That meal you threw together looked good. And I love taffy apples no lie. You know, there comes a time when you must at some point cut the umbilical cord and let them grow up. As hard as it may seem, you must do it for their benefit and yours also, because they will eventually have to grow up, and if they have a good foundation from which they can venture out, they should be able to make decisions for themselves based on the knowledge and wisdom they acquired from you and others.
They will never forget about Mom so I don’t think that’s something you need to worry about. Mom will always be etched in their hearts. That applies even in the case of the worst mothers, but you appear to have been a good hands-on mother working to ensure they had the best. So they will never forget you. And they will always be protective of you, especially the sons.
But for them to grow and flourish you must let them go. You have to cut the umbilical cord. But while they’re away from home at these institutions make sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing because there are a lot of temptations on those campuses. Monitor the grades and behavior because there are a lot of things they can get involved in if they are not focused. So stay connected and be watchful.