No pictures again. Our newest camera suffered a fatal accident. We're sending it away for a repair estimate.

Sunday Aug 17th Jeff and I went down to the lakefront for IrishFest. I received two tickets at work via IrishFest's current PR firm who's looking outside to redesign the Fest's logo. So the visit was "research." I really wanted to attend the huge Catholic mass that's held at the Amphitheatre, but Paige hosted a sleepover from the night before that didn't really cooperate with our plans. No takers on wanting to come with either. So Jeff and I went down for a pint of ale and stew. It's really an enjoyable Fest.

Bryn had to stay up Sunday night as Monday Aug 18th is the first official WIAA-sanctioned day of practice for high school fall sports so Cross Country annually schedules a Midnight Run. Thank goodness Bryn is 16 now and could drive herself to the high school and back. We didn't wait up.

Bryn visited the doctor Tuesday as she hasn't been feeling the best while running. She feels nauseous and isn't sleeping because of it. The doctor's treating it as acid reflux and of course there's over-the-counter stuff for that. The doctor also suggested slight modifications to her diet including eating yogurt in the morning. Bryn is not a fan. But Go-Gurt seems to be better. We'll see how it goes, but she seems to be working through it.

Paige was called back by the select softball team for a 2nd tryout Wednesday Aug 20th. There were also some girls trying out for the 1st time as they couldn't make the other tryout date. Not sure where Paige stands, but getting called back has to be good! We haven't heard anything yet...

Thursday Aug 21st was school registration day. I switched my off day from Friday to Thursday just for the occasion. We took Bryn to the high school after morning Cross Country practice. There's a lot of construction still going on at the high school, but what is done looks pretty spiffy! After lunch I accompanied Paige to her new junior high school. She wouldn't walk her classes with me. She prefers that her older sisters do that. The school is open next week so they can drop off her supplies and walk her schedule. First day of school is Sep 2nd for Paige and 3rd for Bryn.

Saturday Aug 23rd was Paige's school shopping day. We purchased all her school supplies as well as a few clothes. And a couple of her own makeup items. Major milestone. Shopping trips are so much more enjoyable when you can take one child by themselves. She had a good day.

Abby's pretty much MIA lately: getting up early and coming home around midnight. She leaves on her bike with all her belongings in a gianormous backpack and goes to the Y, shops, visits/has lunch with friends, works, goes to Brewers games... I had to ask her to write down her social schedule so that I can request a time to fit in a few family things and organize/pack up for college before next weekend when she leaves! Believe me, there weren't very many open spots! The whole day today is open, of which I'm hoping she'll be catching up on some sleep. She went for a midnight bike ride last night which got her back home at 3am!

Obviously from my lack of blogging, a lot has been happening.

Aug 6th Jeff and I attended a UWL Freshmen SendOff picnic with Abby for all incoming freshmen from the area. We mingled with new friends as well as a few from Menomonee Falls. Too bad Abby's roommate is from further away or we would've been able to meet her. Guess we'll have to wait until move in day! We exchanged email addresses with a couple parents hoping to coordinate rides home, or delivery of care packages when one of us goes.


Aug 8th Jeff took 3 buddies from his softball coaching days out to The Bog for a day of golf. They had a beautiful day. Afterward, us spouses joined them for dinner at one of their homes. We each brought a portion of the meal and we really enjoyed ourselves. I got to bring dessert and luckily had leftovers! Coffee ice cream with crushed Heath bars, hot fudge sauce and whip cream!!!

Meg & Co drove down from up north and arrived Saturday morning. The kids had a lot of fun bouncing on the trampoline, riding bikes and just coloring. We thought about going to the State Fair or going for pizza and games, but ended up just hanging here and having frozen pizzas. Kristin brought over Bella and Lucy after she grew tired of waiting for Craig to come deliver her new piece of furniture. Carlo waited at home for him. Seeing as Lucy, Mia and Cooper weren't going to the Brewers game the next day, it was perfect for all to get to see them.

Sunday Aug 10th was the Brewer Outing that Jeff organized. He does such a great job and it all just seems to work out. Works for me! Last year it was so hot over the grills, that Jeff pre-cooked the brats and hot dogs. Smart. Jeff extended invitations beyond just family this year and the Klimkos and the Wolfs took us up. Todd Wolf called that morning to inform us their car had broken down and they were still 2 hours away! They were unable to get to Milwaukee for the game. Really would have been fun to see them.

Wed Aug 13th Bryn participated in the Girls Cross Country Team's 24 Hour Run. This event is the team's fundraiser as the girls collect pledges for the number of laps they run. The lights are kept on all night as the girls pair up to take turns running laps around the high school track. Bryn had our van there for girls to take naps in or just to have a comfy place to sit. The coaches provided lunch and a spaghetti dinner and ice cream.

