Random Thoughts...

This blog will be mostly random thoughts about things happening around here. Just a quick way to catch you up on life in River Falls.

Hope continues to amaze us every day. I went to pick Hope up from Grammy and Papa's house yesterday and Grammy told me that at one point during the day she did something for Hope (I can't remember the circumstances exactly) and Hope said to her, "Gracias." hehehe Not thank you, but gracias. She's bilingual. Actually, she's starting to be trilingual because Grammy had Hope's Raffi video on when I picked her up yesterday and Raffi was singing a song in French and Hope was singing along!!! Holy Hannah! I know nothing about French except french toast and french fries. Seriously though, this girls also knows how to sing the ABC song in Spanish! She also knows how to say, "Don't tell me that" when we tell her something she doesn't want to hear. Mom---your wish came true---I got a daughter just like me!! Only she's way smarter than me. hehehe

I'm borrowing my friend Lara's Cricut machine for the long weekend. I'm so excited about that!! This is a new, electronic die cut and embossing tool that is a God-send for scrapbookers!! I'm borrowing Lara's to see how I like it because I think after Christmas I'll be getting my own Cricut...only I think I'm going for the big one and getting the Cricut Expressions. Fun, fun, fun!!! If I start my scrapbooking business like I'd like to, I can take it as a business write off on my taxes. YEAH!!! Mark and I are thinking about starting the business before the end of the year for tax purposes.

I had a wonderful lunch and visit with my friend Lisa yesterday. It was really nice to visit with her and get to know her a bit better. Little Lucy was at Grandma and Grandpa's house though so I didn't get to visit with her. But I did get to meet Abby...Troy and Lisa's cute Golden Retriever. Thanks for lunch, Lisa!!

Today I had lunch with my friend David. Yummy Chinese food at Panda Garden. It was nice to catch up with him and hear the latest about Ezekiel. Wow is all I can say about the stuff happening there.

I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving. Mark's parents are coming for a low-key Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, but we're having our big Thanksgiving at their house on Saturday. Mark's sister and her family will be there as will Mark's cousin Maria and her family and Mark's Uncle Dan. Uncle Dan and I have a Thanksgiving tradition: we do the dishes together after the meal and chat. A couple years ago he told me that I'm really good for Mark. hehehe Smart guy! Tomorrow I'll grocery shop (NOT looking forward to the crowds) and go to Target to pick up Hope's Christmas pictures. I can't wait to get them. I'll also have coffee in the morning with my friend Jeanne whom I haven't seen in AGES!! It'll be good for Hope and me to catch up with her. We'll also work on Christmas cards and invitations to Andrea's baby shower this weekend. I'm excited about hostessing a shower for Andrea in January!! My mind is already trying to figure out what to serve, what games to play and what kind of a cake to make. I love doing stuff like that. Oh...and let's not forget that I'll be parked in front of the TV on Thursday beginning at 11:30 for the Packer game. If we beat Detroit on Thursday, we've pretty much got the division wrapped up. YEAH!!! Then it's on to the Cowboys. If money were no object you better believe I'd be making a trip to Dallas a week from now so I could go to the game. I'd even take my Dallas friends with me...as long as they'd wear Packer jerseys and cheesehead hats!! hehehe

So Andrew took his first test at school. He missed passing by 1 lousy question. Since he only missed by one question, they let him re-take it. Had he missed by two or more, he would have gotten stuck with a different career that he would have been totally board with. But...he passed his re-take test so all is well. And he got his first orders. When he's done with school in February they'll ship him off to....
(drum roll, please)....Germany!!! I'm excited and sad all at the same time about this. I'll hate having him so far away, but I'll also love going to visit him. I was in Germany 10 years ago and it was so beautiful. I can't wait to go back. I think I'll take Hope with me...and hopefully Mark will join us. For those of you who don't know, Mark is terrified of flying. Hopefully we can get him over that fear in the next year or so. Andrew will be in Germany for at least 2 years, so we've got some time to work on Mark flying.

I guess that's about it for now. Please keep the following people in your prayers: David, Monica, Rita, Sandy, Anne and Marion. These are simply people I know and love who could use your prayers.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!