Weekend home with family...

This is just too funny!

After the surprise, party, things slowed down a little and I was able to relax at home with Mom and Dad.  Thursday I went into town to meet my mom and Kathy (Paul's mum) to grab a bite to eat and meet a potential wedding photographer.  I am doing things much too far in advance, but I want to make sure the big things (like photography) are booked and off of my mind.  It was nice catching up with Kathy over lunch and spending some time together.

That Thursday evening, I got my hair cut by Laura G and ran to visit Ashley and Caden!  I love catching up with those two!  Caden is getting so tall, it's crazy!  Lyssa came over for her nightly date and we went to Isaar Inn for wings.  We called it a night shortly after because we were all still catching up from the Surprise Party.  The next morning, I went to Grandma's apartment in Seymour to see her place now that it was all decorated and full of furniture!  She and I worked on the computer and I made some signs for the scholarship benefit.  It was right around lunch time, so we were able to walk down to Grandpa's lunch room to share a few laughs over chicken and pumpkin pie.  Grandpa knows how to crack me up every time!  I wish I knew more of his jokes!

Becca with Jeanelle's dog who couldn't get enjoy of Lyssa's thigh, if you know what I mean!

Aunt Becca with Baby Sarah Grace!

Friday afternoon Lyssa and I went down to Appleton to meet Becca and Lindsi at Jeanelle's house to see new baby Sarah Grace.  Ahh, she is an absolute sweety and after she had a full belly and a full diaper (x2) we all got to hold the little babers!  Aunt Becca is a natural - and so is Nanny Lyssa, haha!  After ooohing and awwwing at Sarah for a while, we grabbed a bite to eat a Good Company and Lyssa and I planned to head to a movie afterwards.  It was so nice of Lindsi and Becca to make the trip up from Madison!  It was great to see them both, and I wish they could have stayed longer!

Nanny Lyssa (I'm begging you... haha!)

Lyssa and I went to the move The Hunger Games which was great!  I usually am always too lazy to read books, but I was able to read this one before seeing the movie while we were in California.  I had nightmares at night because I'm such a whimp - but it was a great flick!

Exchanging similar facial expressions...

This picture is too precious!

Saturday was the big Joel "Buck" Marsh Memorial Banquet!  If you want to know what all went down with the banquet, you can check it out on my brother Buck's Blog!  Bottom line: it was SOO much fun, and we raised a lot of money to benefit local Seymour students!

Our favorite barista - Leeanna!

Sunday was my last day in Seymour, it always comes to a bittersweet end.  I spent the day with my parents and we went into Green Bay to get coffee from our favorite Starbucks Barista Leeanna (aka Matt's girlfriend).  I got Curty the kiddy drink and a coffee cake which were both gone in two seconds... haha!  After visiting Grandma and Grandpa VanBoxtel, it was off to the airport to head back to Paul in Pittsburgh.

Curty likes Starbucks!

I had a wonderful time home - and I'm so glad it worked out to visit during the benefit.  After getting back to Pittsburgh it was back to school to play catch up in our Neuroanatomy and Neuroscience course - and the frantic catching up is always worth it!

We just finished our first neuroscience exam, so you know what that means...  I will be going on my next adventure soon!  Next, it's off to Georgia to meet up with Jay and Perry - I am so excited!  Warm weather and sunshine here I come!

SURPRISE!! Well, to my parents anyway!

The Party Planner!

After Joel received an email from Delta a few months ago, I thought it might be worth seeing if I could borrow his wings for a day... Turns out, Joel had 39,951 miles in his account and a flight from Pittsburgh to Green Bay, WI was exactly 40,000 miles.  Perfect!   Haus and I figured out the details of getting the flight booked under my name, then I found a small break in my schedule to come home - luckily it was the weekend of Dad's Birthday!

You've BEEN HAD! Mom & Dad!

Better yet, since Joel was flying me home, I thought it would only be appropriate to make it a surprise to my parents, now this was going to be a little tricky.  I knew Haus was in on the surprise attack which was critical and Lyssa was on Spring Break '12, so it just might work!  The dilemma was figuring out how we were going to lure my parents over to the duplex.  Haus and I toyed around with a  major plumbing crisis which required Curty's urgent attention and Debbie's moral support??  Hmmm, that's a little suspicious...

Mom & Laurie!  Thanks for the cake idea!

Luckily, we got wind that Haus' parents were going to be in town on their way out to Pittsburgh (ironic, I know...) so we could set up a little dinner date!  All was falling into place - thank you Westerhoff's!!  Chris said he would take care of getting the place primped and the burgers on the grill and my responsibility was simply to get there and bring a crew of people!  DONE - good trade!

First, I order a cake from Don's Quality Market, because what's a surprise party without cake??  Lyssa and I were trying to think up some clever sayings, and thought about "Thanks to Buck, you didn't get wise, now lets kick back, eat some cake and enjoy the surprise!"... Hmmm... wordy, but I like it.  Then, Laurie came through with "You've been had, Mom and Dad!!" - Perfect.

I had Buck on my side that day, because the flights to Green Bay went without delay, and I even got in early on my first flight - nice work Buck!  Lyssa was there to great me at the Green Bay airport and we laughed about how much fun we were going to have on Spring Break O'12!!  Whooot!

Alyssa, Me, and Liz - Amazing life long friends!

We got to the duplex, set up the cake on the table, and as people were slowly trickling in, we were trying to delay my parents who were anxious to get over for Chris' cooking apparently!!  We hid in the front guest room while my parents made their way to the kitchen to get a glimpse at the cake... then we funneled behind them and yelled SURPRISE!  I wiggled my way through the legs of the crowd and jumped out in front of my parents - they just stared at me blankly.

Lizzo, Me and Lyssa!

Aunt Sue and the surprised Curty!

Dan and Ryan!  Thanks for coming out!

After a awkward stare in trying to process who the heck I was, they finally came around and Curty screamed, "What!  Did you quit school?!?"  It was classic!  They were looking at me like Deb was looking at Lyssa after her concussion in Eva! Haha! Like I was a strange but trustworthy intruder!

The evening was great, we had a lot of fun catching up, enjoying Haus' fine cooking and the cake.  I can't believe we pulled it off and my parents didn't have a clue!  It was my Mom's first surprise party!  It's too bad I can't do these more often... or could I??  You'll never know... it's a surprise!

My "Aun'Doo" (as Buck said it) or Aunt Sue!