Miss Abby is at a local hotel for the weekend. It's "Girls Weekend" with her fearsome foursome that will soon leave each other for separate UW schools. Included in their itinerary is seeing "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2", exchanging good luck/goodbye/friends forever presents and (I would expect) lots of crying. Abby purchased each friend a pair of jeans and then sewed and/or ironed on patches, buttons, etc. to represent each of them for one of her presents. She's a sentimental girl. We hope to see her tomorrow sometime.

Paige tried out for the local select softball team today. A little stiffer competition than playing Little League. Don't know when we'll hear results, but Jeff said she looked good pitching and fielding. She can play this and Little League if she wants to.

Abby got her wisdom teeth pulled last Wednesday (23rd). Her appointment was early. I met her in the oral surgeon's recovery room where she was very drowsy. While she alternated holding ice over each cheek, she repeatedly told me how they put the IV in her arm and not her hand. I drove her home and set her up on the couch with remote, ice packs, water and tylenol. Alex was the first visitor (no surprise) and stayed and helped most of the day. Good thing as I had work to do from home. Abby was so impressed with her speedy recovery, she let a friend take her to the mall for gelato against my advice. Her girlfriends came over with ice cream in the evening. She had a bumpy night which turned into a sickly morning. Jeff stayed home with her Thursday and I went in to work. She was sick the entire day and Jeff ended up calling the doctor for help. One dose of the prescription in the evening, and Abby was finally able to let her body relax. I was off Friday and chauffeured Abby to the regional baseball game vs. Brookfield Central at Arrowhead. They won! And went on to win over Arrowhead at 4:00, earning their place to play at State! Abby felt OK to work her 3-hour shift that evening and show off her post-wisdom-teeth-removal chipmunk cheeks.




Bryn returned from Coahoma on Saturday (26th) afternoon. We held a welcome back luncheon for the kids and chaperones inside the church when they arrived. Unlike last year where Bryn only called us once, she out-called all the other trippers this year! I was actually filling parents in with details learned from Bryn's phone calls! Bryn had a fantastic, inspiring time again helping residents fix up their homes and playing with the children. Next year the team voted to go to Ohio so they won't experience the subtropical heat again. Everyone commented how their clothes were dripping wet from sweat within 20 seconds of walking outside. They all were also amazed at how rural the community was. "It was surrounded by cornfields!" Bryn slept 12 hours Saturday night before going back to church to celebrate the mission trippers' homecoming at mass Sunday morning.

Meg was concerned about Abby's recovery and checked in daily. We were turning Abby over to Meg for the week starting Saturday! Jeff drove Abby down to Meg's Saturday night after Abby worked again. They made record time on their way down, but Jeff said coming back Sunday was a different story. He finally pulled back in to our driveway around 3pm, only to pack up the van to drive up north at 5!

This was the only week where all of us had an open schedule, so we decided to take a few days and laze around on the lake. We cancelled Bryn's trombone lesson, her babysitting job and Paige's clarinet lesson. It's really difficult for me to adjust to not having anything to do and I wish I would've brought a few more things along. But the weather couldn't be better for being near water. Tuesday there was a chance for storms so we went in to town and had a burger at the local greasy spoon and went to Mamma Mia! (The movie did not rival the show.) Theo's coat is already so pretty from constantly swimming. We had terrific weather. Jeff helped my dad scrape the bad varnish off the cabin's exterior, we went golfing Friday morning, to the Shawano Fly Out Saturday morning and filled the rest of the time swimming and relaxing.

The Sears clan drove north for their week at the cabin Saturday where we made the Abby exchange. Meg and William left Indy at 4am while we stayed up for the day so the kids could all play together (we had the easy part of the deal).

We were out of town for the weekend, so my blogging was postponed.

We had Abby and her close friends over Tuesday night for their grad project/gift. I asked them to each draw or write something on 4 terra cotta pots so each of them would be represented on each of their pots. I told them I drew the inspiration for the gift from my own love of plants and the movie "How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days" (remember the love fern?). Lots of discussion on what to draw/write, but Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants theme seemed to dominate. I also promised a new plant every summer if it suffers an unfortunate death in their dorm rooms.

Wednesday we had Paige's end-of-year Little League party. A furious thunderstorm blew through about an hour before, but the weather turned out perfect for the party. There was lots of food and the infamous parent vs. kids wiffle ball game. The coaches commented on how quiet Paige was throughout the season. Paige???

I've been fortunate to continue working from home on Wednesdays. Mike has enabled me to see our work email and time sheets from home, so working offsite has become seamless! Never mind all the money I'm saving in gas!

Abby came home from work with a Clippers for Dummies set. We wondered if she was entertaining the idea of fashioning a new Britney Spears 'do... Why would Abby purchase a clippers for a house full of girls? Alex walked in a few minutes later ready for his appointment. He took his chair and Abby started 'er up! She did a great job and was very particular.

