White Elephant Christmas

On Christmas Eve, my family all goes to Wausau, WI to see my Grandma Ferge and the aunts and uncles and cousins. We trade "White Elephant" gifts that cost less than $5.00. For a twist, we spell out our last name. Last year was "F" so this year was "E". (Not the easiest letter.) The gifts have to start with the letter "E". Unfortunately, because of the weather, we decided to stay in town, so we traded amongst ourselves. Here is what everyone came up with.
1. Expresso Beans
2. Exotic Berry Wine Coolers
3. Eyeshadow
4. Elephant (stuffed animal)
5. Energizer Batteries
6. Electric Toothbrush
7. Exfoliating Heel Scrubber & Empty Tin
8. Eight O'Clock Coffee
9. Energizer Batteries (again)
10. Eclipse Gum
There were only 9 of us, but my mom supplied half the gifts including one extra. The person who drew #1 got to pick two wrapped gifts, choose from those, and put back the one they didn't want. Andrew was the lucky number 1. He unwrapped expresso beans and wine coolers. It was pretty funny! We supplied the electric toothbrush, which I am proud to say was as sought-after as the I-pod in The Office, Christmas Episode. Merry Christmas!

Blizzard

We had our first big snowfall of the year. We got about 8 inches. Andrew thinks it was more like 10 or 12... It looks like this one will stick around. We are not expecting warm weather any time soon. We used our brand new snowblower for the first time today and are glad to report that it worked great! My parents (who have lived in Wisconsin their entire lives) have never used a snowblower. We took it over to their house today and my dad grinned the whole time he was using it (sorry I didn't capture that one on film). Here are pictures of our house, front and back, and Andrew using the snowblower near the street. Our driveway is WAY too long...

Big Dorks

Tara and I went to see New Moon on opening day (of course). Here are some really dorky shots of Tara we took as we waited in line. Notice the excitement.

Our Ottoman is Stolen Right in Front of My Eyes

I went to Stevens Point with my mom on Tuesday afternoon to pick up our furniture for our den. We were getting s sectional and an ottoman. The sectional came in 2 large pieces that fit into the bed of our truck. The ottoman (which was quite large) was stacked on top, wedged in between the 2 couch pieces. Everything is covered in plastic. (You can tell this isn’t going to go well, can’t you?) The guys from the furniture store supply the straps to tie everything down, but tell me they can’t help for liability purposes. I take the straps and start to make a large X over the load, like I’ve seen Andrew do at least a hundred times. I wanted to run a strap from the right front to the back left and from the left front to the back right. The guy stops me and tells me to take 3 straps, and run them right front to left front, right middle to left middle, and right back to left back. I finish and ask if he thinks it looks ok, that I am headed back to Marshfield, which is about an hour away. He says it looks fine and I’ll make it. I get onto the freeway and I’m not even a full mile down the road when I notice the middle strap flapping in the wind. This does not look right, so I pull over (on the freeway) and get out to take a look. My ottoman is gone. About 5 or 6 cars stop as I’m re-tightening the straps (to my much smaller load) to tell me I’m missing an ottoman and it’s about a ½ mile back (gotta love WI). I exit the freeway, find out I can’t turn left, wait for all kinds of traffic and finally get back on the freeway headed back towards the furniture store. I ask my mom to keep a lookout to see where about the ottoman is. We see this punk, stopped on the side of the road, lifting the ottoman into his jeep. Up ahead, I see a space to do a U-Turn, clearly marked “No U-Turns”. I went for it anyway, thinking this guy will surrender the ottoman as soon as I get to him. We are getting close, I’m flashing my lights and honking my horn… and the guy takes off. Not kidding! I could only get the first 4 characters on his license plate before this guy is off to the races. Now I’m chasing him down the freeway, I look in my rearview mirror and a state trooper is behind me. I call emergency, ask them to contact the officer behind me and have him pull over this joker with the ottoman. The punk exits, (going away from Marshfield, of course), I exit, the state trooper exits. We follow him about 20 miles, all of us stopped on the road at one point, and then he vanishes. The state trooper pulls over and gestures for me to do the same. He lets me know that the county police are out, taking all the different roads to this point. We wait for 10 minutes or so, he comes back and lets me know that no one has seen him and they’ll call me if they do- no joke! My ottoman is gone, my truck is out of gas, and this joker got away with highway robbery! I love it when I throw away $350, don’t you?

