Obviously, things have been hectic. Hence, my blog neglect.

Bryn got some time alone at home last week Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday while the rest of us went off to work and school. We were able to spare her the car 2 of the 3 days since she agreed to get us where we needed to be to make it work. So Bryn was able to get her beautiful blonde locks cut on Monday and visit the foot doctor on Tuesday to have molds made for her custom orthotics.

Paige fitted Bryn with one of her handmade knotted bracelets. Paige takes custom orders by letting you choose the thread colors. So far, Abby, Bryn and Maggie are all wearing Paige originals!

Paige started a new tradition in the Saunders household: she would cook us dinner once a week. Her specialty? Hamburger Helper. She served her first meal on Monday: Cheesy Hamburger Macaroni. Jeff and Bryn are in heaven with this new dinner staple. Not my favorite but I love that Paige wants to cook.

Jeff and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, Oct. 12th. My parents, driving home from Chicago, stopped in at my work to serenade me with "Happy Anniversary" and brought Jeff and I a cake and flowers. That evening, Jeff and I dined at Amici's out in Richfield. I love the atmosphere there. The wine was delicious! So was the food.


We spent a fabulous couple days at UWL for Friends & Family Weekend. We asked Maggie if she wanted to come along and we were met with an enthusiastic "yes!" She drove down from Appleton Friday afternoon just before Paige was bussed home from school. From our house we were able to shoot straight out 94 for La Crosse. Just north of Madison, traffic stopped. It took us 1 hour to go 6 miles. We could see our intentions of getting to Abby's work before it closed at 8:00pm vanishing. When we finally reached the next exit, we took it! My iPhone GPS came in mighty handy as I navigated us west and north from Lodi to Merrimac — stop! As soon as I narrated that our ride would be taking us across Lake Wisconsin, we ran right into it! But how to get across? No bridge in sight, but cars lined up in 3 lanes... Ah! A ferry! What else could make our trip take any longer? Our frustration eventually left us as we watched the nostalgic ferry skim across the Lake in the sunset and we all smiled at what a happy accident this turned out to be. We arrived at Abby's work just to see her close up and walk to her car. Maggie invited her to have a sleepover in her room at the hotel with Paige complete with snacks and movies. Apparently, Abby and Paige pooped out before Maggie did. Saturday Abby gave us a walking tour of UWL ending with a souvenir stop at the bookstore. We dined at a local establishment, Rudy's, which was open for the last day of the season! Downtown, we walked the along the mighty Mississip and sampled ice cream and another local venue, The Pearl. We found sweatshirt and t-shirt bargains at a big sale at the Expo Center. Crossing campus, we drove up to the view from Grandad Bluff. Abby chose our eating spot for dinner and then we spent a long time browsing where Abby works in La Crosse, Tree House Gifts, which is huge!

While we were at dinner Saturday night, Jeff received a phone call from his sister letting him know their Dad was admitted to the hospital and having heart surgery. After hearing his Dad did well through the surgery, Jeff drove up to Appleton Sunday morning to visit him with his sister and nephews. All good. Because Jeff had to go to Appleton, I chauffuered Paige over to Beloit that same morning for a select softball tryout with the Columbus Xplozion. A little disappointing in that we drove 1.5 hours only to have Paige pinch run from 3rd to home 2X. No batting. No fielding. No pitching. The team invited her to lunch. In Janesville (no thank you!) after the game and to their next tournament, which is indoors Thanksgiving Weekend. So I guess they liked her in the end.

Monday Jeff flew out to Virginia again for his monthly meetings on Martha Jefferson Hospital. He flies in tonight yet. Yesterday I was able to attend a seminar instead of working which always perks an employee up.