Saturday morning Jeff and I got up early with Bryn to see her off to her weeklong Mission Trip. They left church by 8:00am for Coahoma, Mississippi. She called us tonight and told us it was 107° today! The town is very small/rural. She painted houses yesterday and today and will be leading Kids Klub for the next two days.

We then picked up Paige and Abby and roadtripped to Appleton Saturday for the first of Paige's two Little League All Stars games. We lunched at Jeff's mom's then watched Menomonee Falls battle South Milwaukee at Appleton North High School. Typically, Menomonee Falls gets killed when we get to this level. But at the top of the 6th, we led 7 to 1!!! Awesome! But somehow South Milwaukee was able to score 7 more runs and win the game. Our girls were devasted. After the game we headed over to Jeff's sister's for Kayla's grad party. Another beautiful day, with lots more food, and fun! We left Theo at Terry's overnight for some spoiling. Sunday we drove the same the same route for game #2 versus Appleton Tornados. The game was delayed because the fields were wet, so we had some extra time to burn. We were able to stop in for a nice visit with Cindy and Dave before we had to return to the field. We lost again 9-3. We were so tired when we got home and I didn't feel like cooking, so we went out for Mexican food.

I'm trying my hardest to get Abby moving and organized for college. I think we've cleaned up all the graduation party stuff now (only a month later). She just received her housing assignment and roommate, so that should help make some decorating decisions and who'll bring what. She hasn't made contact with the roommate yet though. We just purchased her laptop so that'll involve some setting up. I've given her a guideline for how many clothes she can take with - only as many as fit in her one dresser. I'm going to buy some storage containers for all the ones that'll be left behind. How many do you think? 8? This last month before she leaves will go by before I know it....

This week was awesome.

I didn't work Monday as that was my floater holiday. I was able to do all my typical weekend chores since we were up north over the weekend.

Abby began a grueling work week. She basically filled in for everyone who took vacation this week. Today is her first day off since Monday and she's worked 8 hours everyday! Paycheck should be pretty nice though.

Paige and her Cardinals played their first game Tuesday evening in the Little League double elimination tourney and lost. It was a very close game. Their next game was supposed to be Saturday morning, but the overnight rains made the field unplayable. Haven't heard when it's rescheduled for yet.



Jeff left for Charlotte NC Wednesday morning to tour a chiller manufacturing plant. With Jeff working on such large hospital jobs, vendors like these are willing to escort him out to their facilities in hopes of Jeff spec-ing their equipment into the job. Jeff finally got in to the hotel at 11:30pm (they did not have a direct flight) and ate at the bar with his collegues since they didn't have food all day! Then they had to be up early for the tour/seminar Thursday. Friday he had another long journey home.

So Jeff missed an enjoyable Norman Design outing Wednesday evening. A printer that Norman Design sends a lot of our work to invited us out on one of their boats. A BIG boat! Abby worked all day and was a bit uneasy about the boat so she didn't come. But Bryn and Paige and I loved it. We were offered a great spread of sandwiches, fruit and drinks while the owner told us of the boat's history and renovations. Then we went out on Lake Michigan and trolled by a couple of sailboat races and enjoyed the Milwaukee skyline as the sun set. Bryn and Paige explored the lower deck and thought it was quite cool (2 bedrooms and bathrooms, living room, kitchen).

Friday I was off again. I had to accompany my now-adult daughter to the doctor for a shot. And I actually had to hold her hand while she got it. Funny the situations when they feel they really need you. I rode with Abby to work later and walked back home. I got to see a little fawn! It reminded me of my Y class teacher that reminds us "Little miracles are all around us if you just take time to notice." Jeff arrived home safely from NC and we were off to the Brewers game! Paige earned these free tickets through school for her good grades. We were up in the 2nd-to-last row from the very top of the stadium, but the view and breeze were fantastic! Paige's cheesy fries really liked her new Brewers t-shirt. And her fingers. And her legs. We accidentally missed the Sausage Race when I took Paige and Miranda down for their Dippin' Dots. But I did text in the correct winning Hot Dog beforehand! No call yet on my free trip to Spring Training. Ryan Braun even hit a home run for Paige because she bought his t-shirt with his number on it. So cool. The Brewers didn't pull through a win for us, but we had a fun time.

I got my hair cut yesterday (Saturday) and Molly said that her older son wants to marry Bryn. Molly raved about how Bryn is so playful and fun with her boys, so I think the babysitting gig is working out. If you'd like to see what Bryn does the rest of the time while I'm working, visit the link at the right to see Bryn's latest movie. And Bryn was blessed with her fellow Mission Trippers at mass last evening. She leaves in a week! I think today will be a shopping day. Better get organized!