New Carpet

This will be the office. The visible line is extra carpet they left behind to step on and keep the new carpet clean.

Living room, the lines are the extra carpet. Wish I'd moved them before I took the pics. Sorry!

Master bedroom, upstairs.

Stairs.

This is the bedroom on the main floor. We're going to use it as a den.

New House

I had to post these, especially after hearing Andrew tell a friend (and I quote), "Pictures? Just check our blog. Rachel will put all that crap on there." Here it is folks. Because of special request, I give you... crap.

Fall in Wisconsin

The leaves are really starting to change color and drop now- I love it! It's so beautiful. These pics are for my friends back in AZ who don't know what they are missing!

Hillbilly Deluxe

One of my favorite shots of our Morenci house with 3 trailers. This was taken the last weekend we were there. Our trailer was loaded, sitting in our driveway (the white one, on the left). Sandee and Rulin brought their's (located directly in front of the house) for Amanda and Dave to pick up some of Amanda's things and the washer and dryer they bought from us. And James and Noell brought one (located on the right side of this pic) to pick up the furniture they bought from us. We looked like a bunch of Hillbillies and we were proud.

The End of the Birthday Posts

I wanted to go a whole year around and list everyone's birthday. I was surprised to see that I actually started with my sister-in-law, and Andrew's cousin, Tara (aka Slash). So those posts are complete. Andrew and I are finding the days fly by up here in the northern country. We have found a house and have an accepted offer. The home inspection went great today. Hopefully, we will move in before the end of the month.

The First Snowfall!

I probably shouldn't be too happy about this, but the first flakes fell last night. Some stuck around and they're still falling. It has me thinking Christmas Carols, thinking, not singing, but a little out of season, never-the-less. Here is a shot of my parents' backyard. Everyone should be feeling sorry for Andrew right about now.

Happy Birthday Charles!

Hope you're healing and have a great day! Looking forward to seeing you guys in a month. Happy Birthday!

Duke is Missing

It's sad news that we received this morning. Somehow, our dog found a way to escape from Mike and Karen's 6 foot fence behind their house on Poppy. I wouldn't believe our Duke to capable of such scheming. Morenci Friends- please keep an eye out for the little guy. He is tall, and large, extremely friendly, and has no idea how big he really is. The tag he is wearing has our current phone number on it, but unfortunately our old address. I really appreciate your help when we are so far away and helpless. (We have a picture of Duke on the right, a little ways down the page.)

We Made It

Amazingly, after 3 days of impossible travel, we made it to Wisconsin. Andrew towed the trailer behind our pickup and I kept up in our car. I have NEVER driven more than 6 hours before, and by myself, I have never driven more than 4. Needless to say, it was a long 13 hours yesterday. We arrived with only a few casualities. I ran over a snake and we shredded a tire on the trailer. Despite those two things, I would declare the trip a success.

One week to go

Andrew and I have been very busy getting packed up and working on last minute projects before we leave Morenci. We have loved our time here, especially Andrew's work schedule of 7 days on, 7 days off. But, those days are over and we are happy to be moving on. We will miss all the friends we have here, as well as Andrew's family. When we get to Wisconsin, we plan on staying with my parents until we find a home (the shopping will commence immediately) and Duke will be staying here until we get our house with a fence. We are looking forward to this weekend when much of Andrew's family will gather for 2 baby blessings- it's sure to be a good time and we'll get a chance to say goodbye to everyone.

Kenzee's Big Day

Happy Birthday Kenzee! Hope hope your birthday is super sweet! We love you!

Happy Birthday Emilee!

Hey Em! Have fun celebrating your birthday today! We love you!

