Monday, May 22, 2006

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

This weekend I had the pleasure of sharing a mystery bus ride with 51 other women on a "Girl's Fun Adventure" trip. The goal for the weekend was just to have fun, relax, be silly, bond with your girlfriends, and cross things off your "life-list".

It is a mystery because none of the participants know where they will be going or what they will be doing for the entire trip! We started out at 7:30 on Saturday morning in St. Cloud. Our first stop was in Cannon Falls at a winery to do some wine-sampling. From there we went to Northfield for lunch, a lesson in coffee, and some shopping. We then made our way to Wabasha where we checked into our hotel, changed clothes and headed out to a little cafe in town for "Happy Hour" with drinks, appetizers, and live music. We had dinner at an beautiful old bed & breakfast. From there, the bus took us back to the hotel, changed into our pajamas and funky flip-flops, and then got back on the bus again...at 10 pm! We were then driven up to a country club on the bluffs over-looking Wabasha to participate in a huge Bunko tournament! The day was exhausting and we were back in our hotel rooms by midnight.

On Sunday morning, our first stop was near Zumbrota at Minnesota's last remaining covered bridge. We were divided into 4 teams and instructed to make up a song and dance...to be judged on content, performance and execution! It was hilarious!! Next was brunch at a country club in Cannon Falls. We then went to a matinee performance of "Don't Dress for Dinner" at the Old Log Theater in Excelsior on Lake Minnetonka. On the way back to St. Cloud we had a "hat fashion show" displaying our scavenger hunt items that we had been searching for thoughout the trip. It's amazing how resourceful women can be!

The whole trip was such a blast...I'm looking forward to doing it again!

So...the things I can now cross off my "life-list" are:
1. Having a cocktail, in a bus, with 51 other women...at 7:45 AM!!
2. Identifying the difference between a cappucino and a latte...and even making my own.
3. Doing the chicken dance around the outside of a cafe...in broad daylight.
4. Playing Bunco in my PJ's...at a country club...at midnight.
5. Singing and dancing under a covered bridge.
6. Making a hat with items that included a bagel, a dollar, a mini-pad, and a stolen napkin.
7. Having a fantastic weekend with new friends and old friends...and making memories that will last a lifetime!







Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Book Parade

Will and Madison had a Book Parade today at the Primary School. The classes each marched around the playground with a theme of the book they chose. Will's book was "The Napping House" and his class wore pajamas and carried stuffed animals. Madisons book was "Diary of a Worm". They held signs and handed out gummy worms. Very cute!!
Will and Mitch with their dogs.

Will's first grade class in the parade.


Madison and Hailey.


Madison's first grade class.

3-Day Fundraiser at Salida's

On May 13, Team Fight Like a Girl held it's 2nd big fundraiser for the Breast Cancer 3-Day. Salida Depot in Big Lake hosted a "Breast Cancer Band Benefit" for the entire Saturday afternoon. There was a silent auction, raffle, 'Breast Guess' game, bracelets/t-shirts/rugs for sale, hot dogs/brats for sale, pink martinis, free beer, and great music by COLDFRONT. We had such a blast...and raised $3,000 doing it! Our team is currently in 4th place of all the Twin Cities 3-Day teams and we are at about $28,000 on our way to $45,000!!!


Members of Team Fight Like a Girl: top, left to right: Wendy, Erin, Teresa, Heather, Tammy, Dianna. Bottom: Dana, Nikki, Mary E., Mary P., Cindy, Bev.


Cover charge at the front door: Wendy, Heather and Dianna


Selling t-shirts: Bev and Cindy


Tammy and Dee


Nikki and Krissi trying to solicit more customers!


Erin, Mary E. and Ann working at "Make Your Breast Guess"

Mary P. and Dee raffling off some great stuff!

Bill and our neighbor's, Mike, Heather, and Liam Culhane

Nikki and Cindy

Even our kids got in on the action...


Another successful fundraiser. To donate to the Breast Cancer 3-Day, visit:

www.the3day.org

Team Fight Like a Girl 2006

"Mom, you're looking at the winner!"


Will won first place in the Rain Gutter Regatta a couple weeks ago. He and Bill designed a cool Irish-green ship with a shamrock sail...and it's fast, too!