Happy 2008!

I can't believe it's already 2008! Brad and I have been happily married for 3 1/2 years! Time flies when you're having fun. Over Christmas we went to San Diego w/my ENTIRE family! That's 11 people! My dad and mom, my brother Mike, his wife Crystal and their 2 kids - Hannah (5) Ian (3), my sister Erika and her hubby Brad and my sister Sara! It was NUTS! Fun, relaxing and yet kinda nuts. I can only imagine how our next family vacation will be in a few years...'cause more than likely, there will be more people. :) Our biggest problem was just GETTING to San Diego. We were flying out of KCI (Kansas City) and of course...being December in the midwest, you sometimes run into some weather issues. Well, we ran into some major issues. The plane we were suppose to fly on, couldn't come to KC, because the plane was suppose to land in Milwauke first, which is couldn't, because of the weather, then was rerouted to land in Minnapolis and couldn't...because of the weather. FINALLY we were told our plane was here! However...YOU GUESSED IT, we couldn't fly out, 'cause by that time, it had started snowing...w/ice pellets and obviously, you cannot fly when ice is coming from the sky! Long story short, we were suppose to leave at 10:30AM and didn't fly out til 6:30pm.
Once we were actually in the air, things were pretty 'smooth sailing'. I really enjoyed MidWest Airlines! I had never flown that airline before. The staff was very courteous and one of the better crews from all the multiple plane rides I have been on. AND as an extra bonus that have homemade chocolate chip cookies that the bake on flight. You get 2 yummy cookies!
We went to Disneyland/California Adventure that week, we (the younger sibs) went on a tour of San Diego which was very cool while the parents and Mike's fam went to the zoo, we also went on the Queen Mary which was totally awesome. The other highlights was going to the South Coast Winery in Temecula and spending time w/Sean and Jenn and their kids Dani and Jake. It was a short visit w/our best buds in Cali but it was wonderful seeing them and meeting Little Jake! We also relaxed at the resort as they have many activities to do their and a super-cool water slide! It was such a terrific time spending time w/my family since we do not see each other that much. It's very nice that my parents take us on a big family trip every couple of years!
Brad starts classes for his Masters again next week. He graduates in May and so excited! So this should be an interesting and exciting year for us, since we are unsure if Brad would like to stay in Boone or go into larger areas or doing something else like teaching for the AEA when he is finished w/his Graduate Degree. I hope everyone has a fabulous day!

Our First Post!

I decided that this would be an easier blog spot than my current blogging area. I will be doing posts on things that are going on in our lives and possibly just random things. I (Manda) will probably be doing all the posting because Brad is super-busy! He is currently finishing up in Masters in Differentiated Learning. He is receiving his degree from Concordia in St. Paul. Thankfully it is all online and the only time he has had to go to St. Paul was for an orientation. He will be done in May! Hurray! It is also the same college that my mom received her Masters from a few years ago. Another awesome thing that's happening in May is my younger sister, Sara will be graduating from the Nebraska Medical Center for Physical Therapy. She is currently doing clinicals right now and just finishing up in Norfolk, NE. Then she is off to Wisconsin, then to Texas, then she's done! I'm hoping she will want to move back to IA, possibly the central part so she can be closer to my brother and I. My other sister, Erika lives in Omaha w/her hubby Brad. (yes, we have 2 Brads in the fam!) I am also VERY PROUD of Era. She just recently started up her own Chocolate Company! The Chocolate Season offers truffles, gourmet apples, cookies, cakes, gourmet pretzels and much-much more! She also ships anywhere in the county. Believe me, you will not be disappointed if you order anything from her! The business is taking off like fireflys! You can check out her website: www.thechocolateseason.com. Her husband is an AMAZING photographer and designer! He started out shooting weddings and has expanded to doing family, baby and senior pictures! His work is phenomenal! His website is: www.bradleyjensen.com.  I myself have started my own business as well (Creative Design Concepts). I'm doing freelance graphic designing! I love doing it and always look forward do working on new and creative projects. My website is: www.cdcgraphicdesign.com. Well, that's all for now, more to come! 

Have an oober-fabo day!