Pictures of Pictures

Here are a two home projects I've been working on and am proud to show off. Amanda had to go and get married about a week after I finished this, so I'll have to update her picture, and Opal and Charles had their baby yesterday so I'll need a new picture for them as well. Oh, and Michael and Tanya had a new baby in July so their picture will need updating as well. It was up-to-date at the time this project was completed. And with a family as big as , it may be a full-time job keeping up!

Kayla's Golden Birthday!

Hey Kayla- we hope your golden birthday is extra great. Wish we were there to celebrate with you! (Kayla is the tallest, pictured here with her brothers and sister.)

Brayden's Big Day

Happy Birthday Brayden! We hope your day is super special!

Chris turns 30!

Happy Birthday Chris! Hope you have a great day and surprise after surprise coming your way!

Happy Birthday Taylor!

Taylor's 13! Woo-hoo! Happy Birthday Kid! Go easy with the neon nail polish.

Moving (yes, for real this time)

This has been one heck of a roller coaster ride, but I'll be glad to step off. It will end in Marshfield, WI (my hometown). I'm super excited to move back so close to so much family and friends. Of course this came just in time for me to be mostly unpacked from the first false alarm. Oh well, I won't be complaining much. I'll leave that to Andrew, this winter. :) Andrew was offered a job at the Marshfield Clinic, in the business department, speaking Spanish (right up his alley). It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. We plan on leaving in a month or less. Now, where did those boxes get to? (This picture is the Wisconsin River, as seen from my Uncle Jim's house.)

The Birthday Blog is Back

Warning- we celebrate 6 birthdays in August, so get ready for that. We are also looking forward to seeing the newest Hughes this month as Opal is due the 17th. We are very excited for her and Charles! We made it back home on Sunday night, shortly after midnight. It was a very long trip and we are both glad to be back at home. We had a wonderful time in Wisconsin and really enjoyed our trip. It flew by, like those trips usually do, but we were glad to see everyone we were able to visit. But for right now it's home, sweet home.

Where in the World?

Guess where I am... Nope- not even close. Andrew and I were vacationing in Wisconsin until Friday, the 31st, but now I am in Nephi, UT. Andrew's sister, Amanda, is about to get married in Manti, UT and I am totally excited for her. The wedding is today at 5:00. Amanda called us on Monday morning to let us know that Dave proposed on Sunday. We couldn't be happier for her. They decided to get married on Saturday- less than one week away. They decided only the parents and grandparents would be invited. I've been calling it the "Announced Elopement." On Thursday night Amanda called us and asked if we would be willing to come if we were invited and we were "pleased as punch." So we flew into Phoenix Friday morning at 10:30, I had to do a little shopping and then we were back on the road. We stopped in Kanab, UT last night at 10:00, and made it to Nephi (our hotel is about an hour away from Manti) this morning at 11:30. It's a big day and I couldn't think of any other place I'd rather be!

Bryce, Bryce, Bryce

We love you buddy! Hope you have the best birthday yet!

Happy Birthday John!

It was great to see John and Kadee when they came back to Arizona for Jame's wedding. We hope Spain continues to treat you well! Have a fantastic day Johnny!

Decided

We made a huge, living changing decision, then changed our minds before it was too late. For the past month or so, Andrew and I were planning to move back to Wisconsin. I was going to get back into school for pharmacy and Andrew was going to continue his online school until he became an official resident of WI. Long story short, I was halfway packed, we found buyers for our furniture and appliances and homes for a few give-away items. Then decided (like the irresponsible children we are) that things were not falling into place as we hoped they would. The major deal breaker was actually on my end. I could only get into one class that I needed this fall. The others were full. Andrew still said he was willing to move (gotta love him) and left it up to me. I decided (after much internal debate) that this was not the best move for our little family at the time. Although we still only get part-time work from the mine here in Morenci, we are very grateful for what we have. As Andrew continues his education, I could not imagine a better part-time job for him. This entire process has allowed us to reflect on our lives and recognize that although things aren't as great as they were before, we still have plenty to be thankful for.

Rulin's Big Day

Here's a picture of one of the many times Rulin has helped us out. This is after they poured the concrete walk at our house in Clifton. Thanks Rulin, we owe you big time! Hope you have a great birthday today!

