S. Talked to him today and he told me he had to take an acct test last week without a calculator because they weren’t allowed to use a graphing one, and that was all he had. He said he was one of the last to finish the test because he had to do all the math by hand. So I just bought a cheap one on Amazon for delivery Monday. I was not happy he didn’t say anything earlier. He might be successful writing a book on “ways to not succeed.” arrgghh.</p>
<p>Just booked S’s flight home in May. I have been checking airfare since he went back to school in Jan and they have been high, when I saw a reasonable fare we jumped on it. He comes home for a one week spring break Friday. It will be nice to see him.</p>
<p>mamom–I know how you feel, your Ds sounds like mine. But I’m guessing he could have bought a simple calculator at the bookstore! My DS wouldn’t even think of such a thing unless I remind him!</p>
<p>Since my DS was one of the last to go back to school he’s one of the last to come home for spring break–not until the 17th. Not sure if he has midterms before or after break–I guess I should ask!</p>
<p>He got selected for the summer marine biology class in Burmuda. Only 16 students were selected so he’s excited! It’s only one month so we’ll get to see him this summer. </p>
<p>Happy travels to all coming home for spring break and going on cool trips.</p>
<p>Empty nest syndrome- nicely chastising one of the young guys leaving the office last night in a short sleeve polo. It was like 30 with flurries. I couldn’t help myself. He laughed & said his wife told him the same thing.
Mall walking today. Which is what I call shopping when I don’t need anything. I go to the mall maybe once per quarter, so not too dangerous.</p>
<p>Sounds nice, ld! </p>
<p>My D is better - went into the city and saw TWO plays today, also did some quality used book shopping. Looking forward to seeing her in a week! So far she has asked me to make 3 different appointments for her while she’s here.</p>
<p>I have a feeling the time after spring break is going to go very quickly. I am stunned we are looking at the end of freshman year already, although having done this once before, I shouldn’t be.</p>
<p>Gibson1514: Your total taxes will likely be less if your D files on her own. As she received scholarships greater than her COA, you have no eligible expenses to use to claim American Opportunity credit, etc. (We are in the same boat, and it’s a pretty nice boat to be in, yes?) She should look at total scholarship dollars reported on her 1098T. She can then subtract the eligible fees and tuition that is also noted on her 1098T as well as the cost for any books or equipment that were required for all students in her classes. So, scholarships minus eligible expenses= the money your daughter will claim on her tax return. Even as a dependent on your return, she is eligible for a standard deduction of $5800 and anything after that deduction will be taxed a your D’s lower tax rate. The money in excess to eligible costs could certainly be included on your return (and it HAS to be included somewhere as it is taxable income) but, I’m guessing you and your spouse are paying taxes at a higher rate and, therefore this same money would cost you more taxes. So, at our house, D claims her taxable income (scholarship money greater than her eligible education expenses as defined by the IRS as well as the income from her summer job) which is then reduced by her standard deduction of $5800 and taxed at around 10% (considerably lower rate than if included in our income). As her education is basically free to us (we provide transportation costs, insurance and cell phone which we were paying anyway), we will pay these taxes this year and most likely throughout her undergraduate years. She actually had budgeted her money to cover the taxes but H and I felt it was certainly no problem for us. We feel being taxed on free money is certainly better than not getting that scholarship money!</p>
<p>Hi all, been a while since I checked in here.
My daughter will be home next Friday for only one week. She can’t wait to get away from her suitemates who at this moment are getting wasted in the living room while DD is IMing in the bedroom. She really needs the break from these girls, and it will be really hard to go back after a week home. She’ll be back again for a 4 day weekend at Easter.</p>
<p>In April, her choir will be joining with other university choirs and singing at Carnegie Hall. She is really excited to be on that stage! Mozart’s Requiem.
Just bought our tickets in the nosebleed section!</p>
<p>Back from page 2.</p>
<p>Break for S began on Friday but he is with his Club Sport team at a tournament in NC this weekend. They return to school this evening and he has a flight home tomorrow morning and will be here for a week. Everyone is looking forward to having him at home for a few days. :)</p>