I was ready for March, to psychologically turn the page on February.

Tomorrow we are taking the kids out of school and heading to the indoor waterpark in Lake Geneva, WI. We plan on getting there at around 11:00 and staying until dinner time, then we check into our room at the Grand Geneva Resort. My girls have an Irish Dance competition on Saturday. It will be very nice not to have to get up at some ridiculous hour, get everyone fed and in the car and drive 2 hours to get to our destination by 9:30. There are later dance start times, which mean a much more leisurely time for us.

I'm budgeting $250 for gas and food. The hotel is paid for and was a gift from my inlaws at Christmas.

I've decided that since this is an extra paycheck month, I'll put $2500 toward debt/savings (for some upcoming expenses). I was going to try to put that at $3,000 - but my daughter needs new dance shoes at $160, and I paid for Cub Scout Camp today for $190 (though I will be reimbursed $25 from the Pack).

The situation with my "friend" has passed, though I suspect that she is really on the edge. Her antic of the week that raised a few eyebrows was this: our girls are on the same girls' basketball B Team (the less athletically gifted girls ) and this weekend is the playoffs. Their overall record puts them in second place. The first round of playoffs game is Saturday (which my girl is missing due to the competition). One of the coach's wives has planned a "late night" getting the girls together for dinner and games and some fun, and they'll have the girls home by 10:30-11:00. My daughter is going late because after her competition, she is entertaining at the school/parish's St. Pat's Dinner Dance.

I really hate the "reply all" on emails, but my "friend" responded to the kind invitiation with a "don't we want them to be well rested for the game on Sunday? they haven't performed well at the game on the day of the Fun Fair when they all worked. Last year we had the get-together the night before the final game, and do you remember how tired the girls were from the all the 'fun'? And if you forgot, we lost. Am I the only overthinker with this? Shouldn't the girl celebrate POST season?"

Of the nine girls on the team, no one responded to her email, with the exception of the other coach who wrote: I think that girls would benefit from a night of "spirited fun". Since our game is at 1:00 PM on Sunday, the girls should be able to sleep in and be well rested for the next day's game. We don't want to be jinxed talking about last year. A new year, a new tradition!"

I don't think I'd go so far as to question anyone's sensibilities if they are offering to host a fun get-together. I can only imagine what is going on at her house right now. Her daughter is acting very stand-offish with my child, who is able to withstand the brush off, seeing she has other friends. Apparently the girl is eating lunch by herself. Sadly, there isn't much that I can do.