Happy Birthday Grandma Litzer!

Miss you! Love you!

Sandee Jo

S-super mom

A-awesome friend

N-non-stop hugger

D-dreamy

E-enthusiastic

E-exciting

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANDEE! So glad you came to visit last weekend. We had an awesome time with you here. Hope you have a great day- you deserve it!

Happy 31st Birthday Andrew!!

In honor of this occasion, I give you;

31 Things I Like About Andrew
1. How you’re always teasing or joking.
2. How you stand up for what you believe.
3. You are a “strong man.”
4. You would rather hurt yourself than ask me to lift a finger.
5. Your generosity to others.
6. Your smile.
7. How you sing the high notes to the hymns at church.
8. How you’re a sucker for tickling.
9. Your interests in decorating our home.
10. Your collecting habits.
11. Your purging habits.

12. Your long dark hair. :)
13. How you’re an awesome tennis player and golfer.
14. Your knowledge of how things work.
15. The hand gestures and faces you make while singing.
16. Your ability to back up a trailer.
17. Your confident sense of direction.
18. The love you show to your family.
19. The obsessive way you play games.
20. Your stories from your crazier days.
21. Your willingness to try something for me.
22. Your ability to dream big.
23. Your dedication to pay tithing and save money.
24. Your competitive nature.
25. Your desire to provide.
26. Your willingness to help out.
27. You’re a great Uncle.
28. How I don’t feel safe at night, unless you’re at home.
29. How you change the lyrics of songs to be funny.
30. Your ability to fix things.
31. Your constant quoting of movies and tv shows.

Happy Birthday Honey, I hope its another great year!

Happy Birthday Kadee!

Hope Spain is treating you well! PS Ian may have a future as a photographer...

Busy Week

Andrew is currently working the last of his 4 night shifts in this rotation. There has been further talk of his position being eliminated. We are keeping our fingers crossed AND looking for other options. As one of our friends stated earlier this week, "We are onto Plan F, as in Failure." We know the feeling. :) On a positive note, Emilee and her family are coming to visit this weekend, and Charles and Opal are moving to Morenci this week. Andrew has finished school (with straight A's again) for the semester and is looking forward to a break. The house is nearly clean and we are both excited for guests this weekend.

What's New?

Not much. I haven't posted for awhile, but there hasn't been much going on. Also, I joined FaceBook and spend my time on there. Andrew's still working 24 hours a week. It's getting hot out, BIG SURPRISE, and we have been playing some tennis. I'd post some pictures, but its not pretty. Andrew's schedule is 4 night shifts in a row, followed by 10 days off. We'd really like it if we were making enough money to travel and see some friends. The 24 hours a week thing cautions us against the traveling idea. So we've been sitting at home, watched all the episodes of House, and are now hooked. Also, I've had a cold for the past MONTH. It is dragging out forever. Last week, we went to Tucson (the 1st time we left the city since our TX trip) and took James his bronco. We had dinner with James and Noel (his fiance), and Charles and Opal. It was great, we threw a few peanut shells on the floor- just like home :)

Tanya and Opal

Happy Birthday! Hope you guys had a great day! And you're both pregnant too, hhmmm... We had tons of fun with Michael and Tanya in Texas, even though the kiddos were sick most of the time. Luckily I caught whatever they had on our last day there and have been sick since. Opal and Charles, we are looking forward to you guys moving up here...

Jack's Birthday

Feliz Cumpleanos, Jack! Eat a piece of flan for us!

Happy Birthday Mike!

We hope you have a great day! We appreciate all you give and all you do for us!

Happy Birthday Karen!

Happy Birthday Karen! I hope you get the entire day off cause you deserve it! Thanks so much for all you do for us and everyone else you love! We really appreciate you and hope you have a gggrrreat day!

Happy Birthday Amanda!

You can't tell time, I'm pretty sure you don't know how to add, I know you can't read, but you are super fantastic! Have a great day.

