About a Boy

It was the usual bumpy start to the school year with open houses, meetings, cross country practices and meets, and homework and just getting into the new routine and then out of the blue there is a boy. I first heard about him during band camp and then he had the same lunch period. Then two weekends ago she went to the corn maze with him on a Sunday afternoon with some other friends. He picked her up and that was the strangest thing - watching her drive away without an adult driving the car. Did I mention he is a junior and just turned 17? We can't get any information on him from our teacher friends but that's probably a good thing. He seems to be a nice boy - he's on the soccer team; in the band; takes AP classes; both his parents are doctors. He even carries her books to class for her sometime.


So tonight I took Madeline to watch him play soccer and after the game he gave her a bouquet of roses and asked her to the homecoming dance. I'm not ready for this. I don't know if she is ready for this. I'm excited for her and nervous at the same time.

We are back

Without going into too much detail I will try to bring you up to date on the last 6 months.

March/April - Maddie was on the track team in the spring which really put a wrench in my work schedule for the last 5 weeks of tax season. I was working all hours of the day and night to get things done and still managing the transportation for most of the girls activities which is why I got out of the habit of keeping this up to date. Maddie joined the high school band on the bus trip to Orlando over spring break. Tom, Amanda and I also made a short trip to Orlando leaving on April 15. I don't think I will ever do that again. I had no time to decompress from the tax season and it took a while to relax. We had a good time and saw the band perform. Amanda had a hard time adjusting to being without her sister but by the end of the trip was enjoying all the attention.


In May, there were track meets for Madeline and softball practice for Amanda; Madeline had 6 teeth pulled before getting braces and Amanda had her braces taken off; a trip to Madison for Maddie to play piano in a state competition - she was overwhelmed by the music building and talent of the others but did ok; and Amanda's 10th birthday and party. She did a joint party with her best friend Ellie whose birthday is two days before hers. The theme of the party was "The Amazing Race". The girls tye-dyed t shirts for the 4 teams and did a race around the neighborhood finding the various clues to get to the spot and performing tasks at each spot. It was a lot of planning but a lot of fun too.


June was the end of school - finals were rough for Maddie but she did ok; dance recitals - always a rush to get ready and some late nights; a camping trip with the Feyereisen family - Amanda invited Ellie along for her first camping experience and we celebrated Maddie's 15th birthday; and girl scout camp - which ended up being the hottest week of the entire summer. Maddie was also awarded the Silver Award for girl scouts - her troop had an Easter party for families that frequent the local food pantry.




July was summer school for Amanda - she took tennis, recycled art and hyper studio; softball games for Amanda; drivers ed classes for Maddie - just the classroom part; Maddie did a job shadow at a vet clinic in town and our vacation to Williamsburg, VA. We also saw Jon perform with the silent drill team in Washington DC and made a trip to Virginia Beach. It was a lot of fun and we learned a lot about colonial times and the Revolutionary War. Coincidently, Amanda's friend Ellie and her family were vacationing there the same week so we met up with them at night for some activities and spent the day at the beach with them. If you want more details see the travel journal at:

http://www.mytripjournal.com/Williamsburg09

August was filled with camps for Amanda - Camp Invention; an art camp and a Y-camp. Maddie did a Y camp also which included trips to Lambeau Field, Devils Lake and the Ozaukee County Fair. She did another job shadow at the vet clinic in Cedar Grove. It was a much difference experience than the one in July. She is still set on being a Vet. It was also school registration and the start of high school activities - Band camp and Cross Country for Maddie and she had her first cross country meet in Watertown and did ok. The team went to the Kalahari after the meet. It was cold and windy for August. There was also Luxembourg fest and Tom's company picnic. Summer is winding down and time for school to start. Amanda is going into 5th grade - her last year in elementary school. Maddie is a sophomore. The time seems to go faster as they get older.

That was the last 6 months in a nutshell. Looking back I don't know how I fit it all in.