The Adventures of The Merschmans

Today....

...we are heading to Chicago.  Still, need to find someone to let the dogs out.  It is going to be a wonderful trip.  Our dear, dear friends have fabulous seats for the Bears...the guys will not even "have to be" cold if they don't want too.  They can go inside and warm up and brave the Chicago wind off Lake Michigan.  

MaryElizabeth and I are spending our evening in the warmth's of The Ford Theater.  We are going to see Nathan Lane in The Addams Family.  I even "sprung" for the suite service because she will not want to wait in the "public ladies room" line.  

We had a wonderful Christmas.  I think everyone in the family was very happy with the items Santa brought this year.  I even think Eddis enjoyed himself this year.  We didn't travel anywhere, although we do need to make it down to Fort Maddy sometime this week.  

At some point, I need to start taking down decorations and putting them away.  I just feel like I want my house back.  Eddis has some kitchen updates planned for January, I need to pick out some items.  

 

Yes, It Was A Christmas Eve To Remember...

...at our home this evening.  We started our day with a wonderful lunch my family; the cousins from near and far.  It was so much fun, we are getting together again on Saturday night. 

We rushed home to get ready for Mass.  I still needed a quick coat of polish on fingers and Mimi and I needed to curl our hair.  We went to Mass early because Mimi was signing in the Children's Choir, Nick was suppose to serve but he has been sick the last few days and we just didn't think it was a good idea.  Mass was so cool...I love how Father Tim embraces the children. 

NOW...the FUN BEGINS!!!!

We get home from Mass to find my poor little Lucy locked in my bedroom because she was excited and Grandma (Morrissey) was not having any of her loving.  Well, the first thing she says to me is....and are you ready for this...."Susie, you are going to be mad at me"...of course, I wouldn't be mad at her..."I wet in your chair"....OMG...SERIOUSLY...OMG...I am laughing so hard I have to find Eddis...the look on his face was PRICELESS...

Now, my brother and parents arrive, with my Grandmother that can't hear....SO, imagine this...you are stuck in a Sienfeld/Osborne's episode...my mother's name is Sharon...SSSHHHAAARRRROOOONNNN!!!!  We have to keep repeating ourselves, my mother takes care of the "peeing" grandmother...thank God for Depends!!!  Eddis was trying to pay the kids to go and smell the chair!

Now, our little believer is snug in her bed....dreaming of ipod touch and Taylor Swift signed guitar!!!!

Playing Catch Up

Being gone even one day, makes life around here crazy!   I got home from Chicago just in time to run MaryElizabeth to dance.  I ran back home to try to get some things done.  I had to work at school today, SO, that means nothing got done again today.  Hopefully, by Friday afternoon, everything is done for the party, presents are wrapped and I can kick my heels up and have a great time.  I know I will have a great time anyway. 

I did get a lot done in Chicago.  I love it, everything about it, I want to live downtown someday. 

Today, I worked for 2 different teachers.  The first was Nick's class....need I say more?  The second, was this afternoon, it was for PE; I decided was going to mix it up a little.  We did yoga.  It was fun and I am sure a few of the boys will be pretty sore in the next few days.  I loved, when the kids were warmed up and could touch the floor better. 

Tonight, is going to be the first night at home for the last 8 nights...that's right 8 nights!  Can't wait to have nothing going on for the next 2 nights. 

5 More Days.....

....and the kiddos are home until Jan. 5, 2010!  Today, I need to bake!  Yesterday, was filled with basketball...Nicky won against the Clinton, it was a good game.  The REALLY good game were the Davenport Showtime and the Warriors.  It good until the final buzzer. 

Last night, we went to our annual Quarterback Club Christmas Party.   It is always a fun event.  I didn't realize...this is the ONLY Quarterback Club for the University of Iowa.  The best part, my grandfather was one of the founding members!  It was fun listening to how much creditability our little 90 member club has.  The only club that has had all head coaches at meetings and if the "Quarterback Club" asks....if receives.  It was a little embarrassing.

Off to start my baking....my 3 day headache is at bay for a few hours!

Christmas Time Is Here.....

So far, so good...and I say that knowing Eddis will walk in the house any day now and turn back into the "Grinch".  He has been so enjoyable this Christmas season.  I think it helps that I have contributing to the Christmas fund by working a few days a month.  I LOVE subbing...the kids are so fun and funny, especially, my own "class (school) clown", Nicky!  He had the entire school laughing on Thursday. 

Last night we went to the Assumption/Clinton basketball game, all I am saying..."David Johnson"....you heard it hear FIRST!!!  Amazing athlete and basketball isn't even his "good sport".

Since, the entire Merschman family is not going home for Christmas, we decided our family would serve Christmas dinner at one of the homeless shelters.  Again, this was Eddis' idea.  We are so blessed, this will be a fabulous way to spend our Christmas. 

We made our college visit to Iowa yesterday.  After the first hour of nothing but "look at how much fun Iowa is", Teddy was a little overwhelmed and was ready to mark Iowa off the list.  It was basically, "look at how smart our students are..., look at what our graduates have done...etc".  We had a meeting set up with the disabilities department after the large group.  Since he has a learning disability, we needed to see what kinds of services a Big 10 school had to offer.  Well,  as a mother that made cutting edge accommodationsfor her child (just patting myself on the back a little, bear with me), I was VERY impressed.  The night before I bascially, told Eddis.."keep your mouth shut" he called the IEP..IPE!!!  I was so amazed at the services they provide, right in the lower level of one of the undergraduate dorms.  The woman we met with was completely deaf and she read lips...that completely "freaked" Eddis out...so, he wasn't saying anything...I didn't have to worry!  Did I mention how impressed I was?  By the time we went to lunch and Teddy had time for everything the "sink in", he is very excited about going to Iowa.  

