So on Wednesday I turned 45. Sounds old. My coworkers bought me a delicious loaf of holiday bread from Panera which I shared. I received several cards, phone calls, and postings with birthday wishes. Even my 2-year-old nephew, Cooper, sang Happy Birthday to me over the phone from Indy! My college roommate even surfaced from Alabama (I had no idea where she's even been the last 2 years!) and gave me a call. Bryn and Paige baked and decorated a chocolate cake for me. My good friend, Carrie, stopped by to personally wish me a happy birthday. I did have a very pleasant day.

Jeff left at 7:30pm ON MY BIRTHDAY for Chicago. His work paid for him and other future Ring & DuChateau principals to attend a "Pathway to Principal" conference targeted for managers in the architecture/engineering industry. He was put up at a deluxe hotel right on Michigan Avenue in the heart of the shopping district. He said the conference was really informative. He came back Friday evening just as I returned from dropping Paige off at the movies to see Twilight.

Because of Jeff's trip, we also missed seeing our nephew, Mitchell, play at Camp Randall Friday afternoon. Mitchell's a great asset to his Kimberly Papermakers football team that went to state AND WON!!!! They played Verona at 1pm Friday for the Division 2 championship. I bet that trip was a blast. I'm disappointed Mitchell wasn't mentioned in the newspaper article, but he was mentioned many times during the season for his rushing contributions. (He's #7)

Yes, Paige read the books and saw "the most awesome movie ever!" We picked her entourage up from the theatre that night, only to host a sleepover afterward. They were so full of energy! Meanwhile, Bryn went to a friend's to watch more LOST episodes. They're determined to catch up (from the beginning!) so that they're up to speed when the series starts up again.

Saturday afternoon Paige played with a small group from band at our local Sentry store that was having its annual holiday event. This store is so supportive of the community! All day, the dance team handed out samples throughout the store, while different school bands and choirs performed. There was a silent auction, a chance to win a free bag of groceries if they called your cart number, and . So Jeff attended that event while Kristin went with me to see "The Secret Life of Bees". I stopped in at her house beforehand and got to see Bella and Lucy. Lucy was afraid of me while Bella twirled on her Sit N Spin. (That was the best present I ever bought!) I had read the book a couple years ago and was excited to see it at the theatre when I saw the actors that were in it. My kids weren't interested in going, so Kristin graciously accepted my offer. It's quite a tearjerker, but a great story. Jeff had dinner ready when I came home, only to find out it was just going to be dinner for two. Bryn went for coffee, then iceskating with a group of friends and Paige had just been invited over to a friend's house. After dinner, Jeff and I browsed through our Hilton timeshare book to see how to use our points. Paige has commented that we haven't taken a trip in a while.

Bryn is on the job hunt, though not of her own determination. We got lenient with Cross Country season, but that's over and done. Bryn has emptied every source of cash she's had - which lasted pretty long! - and now it's time to give back. Hoping that the holiday shopping season is a good time to be applying!