Yes, she’s going to London. It is only for 13 weeks, plus she’s going a week early to be a tourist (2 uncles and a cousin going with her). The program is through her school (pay tuition and board through school) so it was a little easier to arrange, but she’s still making everything ‘last minute’ and just figured out she won’t be at her campus after next Wednesday, we live 2.5 hours away, and she needs to get it done.
She wants to travel a lot, but I fear her funds will be exhausted before she completes the Grand Tour.
2014novamom: Yes, Son '14 has tickets to, not one, but two Caps games while he is home for the holidays. He walked in the door the other night around dinner time and immediately grabbed the remote. Wanted to know why we were not watching the game! Truthfully, we had not thought about it! We had other things to do!
Went to the ENT. Nice man who also chatted SEC football with us, since he’s a huge fan and alum. Son '14 will be doing meds first. Then, the doctor wants to re-evaluate the situation. He really does not want to jump and pull the tonsils. Instead, it could be a sinus issue. Son '14 seemed very pleased with the visit. Besides, surgery would limit his ability to work this holiday season. He returned to the bank where he had his internship in the summer. Everyone was happy to see him. They plan to give him lots of hours, which will be needed since he really went through cash this fall.
Two kids home before the cold/snow hit. Laundry getting a work out. One is heading to Vietnam on Tuesday (if the visa comes through - some last minute confusion). One received an early birthday present of a Fitbit and they’re busy counting steps and challenging each other (and their uncles).
For one child, this break is about a week shorter than in past years because they started the semester later in August. She’ll only have a week in town. Dentist!
DS is home! 27 hours traveling from his flat in Glasgow to our house. At least he had a mostly empty plane for the 9.5 hr flight, but still didn’t sleep. Slept like a rock last night and very happy to be home.
We had a lovely conversation this morning, and another after dinner; I think he’s spoken more in the past 12 hours than in the previous 2 years! Or maybe 6 years. About his adventures in air travel (they didn’t have his reservation in the system, flights delayed, luggage zipper broke…), his time in Scotland (where, among other things, he learned to bake cookies from scratch, really missed fresh fruit, and went trampolining in an old slate mine), his opinions on the higher education system in the UK (he prefers several things about ours), his summer plans, current events, everything. They kept telling me he’d get out of the “silent years” eventually, but I was beginning to doubt it… but he has emerged! O frabjous day!
Happy holidays to all the parents of HS 2014. Enjoy your kiddos if you get to see them, and hugs to you if you don’t! Mele Kalikimaka! (Merry Christmas from Hawaii)
We did our celebrating the other night, as we plan to travel to see relatives. Son '14 was thrilled that we got him a used set of irons and the golf bag. He can pick up his woods and putter. He plans to look into taking a class in golf at school next fall. Meanwhile, he has a phone interview for an internship sometime next week. He continues to pile up hours at his banking job, and he said he would not be too upset if he returned there in the summer. He really likes his co-workers. It’s a job in his field and it is decent money. He also helps around the house with lawn mowing. He also likes my cooking.
Merry Christmas to everyone. Hope all the kids got home safe and sound.
I “caught” DS sitting in his desk studying MCAT today!
He was not the study-hard type in high school so this is a rare sight. I almost took a picture but didn’t want to spook him.
DS was just checking his reservations, and realized that he isn’t actually leaving tomorrow night! He’d gotten the dates mixed up, told me the 27th a few weeks ago, and I’d told the whole family, and kept repeating it to him along with everyone else… but he doesn’t actually leave until Thursday night!! Best. Christmas. Present. Ever! 2 more days with him here!
I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and time with all their college kiddos! We just got back from a 2 week trip that had us zigzagging from the East Coast to California, then to London, Paris, and Brussels. We all had a great time and I loved spending so much time with my kids when we are usually running in so many different directions.
DS is here until Jan. 15 and starts his co-op on the 16th. I will see him in February for Mom’s weekend at his fraternity (an event eagerly anticipated by all the moms and by many of the boys too, judging from their social media posts, LOL). And then after that … unknown. He’s going to Mexico for spring break with friends so he won’t be home then. If he extends his co-op into the summer then he will stay in Ohio and I am sure we will visit him a time or two there since it’s an easy drive and even easier flight. If he is somewhere else then the number of visits will depend on how easy it is to get to!
D is gone already, studying abroad this semester. Do I selfishly wish she were around for another couple weeks? Of course, but she is so excited it’s hard not to be excited for her.
@4beardolls he is taking it in May…it was really crazy signing up for the test…he is at Tulane in NOLA and amazingly there are very few testing locations for the entire state…there were no seats left for all test dates in April when he had hoped to take it…felt fortunate that he got the seat in May
@vandyeyes, wow, even just the seats for the exam is competitive. I need to get used to the process I guess.
I wish DS would take it in May so he can free up the summer but he said he needs time to study after school is over. So he is taking the June setting.
Happy New Year! @4beardolls & @vandyeyes - my D is also studying for her MCAT - taking it in couple of weeks.
No actual winter break for her. She reserved the date as soon the dates for 2017 opened up. She was told by her seniors that the exam dates fill up fast and to do it right after it opens. Who knew even registering for the exam is so crazy!! Good luck to your sons!
And the cost of exam fee, prep materials and practice exams add up…Good think is she is taking it at a center closer to home (45 minutes) so I could drop and pick her up.
All is quiet on the home front. D returned to school late last week for their campus wide rush program. Her classes started today. She is home for spring break in just 7.5 weeks! Her new BF is coming to visit on his way back to school at the end of spring break and they will drive back to school together from here.
Things are semi-quiet here, as we still have DD18 in the roost. Dropped off DS at the airport early Sunday morning for his return trip to school. He started his co-op on Monday.
I won’t see him for Spring Break as he is going to Puerto Vallarta with his girlfriend and a few other friends. But I will see him in less than a month for Mom’s weekend at his fraternity. I am looking forward to that! DH will see him in early March for Dad’s weekend.
Summer plans are up in the air and will depend on whether he extends his co-op.
His return to school this time was a bit more difficult for me. Partly because I’m not sure when I’ll see him next after February, and also because we spent so much time together as a family having fun over Christmas break. Nothing like traveling for two weeks and being together nearly 24-7 to foster bonds. Probably one of the last times we can do that as a family of four for a while. And he is such a delight to have home. I heard stories of clashes with kids coming home from college and the adjustment everyone has to make but we didn’t have any of that. He fit right back in seamlessly.
@2014novamom we have the exact same experience and sentiments…sending son back to NOLA and Tulane…I always look for your posts as a Case grad myself and Clevelander :x