Off to a day of basketball.  Tonight, we have our annual Iowa Hawkeyes Quarterback Club Christmas party.  Only 1 of 2 events the woman are allowed to attend...again, I am just fine with my husband having "the good ole' boys club".  It is a dying breed!  It will be so exciting since we are going to a BCS game....Orange Bowl...bring it on!  We were planning our night to watch the game with our good friends last night....E kept trying to get Eddis to go to Florida with them after Christmas...he said and I quote..."you have a standing invitation to stay with us"!  If we have a few more cold snaps like this one he may just give in!

 

Just Let Life Happen...

...is pretty much how I live.  Yes, I know, I have failed to blog something everyday.  Well, I have been living my life!  Nothing wrong with that.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family.  The only bad thing about having Thanksgiving somewhere other than your own is home, NO left-overs!  I promised my family I would make a turkey dinner this week. 

There is nothing better than kids running around, grandmothers asking for more coffee, etc.  I am so very blessed!  Eddis and I were raised very differently and that is what I love.  Our Thanksgiving was very formal with crystal and china.  I love that!  I also love the chaos of Eddis' family gatherings.  I have always wanted to be from a big family and I love being part of the Merschman family.  I also, love having my 95 year old grandmother ordering everyone around.  She looked so good on Thanksgiving. 

I am having Christmas Eve at our home this year.  I am excited!  We are having our annual Christmas party this year...Eddis has his idea about how we should "invite" people and I have my own.  On the way home from dinner last I think we agreed to meet in middle.

We had a wonderful time in Fort Madison this weekend.  Our friends are so much fun.  The guys are so funny when they get together. 

I have had a busy day trying to get my house done...NO, it still has a way to go. 

I told Eddis I was going to eat my way around Fort Madison this weekend...I got home and didn't gain a pound!  I was telling him...if I could gain..oh, about 100 lbs. I could go on The Biggest Loser, well, since I felt like I was going to explode the entire Thanksgiving weekend and didn't gain a pound...I guess I will go back to Pilates tomorrow!

NieNie

On the Today show today, was Stephanie Nielson and her family.  She and her husband were in in horrible plan crash last August.  After months of prayers worldwide, she is able to blog and share her love for her family with the world once again.  She is an amazing person.  I would LOVE to meet her someday.  I am sure if I went knocking on her door she would welcome me in her home and even serve me some of her yummy chocolate cake. 

Read all about her here...http://www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/

As promised, I am giving my faithful blog readers a little look into my life through the eyes of Eddis!  Last night he had poker...he was in Fort Maddy, he called and said he would leave soon but he would be home to get his quarters...well, he was a big ole' LOSER last night!

This evening he has the "Sugarplum Ball" with Mimi.  It is always an event MaryElizabeth looks forward too.  She asked if he was going to wear his "singing tie".  I will post pictures.

Priorities....

I really can't believe I have not blogged that much...did I say that last time?  I have decided to try to post something interesting everyday...we will how long that will last.  Usually, when I set a goal for myself, I achieve it. 

My life does seem to be slowing down a little.  My class is done, Hawkeye football is over...except for the bowl game, which I was told today, don't count on going to the bowl game.  I can usually, travel on a shoestring budget...but this time it may not happen.  REALLY, I am OK with that. 

I want my posts to be "a look into our lives"...I have decided to put an Edism on my blog everyday...what, you say, can't be done...unless, you know my Eddis, you would say that, he is so funny and something comes up everyday.  A "word" of wisdom, per Eddis, etc. 

Today, he reminded Teddy, "don't forget to park in a "pull through"", Teddy's car does not have reverse.  He is getting his new car this weekend.  Hopefully, that one has reverse!

The BIG Question....

..do I blog, don't I blog?  You see, this is the problem.  Our Hawkeyes have been doing GREAT...no not just GREAT, but blessed!  We are truly "Livin' On A Prayer!  I have not blogged much this season, I am afraid not to do the EXACT same thing...do I wear my Uggs even though it is going to be 74 degrees on November 7, in Iowa?  I am not staying in the RV tonight because I haven't this year.  I am going to close with...good luck to my Hawkeyes...but please!!!!!please!!!! can we have a big uneventful win tomorrow...you are not going to have any fans left if you keep making our blood pressure rise!!!  Oh, and one more thing...if  Penn State could win tomorrow that would even make the smell of roses stronger!

I Am Back!!!!!!!!

We have had such a busy month, too much going on.  I took a class the last month and there was a lot of writing.  So, the last thing I wanted to do was write on my blog!

This is my favorite time of year, right now I have the smell of cinnamon and pumpkin in my house.  I am making ghost pumpkin bread for MaryElizabeth's class party tomorrow.  I am not the over-achiever that does an entire "lunch"....Lori, I don't know how you do it!

We have another Iowa football game this weekend...let's keep winning boys...I would love to be smelling roses on Jan. 1st!

Lastly, on this very short post...I had H1N1 last week.  I wanted to get it out there because I am on the mend and I want people to know that you can survive!