<p>Today is also “wear your selected college sweatshirt day” at D’s HS. Hmmm…record high 80’s predicted and she owns only two heavy hoodies with school’s name. That should make for an interesting outfit. Shorts, flip flops and a sweatshirt… B-) </p>
<p>@GertrudeMcFuzz – Same thing for us regarding S going to a private out of state school that no one’s heard of. I guess because historically the UC system had been so strong for so long, no one looked out of state. At least some folks know Temple because they’ve been in the NCAA basketball tournament. Even fewer folks out here have heard of Emory. Oh well, not such a big deal.</p>
<p>Am struck with how many kids from this thread are going to Vanderbilt. Again, congrats. The kids could start a “Children of the College Confidential Parents of the Class of 2014 Club”. </p>
<p>I am glad this journey for me is over for now (3 more years )… Monday night as we were gong to make a deposit at a great school child said ‘not sure if i want to do this, i’m not ready for such a big change’ . So he went back to the school he initially thought he would attend back in April of 13!! He didn’t get into his first choice, so took his second choice in the end - still a GREAT engineering school. It has been a very sobering experience, will never forget March 28th (ugh…) bad day… But in the end my child his happy with his choice, great merit package! Someone once told me ‘have your child love his safety or target school’. ! My only choices for college where those that i could take as subway to. So glad my child can spread his wings!!! </p>
<p>Yay!!! @Mrspepper. So happy for you, and he sounds so happy with his Fighting Irish hat and planning for marching band and football tickets! And I do think all the interviews will pay off - when it comes to interviews in the future (whether it be for a job, internship, or whatever, it will be old hat, having done that many times before). Congratulations!!</p>
<p>@NewHavenCTmom - I will have to look on the Talbots website. My D could have used one last summer, and I’m thinking one may be in order for internship interviews.</p>
<p>And Hooray! @4beardolls. So good to have all those decisions behind us. About as far as I’ve gotten since then is compiling my shopping list. So, definitely need to start scheduling a flight home for Christmas, and then the shopping.</p>
<p>
I second that!</p>
<p>Thank you, Captain, it’s been a wonderful cruise with equally wonderful traveling companions!</p>
<p>@1dilecon,</p>
<p>The sale yesterday was for “Friends/Family”(even though are not either LOLOL) and continues until the 5th. Getting DD there was like pulling teeth but better to go suit shopping on a dreary cold day -vs- a sunny bright day!</p>
<p>Sounds as if everyone is safe and sound on shore. Congrats @streetcred and your son who trusted his instincts. Sometimes the “reasons” for a choice are intangible. </p>
<p>Kudos to you, Captain, for a fantastic trip and the best margaritas in the western hemisphere. I’m a bit sad to disembark but am equally excited for the next adventure. </p>
<p>We have done zero dorm shopping as Spygirl is still in the midst of her spring sport, prom is a week away and then she has senior retreat weekend. Whew. We have all summer to shop, so I’m not too worried. Unless you all with more experience think there are one or two items that need to be purchased early….</p>
<p>Other than outerwear, we buy whatever fits and is reasonably priced. DS and Max wear New Balance since they come in Sasquatch sizes. Max had to give up the shoe phone since Headquarters no longer makes them in size 15. 
