Is it Friday yet?

Well, I have been back from vacation for a week now, really, did I ever go???? It is hard to believe that you can get so behind when you go away.
Anyway, I am getting ready to get behind again. I am off to San Francisco on Friday and won't be back until Tuesday. I am going to a conference there. It should be fun but the weather looks yucky. Looks like I am going to miss a beautiful weekend here in Ames, there is even a prediction of temps in the 70's next week, yippeeeee....

Nelson has been busy studying for two tests, poor thing, it just doesn't end. He has a test tomorrow night and another next Tuesday. So, guess he will be stuck inside and not out fishing (hmmmm....wonder if that will happen, ha).

Gotta get going!

More Vacation Pictures

Here are some more vacation pictures. Last night the blogger was acting weird so I didn't get to finish my post. Oh, I did foget to mention that Stacey and I had to the best time eating shrimp po-boys and drinking a daqauri.

It was a blast. Fortunately my sunburn feels much better today.
Everyone needs to check out Stacey's new blog http://lucasfamilylife.blogspot.com/

Bye!

Back from a wonderful vacation

Matthew with his new helmet and tricycle



























I am back in the icebox again. The day that I came home Ames got 6 inches of snow, but luckily it is melting very fast.
Had a great time in Mississippi as you can see by the pictures. Played a lot with little Matthew (who has just grown up so much) and enjoyed spending time with mom and dad. Mom and I hit every coffee shop that we had time for. I managed to eat lots of shrimp, crawfish pie, po-boys, beignets and coffee in the little time I had. The last day was spent at the pool where I am still sufferring for not putting enough sunblock on, however, it did make people jealous when I got back home ;) Although I have been called lobster around the department. What a relaxing and enjoyable time.....can't wait to go back.

So Proud:)

Okay, so I know that maybe I shouldn't brag so much but I am so proud of Nelson that I have to post this late and breaking news. Nelson got a 96% on his Calculus II midterm, the second highest grade in his class. I thought everyone should know :), my husband is a genius. Just so you all know, he didn't want me to post this and I did anyway, sorry Nelson.

Things have been pretty crazy here. I got a big bunch of lambs yesterday for my research. So, they are keeping me busy. I bonded with some of them today, some of them needed bottle feeding. I am busy studying for two midterms next week, don't you all wish you could be me???? any takers????

So, I am looking forward to my visit to Mississippi in two weeks, yep, two weeks and counting. I am gettin' outta this icebox.

Gotta get some beauty sleep, it is five minutes past my bedtime ;)

Nelson Survivies!!!!!!!

As you all know Nelson has been studying and studying and studying. He had his first physics test last night and PASSED! YIPPPEEEEE!!! Not that I didn't think that he could do it, because I certainly did. However, the fact that 50% of the 600 students in the class fail, it is a huge accomplishment. Way to go Nelson!!!!!!!!

We got a couple inches of snow yesterday, it was pretty for the moment. Today it has yet to get above zero degrees and the windchills have been down to -20 degrees. Anyone want to come visit????? However, it is good hot chocolate drinking weather and I just finished a cup. Gotta get back to work. Miss everyone.

Some cute munchkin pictures

As a proud Aunt and Uncle, we feel it is our duty to show off pictures of our nieces and nephews. Thanks for all the pictures, everyone is growing up so fast.

Just another week!

Well, I know, I haven't posted in awhile. But, what do you say when your life isn't exciting, ha.
This semester has hit us both hard. In fact, I have hardley seen Nelson in the past two weeks. I think that he is glued to his desk upstairs. The poor boy studies day and night, I am proud of him.
It has been crazy for me. I just got finished with an animal study that took a lot of energy out of me. The teaching has been going well.
Our excitement was going out to dinner this weekend at Cafe Shi, it was great! I had the pad thai with tofu, see, this is really all I have to talk about.
Hope everyone is well.

The weekend! yippeeee!!!

We had sunshine!!!! Yesterday in fact, it was enough to boost the spirit! However, it is back to cloudy and cold today. I put this gorgeous poster of the beach in my office, I think that it will help;)

Michele if you are reading this, I think that Aruba sounds wonderful!!! When can we go?

Well, back to school for the both of us. Nelson starts all of his classes tomorrow with much excitement (and a cold...poor thing). Can't wait to see how the semester goes.

Another dreary day in Iowa......

13 days......it has been 13 days since we have seen sunshine. How depressing is that! Anyone want to go to Florida?????

New Year's Eve

Happy New Years!!!

What a great evening out. We went with some friends to Raccoon River Brewing Company and had a great time. Although my vanilla ale wasn't very good everything else was.

Christmas in Louisiana

Us :)Nelson and John Nelson and Maddy Jennifer and John, Alicia and Macy

The Ditchendorf family - Budd, Sam, Maddy and Macy
The Olivier Family - Mark, Becky, Chaz and Devin
The Brescher Family - Shawn, Jennifer and John
Mama Ripoll and Macey
Alicia and Maddy

Maddy instructing John on important mattersMaddy dancin'!

The gang with Nana and Papa, what a time trying to get this shot!

An early Christmas in Starkville

After a long drive from Iowa we arrived safe and sound in Starkville, MS. We enjoyed a few days in Bart and Cynthia's cabin, it really felt like a vacation. Mom met us there to enjoy an early Christmas. The best thing was the weather, it was great! Oh, also there were three trips to City Bagel, yummy!!, orange cranberry walnut bagel, what could be better?

Nelson and Kacie

Nelson and Kacie are relaxing in the pond. What a cute picture.

more pictures

These are pictures from last weekend. Pumpkin thought that he wanted to go outside, but realized that he didn't really want to be there once his little paws touched the snow.

Katherine and I made cookies on Saturday. It was hard work ;) but fun. Too bad there aren't any left.......

It is cold!

Well, I just wanted everyone to know that it is -10 degrees here today, with a wind chill around -25 degrees. So, you ask how cold that is? Well let's just say it can be painfully cold......bbrrrrrr.....
As with any negative there is a positive, there is a good reason to drink lots of hot chocolate:) with marshmallows of course.
I have some more pictures of this past weekend when we got more snow but forgot to bring them today, will have to post tomorrow.

It's Friday!

It's finally Friday! Yeah, yipppeeee!
Here are some pictures that Nelson took yesterday when he went out for a walk. Guess he had to get away from his Calculus for awhile, I don't blame him

Hope everyone has a great weekend! I am baking cookies with Katherine tomorrow, it's going to be great, lots and lots of cookies to eat.

More snow!

We had a beautiful snow fall last night and got a couple inches of snow. Nelson got up this morning and did all the shoveling, got my truck ready to go and even drove me to work, what a sweetie.
Sugar Bear and Cocomo thought that it would be fun to eat the snow and then they ran all around the backyard playing in it. I wonder if their feet get cold?
So, back to work.....is it Friday yet?

Another blustery day!

Well.....Ames got another snow fall last night. The snow coming down was really very pretty last night and with all the Christmas lights up in the neighborhood it really got me into the Christmas spirit.
So, I had my first experience this morning of not being able to stop at a traffic light because the roads were so icy. I really didn't know what I should do but made a quick decision to not worry about stopping and to keep going. All worked out, but boy my heart was pounding. I am thinking that I may start having Nelson drive me to work.....he offered!
I need to get to work......Hope everyone has a nice day.

Nelson wrestling with the girls. Sugar Bear decided to lay on me because there wasn't anymore space left for her, she is a little too heavy to be doing this.

I am up to no good!