Merry Christmas!!

Well, the eviction has been moved up, so I'm on my way to the Blue House to finish up painting so we can gather up moving help at Christmas Dinner! We opened presents last night so we have more moving time today, but I felt I HAD to catch up here. I probably will be sending out Christmas letters at some point, but it's so much easier to post life as it happens! It might also keep my letter to one page this year!!

Ok, I have to catch you all up over the last few days... so much has happened this week!!

This is Peach and Precious. They really came through for me this week. We've really had a lot of problems and headaches with my favorite plumbers from Shen, so I called in my dad's friends. They are quite the team. They are also electricians, so they can do about anything! They finished up the plumbing on Thursday; installed my sinks, faucets and garbage disposal, and fussed about not having cookies all day. So Friday, I had cookies and Precious forgot the milk! But they also got my appliances installed Friday, so my complaints were minimal. Peach needed a few more things to do while Precious finished up the dishwasher, so I had him finish up the closet light, hang my bathroom light and mirror, and I tried to get him to hang my shower door, but he really whined about that. Hmmm... cookies not enough??
Randy was really hard to get focused!! We made it clear how critical a bathroom door was for this party, so he did come hang that. He was supposed to come back to trim out four doorways, but apparently he had promised to lay tile in Shen. How important could that be??
Fortunately, my Uncle Paul and cousin Chad came over and helped me out. Uncle Paul got the bathroom doorknob set, and Chad got the pulls on my kitchen cabinets. Chad also got a basement doorknob set, which I thought was pretty important for keeping little ones from tumbling down the stairs! Chad and Chrissy put in a lot of the doorstops to save my walls, then they went shopping for Christmas decorations!! That girl is just so sweet, I have no idea how Chad landed her!! She brought back poinsettias for the end tables, garland and lights for my bay window, holly tablecloths for the card tables and then did all the decorating. She's just a dream!

Well, the party was a smash! We had about 50 people and Grandma Rose didn't know anything was going on. It was all a complete surprise to her. We were so pleased with everything and had a really great time!! This photo is Chrissy, Grandma Rose and Elena (Mary's) and the next is Chad with Casey. Once again, Chrissy came through and helped with the clean-up!! Mary grabbed up doing dishes. She liked our extra high counters. I have to say, that higher kitchen sink is quite fun! A new house just makes everything a bit more fun. It's much more fun to work down there with a working bathroom, too!! Well, I must go paint my trim and get ready for the move!! You all have a blessed Christmas, and even if you're moving and such like me, don't forget to remember the Savior whom we celebrate today. His birth changed our course and is the only way to Heaven. Praise Him today and always!!

No Sleep...

Well, it's 2 am and I'm still awake. Went to bed around 10 and woke up at midnight, and been awake ever since. I got up at 12:30 and did my normal list-making that usually eases my mind, but that didn't work. Just laid there for an hour. Poked around on the internet a bit but all the remedies there involve reading or listening to a good book. I guess I'd rather write one! I think the reason my list-making isn't working is because all my lists involve things other people must do for me. The tile is all laid and grouted, the carpet is all down, but now I need a working kitchen and bathroom, and there's nothing I can do about it. I'm no carpenter, I'm no plumber... I don't even seem to be a good organizer of these events because I never know what needs to be done next. So here I am. Awake and powerless. And yet so close to a home that I can really feel it. Speaking of feeling it, our eviction notice came today. We're moving next week, so I'm hoping things are ready!! No, Mom's just making plans for Troy's to be here New Year's weekend and it just all looks so possible that we're counting on a move next week. Things won't be done, but if we wait around for everything to get done, I'm not sure when we'd move. I've been so thankful for this party that really has everyone finally taking me seriously!! Plan the party, build the house. That's my way, I guess!! I'm just still a bit nervous about my garage sale toidy. What if it doesn't work? What if it works until half-way through the party? Ok, now you're seeing why I'm up. I do have to beat everyone over there tomorrow (today), though. Randy didn't want the carpet down yet, so I have to cover it well before he starts. And the plumber doesn't have a key, and he's really an early bird!! I normally like that, except that I know as soon as I do get some sleep, I'm not going to like morning! And then there's this job that really gets in my way. I'm scheduled in at the bakery tomorrow. I don't have time for that! On top of all that, the three of us girls came down with something this weekend and mine's still hanging on. Could be all that Sudafed keeping me up... oh, well, at least I can breathe for a while. Time to go try again... nighty night!

