Yes, we are still here as I see it has been a month since we have posted. I also have pictures. Where has the time gone - it's either been spent working, driving kids around or attending activities.
Amanda - Update on the tubing. It turned out fine. They did come back earlier than planned after I suggested it might be a long day for them. I was comfortable with the chaperones so it worked out. She said she had fun. She earned a toymaker badge over the weekend at a workshop. She is really into girl scouts. We picked up the Girl Scout cookies last month and are still in the process of getting them all delivered.
Here is a hat that she knitted for her friend.
Here is a purse she knitted for a girl in her class who was moving to Oklahoma. In a span of 2 weeks, she had 3 kids from her class move. She did get a solo part in her school concert which is next week. I might have to try and post a video of it. It's only 2 lines but it's on the big stage at the Fine Arts Center.
Here is snow fort she built by herself on a Saturday when we got more snow than expected. She is quite the creative girl. Last week was favorite book character week and she chose - Amelia Bedelia. So I scrambled last week to put together this costume. It was a couple of late nights but she was happy with it.
Monday, she was on a field trip to the Schlitz Audobon Center for a demonstration on making Maple Syrup. Wednesday night we made a quick trip to the library to see her art work that was chosen to be displayed for "Art Month". Madeline - She was busy with pit orchestra for the school play "Once Upon a Mattress". She survived the late night practices and the 4 performances. Amanda and I attended twice - once with 4 of her friends and once with Linda. Not that I had all that free time but it was an enjoyable play. She signed up for classes next year. She is taking band again and 2 math classes to catch up. She went to the "Turnabout" dance at school with a group of girls. One of the girls invited them all to dinner at her house before the dance. She did ask a boy to dance. Here she is in her dress. We ordered it over the internet because we didn't have time to shop at the mall. They dress up a bit more than we did for these dances.
She is working on her silver award for girls scouts. Her troop is sponsoring a Easter Bunny party at the Food Pantry in April. She went to a couple of movies with friends which is always hard to monitor. Some movies can be so trashy - even if they are rated PG-13. I am amazed at what some parents allow their kids to watch - 10, and 11 yrs olds going to PG-13 movies. There is a reason for the ratings. She is getting excited about the band trip to Florida although she is the only Freshman girl going. Her "friend" had to backout because she got into trouble. I need to get more information on this. Track practice officially starts on Monday. Don't know how I'm going to swing that schedule yet. One week at at time.
We celebrated Tom's birthday. Amanda made and decorated the cakes all by herself. It was a little kit I had bought for her that included the tier cake pans and the decorating tubes. Tom went to a Badger Hockey game with some guys from work. The girls and I spent the night watching High School Musical 3.
I got way stressed out about booking our flights to Orlando but it's done. However, it put me in a weak position and I lost my voice for almost a week. It turned out to be a sinus infection. I almost have my voice back. It's five and half weeks until April 15. It seems to be going by fast but I have so much work to get done yet. I think people get less patient every year - but I guess this year it is understandable. Banks want to know how the company did for the year; people want their refunds. We do have some companies who did well for the year - not a record breaking year but good. Some are suffering and laying off people. All these laws they are jamming through makes my head spin. It's hard to keep up with all the changes and answer peoples' questions and work on last year's stuff. It's the long stretch at the end and I'll be working every spare moment I can to keep my clients happy. It's about this time that the house gets a little messy and we do take out a little more often. Somehow we all survive.
