We had friends over for dinner this week and the dad put ketchup on his mac and cheese.

My first dd did it all on her own. She only called on me when she really didn't know something. Common App stuff was the big thing. She did all her own essays, I never saw them. But she's a better writer than I am and is better at grammar too. She owned it and did it all. I may have reminded her about deadlines and such, but not much. She finished all her applications by mid-October. My second dd was a whole different ball game. Her I had to push and remind and push some more. And she only applied to one school. Rolling admission, she found out that she got in after 2 days! It was her first choice so why keep trying?

I breezed through the other replies so I know some of this has been said. Shoes - all.the.time! I wear crocs in the house. And shoes with arch support the rest of the time. I don't buy new shoes unless they have arch support. It's been almost 2 years since the last time and I can wear non-supportive shoes now, sometimes. I have a pair of orthaheel flip flops - boy did it hurt to spend $80 on flip flops. But they helped big time. Since when it flares it is summer. Stretches. (already mentioned) Shoe inserts for those with arch support. Special arch sleeves (from footsmart.com)

One thing I didn't take with my first that she ended up needing was a shelf for her alarm clock to attach to her bed. http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/bamboo-bunk-bed-shelf/1041243732 When I was in the store with middle and saw one, we bought it right away. Oldest lofted her bed. Middle plans to only "raise" hers. But still it will be high enough that a desk or book shelf won't work. Towels sheets - XL twin regular school supplies curtains for the dorm - not needed but may be nice to have

Our dentist is Dr Grinder. He used to share a practice with Dr Ferry. They've since split the practice. A friend who was a nurse before kids kept her maiden name for professional purposes. Otherwise she'd be Nurse Paine. A girl who went to my high school was named Candice, she went by Candy. Her last name was Kane. We also have a Carnage Middle school around here.

I asked my dd about this yesterday. If she is going to read the assigned pages but then study from her notes, ebooks would be fine. But if she will need to study from the book, she wants a physical book. She definitely wants a physical book for all math and science classes.

Are you driving for a trip (so a rental) or buying one? If you will be driving a rental, they tend to come with some good bells and whistles. I've only driven rentals but the last one had a back-up camera. OH and lines on it so you can see what is straight behind you. They aren't bad but I'm used to driving a mini-van. I also pull through when possible. Park out away from everyone else when not possible.

My anniversary is just that. DH and I should plan it. The big ones just have a bigger thing attached. I hope in 2 years at 25 that we can take a trip just the 2 of us. My folks are coming up on 50 next year. I thought they were going to do a trip just the 2 of them, now they are planning something for *all* of us - mom and dad, brother and girlfriend, me and dh and kids. And a party that will involved friends. IL planned a big party for 25. FIL passed a couple years ago so they won't reach 50.

Well, that was fast... DD filled out a paper on Saturday at orientation to get classes changed. Yesterday they called her and they were changed - sort of. English was switched to religion. It's a Christian school so this religion class is a gen ed. Western Civ wasn't changed b/c what she took at CC didn't transfer as the gen ed. They changed gen ed requirements between when we toured and got a transfer guide and now. On advice of advisor, she will keep biology. She took it at CC and it transferred. I can't remember what advisor said - oh something about gpa not transferring. Since she already took it, it should be an easy class for her and will boost her gpa.

Regular because I don't do spicy food. I think dh and dd get cajun when I'm not there. Size depends on how many of us there. 4 of fewer get a regular. all 5 of us get a large. I don't remember ours having a small. Is it new thing?

We went to orientation Friday and Saturday - Campbell University. From what I'm reading here it looks to be one of the few college who still presents you with a schedule, You don't make it yourself. They did schedules back in April! Which means they didn't have dd's dual enrolled credits, that all transfer. So now, she has to change 3 classes. The good thing is that the students met with the deans on Friday. DD's told them that schedules were made long ago and didn't include dual enrolled, AP's or ? (there was a third but I can't remember what). So it wasn't a huge surprise. But still... I guess I could have had the CC send a transcript after fall semester. Then these classes wouldn't be on there. Also strange, dh and I got tons of info - 1 have 3-4 pages of notes. DD got very little to none of it. She did meet almost 1/2 the girls in her dorm. (Dorm meeting.) We got to see a sample room again. She met with the dean of nursing - who scared her into wondering if nursing is what she should pursue. The school accepted 150 into pre-nursing but the nursing program will only accept 50! It was a good slide to show them, but really? They had fun too - "Friday night lights" included a magician, those big blow up things usually for younger kids, ice cream, student life stuff, 2 movies. Still processing...