Mallory and the Angels

Last night we went to the Westside Christmas Pageant. They have been doing these fabulous productions for 21 years now, and we have gone to the last 5 or 6. We have our little "spot" in the balcony, and I like to get a picture of Mallory with an angel afterwards. Last year I found that you need to get that done quickly, before the angels get out of their itchy outfits!! This whole night is just so magical and I love it setting the mood for the rest of Christmas. The little angel on the right is the one who stood by us in the balcony during the angel scene. These kids must practice so much!! She did such a fantastic job and was so graceful. Even the boys love this night... except the first hour!! We have to get there an hour early to get our "spot" and sitting for an hour is too much to ask of those two!! We got through it with no bruises, and they had a wonderful time!! The church brings in live camels, donkeys, sheep and goats and it is just spectacular!! This year, one of the shepherds brought one of the goats up to the balcony for the kids to pet. They are still sleeping now, but I have to get down to the blue house and make sure the tile is done and Randy is putting in the rest of the door jambs!!

Closing in...

The tile comes tomorrow and Michael and Randy have been working on the trim all weekend. I've been pretty sick, but tried to go help last night. I lasted about an hour, then Michael had to take me home. Bonnie stayed in the truck the whole day. We're wondering if she knows something about the skunk! Michael was also putting a lot into getting the pantry units put together so Randy could get those installed today. We're counting up the number of things that need to be done today before the tile and the list is quite lengthy! Guess I better pull myself together and get down there!!

Well, now, that's just purty...

Every once in a while, you really get to let go with a cake! This was the case with this one. It was a surprise party for his wife and he wanted a birthday cake. But for just wanting a birthday cake, he sure had a lot of requests! But just about the time you think you've outdone yourself, the only response is, "Yep, that's a cake." No, I don't get that much, but it's one of Michael's favorite lines when I really start thinking I'm something. But I'm about done with these surprise orders! Lining up the pick up or delivery on the sly can take more time than decorating the cake! I think Mom was just about to deliver it for him when she saw where he planned to put it. He was shoving stuff around in the trunk to make room, but she knew darn well that all that stuff was going to shift and topple down on the cake! Well, we haven't heard the final results, but we sure hope it got there looking like this!

My friend

This is Herman. He's my new friend. He's been poking around at the Blue House and appears to wish to stay. I'm not completely pleased about this, but he is extremely cute. But, as with all cute guys, he does have his downfall. No, he hasn't done anything wrong yet, but I know boys and it's only a matter of time. We've seen him the last couple of days and think he may be living in the crick somewhere, or in the big log we've tried to burn twice. I called my dad since he claims to be a hot shot pest control manager of some sort, but he was busy. I'm thinking of calling the sheriff, but all he will do is call some hot shot pest control manager (a.k.a. "DAD") that won't have time until spring. I can just see how this goes... we finally get the house ready and can't move in because the neighbors have stunk it up. grrrrrr

Have to hurry

Really wanted to post last night's cake. It is so sharp. All red and black (plus some green leaves). It's for a restaurant's first anniversary.

But anyway, Michael's rounding up troops to head out to the blue house to unload all we got from Home Depot last night. We have a lot of cabinets to put together for Randy to install! And I already have a lot of dings and such to fix up with some spackle, too! All part of the job, I hear!

Busy day... have to play later, but had to get this cake up!

Kitchen Progress

My kitchen seems to be coming together! The cupboards all went in Wednesday, then they started on the cabinets and island Thursday. The guys took a long weekend to Branson, against my better judgement. Not that they asked me. There couldn't be anything more important in Branson!! Randy has to build the island countertop because it's so big. We're really excited about that. We have a 36" base in the middle, and we're wishing it was a 24" to give more room around it, but I'm sure nothing would be perfect anyway. Always depends on how many people are in the kitchen! The electrician is coming back to finish up the lighting today. Michael sent me to get a home theatre system and said not to spend over $400. Well, of course, the one the guy said I HAD to have was over $600, but while he was looking for kitchen speakers, I ran into a display of them for $48. Really had me baffled on that one. Sure, it didn't have the whoop-de-doo receiver thingy, and you had to buy your own brackets for the speakers ($8 at Walmart), but that's what I got. Done. Now to explain to Michael. I tried to tell him I spent the $400 so I could feel better about getting a good system, but he said he had told me to only spend $300. I reminded him that he shouldn't have sent me. So I said fine, it was only $250. After arguing and negotiating a price I had already paid, he called my bluff and asked for the receipt. Bad call. I threw it away. Well, no convincing him of that. Any woman that can tell you exactly what the household spent on Mountain Dew last year doesn't throw away a receipt for a sound system. Bummer. Definitely sold out there. So he found out what it cost and wasn't too upset at all... yet. We'll see what the electrician thinks about it!
The other photo is Morgan cleaning up. You might think I have a great kid there, and I do, but what he's really doing is gathering up sawdust for himself! They play in it like it's sand or something, but since I haven't found anything contextually disrespectful or morally reprehensible about it, I'm letting that one go! Happy cleaning!!