<p>I remember when we got to BarnardGirl’s room and unloaded all her stuff from the carts, she burst into tears that there was too much and she didn’t know where it was going to go. Once I made the bed, the pile was half gone and she calmed down. That mattress pad, pillows, comforter, etc. take up a LOT of space when packed, but essentially no space when placed on the bed!</p>
<p>Just returning from a 3 week visit with the family and see so much activity! Wow! We are in serious countdown mode here as go2girl heads to Vandy on 8/11 for an Ingram Scholars retreat prior to the official move-in day. She was certainly not all together “with us” on vacation. She is already mentally moved out and thinking more about spending time with her friends and packing. We did a little shopping – bedding is purchased and we found some really nice microwaveable plates and bowls at Marshall’s for a song. The best find were some porcelain coffee mugs from Portugal at Tuesday Morning. They have anchor insignias to go with Vandy’s “Anchor Down” theme. I actually found quite a bit of “anchor” parapharnelia so she’ll be set. Holding off on storage stuff since she wants to wait to see how large her room is and she won’t find out which dorm until early August. It’s all a bit surreal that it’s happening so quickly–I’m a bit in denial but trying to stay positive.She’ll be flying out alone and my husband will join her in a week to help on move-in day. Vandy’s family weekend is the weekend of 9/11 so it just didn’t make sense for us all to travel across country. A bit bittersweet, but it will be fine.</p>
<p>Adding her move-in date to the calendar!</p>
<p>MOVE-IN DATES</p>
<p>8/01 Calla1’s S – UCSB
8/08 Beadymom’s S — UAlabama (early move-in Honors program)
8/08 Maryjay60’s S — UAlabama (early move-in Honors program)
8/09 Eyemamom’s D — Auburn
8/11 go2mom’s D – Vanderbilt
8/13 Classof2015’s S — College of Charleston
8/12 2014 Novamom’s S – Case Western (early move in for varsity sport)
8/13 Momreads’s S – U. of Alabama in Huntsville (early move in for varsity sport)
8/15 Gertrude McFuzz’s D — Temple
8/15 Onlyonemom’s S — UVM - Honors college (Trek program - actually move in August 22)
8/16 lab317’s D – Willamette University (early move-in outdoor program- actual 8/21)
8/16 4beardolls’s S – Vanderbilt
8/16 jrmama496’s S — Vanderbilt
8/16 yellowgranite56’s D — Vanderbilt
8/17 austinareadad’s S – Rice
8/17 Ordinarylives’s D – Simpson College
8/18 Dave_N’s S – University of Pittsburgh
8/19 1dilecon’s D — Pepperdine University
8/19 12dandelion’s D – Rochester Institute of Technology
8/19 AvonHSDad’s D - Villanova
8/20 Cakeisgreat’s D – Quinnipiac honors
8/20 Momfromme’s S - Columbia (before outdoor trip)
8/21 Ovrseasmom’s S – University of Pennsylvania
8/21 Vandyeyes – Tulane
8/21 RenaissanceMom’s S – Tufts (public service pre-orientation program; orientation begins on 8/27)
8/22 2018dad’s D — Cornell
8/22 CT1417’s S – Cornell
8/22 mdcmom’s D – Cornell
8/22 mathmomvt’s S – UVM - Honors college
8/22 tperry1982 D – Yale
8/23 Overtheedge’s D — Sewanee
8/23 AsleepattheWheel’s S – Emory (outdoor trip for three days starting 8/19 – then we move him in)
8/25 My2sonsfromca’s S — Emerson
8/27 staceyneil’s D — Mount Holyoke
8/28 BarnardMom’s S — UMichigan
8/29 Bisouu’s D — Drew University
8/29 smakl70’s S - Rose-Hulman Institute of Tech.