Monday Bryn reluctantly visited the dentist for a 2nd time for some side fillings. She was hesitant to go back because of the many shots of novacaine to freeze her mouth the first time. All is good now though.

I worked solo on July 3rd. Don't worry - it was a good tradeoff. We could choose to have our "floater" vacation day either the 3rd or the 7th and I picked today! Work was very slow and quiet on the 3rd and I'm not complaining.




After work, we joined up with the Seeds to watch our Village Parade at 7pm and fireworks at 9:45pm. It was a beautiful evening and we didn't get caught up in the "reserve your spot" frenzy that precludes our village parade route. We actually lucked out by sitting in a left-turn lane that no one could stake out or put their chairs in early!!! Ha!

My brother Craig stopped by to take Abby and Alex out to dinner for her graduation present. I think they had a nice time. Craig continued his drive up north while Abby joined Alex's family for the fireworks.

Friday morning we woke up and left for the Cabin by 8:30am. Weather reports predicted a great weekend and it delivered! We swam, went tubing, fished, jet-skiied and had a campfire. Abby and Jeff drove into Appleton Saturday afternoon to meet Alex since he had to work Saturday morning. Abby took Alex for a jet ski ride that was a bit uneventful, but Bryn took him for a much more exciting (bit faster and actually went over the waves instead of avoiding them) ride later. But Abby got Alex back by calling him a weinie when he immediately decided he was done swimming after being bit by a fish. You do have to keep moving. We all enjoyed ourselves and relaxed and had fun! We returned Sunday evening and met Alex's family to return their son and to tell them all about the weekend over pizza. And it's so nice having off work today to do all my errands before I start up my workweek again.

The girls got a call for a new babysitting job nearby thanks to my sister Kristin. Kristin works with the father. The girls are able to walk to the house. They'll be watching a 10-1/2 month old little girl for 2 mornings a week. One day Bryn will go and the other Paige will shadow Abby. Their first day is tomorrow.

Yes, it's been a while. As you expect, a lot has happened.

The Saunders household has suffered a few major breakdowns. Not mentally, but in the way of machinery. Luckily Jeff is very handy and able to diagnose and fix most of our household items, but we did have to replace our lawnmower and trimmer. After days of a scientific process of elimination through vacuuming the coils, defrosting the freezer with a hair dryer Jeff was able to determine that our refrigerator needed a new thermostat so that's taken care of. And there will be no pictures to accompany my blog today as my computer is at the Apple store for repair. It seems my computer fit the profile (manufacture date and memory) for a tiny mishap where it shuts down unexpectedly (really fun!). So while the repair for a new power supply is free, I feel very handicapped without my computer.

Bryn has begun a new babysitting job for the summer for our hairdresser's 2 boys. Bryn will be their first non-relative babysitter. She'll be there 1 morning/week. And Bryn intends to go out for the high school Cross-Country team again in fall, so she's been following the coaches' recommended run schedule religiously.

Paige has been put in to pitch for her team thanks to a little mention by one of her previous coaches. I guess this year's coaches were unaware that Paige could pitch so she wasn't being utilized. Anyways, she's typically in for at least 1 inning every game now and is doing good. Just last week, Paige was chosen to play on the All Star team for her division. Pretty cool seeing as she's only a 7th grader in the 7th thru 12th grade division.

And of course, it's graduation party season. Every weekend I never have to cook, as there's always a grad party to go to. I finally got it together and chose grad party gifts. I just didn't want to go the gift card route. We took many great ideas from other parties and used them at Abby's party on the 22nd. We labeled the coolers with label cutouts from the packages, and we ran a movie of pictures from Abby's senior year on the TV. Abby had a great time being showered with attention and gifts. She was especially happy that my sister Meg made the drive from Indy - even exchanging kids one day due to tournament schedules! My other sister Kristin came even though she was feeling very under the weather. Abby has many thank yous to write for the very generous gifts. I was especially happy with the sub sandwich idea and our cake was so yummy! When my computer's back, I'll have to post a picture. The weather that day couldn't decide whether to cooperate or not. I think we had 3 quick storms pass through that alternated with sunshine. One idea we won't repeat is the "11:00am til whenever" schedule. Abby actually became tired of hostessing around 10:30pm.

We went as a family out to La Crosse this past Friday (27th) to accompany Abby to registration. We spent the night at the cool motel Jeff had discovered with Abby, Ali and Kendal last fall when they toured UWL. The trip is long - a little over 3 hours one way - but it's a beautiful ride. I got to sit in a School of Education session with Abby and could see why she got so excited over the Academic Advisor for her major. We signed Abby up for a checking account with a bank that's located in La Crosse as well as in Menomonee Falls. We took a tour of the campus, shopped in the bookstore, and drove to the riverfront. Abby registered for classes, but won't get her finalized schedule until mid-July. And that's when she'll receive her room assignment and roommate.