<p>drmom - I think a tent in the backyard for her and her friends sounds great! I was just “forced” to think about grad party when my sister decided she wanted to make her hotel reservations. I have been trying to get a hold of the tent guy since Thursday. I can remember senior moms last year telling me that if I didn’t have my reservation by Sept, I may not get the date I want…oops. That of course means I have to decide on which size tent (any where from 20x20 to 40x60) and tables (I want round, DH thinks you can fit more at rectangle tables) which then means I need to start thinking about how many people I think we are going to invite. But on the upside I found tri-fold boards for picture/memorabilia in his school colors yesterday! There were only a few, so I scooped those up. I was also told to get thank you cards early or I wouldn’t be able to find them in the spring (I live in a small town). I bought graduation themed dinner and dessert plates in August on clearance 1/2 off.</p>
<p>here comes my first group reply! </p>
<p>All: teen driving, my 19 year old drove back and forth from her old school every weekend on the interstate, took a road trip to alabama with friends and all was Ok (when she was 18). I always felt comfortable with her driving, and she is a very good driver. My newly 18 year old waited to get her license till her sister went away to school and lost her free ride everywhere. she is a horrible driver, and there’d is NO WAY I’d let her take a road trip to anywhere but the grocery store (why I ended up driving her and 6 friends to Chicago last week). She needs lots of interstate driving experience, but so far none of us have the stomach to do it! Wonder if that could be a start-up business for someone…take your teen on the highways and practice navigating unfamiliar exit ramps and such?</p>
<p>Ugadog and Crittermom: Les Mis was great, and Russel Crowe is almost bearable, but leaves his shirt on the whole time, so not so much. Hugh jackman, Ann Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne and Samantha Barks and incredible. However, in my honest opinion, Sacha Cohen and Helena Bonem Carter steal the show!</p>
<p>confetti: I will try a phone voodoo, because somehow my D1 used up all her data plan for the month in 24 hours…when she has never gone over it in 2 years!!! Will be making a phone call later</p>
<p>annouilh: I cracked up out loud to the slippery slope to Methodist perfection in Walkers basement! I’m not perfect, but thankfully my God is, and is forgiving me right now. </p>
<p>Grad party: had one for D1, indoors…too hot in TN in June for outside! We invited friends and family and had open house style from 2:00-6:00 and people came and went all afternoon. She is a nonparty type, so the drop-in style felt more casual? i found graduation napkins in the school colors at the local Goodwill last week for 25 cents…for 100!! woo hoo!
One thing that went over really well was a scrapbook I started her sophomore year. It began with pics of my husband and I in college, our wedding, her birth and pictures from every year of her life. Midway through her senior year I had each of her friends and both sisters make a page to contribute. at the party I laid out blank pages with multi colored scrapbook pens for every guest to sign, give her advice, write down good memories…etc. she said it was the best gift she has every been given. I’m currently working on D2s …and crying with every page!</p>
<p>Happy Saturday everyone! Been doing chores all morning. Three Scottish Terrorists ( yeah terriers but we see them for the true trouble they are) to bathe but I wanted to check in with you first. So, so sorry about the mortgage madness. Also phones and drama.
Watched S14 coaching S17s basketball team last night. They do have fun. I was worried about fights but so far so good. The young one stole the ball from the elder during a drill and they both came back high giving each other. Who would have guessed?
Tonight some of my high school friends are getting together. My kids are ridiculously excited about this. We all live nearby but all have kids and in slightly different cities ( all northern VA so close, but not enough). The original plan was to go to a bar. I prefer Walkers virtual basement to a bar. We are meeting at one person’s house and I’m hoping our (still shared) love of football keeps us there. I’d rather catch up than try to scream over a band. Anyway, fun!
