2011 Christmas Card

Another digital ecard by Smilebox

As many of you may have already seen on Facebook, we finally got our new furniture for the basement! Obviously we got the measurements right, as the delivery down the stairs took all of 10 minutes. And it looks and feels beautiful! I can't believe how great it looks with the rug! Bryn and Paige took full advantage of its comforts last night taking the basement space back.

Other even bigger news is Bryn's score to go to the Rose Bowl. One of her good friends, a UW student (obviously), purchased 4 tickets hoping she could get a group to go and made it happen. Her father used his frequent-stayer points to reserve them a hotel. We parents all talked about how to get them out there in a safe, affordable manner and yesterday we all purchased their Amtrak tickets from Chicago to LA. When I have time to surf, I've been researching how the kids can get around LA and what to do.

Jeff and I attended Paige's Junior Conference yesterday with her and her guidance counselor. This is part of a new plan by the high school to help kids get where they want to go after graduation by analyzing if they're on track with their grades, activities, college tours and applications. After hearing that Paige was interested in studying business, the counselor urged her to sign up for a UW-Whitewater visit and explore the different fields within business.

Abby was supposed to come home last weekend with all 6 of her roommates as they continue their "Hometown Tour." Their senior year is upon them so they're making the most of their last year together by scheduling visits to each roommate's hometown sometime during the schoolyear. With it being December (holidays, finals, etc.), only 1 roommate was available to come on Abby's designated "Milwaukee" weekend, so they decided to postpone. Paige was none too happy. Rescheduled date is still to be determined.

Jeff got to see the Pack go 13-0 last Sunday against the Raiders. His college buddies always go to one Packer game each year and this was it. Luckily the weather was pretty bearable for a game in Green Bay: 40° and overcast, but the game was pushed back to 3:15 so you couldn't rely on the sun making any impact. How 'bout til that crazy night game on Christmas Day!

It's official. I will be done at Readers Digest on December 22. My temp agency is already on it and has offered me to sign me up for a few classes they offer—at their expense—to help me into some Front End Developer jobs that are becoming more popular. Kind of scary to get into all that crazy programming, but that's where my job seems to be going.

As luck would have it, just when I began my part-time hours, I picked up a freelance job! A past client called me to produce their annual calendar again for 2012. I really couldn't have planned it any better. I've met her for coffee twice and enjoy the project management/directing part of being a designer that does lack in my temporary gigs.

We hosted the Sears family over Thanksgiving and had a lot of fun with them bargain shopping, dancing with the Wii and just hanging out. Kristin actually hosted Thanksgiving dinner with Meg's family, Craig's family and Mom and Dad. We however continued our tradition of heading up towards Appleton where Maggie treats us all to a family-style Thanksgiving out at Van Abel's. Paige and I got the house guest-ready on our days off beforehand. Abby was able to get some work hours in over that holiday weekend.

We got Bryn back to Carroll Sunday after church at Elmbrook and Abby left with her rider later in the afternoon.

I went out for Mexican with the girls' babysitters, Wendy and Robin this past Friday night. Always a lot to catch up on when we meet. Robin definitely outdid us all with 2 weddings and a baby! I'm glad we still get together as I so love their company. Their kids are just a bit older than mine so I listen very carefully and try to learn from their good examples.

And the next evening Jeff and I cheered on the Badgers with my former college roommate, Polly, and her husband that now reside in Brookfield.