These ads made me laugh out loud:

Penguins

Ants 

Crabs

Thanks for sharing Lady Kestrel.

Very clever ads. Humorous TV commercials always catch my attention while sentimental ones often make me cringe.

And yes, group travel is indeed a good thing. At least parents who have their children back packing around the world would have wanted them to be in a group rather than just with one or two friends. My son is currently in Costa Rica/Panama with his girlfriend and my daughter just came back from a trip to Indina with two friends. Man, have we been worried at times!

Originally Posted By Jelena (4 MAR 2012 3:22am)

Thanks for sharing Lady Kestrel.

Very clever ads. Humorous TV commercials always catch my attention while sentimental ones often make me cringe.

You're welcome!  The animation in those ads is so good, and it gets the message across in such a fun way.  There are so many dreadful ads out there that even a halfway decent one stands out.  Thank heaven for the mute button!

Originally Posted By Jelena (4 MAR 2012 3:22am)
And yes, group travel is indeed a good thing. At least parents who have their children back packing around the world would have wanted them to be in a group rather than just with one or two friends. My son is currently in Costa Rica/Panama with his girlfriend and my daughter just came back from a trip to Indina with two friends. Man, have we been worried at times!

You know you'll always worry about them, Jelena, no matter where they are or how old they get!  How did your daughter enjoy her trip?

Thanks, LadyK! 

Originally Posted By Jelena (4 MAR 2012 3:22am)

 Man, have we been worried at times!

I know exactly what you mean.. my son has started going on camps, (which makes me worry terribly) and he came back from his last one sunburnt to a frazzle!  >: (

Originally Posted By Lady Kestrel (4 MAR 2012 12:45pm)

 How did your daughter enjoy her trip?

It was a great experinece. The reason for going was a school project where she and two friends studied the SOS children's villages' work with orphan children in the city of Pune/India. Before they went home they also got some time for themselves and went to see the Taj Mahal!

I think I coped well when my boys went to school camp.  I gave them a million instructions beforehand and then promptly stopped worrying once they were on the bus!  They both came home safely but I know I'll fret when the little one goes to Germany at the end of this year.  Last week he told me he was going to drink beer because it's legal over there and today he got me going when he said he was looking forward to buying fireworks and setting them off.  I think my lecture about how dangerous they can be lasted all the way home from school.  LOL 

So, Jelena - any photos of these amazing trips overseas that your children are on?

I usually stay calm as long as they keep in contact on regular basis. In these days it's so easy to send a short message that everything is OK. It's when those thumbs up fail to come and the days pass with no word, I get worried. It's apparently easy to forget parents when you're having a good time.

Originally Posted By Caroline (5 MAR 2012 5:38am)

So, Jelena - any photos of these amazing trips overseas that your children are on?

My daughter came home with 372 pics and 12 videos! The son on the other hand hardly ever sends any pictures, but thankfully his g/f is quite the photographer.

These pics are of Johan and his girlfriend. It's from Cloudforest in CR and then from an area with an active volcano. Don't know the name of it.

And this is Elin (to the right) with one of her friends in front of Taj Mahal.

Those are great photos, Jelena!  You have beautiful kids.

Caroline,

It sounds like your youngest knows how to wind up his mom.