Still ignoring the outdoor decorations however.</p>
<p>One thing to consider with graduation parties is the kids all want to go to each others so you may want to keep it short. My S last June was party hopping to a few each day, especially the weekend closest to graduation. Many of his friends could not come to his because they were having theirs at the same time. So it ends up being mostly family and other friends that are not graduating.</p>
<p>By the way. I’ve been puffing those of you with few squares.</p>
<p>Can’t imagine 3 Scotties. The one that lived next door to us many years ago was quite the digger. He could escape under any fence or building material. He would run down the road. The only one he would come to was DH. We were a little concerned that when they moved, we would find him left in our yard!</p>
<p>About the road trip. How well or long have the drivers been driving. What type of weather will they be driving in? Do you have AAA? Will they pay for their own gas? Do they have enough money or credit cards if they needed a car repair, a place to unexpectedly spend the night? Are any of them known to drink and drive? Has the visit been cleared with campus safety and the RA? Best of luck to them, I’m sure it will be a positive experience for them. Sometimes I worry more with a group than if it were my own child. I still might consider a bus ticket!</p>
<p>I keep puffing too!<br>
I like the ideas about graduation parties. My older never wanted anything at all. We went to a Broadway Show and out to dinner; my DD’13 is a much more social kid…even with all the girl drama. I think something short but also “open-house” might work, unless she then “counts” all the kids who went to someone else’s party and not to hers…none of the family came to see my older DD graduate, so I am anticipating not many out of town family will be coming for a graduation party…I think I’ll try to figure on a date and Tent…the “hook” to get kids to come…who knows!</p>
<p>musicmerit-that doesn’t seem to be the case around here. There might be a friend or two that has a party at the same time but the kids seem to make it to most of the parties. One thing to keep in mind is don’t count too many kids into your food count–maybe 1 person/5 kids or so. They go to so many parties that they just don’t eat at most of them. Plan for them for beverages though. It’s hard to know how many will show up though.</p>
<p>When my DS graduated two years ago he opted to not have a party and travel to Europe with his friends. I am guaranteed that my DD will opt to travel to some big Horse Show instead. How many kids would rather travel or do something fun than have a party? As a parent I am much happier about the options since it doesn’t involve too much planning or a big mess. Am I bad mom if I don’t get excited about the thought of planning a party?</p>
<p>crittermom - I offered to give DS the money I would have spent on a party for college or whatever. He said no way, he wanted a big party. I think it all depends on the kid. I’m good with his decision, I like throwing parties, but I would have been good with skipping all the work too!</p>
<p>It’s official…DS is in to his #1!!! happy days here but I told him that the scholarship info doesnt come until the end of January…so he still needs to keep fingers crossed.</p>
<p>Yay!! Way to go Terinzak!! You found this out how? Mail? That’s fabulous! I tried to give you a puff of joy but apparently I can’t puff again yet.</p>
<p>Congrats to your S, Terinzak!!! Hope the $ soon follows.</p>
<p>Not too many people do graduation parties here. There is an alcohol-free grad night for the kids on the night of graduation. Our ceremony is at 1pm so I figure people just have dinner with family and then head to grad night. We will be having a recital for S2 the weekend after graduation (if I can book a space). Lots of out of town family and church friends will come to it - along with some HS friends. I’m having a friend cater it for desserts. We’re still waiting to find out if we will be moving in June, so I may be packing up my house in all the graduation craziness. I’m stocking up on Red Bull now.</p>
<p>Congrats Terinzak. Hope the money works out.</p>
<p>Grad parties are pretty common around here.</p>
<p>It came in the mail today! Funny thing, the date on the letter is January 7. DS tried to set up his accounts with the school. Had no problem getting into CIS but trying to get into school email was ??? He called tech support only to find out that the email for new admits isnt up yet 
FInished filling out the Fin. aid form for the school as well as Ferpa. Son is too happy…facebook is buzzing!</p>
<p>Yay! Terinzak! Awesome news!
Grad parties…open house let’s people come and stay for a short while, then leave…we had lots of party hoppers. D1 talked to her friends and she went to the early ones, the night ones, then we all party hopped the weekend before and the days after. I had to do mine the day after graduation because of family and friends coming in town.
Thinking about having a joint party with D2s best buds, one of the other moms suggested that since they all want to be together, but not sure how to do that? Would have to rent out a venue or tent! There are 8 of them that are thick as thieves and would love it. not sure how to work it with families and friends, however they all have the same friends, so it might make it easier in that respect. Hm…something to think about. Anyone every done that? Suggestions?
I’m hosting a massive after prom party here, so I’m not offering the after graduation partY here as well!</p>
<p>Congrats to your S Terinzak! Puffs to you!</p>
<p>Grad parties are pretty typical here too. I haven’t brought it up to D yet but I’m sure we will do one. There are four seniors in the neighborhood so I’m thinking about seeing if we can do a joint one. A few years ago that was the idea and it worked great. Next year there are three kids graduating and S14s best bud is one of the others plus a girl they’ve been friends with forever. The best bud’s mom was one of the hostesses when the girls of '09 had theirs so she will provably go for a repeat. Some of the other families live on cul de sacs which would be good. Here it’s burgers and just casual fare, with the neighbors and general people the kids invite. They do seem to flit from one party to the next.</p>
<p>Congrats to your son terinzak.</p>
<p>Graduation parties aren’t big around here. I’m happy for that :D</p>
<p>Congrats Terinzak! Awesome news!!</p>
<p>We are back from seeing Les Mis. Being the Les Mis obsessed purist that I am, I have tons to say! We’ll just limit it to the fact that I’m glad I decided to see it.</p>