Are we looking forward to them coming back from uni for xmas ?

[homeaway]

Just that really, cant believe how the time has flown by!

funnyperson thanks for the link to the snowman pinata, I think I might make this with DD (10) for xmas day.

Ow Ginger, it has nothing to do with you not being a good parent. Kids will be kids and boys especially can be late developers.
Dd home now and asking to use the car , but she only just passed her test before she went to uni...
Ds on his way to gf so at least on right side of channel now , looking forward to seeing him next week, but dont have a date yet...
Young ds has just gone out as he cant stand the chaos....
How many days til xmas ?

DS home today - and didn't bring any washing with him! He had a cheese sandwich, drank a glass of milk, had a nap, a shower and is now off out till tomorrow. Good to see he has slipped straight back into his normal habits :)

Dd1 is still in bed? It is like she never left, right down to the bag or dirty laundry she has dumped in her room.

DD2 came home on the train yesterday. She doesn't have any dirty washing because she did it all before she left and is now catching up with her younger brother ( how long will this last). She does look tired though and hopefully will have a bit of a rest over the next few weeks.

She said lots of people disappeared early and there was hardly anyone in tutorials on thurs and fri. She has exams in jan and one of the tutors did a session on exactly what to revise and how to approach questions for the two of them that turned up.

DD1 doesn't get back till friday so thats when it really gets noisy.

YAAAY she's home! It can now be Christmas

DD2 arrived home this afternoon. she made herself lunch then washed up everything she used plus mine and DD2's things She's growing up. She also told me she's planning to stay in Kingston in the house she shares with 4 friends when she finishes in June. In fact they are all planning to stay. So she'll have left home completely which makes me a bit nut ALS pleased she's making a life for herself.

Both back now. House looks like a bomb site! DD2 came home late on Friday with at least three loads of washing. (All done by moi) . Can't believe how ill/tired they are. Quite worrying as I think one may need to see a Doc. Do they go to A&E or their old GP (that wouldn't give a vaccine sitting in their fridge as she'd just been transferred (never got it in the end) to uni doc)

Funny that when the first one came back 'the house is so tidy'
I just hope that they have a relaxing,stress free time.

Harbinger we've got the ill/tired thing as well. I've just moaned at DD2 and told her to get an early night as she is out clubbing tomorrow with old school friends and staying at "someone's" afterwards. She is white with tiredness but seems incapable of going to bed before the early hours of the moring.

This time mine seem better/ less shattered. But there have been terms when they've been really wrung out. DD1 had turned day into night during term time and found it hard to adjust - hard too for DD2 and 3 since they all share a room. The main objective during the holidays is to get them rested and fed and fit for the forthcoming term, though the last two Christmases have been spent with one of the university girls bringing home a bug which then strikes the other seven down: third time lucky?

Sounds grim yellowstone! DD2 had tonsillitis at the end of term and is still suffering the tail end of that. She seems to be trying to cram far too much into the days at home and that includes revision for jan exams. Hopefully she'll start to relax soon.

A particular low point was when DD1 came home one easter with mumps (yes she had her MMR) there was an outbreak at her uni and it went round loads of them. She sat at the kitchen table revising for summer exams looking like a large hamster and feeling very sorry for herself!

It is lovely having him home but this morning after coming back from a walk I discovered a large lounge window open behind the chritmas tree.
We were out last night, he had some friends around before going out clubbing and someone opened the window.
We didn't spot it coming home in the dark, but if someone had seen it overnight they would only have had to have reached in and cleared all of our presents from under the tree. Could have climbed in and then had phones, laptops and ipad.
Think I'll be having words soon!

DD1 arrived home very early hours yesterday, she seems fine not that I have seen much of her. Only a bag and a large case, no mention of washing, but she usually does her own anyway - we shrink things apparently!

DD1 is flying back from America overnight tonight and am starting to get excited at seeing her again. She can't wait to come home for a few weeks as she has just a very long term and is ready for a rest.

Nearly half past midnight. DD has just come in from wherever she has been all day. I suppose its early for her. There is laughter and conversation from the kitchen. About an hour ago DS decided it was his supper time and there were clatters and clangs and lovely smells wafted up.
The thing is I am trying to get to sleep so as to wake up early tomorrow for work...............sigh. The patience and tolerance and flexibility needed to be a parent never ceases to amaze me and that ultimately I am so happy they are here. I am always being tested.

Well at least yours were in by 12.30. DD2 went to a party at her friends house on he first day she was back and didn't come in until at least 2.30.

Collected DS2 last Friday - normally he'd have to come back by train, but as he has been ill, I relented. Naturally the road back was blocked by a jack knifed lorry so had to make an enormous diversion which made the journey almost half as long again. DS2 started work on Sunday for 3 weeks.
All was going well until DS1's plane home was delayed by over 5 hours last night, meaning that DH had to stay up to get to the airport for around 2.45 am. DS1 now lounging on the sofa whilst I decorate tree/ice cake round him.

There is a new joke in our house that dd and ds are on New York time :) Glad I am not the only one who is enduring 2.30 eating fests . They are now all home and I got the biggest hug ever from ds which made my day. He even brought down his washing and put it by the washing machine for me ( I did say that I would put it on ). Enjoy everybody.

DD1 unfortunately is on Californian time and although she has managed to do all the Christmas things with us she is getting progressively grumpier day by day as she isn't sleeping properly at night. We get a bit of a breather as she is going to stay with her boyfriend tomorrow for a week - poor boy!

We had a really really nice Christmas but now dd is gearing up for a great big new year partyfest. I really don't know what to do. I am quite a quiet person and have always hated parties but she is very very sociable. I love her to bits but she is now going out everyday and I am feeling physically sick at the thought of her new year's eve plans which involve 8 friends sleeping over after they have been in to London. I would love to be Nigella and cook for the crowd, but I really am not sure I can cope. I get so tired as well when she comes in late because I can't help worrying till she gets back in.

DD1 has complained that DH tumble dried her washing! Now went out to a film this afternoon and still not back, DD2 cross because she wants her company.

Oh funnyperson I feel your pain .
It is lovely that your DD is so sociable but I would find it hard having so many bodies staying over .
Try and look after yourself - you sound worn down ,this time of year is hard .

I'm sure your DD and friends won't be expecting you to sort food and bedding for them . Though I guess extra milk ,bread and cereal might be handy .

Which bit of them sleeping over is it that worries you most funnyperson? And are they new university friends that you haven't yet met? Keep the food offerings really simple, they'll just be glad of a floor to sleep on and your DD will be glad to be able to offer it. You'll get loads of brownie points for providing it too.

I always stay up. Always will I expect.

If they are due back reasonably early (for them),say before 2.30/3am, how about leaving some jacket potatoes in a low oven with prepared fillings. The fillings could range from baked beans, tuna mayo, grated cheese etc and wouldn't be wasted if they just wanted to crash. I suspect that if its a cold night they would love them.
If in later, I would just make sure of loads of bacon, eggs, bread, milk, orange juice and coffee for the morning after. Hung over or not they will be ravenous