Headed to Texas

Andrew and I are already sick of being home so we are leaving for Texas tomorrow (saddle up the ponies). We are really looking forward to the trip and visiting Michael's family. I killed a scorpion in my home today, so I really don't mind that we are leaving now. Andrew has worked everday since we got back so we are both glad this vacation. I'm packing the shorts and thinking warm thoughts...

This is a way cute picture of my dad holding Abby, neither of which will be in Texas.

Happy Birthday Kamee!

We don't have any pictures of Kamee, I know, it's shameful right? But that doesn't mean we love you any less. Congratulations on walking already, you are a super quick study and a joy to be around!

We made it!

Well, for those of you who don't know, Andrew is king of the road! He drove almost the whole way home- 18 hours the 1st day, and 10 hours the 2nd day. He even stopped for a full night (unheard of for him) and we got some so-so sleep at a hotel. The place we stopped at was just off the freeway (loud) and it smelled like a manure truck ran over a skunk near by. Also, the beds were hard. I'd give it a 2 out of 5 stars cause I'm a nice person. We made it home last night, in time to do the laundry and put everything away and enjoy being at home. Our dog remembered us but I think he's holding a grudge...

Big News

After 5 weeks of worrying and waiting, we got the phone call. Not for me, no one wants me :( (They don't know what they are missing, they don't know what they are missing.) Andrew was called back to work part-time at the power plant for the mine. It is possible the work may turn into full time. We are relieved to have somewhere to go for awhile at least. If the work does not become full time, we will most likely continue to look for me elsewhere. We leave for AZ on Friday. There have been some memorable moments on this trip including (but not limited to); my dad losing his tooth, Chris saving a child's life by administering CPR, and then getting staff infections in both legs, the heat wave, playing Wii at Chris and Tara's, and last but not least, Abby standing up on her own in the middle of the room. Thanks to everyone for opening up their homes and making Andrew and I feel so welcome up here- we really appreciated it!

Top of the Mornin to Ya!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! Be sure to wear green. -Amanda, wear the shirt OR ELSE!

Congrats Emilee and Colt!

Welcome baby Hahna! Andrew and I are so excited and wanted to congratulate you guys! Can't wait to see pics.

It's snowing

Andrew and I just got back today from visiting my brother, Chris, and his wife, Tara (Andrew's cousin) -don't question it, just go along with it; and their daughter the amazingly cute Abby in Manitowoc, WI. It snowed 6 inches yesterday and it was a winter wonderland. Andrew and I stared out the window in amazement- it was so beautiful. Or maybe I was looking out the window with Abby since everyone else was so tired of the snow they were physically sick from the sight of it. Chris and Tara bought a Wii so we had a lot of fun playing games. Tara is a serious gamer- don't mess with her. I had an interview in Muskego- don't try to pronounce it, you won't get it right, but I haven't heard anything yet. Andrew and I are continuing to look, but have not struck gold yet. In the meantime, we have found Rockies Pizza in several cities and have been enjoying it.

Happy Birthday Michael!

Hey Buddy. Hope you have a great day! Don't break a hip.

Happy Birthday Colt!

We don't have a picture of Colt alone, so here he is with a golfing group. Happy Birthday Colt. Have a great day!

Andrew is suffering

We have decided to prolong our stay in Central WI to look for jobs because the weather here has Andrew mesmerizied. Ok, maybe his brain is just frozen cause he won't wear a jacket outside (pants- instead of shorts- was even a stretch for him). We went to see "Taken" last night at the movie theater. It was good- not anywhere near as scary as I thought it would be. My dad and Andrew both gave it two thumbs up. I am developing carpal-tunnel from filling out too many applications. Any company would run so much smoother if they had "The Rachel Hughes Experience." That's what I keep telling myself. Don't worry about me- I'm actually enjoying the weather. Don't worry about Andrew- he's getting Rockies Pizza on Thursday.

Happy Birthday AbbY!

Happy Birthday Kid. We can't believe you are one already. Auntie and Uncie love you!

