[The little things that make your day. Post here.]

My son came home from college yesterday and said that he has decided to add a minor- nuclear chemistry to his major- metallurgical engineering and part of the reason is that he would then be an alchemist.  He was so excited when he was telling me and I kept thinking that it is way over my head.

[Just for Fun...What was your very first date movie?]

Sister Act- on a blind date with my husband when I was 17.

[What constitutes a bedroom?]

Here a bedroom must have a closet, door and not just doorway, and an escape or egress window.

 

[Graduation Announcements? *cross posted*]

We just sent out ours and we ordered photo post cards from Vistaprint.  Our oldest graduated last year from public school and we did the same for him.  We received many compliments on the postcard announcements and decided to go with them again for our 2nd son.  It was under $40 with shipping for 250 announcements.  We actually needed just over 100 but they don't have an increment greater than 100 but less than 250 and we wanted to make sure we had enough.  The front has 5 pictures that we chose along with our son's name and class of 2016.  The back states: Graduation Open House, date and time, beneath that It has: You are invited to join us to celebrate C's home school graduation.  Refreshments will be served from 12-5 pm at C's house.  Below that I added a bit about what he is doing: C works as an apprentice for DCP and will countinue to work there.  He will be taking classes part time at NJC in the fall.

[Parents of current college students, how is it going?]

I posted earlier about how much my son is enjoying school and it just got better.  Yesterday he received his first college award- top Calculus student of the year.  He is passionate about Calculus and was thrilled to be recognized. 

[Oriental trading...help me spend $40]

I just received an order from them. They have great custom photo banners for $20 and under.  I ordered one for my son's graduation and it looks great.  I also ordered cupcake wrappers, paper lanterns, a huge tablecloth roll, and cupcake/cookie treat bags.  In the past year I also ordered solid colored tableware for parties, glow sticks, and various craft supplies

[Parents of current college students, how is it going?]

My son has lived at home but has absolutely loved college.  He wasn't sure how he would like staying at home but the local college was paying him to attend so he felt like he couldn't pass that up.  In addition to being an ambassador for the college, he has had the opportunity to be involved in so many other things that he didn't know were available to him.  He has a 4.0 and was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa- he will be an officer next year but they don't decide on these until August.  The college asked him to be the head ambassador this summer and next year- this means he will be in charge of tours this summer and hiring ambassadors for next year.  His Calculus professor asked him to be one of the two official Calculus tutors for next year and also asked him to be his assistant.  My son has found that he has had so many opportunities, met many wonderful people, and been able to learn so much more than he thought he would.  After next year he will be transferring to engineering school to finish up his degree.  I am so happy with how much he has enjoyed college and hope that next year is just enjoyable.

[Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure]

My husband is on 3 medications to keep his blood pressure under control,  He takes at least one bp reading each day.  He is in good shape and eats healthy but high blood pressure is hereditary in his family.  It took almost 2 years for the doctor's to find the right combination of medication that works for him.  He had to start on medication in his early 30s.

[can a part-time job somehow count for high school credit?]

Work study is a credit offered in high schools here and I do give my son credit for his job.  He has been a plumber's apprentice since he was 14.  He learns something new every day- studies state and federal codes, grades slopes, cuts pipe, solders, installs water and gas lines, and so much more.  I feel like he learns so much and he is a licensed apprentice with the state.  I have issued 1 credit for each of his 4 years of high school but these are elective credits in addition to all of the mandatory credits.  I feel like it is based on the job and what is being learned on the job.

[Graduation gift for soon-to-be commuter college student?]

My son is a commuter college student and has found his headphones to be invaluable.  He studies on campus between classes and needs to block out outside distractions.  We bought him a pair of Beats for his 19th birthday in October and he found them to be so much better than regular headphones.  He uses them daily on campus and at home to block out the household noise that can be distracting. 

 

[(Probably dumb) college open house question]

I took several of my son's friends with us on college tours.  Their parents were unable to attend but the kids wanted to go on tours.  I would say that maybe half were with parents and half were with extended family, friends, or alone.  The kids really enjoyed touring together and found that they all noticed different things while on the tours.  My son now gives tours for his college and many prospective students are not with their parents.

[What summer jobs have your teens/college students found for this summer?]

DS19 will continue to work weekends and evenings at a local movie theater.  He also plans to work part time at the college and do summer tutoring. 

DS18 will continue to work as an apprentice plumber.  He plans to have enough hours to get his journeyman license next year.

DS15 & DD13 babysit for a Bible study group and will continue to do so.  DS15 will also do some odd and end yard work and start work part time as a plumbing apprentice.  DD13 will do additional babysitting.

[Question for avid readers]

The Time Traveler's Wife

[Anyone not had their children in braces?]

I had braces twice- once as a teen and again in my early 30s.  Both times were for my bite not crooked teeth.  My husband did not have braces but did have head gear and a retainer to correct his bite.   All four of our kids have had braces and head gear. Our youngest 2 are still in them.  Are second son had to start at age 8 due to overcrowding and overlapping teeth.  He did not have full braces until 13 as it was a slow process.  His teeth and bite are now beautiful and he has been out of braces for 4 years.  Our oldest only needed braces for 20 months due to having an overbite but his teeth were straight.  Our third son needed braces for his bite and also because his baby teeth wouldn't fall out.  At 13 he still had many baby so they gradually pulled them and then made room for the permanent ones to come down.  He had to have 2 permanent teeth built up in December because they were peg teeth (genetic on my husband's side).  He is now 15 and the last of his permanent teeth should be in place later this year.  Our daughter also had crowded and overlapping teeth but not as bad as our 2nd son.  She started braces at 11 and still only has top braces.  She had to have oral surgery last year to have 4 baby teeth removed- 2 of them were growing into her bottom jaw instead of dissolving.  Once those permanent teeth are in place she will get bottom braces as well.  We are glad that we have gone with a proactive approach to braces and bites for our kids as it has been much easier to address than waiting for them to be older.  For all of our kids we consulted our dentist, orthodontist, and an oral surgeon to make sure that they were all in agreement as to our course of treatment for each of them.

