Trying to get back to my Sunday blogging.

I forgot to mention Abby's being awarded Optimist Student of the month at the high school for April in my last entry. I've added a link at right with her picture. Jeff went to the Optimist Club breakfast meeting with her where she was honored.

I've also added Paige's track schedule. Her first meet last Thursday was a practice meet where she ran the 100 hurdles and placed 1st, but rain kept her from her next event, the 200. Because the meet was at the high school, Bryn was able to see her.

And the link to my work is officlally complete and online! We're so happy we can tell clients that we have a website now. Kind of sad for a graphic design firm to wait so long.

Friday night Jeff and I attended MSOE's Recognition Dinner where faculty and staff are honored. We sat with other co-workers from Ring & DuChateau who also teach Senior Design like Jeff, just difference facets of engineering. The dinner was great, catered from MSOE's own food service! It was held at the new Kern Center which is a beautiful facility and we had never been in before. While waiting for the cermonies to begin, we scanned the program and noticed a familiar name: Debbie Dannecker - that's Bob Klimko's sister! She's been working in MSOE's offices for 10 years! We anxiously waited for her name to be called and carefully watched what table she emerged from. After the program, we ran over to her table say hi. Jeff thought Debbie wouldn't recognize him. Not the case. She's doing well and it was nice to chat for a bit with her.


Saturday Abby worked WebKinz Day at Hallmark like everyone else. B U S Y! Because she had to work til 2, I stayed behind to wait for her while Jeff drove off with Bryn and Paige to Glacier Canyon Lodge. Jeff's sister, Terry, got a special room rate through her work for the weekend, so our family, Terry and Paul, and Debbie's family all met in the Dells! Glacier Canyon is just part of the Wilderness Resort which now has 3 or 4 waterparks to enjoy. Even though all had returned from the waterparks just before Abby and I arrived, they all went back for a second round with us! We were wet til 8:00pm! Then, we cooked a big spaghetti dinner with garlic bread and salad. Chad and Paul even ran out for ice cream which we never even ate! We were so full of spaghetti! Paul, Mitchell, Chad, Tony and Jeff played cards while the girls either crashed or read. The rooms were really nice and slept all of us in 2-2bedroom suites. Thanks Terry!

We all left around 11am today. Bryn has UWAY rehearsal at 2pm for a concert tonight at 7:30 which I'll be attending. Jeff's staying home with Paige and Abby has Student Council.

Bryn ran the 4x800 and 4x400 at a track meet vs. Brookfield East last Thursday. Imagine my surprise when I see her come to the starting line with her right leg bandaged from thigh to shin! I had to wait until her race was over to ask "What the hank?" Apparently she hurt it practicing hurdles the day before. Her distance coaches were none too happy. You could see that she wasn't feeling the best.

Last Friday night I met Wendy and Robin (the girls babysitters) out to dinner. It was close to Wendy's birthday so Robin wouldn't let that slide. The waiters sung to Wendy and we got a great big dessert to share. Talked a lot about college as Wendy and Robin both have 3 of their 4 kids through it.

Jeff drove Abby down to UWMilwaukee Saturday morning for her UW placement testing. Then that evening was our favorite band event, Jazz N Java. The high school cafeteria is set up with night club seating and all the jazz bands perform in a very casual atmosphere where you can buy baked goods and coffee/soda/water to enjoy at your table during the concert. The only bad thing is that seating is so limited, that I can never invite anyone else!


Sunday was a beautiful day. Perfect for moving our swingset to Waukesha. Kristin and Carlo (and Bella and Lucy) arrived with the UHaul around 10am and loaded 'er up! That was the easy part. We all caravaned out to the Taorminas for assembly. Abby, Carlo and Jeff put it together while Kristin, me, Bryn and Paige occupied Bella and Lucy. The swingset is usable, but we had some extra difficulties because of the slope of their backyard. That was really a monstrous swingset! We left off the tire swing and monkey bars for now.


Bryn did the hurdles for the first time at a JV track meet last Tuesday. She did really well! She ran the 100 high hurdles and the 300 lows. Bryn liked the lows better and was 6 seconds below what her coach was expecting! A team member then drove her directly downtown to UWAY for rehearsal after the meet. Meanwhile, I accompanied Abby and Dana to a Girl Scout adult recognition event at the Zoo. It was very nice and reaffirming to recognized for all the hard work they've put in over their 12 years in Girl Scouting.

So I'm slacking a bit on my weekly updates. Activities have ramped up.

YES BRYN PASSED HER DRIVER'S TEST!!! She did an awesome job only missing 5 points! While she was out testing, another mother was nervously awaiting for her daughter to return. I guess it was her 3rd time. Anyways, this mom is just gawking out the window giving me a play-by-play of what the instructor is doing with Bryn... "they're still in your car. he must really be quizzing her!" now they're pulling around the side of the building. did you know they park a van there just to parallel park behind? i guess she's going to have to parallel park. you know this DMV is known for having the toughest road tester..." I was fine til she came along!

