I've been working so hard on my presentation for UW-La Crosse, I completely forgot to blog!

We celebrated Bryn's birthday last Monday (9th) during the hour and a half she was home that day. A couple friends donned her with balloons she got to carry around school for the day. Jeff took Theo in bright and early to the vet to get his teeth cleaned - which means anesthesia. Jeff picked him up at the end of the day and Theo was so out of it. He cried and cried so we kept him closeby all evening.

Wednesday (11th) evening the high school put on a Donkey Basketball game. Yes, students and teacher actually rode donkeys! The game was a fundraiser for the Junior Prom. My friend Carrie and I went because we were curious and wanted to see the all the kids. It was fun, but kind of strange.

Bryn and Paige had off school Thursday (12th). This didn't exclude Bryn from having track practice.

Friday we welcomed Abby back home for spring break. She was able to get a ride from a girl in Hartland so I met them out that way. She got into the van holding a goldfish she is pet-sitting and I therefore had to be cautious of potholes as I drove so as to not make waves. Abby's first assignment upon arriving home was exchanging her loaner cell phone for a new replacement phone at the cell phone store because we received the replacement 10 days earlier to our home address explaining we had 10 days to do so! It went smoothly.

Paige has had several practices with her piano accompanist for Solo & Ensemble and she says Paige has a very difficult piece and is making great progress.

Saturday evening Abby, Bryn and Paige met at the mall to dress shop for Chad & Robbyn's wedding this weekend. Amazingly, they all found a dress within 2 hours! And stayed within the $ limit I set! I think we still have to get shoes though.

This is a pic of a recent job I've done at work and I was excited to see it in real life! It's a bus board for MillerCoors advertising their Free Rides program on St. Patrick's Day.

So I am supposed to be paying bills online right now, but I'm not quite ready for all that fun stuff yet. Maybe after I'm done blogging.

Bryn is in the middle of taking the ACT Prep class to prepare her for the ACT test on April 4th. The class is weekly and goes through each subject covered on the test.

Got a call at work from Abby's art teacher asking me to speak to her graphic design students at UW-L! So I'm signed up to talk the Monday after spring break which will be convenient with bringing Abby back to school. All I have to share is what it's like in the real job world for a graphic designer. I'm trying to put together a really cool presentation - hope I make the time to do it right! Cuz I'm certainly not going to just stand there and talk!

Friday we met Bryn and Paige's accompanist, Ms. Heins, for Solo & Ensemble. Ms. Heins teaches at their old elementary school, Ben Franklin. So Bryn and Paige each spent a half hour with Ms. Heins going over their solo pieces at Ms. Heins' home. Apparently, Paige's piece is quite difficult, so she needs more practice sessions than Bryn. From there, we drove to the Legion to meet Kristin, Carlo, Bella and Lucy for a fish fry. I put our name in right away as the place was jam packed. Unfortunately the hostess wasn't all that organized and nobody's name on the list ever got called. So Kristin just stood right in front of the hostess stand til we were assigned a table! We finally got to eat an hour and a half later! Luckily Paige entertained Lucy and Bella by taking them to the dance floor while we were waiting for our food to come. Then Bryn was off to a surprise birthday party for a friend and Jeff, Paige and I watched American Idol.


Saturday Bryn, Paige and I drove up to Appleton for Chad's fiancee's, Robbyn, shower. Great food and really liked the bingo game where you filled in the empty gameboard with guesses of what gifts Robbyn would open today, then of course as she opened them you marked them off. Paige won at our table. We were able to hold Chayse for quite a while. Then we played another game as a story was read and Paige won again! The shower ended earlier than scheduled, so I stopped at Shaffers who live just a block away. Only Tim was home, and since I came unannounced, I just chatted for about 10 minutes. Then me and the girls were off to the mall to get Bryn some running shoes for track. Kayla had recommended a great store! They analyze your foot as you run and they choose the shoes to fit you! Finished off shopping by buying fleeces, which is part of all their birthday presents this year for our trip to Canada this summer.

Jeff worked on the CRV again while we were gone and made us pizza when we got home. Then took Paige out to Hartland Ice Center because Jeff's friend Dave's son was playing in a hockey tournament out there. Paige really enjoyed the game and Jeff had fun with his buds and their kids.

This was a tough week for the Saunders - most of it we saw coming.