Go Green

St. Patrick's Day is on the way!! Yay! Goodbye hearts and pink and lace..... hello green! Yes, I'm really Irish and looking forward to St. Patrick's Day. Nothing new on the job front for me. I've got a few more leads, but no interviews yet. Plenty of houses to check out once we are certain we can find work here. Amanda, break out the green shirts- we'll be twins!

Happy Valentine's Day!

We are currently in Marshfield, WI looking for work and enjoying the unseasonably warm weather. Andrew and I have also started to look for a home here and the possibilites are endless. The first day we looked, we spent 6 hours in the car with my poor parents, driving around the city. We drove straight-through from AZ to get here Wednesday, in large part to Andrew's mad driving skills. We have already made it to Rockies Pizza, the most magical pizza place in the world, and enjoyed a slice each. The job search is slow and not going as quickly as we hoped it would. I brought my camera, but forgot my cord to connect it to my computer, so no new pics for awhile. :( I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day and I hope Andrew still wants to be my Valentine. I'll know he does if he comments on this post today.... tick tock, tick tock...

Happy Birthday Ashlynn!

A is for age: 8

B is for Breakfast: soggy cereal

C is for Favorite Color: pink

D is for Dog’s name: Max

E is for Essential Item I use Everyday: toothpaste

F is for Favorite T.V. Show: anything Princess

G is for Favorite Game: Disney Scene It

H is for Hometown: Aubry, TX

I is for Instruments I play: drums

J is for Job: cleaning up my room

K is for Kitchen: helps clean up

L is Last Place I Ate out: Chik-fil-a
M is for Marriage: she’s too young!

N is for Nickname: Sassy Pants

O is for Overnight Hospital Stays: none?

P is People I was with Today: Mom, Dad, Kayla, Brayden, and Hunter

Q is for Quote: I want it now!

R is for Biggest Regret: climbing up on the hutch

S is for Sport: baseball

T is for Time I Wake up: 7:00

U is for Useless info: I’m super sassy, but I make up for it by being super cute.

V is for Last Vacation you took: Disney World

W is for Worst Habit: interrupting her mom

X is for X-rays: none

Y is for Yummy Food You Ate Today: Birthday Cake

Z is for Zodiac: Aquarius

Lay-offs

Today was the big lay-off day at the mine. Apparently, they called in every worker here, whether they were getting the boot or not. I'm surprised they didn't take unnecessary commercial breaks before they let the poor guys know. "And now, we will find out if you get to keep your job or not. YOU..... HAVE.... First let's take a commerical break and get a quick word from our sponsers." Anyway, Andrew was laid off, so we are onto contingency plan A. (Looking for work in WI.) I think my dad already lined up a job for me in case things would go his way. He had a hard time sounding really sorry for us. :) Andrew was asked to stay on until the end of March, so we have plenty of time to figure out our next step. We are both sincerely looking forward to this new oppurtunity and, at the same time, will miss what we are leaving behind.

Shelfari is NOT just for kids

Things are still going well in M-town. We just received word last night that Opal is pregnant and we are super excited for her and Charles- Congratulations Guys! So this year, we will be welcoming 3 new neices or nephews into the family. It is amazing to me how our numbers continue to grow. I got an invite from my friend to join Shelfari and I've been busy with that today. (There's a link over on the right.) It allows you to rate books you've read and see what your friends are reading and reccomending. It's only kinda disappointing to discover all of the books on my list are for kids. I'm not really that surprised. When I find a book I like, I read it over and over and over. I just finished my re-read of "Host" today. And no matter what Sandee says, that book is not even in the same league as the Twilight series. Duke got a bath tonight and is very grateful, although I probably won't attempt that one on my own again. Only 2 more days until we know Andrew's fate at work. I think he'll get the ax and we'll be living in WI by the end of next month. hahaha- I'm just not that lucky. I waited as long as I could to change the blog for Valentine's Day. Don't get me wrong, I love romantics (Andrew included), I just hate all the pink and frilly things.

Happy Birthday Mom!

