Neon lights...here we come

We leave for our Las Vegas vacation tomorrow. Another couple that went out with us when we got married is going with us again this time. We are going to the NASCAR race on Sunday. We are also going to go out on Friday evening and try to be at the Speed TV stage when they record the Trackside show that night.

We are really excited and looking forward to this winter get away with friends. Now if the weather will just hold out until we can get off the ground and out of Iowa, we'll be happy travelers. We don't fly out until about 1pm...so anticipate what/if any precipitation we get will be in the form of rain.

I've offered to take money from friends with us to double for them..but have not had any takers on that yet!! We're not big gamblers, so lots of fun sightseeing adventures in the plans for us. The resort where we're staying, Grandview Las Vegas, is south of the strip a few miles, but we have a rental car and Russ did great driving last time we were out there, so don't expect any problems this time either.

We have a neighbor doing pet duty and keeping an eye on the place. I always miss my boys when I'm gone, but they will be fine.

Hope to get lots of great pics while out there..so will try to post a few upon my return.

Scrapbook weekend fun

There ended up being 16 of us at the crop in Des Moines for our Night O.W.L.S. retreat weekend. Lots of laughs. Lori's birthday was Sunday, so we did a surprise birthday cake for her on Saturday night. Some of us went across the way to eat supper and those that stayed behind (as a favor to me) then got the cake out and 'splashed' her area with confetti. Lori was really surprised. I'm glad that she was. It was hard to keep the secret because I talk to Lori pretty much every day and had to stop myself a couple of times to not say anything about the cool cake that she was getting. The cake turned out fantastic. The cake was done by a gal that has a cake business in RR Perry and is my cousin and a friend to a couple of the scrapbook gals. She really did a great job with the scrapbook theme....but more so because it was YUMMY!

We had lots of challenges throughout the weekend and many gals got lots done. Some friends of mine have loaned me their Twilight series books...and I took book 2 with me...so I cheated a bit and spent some time in the room reading off and on. Great series so far. I'm now on book 3 and can hardly wait to finish that so I can get to book 4 and see how it ends.

Anyway, the weekend was a lot of fun as usual. It's something that I look forward to every year. Several of us kind of work on this throughout the year coming up with themes, prizes, challenges, games and things for the goodie bags.

It's really interesting to see what everyone is working on. We had one gal working on decorating a clock face. Some worked on cards and mini albums. It's the kind of a weekend where you just bring what you want to work on...no rules..just have fun.

Now I get to look forward to going to Las Vegas next week to the NASCAR race on March 1. I'll be sure to post pics of that. I can hardly wait.

Fun Weekend Ahead

This is our annual scrapbook retreat weekend in Des Moines, IA. There are usually 15-20 of us ladies that get together and scrapbook the whole weekend. During that time though there are games, challenges and lots of goodies to nibble on. And oh so much laughter. Someone always comes up with a real goodie. I think last year it was Jenni and her Captain Jack (or some other captain) imitation..with the BIG mustache and stance to go with it. Too funny. I think there may have been liquor involved in that event. Some times things get a bit crazy late on Saturday night.

I am so looking forward to this weekend with the girls. It's always a lot of fun not to mention I usually get a lot accomplished as well. Right now I'm working on my Hawaii pictures from last February. We went to HI right after the retreat. I'm hoping to get those finished up and get them in order so I can put them in the album soon.

Our theme this year is Pirates. I see some eye patches being put to work over the weekend. Hope no one has to walk the plank.

May have some pictures to share next week. It is also supposed to be nice this weekend, so that will be nice as well. Can maybe get up and walk outside for a bit if need be.

Meet the Ford family

I went down to see new baby Addison this past weekend. She is such a doll! She was born on 1.5.09 so is less than 3 weeks old in this picture. Trevor just turned 4 in December.

I snapped this picture right before I left on Sunday. They were getting ready to go to church. I had a great time while there and enjoyed spending time with both kids, but gave Addison lots of hugs and kisses.

It will be a joy to watch these two kids grow up. Trevor calls me Judy but calls Russ "Papa Russ". He kind of had a hard time understanding why Papa Russ was not with me. More than once he wanted to know why he didn't come with me. But I think we finally got him to understand that he was out in his big truck working.

Hopefully, Russ will be able to go with me the next time I venture that way. Trevor so enjoys seeing him.

Some days...

Today I'm having a real hard time coping with life. This morning I just wanted to stay in bed and not even try to come to work. I'm so tired of everything in my life being a struggle. By the time I got out of my YSS Board Meeting last night it had been snowing for an hour and a half. I had thought of staying at a friend's house but decided I'd just go home and take my chances in the morning. It took me about 45 minutes to get to work this morning. It took about 15-20 minutes just to get out of the yard this morning. I'd go 15-20 feet and then start spinning, so I'd back up and then start ahead again. Then I'd spin again, and so on and so on. I had to back all the way from the garage out to the road cuz I knew if I tried to back out and turn around to get headed out I'd never make it. The gravel road was really pretty good. I brought old 30 over and there were all kinds of drifts on the north side of the road (the side I was driving on) and sometimes I had to kind of take my part down the middle and just hope those coming from the other direction would see me and move over.

There were drifts along the north side of the road that were taller than my car. That was really kind of nice since the snow blowing off of those was blowing OVER the car and not onto the road. I just hope that tonight when I get home I can barrel my way into the garage and then we'll just wait and see what tomorrow brings. But I am getting tire of always waiting to see what tomorrow will bring. I want to KNOW what tomorrow will bring.

I don't know if it's me or what but I am SOOOO tired of this winter already. It really has put me in a funk today that I'm finding hard to come out of. Hubby is also not happy with his job and that brings me down as well.

You know that expression that somedays you're the windshield and some days you're the bug...well, today I'm the bug.

Then to hear the forecast for tomorrow really depresses me. They are saying that the HIGH will be BELOW ZERO. Well, that's just plain ridiculous. I called my mom in Texas and said if things didn't get better this winter, that I'd be packing a bag and going south with them for the winter next year! Oh for those retirement years when we can go south and not deal with this CRAP.

Can you tell I'm a big crabby today? Well, I won't go on and on...even though I could. I'll just concentrate on getting busy here at the office.

It's a Girl!!

Well, my God Daughter had her baby girl yesterday morning. So I'm once again an honorary Grandma. Her name is Addison. I think her middle name is Marie, but not 100% certain of that. As soon as I have pictures of her, I'll post one. Christy has sent me pics via the cell phone, but I don't know how to get them from cell phone to computer. So you'll just have to wait. She weighed in at 7 pounds 13 ounces and has a full head of auburn hair. I can hardly wait to get down to MO to see her and give her big kisses and hugs.

Well, just wanted to post a quick update about Addison. More later...

It's a new year

Lots of my friends are coming up with their 'word' for 2009. I can't seem to come up with anything that jumps out at me. I just want 2009 to be a better year for everyone. It seems that my scrapbooking buddies and I have had our share of grief and sorrow in 2008, so I'm hoping that we all have more joy in our lives for 2009. Maybe JOY will be my word for 2009. I would like to find a lot of JOY in all things and for all people.

I'm sure 2009 will be a year of challenges for our country and our economy, but hopefully by this time next year we will see many positive differences.

Here's hoping everyone has a great 2009. Best wishes from the Mersman household.