8/30 akmom124’s D — Brown
8/31 Sweetbeet’s S – University of Denver </p>
<p>I really wish I had cleaned out closets and got rid of all the junk (A LOT!) in my house before dorm shopping. Between D’s dorm stuff and all the things S decided to store at my house when he moved cross country, I’m overwhelmed. There are almost as many junk/storage rooms in the house as there are useable living spaces. I wouldn’t be surprised if the crew from Hoarders showed up at my door. Aargh!</p>
<p>Our pile is in the guest room and so far looks manageable. But maybe I am deluding myself! </p>
<p>Looking at the list it looks like the first move-in date is a week from today – Calla1’s S. Wow!</p>
<p>DS has been spending all of his free time with friends, savoring these last couple of weeks with them. Hope he sets aside some time to pack!</p>
<p>We did some reorganizing of stuff the other night. Moved a majority of the older son’s stuff near the fireplace in the living room, so it is not in the way of TV viewing or walking. His kid brother has a friend with a truck, and next week, they are loading it up with the stuff, along with my dining room set and a really nice chair my mom gave us years ago and taking it to my older son’s new place near UVA Law. The dining room set is 20 years old. This is my excuse to get a new one!</p>
<p>Decided that once all the moves are done, I will really clean. Planning to change the curtains in my son’s room (he does not know). Maybe we’ll paint it, too. He was complaining the other day that he could not find a gift card he got for graduation. Well, I went into the room, picked up a little and found it – well, another gift card that he had forgotten about. I told him that when he goes to school, I’ll probably find it and send it to him.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, it looks as if my son will get into a math class. The school opened spaces this morning. So the kid will be happier. Tough to major in math if you do not have a class.</p>
<p>The pile is in older d’s now vacated room. Right now it’s just 3 boxes and a set of plastic drawers. The fridge and microwave are in the garage. Using space bags for bedding and clothes. D only has two hours to check in and get everything into her room before the NCAA meetings begin. Was hoping to have time to hit the grocery store after we unloaded because there’s very limited food service that first week as it’s just athletes and RAs who are on campus.</p>
<p>Our pile has been slowly growing too. Two years ago DH was contemplating a new car and we decided to get a truck - best idea yet! There’s no possible way all of this would fit in the trunk of a car. He’s going to a meet n greet for our area on Sunday (grudgingly). We’re trying to get him to be slightly social but he’s fighting it every step.</p>
<p>Am I the last to find out that USPS will deliver boxes to your door (for free) and will pick them back up and shipt them for you!? Large flat rate box is only $17.45 to ship! </p>
<p>Unfortunately their large flat rate box isn’t all that large though 
Fedex has a similar program they just started, if you Google fedex one rate, you can get free starter boxes. For the size of the box, it may be a cheaper option to order your larger items from a store with free shipping and have them sent together.</p>
<p>Yesterday I cleared the old Brio train table, which has been used as a craft table in our spare bedroom, and have now dedicated it to The Pile of College Stuff. It isn’t that bad. But he seems to be expecting to bring every t-shirt he owns, a considerable collection.</p>
<p>I think S2’s pile will be smaller than S1’s was four years ago … now I know what gets used and what not to send.
