And we are off.....

Twelve hours from now we will be almost half way to Mexico! We are so excited. It has been a really long and cold winter here in MN! Work has also been pretty busy the past four months or so and I could really use this break!

We are off to the airport at about 4 a.m tomorrow, but that means we arrive at 10:15 and can be at the beach that afternoon with cocktails in hand!

I hope everyone has a good week! We will try to bring home some sun and warmth! Here are some pics of where we are headed and what I am looking forward to!!!!

Missing Arizona!!!

A few years in a row, we have gone down to Arizona with my Dad and Pam. We meaning Nelson, Colleen and myself, my sister has gone a couple of years, and Joe has gone for two now. Pam bought a place a few years ago in Mesa Village where her parent's also own one, and her and my Dad have gone down there a few times each winter. We usually join them on their last trip of the year around mid-March and they stay for a few weeks and we stay for one. This year will be the first year with no Mesa Village home to visit. This was a hard decision for them to make, but they sold their place in Arizona. Hopefully someday when the economy picks up and they have more time to visit Arizona after their new business is up and running they can buy a new place.

Now, I am not complaining too much because Joe and I are still heading on a vacation, so it's not like we don't get to go anywhere. We leave for Mexico on Saturday. It's just about this time of year where I start to get antsy for Arizona as we always go in March, so I thought I would reminisce with some pictures of all the fun times we had. We will miss Mesa Village, but know that we can make new memories elsewhere!!!

I will always remember water aerobics and the old ladies singing "B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l", spring training baseball games, climbing the Grand Canyon, eating at Tia Rosa the favorite Mexican restaurant, going to the flea market, margaritas, St. Patty's Day celebrations, butter horns, fresh grapefruit, jogs along the channel, shuffleboard, biking to the pool, floating on noodles, Sedona, The Cowboy Bar, lots of laughs - and the list goes on and on....Arizona is a such a fun and beautiful place!!!

Adios Ana!

This blog is dedicated to my co-worker and friend Ana who is leaving Target on Friday to move to Washington D.C. Her husband Todd got a job out there at the beginning of January, and now it's time for her to join him. Ana is from Santa Cruz, Calif. and moved to Minnesota a year and a half ago from New York. Although Minnesota was not home for her, she fit in greatly with our team and I had a ton of fun getting to know her over the last year.

I am sad to see Ana go, but I know this next phase in her life will be so great for her and Todd. Good luck Ana, I will miss you and hope to keep up with your exciting life as much as possible!

This picture is my favorite memory with Ana- we took a work trip out to New York together. I am going to title this picture "We Got The Beat" - and only Ana knows why - it has to do with our great singing skills. :)

Family Rocks!!

This weekend I am looking forward to the skating and game party that my sister is throwing. My family did not get together for the holidays this year as Shawn and I were out of town, so this is the first time we will have been together since Thanksgving. This is a picture of my Dad, my two brothers, my sister and me. My family is super fun to hang out with, and I am so blessed to have them all living in the Stillwater or so area - we are all an hour or so apart tops. I am sure I will have more pics after the skating party this weekend, and I'm sure many of the kids but I wanted to post this pic to show you the foundation of the great family that I have..and all of the kids are such special blessings and make it even more fun!

I really look forward to this weekend with my family, next weekend with Joe's family - and the weekend after we are off to sunny Mexico! Lots to keep me busy until the big airplane takes off!!! YEAH!

Slumdog Millionare

Joe and I went to see Slumdog Millionare today. We had the choices narrowed down to- Slumdog, Gran Torino and The Wrestler. After reading all of the reviews and summaries, I chose Slumdog. For those who have not seen it, this is what it's about:

The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions. Each chapter of Jamal's increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show's seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out. At the heart of its storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love.

I highly recommend this movie! It was very entertaining, touching, and educational. It opens your eyes to life in some parts in India as well. I know this movie is up for many awards this year, and I'll maybe have to try to see a few more to see how they all compare to eachother.

I give it a two thumbs up!!!