I've been driving our Honda CRV to work because I work further away and it gets better gas mileage than the van. I warned Jeff that it had been sounding rather loud so he drove it to work and apparently the entire exhaust system is falling apart. Luckily, we have a 3rd car (not lucky for Bryn!). So Bryn hasn't had her own car to drive to school all week. And when she did get it to drive to her trombone lesson Monday night, she got her first speeding ticket! Poor Jeff tries every night getting another part and getting under the CRV, which is on blocks in the garage. It's still there tonight. To be continued...

Tuesday my parents came down to see Paige's Pops Band Concert which was very enjoyable. Instead of classical music, this concert is all more popular music.

Wednesday Jeff and I had committed to work concessions for the last boys' basketball game at the high school. My parents opted to stay another night planning to watch Idol with Paige. Paige got invited to paint t-shirts for her upcoming Dodgeball tournament. So my parents were alone. Nice visit, eh?

The completed, every-bone-labeled skeleton left our home Thursday. I told Bryn and Marisa that theirs has to be the best! Theo went to the vet on Thursday for a regular check-up and the vet commented on what a happy dog he is. :) When I came home from work I was surprised to find Bryn home as she was scheduled to work. Sadly Bryn explained that she had informed her boss about track practice beginning in 2 weeks and her boss decided that wasn't going to fit into her work schedule, so Bryn can be "done." Nice. Poor Bryn. After supper, I went over to another Student Council parent's home to help organize all the donated items for the Winter Carnival's Silent Auction. We got some great stuff, and I carefully planned my bidding strategy for Sunday as I helped assemble the auction baskets.

Friday I had to drag myself into work as we are very busy and a co-worker (very deservedly) had off. It's hard to complain about work when so many are out of a job. Paige had her afterschool "Friday Frenzy" where the Dodgeball tournament was held. Her team came in 2nd! Their name was the Foo Fighters and each kid had 2 of the team name letters on their shirt so when they stood together you could read "Foo Fighters." On her ride home Jeff and I learned that we were hosting a sleepover. As the girls were dropped off, we learned how many guests we were having. It was fine and Jeff and I had just planned to stay home and watch TV anyways.

Abby went to Kaukauna for the weekend to a friend's house and even went to visit her Grandma in Appleton! We've only heard about it because Jeff's mom called us to tell us. We'll have to get details from Abby later. Jeff coordinated a nice dinner out with 2 other couples for Saturday night. Paige was hired to babysit and asked to bring a friend because it was for 6 kids and it was a long night: 6pm to 1am! They both made a lot of money. And Bryn had a friend over to chill.


And Sunday (today) was the big event: The Student Council Childrens Winter Carnival. This is an annual event that I've become involved in because my children have been on the Exec Board of Student Council the last two years. Bryn and I had to be there at 8:30am for set up. It's kind of chaos but it all works out. We had to set up about 12 games, a concession stand, ticket booth, welcome table, posters for everything. I had such fun being the "runner" and taking pictures of all the high school kids! The Carnival runs from noon til 4pm. My sister and her family came and it's fun to watch them play. Lucy was fascinated with the dog on top of the big bouncy house! Bryn and I helped clean up til 4:30, then we came home so Bryn could have a nap and go on to her next event: a UWAY concert. Jeff went down to see it this time. We're tired.

I called my niece Mia Monday morning to wish her a happy 4th birthday and she was excited! She thanked me for the baby stroller and told me all about her princess cake she had the night before. Abby even remembered to call her from college and I guess Mia raved about how "her Abby" called.

Bryn had Marisa over again on Tuesday to work on their Anatomy project and they got the arms and legs done just after school! Last Sunday they worked til 6pm completing the complicated pelvis, spine and shoulders. Their skeleton is going to measure about 7 feet tall when they're done! But doesn't it look great?

We made a big decision regarding Bryn's scheduling for the remainder of the schoolyear. Bryn will miss the last UWAY concert of the year because Confirmation is the same day. Knowing she won't be playing at the last concert, she really shouldn't be at any of the rehearsals beforehand because then it's not a true representation of what it will sound like. So I wrote a letter to the UWAY conductor explaining the situation. Of course he is disappointed, but a concert and confirmation are too much to cram into one day. So this opens up Tuesday nights for Bryn to move either work or trombone lessons into. Phew!

