Callahan

I have been meaning to update my blog for a long time, just don't think of it.

Callahan is almost 1/2 way into his Junior year and doing great. It is time to start thinking about college. The boy is being recruited hard due to taking the SATs in 8th grade.

Many of the top schools have invited him to visit and to be honest he hasn't shown much interest yet.

The US coast Guard Academy contacted us a couple times and we scheduled a visit. They were coming to Navy Pier for their annual Christmas tree event for charity and were hosting an open house on the Coast Guard Ship Mackinaw

I figured it was time for him to see what is out there in the engineering field

ChristmasTreeShipHistory

Callahan agreed to check it out.

Well the boy was in his glory. Cal is an avid boater, gifted engineer- can build or fix anything and has a passion for engines.

The Mackinaw is an ice cutter on Lake Michigan....like a giant big boy toy

It was really cool and Cal loved everything about being on the ship and

 now has interest in the Academy...it has a top tier engineering program. It is also nearly impossible to get in to. It has a 16% acceptance rate...only accepts the top of the top academically and physically. You have to have a strong background in Math and Science which Cal has. He joined the health club is working out hard

We will continue to check out all Engineering Schools but in the meantime its nice to see him excited about his future

Move in day at NIU

my boy's new home

Yesterday we dropped Tj off at Northern Illinois University. We were all excited and nervous. I still cant wrap my arms around the fact that TJ is away at college.

I went 1 year at NIU , 32 years ago and my God it's a 100% different school.

TJ knows 5 or so kids from high school that are here. His good friend Jake lives in the tower next door. TJ was nervous, but excited and couldn't wait for us to get on our way home. So we left him and were home by 2 pm.....which is priceless.

I text him this morning and he assured me he was still alive...good to know. It will be an adjustment period for mom and dad. One doesn't stop being a parent just because the law recognizes our first born baby as an adult.

MY KID IS AWAY AT SCHOOL....CRAZY

TJ is living on the STEM floor of the newly renovated GN tower. The rooms are spacious and bright. Flat screen TV's are in the lounges.

 A blank slate, we did buy Tj a rug but he'll have to figure out the rest

 The view from TJ's window

The orange brick dorms are suites, 12 kids to a suite. 6 bedrooms and a large common living/dinning kitchen area. Another new dorm

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 The brand new Convocation Center house the basketball stadium and double as an entertainment venue

 TJ's Hallway and elevator bank above and below are all website photos NIU

floor lounges

 Not a bad laundry room on tjs floor

A website photo of the newly renovated building and cafeteria below complete with salad bars, ice cream bars, sandwich bar , pasta bar, grill and special of the day. TJ can eat in any dorm cafeteria on campus

 Now that NIU has a stellar football team they have a new stadium where tj can go and WATCH the games. Those are his dorms in the bacjground

These 2 helper girls were standing there talking to TJ, so my Tim grabs the rug and a box and hands it to the girls saying "You aren't doing anything, help my boy out" 

I busted out laughing as they got all giggly... so willing to help the new adorable student

winding down

 TJ had his last day of high school April 28th. He officially graduates June 7th

It is the strangest feeling that your son is done with school...done done. This last week he and his buddies have been bike riding, playing basketball, going out to eat and late nights hanging out wherever.

Two and a half months of freedom...to just chill and revel in the summer that is after high school before college. I can't even believe College is here. It's so exciting to hear where everyone is going. I ask all  his friends when they come over.

St Ambrose, U of I, Columbia, Western and Univ of CO, Boulder are where his close buds are going

TJ is set for NIU, aced his Math and Chemistry placements tests.  Can go straight to second semester sophomore levels for both. Still waiting on English results.

Im so excited for TJ to just enjoy the summer and work of course.

 Sunday TJ filmed the final scenes for "Family Values" We used a private to home to shoot in. The homeowner the sweetest lady ever at 94 yo, sat me down in her living room and told me all about her son that lives in LA. She spoke as though we had been friends forever. It was lovely, just lovely. She shared so much of her knowledge of the business with me.
It's surreal that all this is happening If it goes no further I w'll still feel honored to have been a part of it all. What a ride....fun and exciting. Have met some amazing people along the way. I am beyond thrilled for TJ. He is so not affected and nonchalant about it all. Might as well be going to McDonalds to flip burgers. He did say "Mom, she told me I was just beautiful" all shy like he's never heard it before. It was cute

Oh, her son? I'm sorry
Armyan Bernstein 

/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0077000/

  

WIU Leathernecks

Friday night Tim, myself and TJ headed to Macomb IL for WIU open house. TJ was accepted right away into their Physics program. After talking to the tech department he decided to go on that tour. Computer Science is a better fit for TJ, but it's not my or Tims decision.

What Tim and I loved about WIU was the average class size is 22. They dont have the enormous lecture halls. Some computer classes have as little as 4 students.

This was TJ's 1st college visit so he has nothing to compare it to. 

TJ applied to 7 colleges. He was bombarded with emails and brochures from colleges all over. I responded to some of them just because they offered no essay, no application fee and possible scholarship opprtunities.

Applying was a huge pain in the ass, but we are done and it feels good. We are way ahead of the game.

Where ever TJ decides to go, Im sure he'll do great!

I only took a few shots, we got there close to midnight and had to be at the school at 8:30. After walking around for most of the day, we headed back home (3 1/2 drive) so TJ could get to bed. He had to be on the set this morning at 6 am an hour away

I just think TJ looks cute in the above picture...baby face