Sarah's Halloween Sing-Along

I think I just figured out how to post video on the blog. This video is from the Halloween Sing-Along at the Brookfield library. Now that I've figured out the uploading and posting steps, I'll try to post video more often.

Jason finishes the musical tonight. Woo-hoo. I'd like to say we "get him back" now, but those with band director backgrounds know that isn't the case. He's performing with the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band next week Tuesday and rehearses with them on Monday. He's playing a piece written by our high school band director, Rick Kirby,to memorialize Rick's former student, Brandon Atherton. Brandon was the student teacher killed on the Chippewa Falls H.S. Marching Band bus a couple of years ago. He was a saxophone player so Rick asked Jason to play the saxophone solo.

Parent teacher conferences and gigs follow the rest of the week. I really have respect for single parents who also have to work full-time. Our busy weeks come and go, but single parents don't get a break. We're looking forward to Thanksgiving break to head down to Iowa for some quality family time.

Sarah has had a somewhat fussy week. She's discovered a high-pitch scream/whine that she uses when she's happy, curious, mad, frustrated....almost all of the time. I'm not sure if it's teething, voice exploration, or if she was missing Jason. Whatever it was, she was quite the "little squirt". She's normally a pretty agreeable child, but the determined toddler has definitely emerged.

If you all could say a prayer for Mark and Beth (friends of friends) who found out their 20-week old son had no kidneys or bladder. They induced labor and he had already passed away before the delivery. They got to hold him and spend some time with him. Please pray that they are surrounded in comfort and peace as they grieve their loss. It seems I've already known too many people that have had this specific heartache.

It makes you want to hug your loved ones even tighter.

My sister is engaged!

We received very exciting news Wednesday evening that my sister and her boyfriend, Cleo, were engaged. His surprise, romantic proposal began by picking her up outside her office building in a limo, holding a dozen red roses. He had the limo take them to the art museum where they first met at a convention social event when he was in town from Richmond, VA. He got down on his knee and asked her to be his wife. (Awwwwwww) Champagne was waiting for them in the limo as they called to tell their friends and family. Kim thought he was coming into town on Friday, but he totally caught her off-guard by showing up on Wednesday. It was perfect since she prefers to know what's going on, and she had no idea. We were able to toast the happy couple Friday night when they came over for dinner.

They plan to have a destination wedding to Jamaica and are now starting to make those plans. We're very happy for them and look forward to being a part their lives for years to come. This does mean Kim will be moving to Richmond sometime in the near future. I haven't started dealing with that, yet, since we will all miss her terribly. Knowing that she's happy and starting her life with the man she loves will make that move bearable. Her ring is absolutely beautiful and I know she'll be a gorgeous bride. Congratulations Kim and Cleo! We love you!

Halloween

Halloween was a fun event for us this year. We took Sarah to a local pumpkin patch. She was a bit tired so she didn't get too excited. It was still fun to stand her up next to the big pumpkins and watch her take it all in. I dressed her up as a pumpkin for a library sing-along and to answer the doors for trick-or-treaters. She was a trooper and didn't seem to mind the costume and picture-taking. She's also had fun playing in the bazillion leaves we have in our yard. Jason is busy rehearsing for the musical which culminates with performances this coming weekend. He also got new glasses which gives him a "hipper" look. He got the thumbs up from his students who tend to be his fashion critics. I'll try to get a picture of him and post it on the blog.