A is for age: I don't know if I'm allowed to say.
B is for Breakfast: fruit
C is for Favorite Color: green
D is for Dog’s name: Gabe
E is for Essential Item I use Everyday: books
F is for Favorite Movie: Fried Green Tomatoes
G is for Favorite Game: Scrunch
H is for Hometown: Schofield, WI
I is for Instruments I play: none
J is for Job: Hard working mom and grandma
K is for Kitchen: one of the best cooks ever!
L is Last Place I Ate out: West 14th
M is for Marriage: 37 years
N is for Nickname: C-Lo, Lovee
O is for Overnight Hospital Stays: collapsed lung
P is People I was with Today: Bill
Q is for Quote: eye-roll in the general direction of my father
R is for Biggest Regret: none
S is for Sport: Baseball
T is for Time I Wake up: 7:00
U is for Useless info: I love Alex the most.
V is for Last Vacation you took: Manitowoc
W is for Worst Habit: Riding on the front of bikes...
X is for X-rays: chest
Y is for Yummy Food You Ate Today: Birthday Cake
Z is for Zodiac: Aquarius

What else

In a sincere effort to not change the blog's name to "Birthday Blog" I'm going to sneak in here with a quick catch-up. This pic is me with my bros at home for Christmas. My mom bought us matching shirts and we looked SWEET! Andrew and I stayed at a nice resort in NM on our way back from the El Paso airport. It was a very nice anniversary celebration for both of us. I turned 27. (hoorah!) And the mine where Andrew works announced a huge lay-off coming in February. They are planning to let go of 1550 employees (half of their work force). No one that I've talked to has seen this big of a lay-off before, so we're not sure what to expect. We've started on contingency plans and organizing, but we know whatever happens will be for the best. I'll update when we know more... Oh, and I got really nice gifts from Andrew for Christmas, but jostling for spot #1 has to be the Twilight series. I absolutely LOVE them. I read each book in one day and now am on my 3rd re-read. (I know, I'm a dork.)

Happy Birthday Grandma Ferge!

A is for age: 85
B is for Breakfast: toast
C is for Favorite Color: red
D is for Dog’s name: too many
E is for Essential Item I use Everyday: glasses
F is for Favorite Movie: Gun Smoke
G is for Favorite Game: bingo
H is for Hometown: Schofield, WI
I is for Instruments I play: none
J is for Job: Retired, but still volunteers
K is for Kitchen: likes to cook soup
L is Last Place I Ate out: Culvers

M is for Money: lots of it
N is for Nickname: Grandma
O is for Overnight Hospital Stays: heart surgery :(
P is People I was with Today: Jim & Laurie
Q is for Quote: I love you.

R is for Biggest Regret: not seeing the world

S is for Sport: enjoyed watching football when her sons played
T is for Time I Wake up: 7:00
U is for Useless info: I lost my driver's lincense last year for no good reason.
V is for Last Vacation you took: Tomahawk

W is for Worst Habit: I used to smoke.

X is for X-rays: none I know of....

Y is for Yummy Food You Ate Today: Birthday Cake
Z is for Zodiac: Capricorn

Happy Birthday James!

Happy Birthday, Old Man!

A is for age: 25

B is for Breakfast: cookies

C is for Favorite Color: green

D is for Dog’s name: none so far

E is for Essential Item I use Everyday: laptop

F is for Favorite Movie: Top Gun

G is for Favorite Game: Wii Dodgeball

H is for Hometown: Eau Claire, WI

I is for Instruments I play: none

J is for Job: intern

K is for Kitchen: likes to eat

L is Last Place I Ate out: Outback
M is for Marriage: no contenders yet

N is for Nickname: Old Man

O is for Overnight Hospital Stays: none

P is People I was with Today: Charles & Opal

Q is for Quote: Hey, you bumped into me!

R is for Biggest Regret: leaving Wisconsin

S is for Sport: Baseball

T is for Time I Wake up: 7:00

U is for Useless info: I am the youngest boy in the fam.

V is for Last Vacation you took: Morenci

W is for Worst Habit: chewing tobacco

X is for X-rays: middle finger

Y is for Yummy Food You Ate Today: Birthday Cake

Z is for Zodiac: Capricorn