Son plays chess. This morning he had a 1708 rating. He played a tourney today, tied for first. But the big deal is that he beat a 2200 National Master! The tourney is already rated officially. His rating shot up to 1830!!! When I got there to pick him up, he had just finished the game against the National Master. He was beyond excited. So so happy for him!

Our favorites are Ritter Sport, Milka and Kinderchocolate.

THE place to go for Octoberfest is in Munich. Hofbrauhaus. The beers can be quite large. The "small" is only available until 6. Tell him the goulash is what he wants to eat. I mean awesome! We went there two nights in a row. (We were only there 2 nights.) The first night some of us goulash and some had schnitzel. The second night we all had goulash. That's all I know. We got there one day, went to the main square, ate dinner. Next day went to Neuschwanstein, then back to town and dinner again, sleep. Then left to go to Manheim where DD was in school. OH! and he must bring you back chocolate. DD brought us all our favorite flavors of Ritter Sport. They are like $1 over there. I just bought one here, $4!! I know he's not going in time for Octoberfest. But Hofbrauhaus is still great!

I know that the "Raising Real Men" family - Hal and Melanie Young - use Covenant Eyes. I haven't tried it out yet so I don't know how well it works.

I know you said you returned the tablet, but just in case... I've got Notability on my ipad and it does what you want. I don't know if they have it for windows though.

I was thinking we sent dd off without anything locking 2 years ago, but then I remembered we were recommended to get a laptop lock. This may or may not be the one we bought: (Don't remember) http://www.amazon.com/RUBAN-Universal-Security-deterrent-protection/dp/B00L3YG93O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435700873&sr=8-1&keywords=laptop+lock&pebp=1435700892887&perid=0SRXZ9P3W4G643VH1BZK I linked it so you know what I'm talking about. It needs to go around something big and heavy. In the dorm, dd put it around the bed post. I think in the library she puts it around the desk somehow. Just think about it's not just in the dorm room that you need things locked up.

I asked my dd about this. And she immediately asked if it was adderal. (sp?) If that's it, I guess it does happen. Another possibility: some kids get an Rx and then sell it. Her advice - don't tell anyone. And then don't store it in plain sight. Keep it in a drawer. And always lock the door. But she didn't think a lock box necessary. She's been in the dorm 3 semesters and worked at the housing office. OH and she goes to the big State Uni. And cash - no one uses cash. Everything is linked to your dorm card.

For oldest, we had everything finished by Oct 15-ish, the EA deadline. She applied everywhere early action as none of her schools were binding. It was so so nice to have college acceptances roll in before Christmas! Middle applied to a rolling admission school. They told her to wait until things settled after school starting, not to apply until September. She did and heard back by phone in 2 days! Boom, done. It helped a LOT that her best friend's dad works for that school. So I would say apply early. One of middle's friends didn't get her last app in until Jan 1, the last day possible at that school. I personally couldn't understand it hanging that long.

Well, my 18 yo looks/reads Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living so those aren't necessarily out. If it were my 20 yo, she would love a copy of the Economist - really, truly.

Actually my guy is the opposite. He has always been a "my way or the highway" kind of guy. He was impossible to teach when he was younger. He knew everything already. Well, not book learning but everything else. He hit 10/11/12 and become more concerned for others. Now at 14 (1/2) he is really nice to be around. Now, getting him to make a decision is nigh on impossible.

Can you teach this to everyone? PLEASE!

If your mini-van has every single seat filled when your whole family is together or you have to buy something bigger than a min-van to get your whole family in one vehicle, than you have a large family.

I've just found out that we have 2 very busy weekends this summer. The one in July - Middle goes to college orientation; oldest gets on a plane for 2 week summer job in Massachusetts, youngest comes home from mission trip. We could divide and conquer, but both parents went to oldest child's orientation. And oldest just came home from Germany. The one in August - Friday - Youngest goes to boy scout national youth leadership training, has to be dropped off at noon. (an hour away) Oldest moves into dorm room (also Friday). Saturday - Middle moves onto campus. An hour away, in a slightly different direction. Sunday - youngest "graduates", middle has a medallion ceremony. Not sure what a medallion ceremony is but it's a big deal on that campus. I think I need to clone me and dh!

It's been years since I was a swim mom, but that is soooo accurate!