[Best things to do in Denver, CO?]

The 16th Street Mall is Downtown Denver and there is a free mall ride that will take you from one end of the mall to the other.  DIA is kind of in the middle of nowhere. There is great info here: http://www.denver.org/about-denver/transportation/get-around-without-a-car/

[Best things to do in Denver, CO?]

You could stay in a hotel just off of 16th Street mall.  There are a variety of reasonable prices hotels.  The 16th Street mall is a huge shopping and arts district- lots of restaurants, street performers, art, and a wide variety of shopping- including the Tattered Cover Book Store.  You can easily walk to everything.  There is also a light rail station there so you can jump on and go to other areas if you would like.  You can also walk from the 16th Street Mall to the Denver Mint, Capital Building, and Temple Buell Theater.  Elitches, Coors Field, Denver Convention Center, and Pepsi Center are also well within walking distance.  Is there something in particular you are interested in seeing or doing?  The offerings will depend on what time of year you are traveling.

[Flying into CO then camping]

The Great Sand Dunes is definitely a must.  We live in Colorado and took our kids when they were 3-9 years old and they still talk about how much they loved going there.  They are all teens and have asked us to go back.  I would also recommend Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Estes Park, Glenwood Springs & Winterpark have fun outdoor activities and trails.  There is really so much to do here and so many great options for families.

[Need sad or depressing books-cross posted-Help Me Hive]

If I Stay- both parents and little brother die

[Had a great Christmas!!! Now, time to start getting ready for the next!]

I have also purchased for this year.  We have 4 kids and 20 nieces & nephews (12 have birthdays between September and December) so I feel your pain.  Our daughter's birthday is next week and I have two nephews with birthdays this month as well.  I try to purchase all year long so it is easier on our budget.  Our oldest has 2 close friends who each got engaged over Christmas so I have started purchasing shower and wedding gifts as well.

[2016 Nothing New/Mindful Spending]

Yesterday I spent around $35 on decorations for our son's graduation in May.  He wants red and silver so I went to the after Christmas sales to buy red and silver decorations at 75% off.  I bought ribbon, tablecloth, decorative boxes, large balls to hang from the ceiling, and more.  He is very excited about what I found and I am thrilled with the price.  I also bought a Dremel Micro yesterday at our local Home Depot for $90.  I could have ordered it for a little less online but I really appreciated all of the help locally so decided to purchase here.  I also wasn't sure I wanted to wait for it to be delivered.  I am a 4H leader and will be teaching a class this month and wanted to use the Dremel Micro to teach some techniques.  My daughter also wants to use it for some 4H projects and will be giving a demonstration on the uses of a Dremel as well.  I was given Christmas money and decided to use some of it to purchase the Dremel.  We are also using it to personalize items for graduation. I am happy with what I got and ready to get to work on some projects.  Graduation is just over 4 months away and there is still much to get done.

[The mother of boys .... Sigh]

I hear you.  I have three teen boys and my daughter will be 13 in two weeks.  We have had at least one major injury a year for the last 17 years.  This year our eldest tore his Achilles and frayed his calf muscle while running track in March.  He slipped on ice on Thanksgiving and sprained the ankle on his injured leg.  Over the past 17 years we have had (at least because I have lost count over the years) 8 broken arms, 3 growth plate brakes, 4 severely sprained wrists, 3 broken feet, various torn leg muscles and sprains, multiple broken fingers and toes, cracked cheek bone, stitches, broken teeth, torn chest muscle, cracked ribs, and numerous injuries that I tended to with liquid bandage, sterile strips, ace bandages, braces, and crutches without seeking medical attention since I now know how to treat most injuries.  Our doctor says that if I call than it is usually serious since he knows that I know how to treat most injuries. 

[What is your 13 yo DD getting for Christmas?]

Scarves and boot socks are really big with my daughter and her friends.

[If your family does NOT do Santa, do your kids wake up early on Christmas?]

We have never done santa but our kids always get up early on Christmas morning.  Our 19 year old is the worse one.  He will sleep in any other day of the year but not Christmas morning.  I asked him if he was going to get up early tomorrow and he said he probably would.  I am hoping to sleep in a little.

[The magic of christmas with teenagers?]

My teens love Christmas and the magic of this time of year.  Every year they get a LEGO and they have so much fun building a little set & displaying it in their rooms all year.  We try to find something fun that they would not expect.  Our 19 year old is getting a pogo stick this year and we think he will love it.  We started something new this year (spur of the moment idea when out of town).  Everyone drew a name, we went to Goodwill and had a $5 spending limit. the object was to find the funniest/creepiest gift you could.  We spend less than $11 on gifts for 6 of us and will not know who drew whose name until Christmas morning.  The kids are so excited and have been talking about how they can't wait for their recipient to open the gift.  Each kid still gets an advent calendar each year and we have a day for decorating cookies.  We try to schedule at least one Christmas movie a week and enjoy playing games together and working on holiday puzzles whenever possible.  Our youngest will be 13 in 3 weeks but all of our kids still act like little kids when it comes to Christmas.

[Christmas Break Shenanigans]

Today is the first day he doesn't work.  He slept in and then took our youngest two shopping.  Over break he will be working, cleaning his room, getting paperwork in order, looking at upcoming scholarship opportunities, spending time with family, and getting together with friends.