We survived Week 1~

No pics...just a quick update.  We have all survived week one.  If you are a fan of the new tv series, The Great Escape, we survived phase one without being apprehended by the military guys patrolling the perimeter!
She is settled into college/dorm life, loving her professors (after changing one class) and doing quite well.  Mom is keeping super busy, no time to stop, think, sob, cry, have a mental breakdown, etc.   Hubby and I leave for Michigan on Saturday, with our oldest, to celebrate my MIL's 94 birthday on Tuesday.  Her famous saying, "anything beats the alternative (meaning 6 feet under)"  Gotta love her!!!
Hope all are doing well. Hope to get into a bloggin routine once we return!
Lauren

Home Sweet Dorm~

Whew...we did it!  We officially moved the "baby" into her dorm room on Thursday.  Just wish I had thought to take "before" pics, but since I and her roommate's mother were completely overwhelmed by the teeny tiny space we had to work with along with waaaaay too many bodies in that said space, I forgot!

The process of getting her things from our cars to the room was painless...we just pulled up to our designated spot, were asked "what room #" and tons of people converged on our vehicles, pulling items out, and all managed to get to her room no problem! (so much easier then when we moved her sister in 5 years ago!)

Then the fun began...where to place the furniture pieces that made the most sense, most room, and were the most convenient?!!! (we cheated and looked at a couple other rooms that had not yet been moved into) Once the furniture was in place, all hell broke loose  the fun began.  Unpacking!  My biggest piece of advice to anyone in the midst of this or getting ready to do it...let one roommate get settled and then work on the other!  Two trying at the same time does NOT work!!!  At one point my child plopped down on her bed and said, "mom, just take it all home...it isn't going to fit, and I don't know what to do".  It did and she was fine, but in the midst of it, it seemed impossible! (gotta love a dad who will make a Target run for hangers midway!) At the end of the day...they had the cutest room and had many stopping by to steal their ideas admire it.

They are both settling in.  The heartbreaking moment for this mom came when we were leaving Birmingham this morning (we had stayed there last evening after driving from Texas)...I had texted the "baby" to ask how she was (the first night the girls next door were SUPER LOUD)...the text I got back...I don't feel good, upset stomach, congested, feel miserable. This mom felt totally helpless.  She had been complaining of her ears for a couple days.  So, I told her she needed to go to the clinic.  To which I got the "I don't want to" (cue tears and sniffles).  To which mom had to suck it up and say, "GO!"
Her roommate was a doll and walked with her (she'd already been there during camp this summer).  The doctor was super sweet.  As most of you know she suffers from migraines, and while she didn't really have a bad headache, he felt the congestion was from a migraine...they had storms last night (her biggest trigger).  He gave her instructions to take her usual meds and if not better make an appointment to see him Monday.  She called soooo relieved.  You see, he too suffers from migraines and TOTALLY GOT IT! His exact words to her when he first walked in to see her, "I expected to see at least 3-4 of you today after last nights storms!"  This momma loves him already!

This mom is holding up pretty well.  Thank God for cell phones and text messages.  How did parents do it before???

We will settle into a new routine shortly, and it will all be good.

College Bound~

To the Parents...

 "A child enters your home and for the next twenty years makes so much noise you can hardly stand it. The child departs, leaving the house so silent you think you are going mad." ~ John Andrew Holmes

 "Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~ Elizabeth Stone

 "Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation." ~ C. Everett Koop

"The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence." ~ Denis Waitley

To the College Bound Child...

 "Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

The bags are almost packed, a lot of goodbyes said, but a very bright future lies ahead. 

 Praying for all of those sending their child(ren) off to school, whether it be preschool for the first time, Kindergarten, the halls of a Middle School, the leap to High School or the Big World of College. 

For the Love of Pizza!

By now you know, we are a pizza loving family. There is nothing better than homemade pizza!

A few weeks ago, hubby and I were at Whole Foods doing our weekly grocery shopping.  While standing in the checkout line waiting for our turn, I spotted this magazine...

75 pizza recipes?  Yes, please and thank you!  75 days of not having to think of "what's for dinner?", I'll take it!  Oh, and there's dessert too!!

First up, Grilled Pineapple & Pancetta Pizza...yum!

So good!  Great twist on the typical Hawaiin pizza.

Next up, Bacon Cheeseburger in Paradizza...

Cheeseburger in Paradise...yup, it was that good!

We have found that Whole Foods thin crust pizza works great, and saves time.  It comes in a wheat version too.  Trader Joes has great pizza dough too!

You can find your very own copy of Pizza on the Grill here (if you don't have a Whole Foods near you).

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pizza-on-the-grill-karmel/1110792156?ean=9781600850066

or here,

http://www.amazon.com/Pizza-Grill-Feisty-Fire-Roasted-Recipes/dp/1600850065/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344552923&sr=8-1&keywords=pizza+on+the+grill+magazine

75 Days of yummy pizza, yeah baby!

Is your homework done?

I know what you are thinking..."Lauren, aren't your girls older than that now?"

They are.  These were their 1st Day of School pictures from 2003!  Our oldest was 13 (now 22) and our youngest was 10 (now almost 19).

We are exactly one week away from taking our youngest to college!

Today marked a milestone for us...no more packed lunches, checking backpacks, nervous first day jitters ("Mom, I have no one to sit at lunch with!" anxiety), "Is your summer reading finished?", "what do you have for homework?", "Did you remember your (insert sport) gear?", rushing out the door last minute, alarms going off only to be ignored...well, you get the picture.

While most of you are probably thinking, "awww...that must be bittersweet"...it was, but that extra 2 hours of glorious sleep was awesome! (especially for this hormonal 40-something mom who is lucky to sleep at all!) 

My hubby and I have had a grand time the past two days ribbing our youngest (the new college freshie) about having her homework done, her sports gear ready, her lunch packed and getting to bed on time.  To which she just rolls her eyes and laughs!!  Oh, and she says, "Science is EASY this year!" LOL

Oh my!

Okay, enough babble...to those sending their little ones off, some of you for the very first time, enjoy the moment, take it all in...the time really does go by quickly, and the day you are packing them for college is really just around the corner.  But, I will say you will be just as proud on that day as you were the first day of Kindergarten, and you will cry just as much! But, at the same time you will be smiling from ear to ear, because you all made it!  What seemed like the impossible, sometimes difficult, terrifying, emotional roller coaster of adolescence has come to an end, and everyone is now smiling and laughing til their tummies hurt!  It has been a fun ride!!

The next chapter to be written...