And I won’t have to buy quite as much either, since we already have some things, such as the twin-XL mattress pad and the mini-fridge. </p>
<p>Very jealous that everyone has piles. We have not started shopping. S has very little interest in shopping and I have been tied up with a sick relative in the hospital for the last 10 days. I told him we are definitely doing some tomorrow. I’m glad I was planning on getting him a new laptop because his old one just died yesterday. It’s also a little frustrating that they don’t let us start shipping stuff to school until after August 7th. I really feel like I need to get some stuff done so I can feel like I’m not waiting till the last minute for everything. </p>
<p>Victory in my son’s schedule! The math department opened more slots, and he grabbed a Calculus III spot. So, he now has 15 hours, which is what he really wanted – just in case he decides he does not like a class (tough, we all had classes/professors we did not care for). No Friday classes still – he has to leave early for cross country meets. Does not have a class before 11 a.m., although cross country practice is at 7 a.m. six days a week. His biggest concern is fitting in times to eat. He has two, late-afternoon classes that let out after dinner is done. So, I suggested that he eat a big meal at lunch. Then, he could grab a sub or something light for dinner. He seemed to be okay with that.</p>
<p>Ordinarylives: We are in the same boat when it comes to limited food service and early move-in. My son moves in four days before regular food service starts. Fortunately, there is a two-day, off-campus retreat for the team, so he and his roommates will eat well those days. After move-in, I promised to take him and one roommate, who is moving in the night before, to Wal-Mart or Target to stock up on bottled water, yogurt, fruit, peanut butter, jelly and bread, cereal and other items. They also will need cleaning supplies for their suite. I could tell my son was concerned about this food thing when he said he and his roommates would need to find ways to eat for a few days. Suggestion Domino’s is not an option. You can eat just so much pizza or burgers/hot dogs at welcoming events. </p>
<p>JRMAMA496: We also need to wait to ship things – until the 15th. Never mind that he will already be there two days. Oh well. We’ll work it out.</p>
<p>momreads, I’m wondering how long it takes for those little dorm fridges to cool to the right temp. I’m hoping to leave my daughter with some things in there to tide her over also.</p>
<p>Is it normal for the soon-to-be freshman to be pretty distant at this point? My d seems to be pretty over dh and me right now. I have so many things I want to check in with her about and it’s like pulling teeth! I did get a firm commitment to get some things checked off our list tomorrow, though, so I guess that’s progress!</p>
<p>movemetoo: Not sure how long it takes. Try calling the maker of the fridge and see what he says. </p>
<p>My son is a bit more distant than usual. He also snaps at me sometimes when I ask too many questions about college and planning for it. His brother says it is nerves.</p>
<p>They are spoiling the nest and it’s what they do. It makes it easier for them to leave and easier for us to let them go. It will be ok. Perhaps set an appointment time to discuss the logistics that remain? That way they aren’t caught off guard by the topic and they don’t feel like you’re constantly talking about college stuff. </p>
<p>S received a surprise letter in the mail today- a scholarship from the National Eagle Scout Association. They give out around 250 academic scholarships a year and the letter says that 7000 kids applied. It could reduce his loans significantly- or the school will reduce his grant- not sure which! </p>
<p>Congratulations to your son, @2016BarnardMom!</p>
<p>Definitely not much packing/piling action here. But we aren’t buying anything here, since everything is more expensive here in Hawaii and we’d just have to ship it or bring it in checked bags. So we are only bringing small stuff that we already have. We have 2 days before move in day to shop, shop, shop! I’m just trying to pile up cash.</p>
<p>S will pack a few boxes (some books, and I don’t know what else) this weekend and mail them to a friend in Denver. But for him, it’s mostly work for the next 3 weeks, then a quick pack, fly, and then shop.</p>
<p>I’ve thought of ordering some stuff to pick up at BB&B, but honestly I’m kind of excited about having the variety of a big city - we don’t even have a Target here. So I want to see what all the stores have without staring at a screen for hours. On the other hand, I do think I’ll try to order a mattress topper, and maybe some XL sheets. Would hate to get there and find they’re all sold out.</p>
<p>Congrats to you and your son, 2016BarnardMom! That’s awesome!</p>
<p>Since I could not sleep, I decided to tackle the order for books. Now, I wish I could sleep! My son is a STEM major, so books do not come cheap. Spent more than $600 for five classes. Even rented one, too! He can pick everything up, except for the two I got from Amazon, which were cheaper, when he gets to the school’s bookstore. </p>
<p>Truthfully, I do not think I spent $600 in two years for the older son, who has graciously asked if I can assist him in his purchase of his law school books. He knows that I really work to get the best price online.</p>
<p>@momreads, @2016BarnardMom - S1 was pretty even tempered the summer before he left, until about three days before move-in. Then he threw the temper tantrum from hell, but that seemed to get the nerves out of his system. As for S2, he’s been spoiling the nest since he was a freshman in high school and can’t wait to go. I say I can’t wait for him to go, but that will all go out the window when we drop him off.
@2016BarnardMom - congrats on the Eagle Scout scholarship. S2 is an Eagle Scout and I wasn’t aware that they offered scholarships.</p>