</p>
<p>Since we live in Adidas and Nike land, and have access to the employee stores, we’ll occasionally buy Adidas shoes and Nike shorts. But thrift shopping is huge here in Portlandia so there’s a lot of that too. Even Spykid has gotten in to the “hunt.” </p>
<p>I’m so glad everybody made it off the ship! It is such a relief, isn’t it? It’s good to be able to focus on the other stuff now. </p>
<p>Sunday is the area Top 10 dinner. Ten different schools have a dinner for the top 10 from each school and their parents. Then Thursday, the 8th, is Senior Honors Night. May 16th is prom (a Friday this year- ack! So glad I don’t have a girl!). May 20th is his last day of classes. We are truly down to the wire. </p>
<p>Prom is actually over for D’s school few weeks ago. Recognition day for seniors is 2 days before graduation day in early June.</p>
<p>D’s school is passing out “College Bound” t-shirts today, along with a class photo, but in the typical scheduling scenario, all the orchestra students are off at State Festival. D14 also missed a practice AP exam because of Festival.</p>
<p>The school hands out t-shirts? That’s a nice tradition, but what about those kids not attending? </p>
<p>Today DS is on his senior trip, a boat excursion on Lake Michigan. It’s rainy, windy and a predicted high of 52 which we hit around 10 a.m. and it’s dropping steadily. I’m hoping he’s still managing to have a great time.</p>
<p>So glad everyone has such wonderful final destinations! I’ve been trying to keep up but it’s so busy now. No school t-shirt/sweatshirt day for DD. But her school show opens tonight so they all get to wear their show t-shirts today and tomorrow which is much better than a full uniform! Four shows over the next four days followed by two AP tests on Monday - ugh! I don’t think she’s had any time to study as she had a huge English research paper due yesterday that she spent all her time on. And a math text tomorrow. Last night after rehearsal she was pretty much a vegetable on the couch watching TV but she really needed a break!</p>
<p>Classes end two weeks from today (after 5 AP exams but no finals), prom is the 22nd and graduation the 30th! Through in a final concert, Awards night, Baccalaureate Mass, Senior Memory Night and I think May will be pretty busy. There’s also a recital and an audition for a summer show she’s hoping to do - just crazy! She’s still looking for a summer job too but in some ways I’m hoping she finds one but not with too many hours as she really needs a break and some downtime before heading off to college.</p>
<p>I haven’t done too much shopping but did manage to pick up a much needed black Northface Denali jacket on sale at Moosejaw so at least that’s off the list (and pillows for $3.99 at Kohls!). I’ve got to start a list of what she’ll need and just pick up a few things each time I’m at Target (toiletries, laundry items, snack food, etc.)</p>
<p>Right now I’m just really hoping the rain will stop soon so I can get much needed yardwork done in time for prom pictures and the landscaper can start and finish the patio we’re supposed to be putting in! Otherwise we may need to move pictures somewhere else and I’m really hoping to be able to do them here.</p>
<p>So any other schools or senior class parents doing a special giveaway memento for the graduating class? We are looking for ideas other than tshirts or mugs. </p>
<p>So glad we’re back at the dock! Congrats on all the decisions. Phew! It got a little rocky out there!</p>
<p>Superlatives are done here - d won prettiest eyes. She’s so funny - she’s not technically in the popular group - but she won homecoming, superlatives and was on prom court. I try and tell her that’s the best of all worlds, she’s clearly well liked but not involved in the clique that seems like it’s actually the mean girl/wild girl group. She actually has nice, tame friends and has a really great boyfriend. It’s always eluded her what makes this particular group the popular ones. I assured her, that doesn’t really happen anymore at college. People will like you or not and no one will put up with mean girl stuff.</p>
<p>Gah… Top 5% banquets was last night (city high schools and contiguous districts–those are funny. Top 5% at those schools can be one kid). Prom the 10th, senior awards the 15th, which d can’t attend because of district track. Grades have to be turned in by the 15th, so essentially no seniors in the building on the16th, 12 open houses to attend the 17th, our party the 18th, grad on the 19th, keep mind of oldest’s 21st birthday on the 20th. Collapse in exhaustion. Unless the relay team makes state. Then it’s off to that event. May is an ugly, ugly month. </p>
<p>Raining here, too @akmom124. Nor sure how I make the yard look nice in time</p>
<p>Prom isn’t even until May 31 for us! College shirt day will be around the 15th of May or so.
Senior night for DS’s sport is next week with the boosters banquet a few weeks later. </p>
<p>Our seniors get engraved Jefferson cups at the all night grad party, fitting since the school is named after him. </p>
<p>My school can’t seem to keep their calendar straight. Prom this Saturday night; next Wed. Senior Award Night (plus finals–can you beleive it?), graduation 5/31. I cannot wait for it to be over.</p>
<p>Honestly, it just hit me today that this is it. This month is it. Whoa. </p>
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No surprise there, eyemamom – with a screenname like yours, I bet the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!</p>
<p>Thank goodness the cruise is over and everybody is safely back in port, even those who had a bit of seasickness there at the end. Nice to have our feet firmly on the ground again. Hooray to @4Beardolls and @Mrspepper and @streedcred ! You can rest assured that the decisions were thoughtful and not hasty ;-)</p>
<p>I have no idea if there are any special ceremonies at our high school – S14 didn’t exactly lead any academic competitions (though he was one of the school’s only two National Merit Finalists!) though he would be nominated for “Most likely to be a pro gamer” if they had that superlative. I do have to remember to go see his artwork in the Senior Invitational Art Show before it is all taken down. We’re busy gearing up for the AP exams and trying to get both sons successfully to the finish line for fourth quarter. Post-spring-break is always hard for us.</p>