I went to battle a parking ticket at traffic court on Wednesday. Thought it'd be no big deal. Not. Bryn's car was ticketed in the high school parking lot for not having a parking pass in early January. Bryn does have a parking pass that we pay $85/semester for, but it was on the floor and not visible to the officer from his car. I opted to appear in court because I thought a simple explanation would bypass my ticket. The prosecutor was of course not understanding. What I still do not comprehend is that why the high school has all Bryn's vehicle information on file and the police don't cross-reference that before issuing a ticket. I thought a warning for a first-time violation would be fair. I was hot! And I've also written a letter to the high school vice principal voicing my disappointment.

We listened to another beautiful concert by the high school Wind Symphony Wednesday night. Then I attended Bryn's Prom Info night meeting Thursday night. Bryn's going to have a great spring!

Friday I picked up some more Silent Auction donations for the Winter Carnival. Then Jeff and I went to see Slumdog Millionaire. It was good, but not that I'd rave for weeks about it. It's hard for me to watch children live in such tough conditions. And I think that's why it's talked up so much: because it raises social awareness - which I'm all for.

The snow came down continuously Saturday morning. We were pretty much stuck inside as everyone, including the plows, were waiting til it was over. Didn't hear the final count, but I know we were predicted to get 5 - 8". I dropped Paige and her friend who had slept over at the movies Saturday afternoon while I grocery shopped. Then we ordered a movie-on-demand through our new TiVo last night. It took a little effort making sure we had all our account info online and linking it to our TiVo device, but we were watching Get Smart and munching on popcorn by 8pm!

Today Bryn and Kendal, Bryn's confirmation sponsor, go to a Confirmation event. Kendal's coming at 11 to catch up with us. Kind of like our substitute Abby. :)

I hope Bryn's on Student Council Exec Board again next year. Because we now have the membership database fine tuned! Bryn entered all the data then I imported it into other programs, updated against the White Pages and the high school directory, tested email addresses... Hours of work. But I think the club is finally able to reach most of its members through email!

Thus was my contribution to the meeting last Sunday: emailed letters to all members requesting help at the Winter Carnival. All us parents are out soliciting businesses for Silent Auction donations besides. Tonight I go to the meeting solo as Bryn has Sunday School.

Paige's ride to school Friday picked her up at 5:45am!! Why? you ask? It was the date to turn in permission slips for an Arts field trip to Chicago to see the musical Xanadu and there's only a limited number of tickets. Paige did get in. Abby got a ride home from La Crosse and Jeff met her ride at Mayfair. Abby, Bryn and Paige hung together Friday night while Jeff and I journeyed downtown to the Planetarium to star gaze for Valentine's.

Saturday was ChillyFest in Menomonee Falls. I volunteered to help out the Art Guild by relieving artists from their stands so they could get up for a while and walk around or get a bite to eat. It was a perfect day for the event: sunny and about 30°. I got to chat with a lot of people. Jeff came down about 2pm and we walked around together as I was done with my assignment.

Abby had $ to deposit (tax refund and scholarship money) and to deal with her semi-working cell phone. Ya, the new one we got her for Christmas. Paige and I had been trying to text and call her to see if she would skype Wed or Thu night before she came home, but never got a response. When she finally called us from a number we didn't recognize on her drive into Milwaukee Friday afternoon, she revealed that her cell phone was currently in a baggie of rice. Trying to dry it out from its swim in the toilet. Luckily I had also purchased the insurance when I got the phone knowing Abby's history. Abby took care of the details at the store and has a loaner for now.


The main reason for Abby's trip home was to see her friend hand down her Turnabout Dance crown to this year's queen. Abby and her friends hung out at our house for a while beforehand and we really had fun talking. While they were here, Paige's admirer called and they all got into teasing her about that.

We're finding Bryn's schedule becoming very confining and for now, we've postponed her trombone lessons to make room for everything. Next month, daily track practice begins and we're going to work on fitting those lessons back in. I know it stresses Bryn out trying to fit it all in. Today she and her project partner are working on building their skeleton for Anatomy class. The skeleton will reside in our basement until it's due on March 2nd. It has to measure at least 5 feet tall and be able to hang from its head. All parts have to work: shoulder rotate, knee bend, etc. I'll update its progress every week.

Don't know why, but it seemed like everyone came out of the woodwork this week. I got really busy at work. I should be thankful knowing how many layoffs are going on everywhere.

