It's Really Here

I can honestly say that I have dreaded this day since March 11, 1988. Chloe will go off to college tomorrow and I will be an empty nester! I have not dreaded this day because I will be alone, but because my children will no longer need me in the same way. But it is such an exciting time for all my babies.

I am so excited for Chloe and I am really hoping and praying that she will embrace the college experience. I just really like the community, town and college administration and hope that she can enjoy this special chapter of her life.

We will leave at 6 AM Thursday morning for her assigned move-in time of 8-10 AM. I will stay as long as she wants or lets me. I'll try very hard not to be a nag about unpacking. My big button is getting her bed made. Once that's done, I'll let her set the pace for everything else. I'm guessing we will need to make at least one trip to the Milledgeville WalMart. :-)

Friday afternoon I fly to Philadelphia to meet Fay and the two of us will drive to NY for the West Point Acceptance Day Ceremony on Saturday at 10 AM. EJ has made it through Beast Barracks, or Cadet Basic Training and will become an official Plebe of Class 2014. We will then get to spend the better part of the weekend with him. I actually get to hug him and see his eyes when he talks to me. He needs to be back on Sunday no later than 7 PM. As parents, we have been advised not to let our cadet drag it out that long. They have homework to complete for their first day of classes on Monday, August 16.

Katie will start her student teaching soon. She's so ready to be in the classroom. She has arranged to go in tomorrow even though she doesn't officially begin until mid-September. Her supervising teacher is thrilled to have her.

Summer is Flying By

Chloe and I have traveled in the car together over 3,600 miles since June 25, 2010. We are both getting a little tired of the van.

Our trip to Myrtle Beach was wonderful. The first few days I was there it felt like spring weather. Just beautiful. I think I have a light tan for the first time in 3 years. The anniversary party was great! So many of our family and friends made the trip to South Carolina to help us celebrate with Mom and Daddy.

Chloe and I attended her Orientation Program on Friday, July 16, in Milledgeville. I am really pleased with Chloe's college choice and hope that she will be happy at GCSU. She was able to meet up with her roommate and put a face to the name. It was a long day. We left Cumming around 5:30 AM and arrived back in town around 5:30 PM. We stopped by the house to let Bandit out and give him some dinner. Chloe finished her packing and then we headed out to find some dinner for ourselves before I took her to her friend, Emily's, house. As I was pulling away in my van, Emily, Chloe, Emily's mother and Emily's sister were getting in their car to drive to TN. Emily's maternal grandmother lives in TN. Emily and Chloe flew from Chattanooga to Orlando on Saturday morning to stay with Emily's paternal grandparents. They will fly back to TN tomorrow and I expect Chloe around 7 or 8 PM.

I've made a few college purchases while Chloe has been away, but I know we really need to gear up for that when she gets home. Only a couple more weeks. Long list and not a lot of time. This could get stressful in a hurry.

One Slothbaby

Chloe and I made the trip north with EJ for R-Day (that would be Reception Day) at West Point June 28. I now only have one baby living at home. The remaining weeks will go very quickly.



The trip was a long drive but I'm so glad we went. We had a really good day and made some memories. My Very Bestest Friend, Jen Duvall, made the trip from Virginia to NY with me and Chloe. We had a great visit and spent lots of quality time together. :-)

The transformation was complete by 6:30 PM. The parade was very impressive and even though all the cadets 'looked alike' we were able to find our boy.

Have a great July 4!

An Ending and a Beginning

Chloe graduated from HS on Tuesday, June 1, 2010!






Three Slothbabies; three HS honor graduates! Come August, there will be 3 Slothbabies in college. No more public school system! We are moving up and onto the next stage. Ready or not, mom, here we go.

Quick Update

I knew it; the spring semester always seems to pass by so quickly.

EJ will complete his first year of college next week. Last day of finals is April 24. When we discussed the subject on Sunday he wasn't sure of his final schedule.

Kate will complete finals the following week and have one more semester (Student Teaching) before she graduates in December.

Chloe has about 25 more days of high school left. She informed me that after May 20 the seniors are not required to report as all their finals will be over.

June 1 - Chloe's graduation

June 28 - EJ reports to West Point

July 10 - 5oth Anniversary Party for Mom and Dad

August 12 - Chloe moves into college

August 14 - Acceptance Day for EJ at West Point.

Too bad I can't take the summer off!

My oh My, How Time Flies

So much time has passed and so many events, I may not be able to to accurately remember the last 30+ days. I'll do my best.

We had a great Christmas with Debbie, Michael and Garrett! Garrett showed great restraint and allowed the older children to sleep until 7:15 AM. We played lots of games and Guitar Hero, watched some movies, read, slept and ate. I didn't go to work for 12 whole days. It was wonderful; and a much needed break.

Two days before Christmas, Katie adopted a puppy. Debbie and Michael GRACIOUSLY allowed Kate to bring her new addition for the holiday visit. After several days and trial names, Kate landed on the name Twinkie.
She really is a cutie. And I think, as puppies go, Katie was very lucky. She is almost house trained, sleeps through the night and loves being held. She TORMENTS poor Bandit. I believe the word 'tolerate' would be the best term for Bandit's behavior with Twinkie. He will wrestle with her and allow her to jump all over him and bite and chew his collar. But when he's had enough, EVERYONE knows it. The first 2 weeks Bandit had such sad eyes. He was pitiful. His expression was along the lines of, "Why? Why is she here? I wasn't enough for you?"

All 3 kids are settled back into school routines. Kate has 2 night classes this semester. I think EJ has one as well. Chloe has presented her senior project and is now awaiting her grade. She has all but one college application completed and has been accepted at Kennesaw University. I believe it is her 4th choice, but it is only the first response.

EJ is still having trouble with ingrown toe nails! Friday, January 29, he will have 4 impacted wisdom teeth removed. The girls had no trouble with their procedures. Let's hope EJ is as fortunate with his experience.

Katie is playing soccer again; but she is NOT goalie. :-) EJ misses soccer desperately but there are no opportunities, that I'm aware of, to play at school and because he can't be home every weekend it doesn't make sense to sign up for a county rec team.

I'm sure it is all a mental thing, but the spring semester always seems to go by much quicker than the fall. So before I'm ready EJ and Katie will be starting their summers and Chloe will be graduating. (June 1, 2010).