Bryn had a mission trip retreat Friday night with all the others that will be going to Mississippi this coming July. Kind of a bonding/team-building session. They had a potluck dinner at church then went to play laser tag. Paige was invited to sleepover and Abby always has weekend plans, so Jeff and I were on our own! After we had dinner with Paige and dropped her off at her sleepover, we went shopping. Sounds crazy, but it was nice not to have a time limit. I had broken our camera at one of Paige's basketball games and we needed to replace it. OK. I needed to replace it.

Saturday was another night out. Bryn had a special UWAY concert with a similar band group from Atlanta that was visiting. We drove her down to rehearsal at 5, then she had 1 hour to get dinner so we stopped in to Water Street Brewery where we had to tag team paying for the bill and getting the car so we got her back in time! We couldn't convince Paige to accompany us which turned out to be for the better as the concert hall was packed. Abby had friends sleep over for her birthday.

Sunday Kendal took Abby out prom dress shopping. This was prearranged. I called Abby's friends, Kendal and Ali, as well as her boyfriend, Alex, to let them know I wanted to have a surprise party for Abby's 18th birthday. Abby was scheduled to work til 4, but a co-worker volunteered to take her birthday hours - that's when Kendal was recruited to shop. Paige and I went shopping for decorations and food while they were gone, then Ali came over and helped, along with Bryn, decorate. Abby returned promptly at 4 because I told her we'd go to the Olive Garden for dinner and she was really surprised! Her friends parked a block away. We ordered pizzas and had an ice cream sundae bar.

Paige began track practice this past Monday. She is skipping Tae Kwon Do tonight because her legs are so sore from "suicides" at track practice after school. Her first meet is next Thursday. She'd like to do hurdles and sprints. And Little League practice has begun on Thursdays and Saturdays - when it doesn't snow!!!

Bryn's next meet is this Thursday where she'll be in the 4x400 and 4x800 relays again. I'll just be excited for the weather to cooperate.

This morning, Jeff accompanied Abby to the Optimist Club breakfast as she was honored as the High School Optimist Student of the Month. Her introduction by Mr. Petroff was flattering and even Abby had to talk a bit. Way to go Abby!

I was anticipating loads of pictures to upload from Abby and Bryn's band trip to Florida, but they must not take after me. Bryn never even unwrapped her disposable camera, and Abby only took a few. Luckily, a family friend went down on their own and snapped a couple for us. Abby and Bryn updated us by texting on their busride home Sunday. Paige came along to welcome her sisters back to Wisconsin at 10:00pm. Abby and Bryn didn't have much to say, just wanted to snuggle in their comfy beds. It was tough getting up for school the next day, but they did get to show off their tans and blonder hair.

On Wednesday, Bryn got to run in her first track meet for the season at Indoor Conference! She ran the 400 and was in 2 relays: 4x400 and 4x800. She did not qualify for sectionals understandably with only 1 week of practice under her belt. She's looking forward to outdoor season (schedule link at right) and I'm really excited because she'll have home track meets for the first time in 3 years! (Our high school track was renovated since last season.)

Paige was called by her new Little League coach just before spring break. She'll play for the Cardinals this summer. And this year, her age bracket is 7th to 12th graders! May be a little intimidating! Her first chance to meet her teammates was at their first practice was this past Thursday. She's with 3 other 7th graders she knows. We won't get her game schedule until later this month.

Saturday Paige was flawless testing for her high blue belt in Tae Kwon Do. And she didn't get paired with the same crabby mom to spar (fight) with again! She'll be officially awarded her new belt later this week. My parents stopped in for a visit Saturday when we returned and ended up staying the night. They've been in town helping Kristin remodel her basement.

I've been busy helping to plan for Abby's local Gold Award ceremony. I'm in charge of invites and programs and they're to be ready tomorrow! Abby will be recognized at a local church here in the Falls on Thursday, May 22nd if anyone would like to attend. And I've decided to take on the role of finding tenants for a new strip mall near our house - I'm tired of it being empty! So I spent a little time online and emailed several establishments (Cold Stone Creamery, Old Navy, Alterra Coffee, Brennan's Market, Jimmy John's, Nick & Willy's Pizza,and Borders ) suggesting this new location.:) Everyone will thank me later. And check out my updated link to "where i work" - we finally have a temporary web site! We're still making final decisions on what to include in the portfolio section. My latest web site I designed (The Secret Garden) is the last one in that section.

Wish Bryn luck! She goes for her driver's test this coming Wednesday!!!!