Bryn was initiated into the workforce this week with 21 hours! I'm hoping she won't have so many hours every week. But she loves her job. All female employees. When she works with the owner, she gets a free meal as long as Bryn makes the run for it. And what teenager can pass up lunch/dinner at Culvers? Noodles? McDs? Wolffs asks that each employee try out every tanning service they offer so they can comment about it if asked by clients. Bryn has tanned twice so far and is confident it's made a difference! Bryn did get a call back for another interview, but I'm not sure she'll go.

Jeff and I have been looking into family trips to take over summer vacation. We really haven't taken a big driving trip since DC back in 2005. We transferred our Hilton timeshare point over to a larger timeshare pool that enabled us more choices for 2009. We began our internet search knowing that we'd like to see more national parks. So we found a few resorts that would enable us to see Zion, Bryce Canyon and Arches down in Utah. While Jeff worked basketball concessions Tuesday night, I sat on the phone and checked availability on various resorts in the area. We wanted to go in June, and with it being February already, places are booking up quickly! Wednesday Jeff and I looked online together and came up with a few more places. I took the phone again and made our requests. Jeff added a couple more while I was on the phone and after the last one the rep said "This is unbelievable! You never find this kind of deal!" I was stunned to find out that we could get a 4-bedroom condo with our points for a week we actually wanted in June! But in was where? Canada? Jeff had begun to search in Canada while I was on the phone and just gave me the resort numbers to relay to the rep. I told her I had to call her back even though she warned me it may be gone. The resort looks lovely and it is near national parks: Banff and Glacier, which will be just as awesome to see as those in Utah. (Just a bit chillier.) We called back and booked it! A bit spontaneous for Jeff and I! Then of course we mapped it and found out it's a 28-hour drive! Isn't Wisconsin way closer than that? So I guess we'll be taking more time off than we expected. I'm sure it'll be a great trip.

Thursday night I met Robin and Wendy, the girls' babysitters, out for dinner and had a wonderful get-together. Robin has been to Banff and Glacier twice and filled me with info that I've already forgotten. I'm sure I'll be calling her for a refresher before we go. A co-worker of Jeff's gave us a slideshow to watch about his trips there as well - so picturesque! It looks Photoshopped!

Friday we went to the church fish fry some friends and got to relax in their hot tub afterward. That was a great evening. Bryn and Paige opted to stay home and have pizza and chill.

Bryn got to go on a run yesterday with the mild weather. Paige is still at a birthday sleepover this morning.

Abby started her new 2nd semester schedule on Monday. None of her classes begin before 11am! Don't think that means there's any less chance that Abby won't oversleep! We called her during the week and reminded her to incorporate more studying into her free time this semester. I'm sure she's enjoying having a roommate that's around more.

Tuesday night I attended my monthly Art Guild meeting. Our speaker that night was the president of the Art Guild who gave us all tips on critiquing artwork. All the artists in our group had brought in a few pieces that we could then all critique. It's really cool to see how talented and diverse our group is. I am going to paint again someday and this group is inspiring me.

Bryn's days of driving the car were numbered. We had to lay down the law. If she didn't have a steady income (i.e., JOB) to pay for gas and insurance by the first day of 2nd semester, no more car. And what do you know... she had an interview on Jan 28th and is hired the same day! Just one day before the start of 2nd semester! So Bryn is now gainfully employed at Wolff Tanning. She'll work 3 to 4 4-hour shifts per week. Abby's friend, Kendal, works there but of course is now off to college so the place came well-recommended. Her first day of work was Saturday morning where she learned to wash towels, how to clean the tanning beds and arrange the room, what to wear, etc.

Friday night I got to use one of my Christmas presents. Bryn had purchased 2 tickets to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for me as a gift. It wasn't any ordinary concert: it was a tribute to composer Richard Rodgers, who wrote many songs for big musicals. And, the concert was directed by none other than Marvin Hamlisch himself!!! How cool is that! Bryn was going to accompany me, but she came home sick from school Friday. Jeff happily escorted me. We recognized 2 people in the chorus: Dr John Puchner, who taught the girls piano lessons for years and Christine Williams, the wife of my co-worker, Mike.

Saturday we headed to Appleton for our nephew's, Mitchell, Confirmation at St. Thomas More. Mitchell chose his Grandpa George as his sponsor. The mass was at 5pm, and after almost 2 hours I was hungry!!! Debbie, Terry and Maggie put out a good spread and we had a great time visiting everybody. Baby Chayse looked so different already! This is Debbie's last year of teaching her kids' religion classes, but she says she'll be doing it again.