Easter

Easter was a week ago, but with my crazy schedule this past week I am finally getting around to getting my pictures downloaded onto my computer. I went to visit my grandma in Lincoln, Nebraska since no one else was visiting her. That meant that I left James and Fred at home since James had to work. I felt bad, especially since it was James' birthday, but James and I thought that it was best to visit my grandma.

I had a great time. The weather was nice (well, at least warmer than MN and without the 9" of snow they got while I was gone) and I had a good time catching up with my grandma.

Both of my parents grew up in Nebraska, but much of my extended family on my mom's side still lives in Lincoln. I see some of the them occassionally, but have never really met some of my second cousins. I found one of my second cousins on Facebook, and we have been keeping in touch. I had met her twice before, but never really got to know her that well. This time when I came to Nebraska I got to spend more time with her and really learn more about her. I had such a great time. It's finally nice to get to know some more of my relatives!

Spring!

Spring is almost here. The weather is getting nicer, the snow is melting, and water is coming in the basement. These are all tell-tale signs of spring. However, before I get too happy about spring, I do catch myself remembering that March is typically the time that it snows...a lot! But we can dream.



A few weeks ago...well, a month already, James and I went skiing. Pathetically, it was the one and only time that I made it out this year. At least we went for two days to Lutsen.

While I like winter, despite being cold all of the time, there is always something wonderful about spring...the birds chirping, the sun staying up later, and the trees blooming. However, I know that just around the corner is summer when it is hot, humid, and I feel miserable all of the time. Until then though, I'll enjoy every minute of it!

Another weekend almost gone...

It seems as if the weekends just fly by. Although sometimes by Sunday afternoon I am ready to go back to work because I am tired of cleaning. Rarely does it seem that I get to see or spend much time with my husband on the weekend...he's either at work or doing something for the Army. At least there is Fred to keep me company--although he wasn't a good kitty this weekend as he chewed up a brand new pair of socks.

This weekend I accomplished quite a bit as usual, but at the same time there is so much more that I probably could have done. It's still winter, so there will be plenty of time to get things done before it becomes nice outside and I can work on the yard.

In need of a vacation

My last vacation came in June 2007. Of course there have been the quick trips to Nebraska over a long weekend, but that is not quite the same. With so much going on at work...I can only hope that things slow down and I can take a vacation soon!Honeymoon 2006--Step pyramid of Sakkara in Cairo, Egypt

Memories

This morning I was making a pot of coffee for my husband who was getting up way too early. I am not a coffee drinker, but always have liked the smell. As I opened up the coffee and put the 2.5 scoops that I was told to put into coffee maker, it smelled like old times past.

As the coffee began to brew, I remembered back to the days when I stayed at grandma and grandpa's house. They always had coffee in the morning and I remember the smell as I woke up for the morning. I remember watching my grandpa read the newspaper with his cup of coffee in his recliner. Eventually my grandma would get breakfast on the table and the family would all come and eat, sharing all sorts of stories together (some stories which my grandfather told I could never believe).

Things have changed since that time. My grandpa passed away in September 2006, but everytime I open up that coffee for my husband, it takes me back to a time when life was so much simpler. I also think about the 50+ years my grandparents were married, and how I hope that my husband and I have that same long lasting relationship.

Holidays

It's hard to believe that 2007 is done and over with. I always look forward each year to the month between Thanksgiving and New Years. It is a busy and hectic time, but it's also a time to spend with friends and family.

This year went particularily quickly, but it also gave us a chance to celebrate the holidays in our new home. We had a holiday party this year, which was a lot of fun and we were surprised at how many people came! I guess we do have friends!

My family celebrated Christmas this year on New Year's Eve. Our surprise was eating dinner in my parents' formal dining room on the fine china. For the first time in nearly 29 years I've been alive I finally got to eat in the dining room. It was a treat and my mother made a wonderful meal of prime rib and duck.






Christmas 2007 was a year to remember!

Mountain Climbing

This past year my husband got the itch to go mountain climbing and since I decided that he could not do this adventure alone I joined in. We first started with Mt. St. Helens. As an active volcano that is still rumbling and was closed to climbers for several years for fear of eruption, I was a little (okay...a lot) nervous the day before the climb as we drove around the mountain to survey what we had gotten ourselves into. As we were getting our climbing passes the day before we met up with several people that had just finished summitting it. A few of them were younger kids, so I figured if they could do it, then I could do it. At a summit of only 8,365 feet it is a small mountain.

We made it to the top and had a great time doing it. It was physically exhausting (we were definitely not in mountain climbing shape) and we were tired when we were done, but we soon were talking about our next mountain climbing adventure.

As midwesterners where flat land and cornfields stretch for miles upon miles, many of our friends and family thought and still think we are crazy for wanting to do these climbs. Mt. Hood 2008 here we come!