HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

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Happy New Year! Hope the new one is treating you well. Nothing real exciting happening in this part of the world. We still haven't seen any snow, but they keep predicting it and sounds like we may see some this week or the coming weekend. Guess we'll just wait and see what happens!!

Today was 'blood work' day for me. It's my usual visit to have my blood checked for my dieabetic numbers. I go back on Wednesday to find out how much he's going to yell at me. I cheated a little during the hoildays and I'm sure that will show up on the blood work.

A number of us at work have decided to participate in the "Lighten Up Iowa" campaign. For my $7 I get a tee-shirt, on-line assistance and a bunch of great people to complain or brag (depending on how my week goes) to. You don't have to loose weight -- maybe just learn how to eat more healthy. We were brainstorming late this afternoon regarding our little project and trying to come up a number of things we can do around the office to help each other. Sharing recipes was one thing we decided might be helpful. It should be fun and hopefully we'll all come out of it healthier!

I can't write anything without putting pictures in my blog so here's this week's. Jim made a lot of items for Christmas this year and Barb received one of the gifts he made. He made her a beautiful mirror for her dining room wall. Isn't it great? He did a fantastic job on it. He made a couple of mirrors, a number of CD holders (I got one of them, they're great!) and some smaller shelves, etc. All of them are terrific. I think he takes after his father as far as woodworking is concerned. Great job Jim!!!

Barb and I did some shopping together this year for the holidays and one day we were at the Sportman's Warehouse in Ankeny when we ran onto this bobber! Barb debated what to get Ron for his gift and after thinking about it went back and got this one for him. Isn't that a great shot? I'm sure it'll get a lot of use between Mike borrowing it for his canoe trips and Ron's trips to Canada! Good pickin' Barb!!

The next shot, of course, is of my children and Barb's tree. I was in Ankeny the first part of December and spent a long weekend with my children. On a Friday night we decided we were going to stay in and watch the Cyclones and Hawkeyes battle it out on the basketball floor. Jim came over for homemade soup and I got this shot of my children. I like it! Barb got a new tree this year too and you can see that in the picture also. We gave her so much grief about her 'little' tree last year that she broke down and bought a new 'big' tree!!!

Mandy and Jim were able to come and spend the day with us on December 23rd for our annual 'family tradition' of eating together, opening gifts and then just spending time with each other. They had to leave that evening to get back to the Omaha/Council Bluffs area for Mandy's family Christmases but got some great shots of them while they were with us. Mandy got some picture frames for Odie and Boomer and Milo from Bets. Aren't they cute?

I'm still scrapbooking, almost daily. I did give my sister and one of my girlfriend's a book for Christmas of our Colorado trip. Both enjoyed their book very much. I also did up a book for Jim and Mandy and their engagement party. All turned out very well and I was very pleased with them. It's great to be able to put something together that you love doing as much as I do scrapbooking!

I had thought to get age 0-5 years done for both of my kids for part of their Christmas gift but tht just didn't happen. Ran out of time! I'm back at working on those. Just finished Christmas 1973 for Barbie. I have a long way to go yet to get caught up! As the children got older we didn't take as many pictures just for the heck of it, but do have some good ones of birthdays, holidays, etc. I go back and forth between then and now. Cameras didn't take as good of pictures years ago compared to now days! Of course it could be the photographer! Ya think?

Well the big game is on tonight. Who will be the national champs? I'm betting on Ohio State. When I talked to Jim on Sunday he said Mediacom had pulled their FOX station so he thought he might have to find a bar to go to to watch the game. Bummer! They threatened to pull the local CBS station here but so far we've got it. I made a big decision over the weekend and will be switching providers of my TV and Internet on January 16th. I went with Qwest and one of their bundle packages. I'm joining a lot of the rest of the world and going with a dish. I'm hoping I didn't make a mistake with this decision. I know I did the right thing as far as the cost is concerned. I'm saving around $40 a month going with the Qwest bundle. I'll be getting a different email address soon and let you know as soon as I get one figured out. Hope to keep the name close to what I have now, but we shall see.

Food is calling. I'm hungry! Hope 2007 is treating everyone well. CU soon.!