Merry Christmas!

Yes sireeeeee!!! Christmas is almost here! :0) We are praying for no snow and clear roads on Wednesday--otherwise--we may just have to spend Christmas at home. Being that we have an extra day to play with, though, I'm sure things will work out. I'm not going to risk my babies lives (nor my own)--and I certainly don't want to travel if you can only drive 30 mph's! That would certainly be brutal!! (My husband would. . . but I think that is a guy thing.) There is still lots to do, but, I'm feeling like we are on track. Why is it that you pack a million katrillion things to go to your parent's house and then just wear the same pair of windpants the whole time anyway? You really need to pack a lot of stuff for a baby and a toddler--geesh! Good thing there is a Walmart right within 5 minutes of my parent's house now!! It took a lot of arguing and debating for our little redneck town to allow it to be built--but it sure is convenient for us when we visit!! I hope everyone's Christmas is extremely fantastic with safe travels and awesome good times with the people you love!! Remember to be patient and forgiving with all the things that don't go quite as we have planned. God bless!!

Have you ever seen that movie "The Money Pit"? The one with Tom Hanks and "Diane" from Cheers (I just cannot remember her real name). I love that movie! The premise is the happy couple buying their dream million dollar home that ends up needing to be totally revamped and destroying their relationship along the way. Their house is really cool, too, by the way. Well, our house isn't a million dollar home (not even close) and construction hasn't destroyed our relationship (yet) but what I can only laugh about is in the movie, they keep asking when the work is going to be done and the construction guys always say "two weeks" (and the work takes months and months to get done.)

I don't know why I feel stressed out about having a big hole in my house with all these Minnesota snow storms coming, a creepy construction guy (whom I am not giving access to my house while we are gone for Christmas--that is if we are able to even leave for Christmas--but I shouldn't have to worry because the "two day" job is supposed to be done today after only two weeks have actually gone by). It is annoying at the fact that my house wreaks like cigarettes after he leaves and that his pick-up truck looks like it is going to drop off the bed at any moment--oh yeah, let's not forget the strong aroma of gasoline that has leaked from his truck into our driveway--in the very spot he goes to have a cigarette break. I swear there is going to be an explosion! Maybe you will see me on the news!!! He has used all of my bubble wrap to insulate the hole (and Craig's Viking blanket--which is now nailed to the wall to keep the cold air out.) Seriously--all you can do is laugh. Wouldn't you ask somebody if it was okay to put nails through their blanket--and wouldn't you expect the construction guy to have his own "professional" supplies to complete a job correctly?

At least we know the window guy. . . . who knows when that chaos will start!

On that note. . . is anybody else feeling overwhelmed with Christmas right around the corner? I don't know why I feel that way. I think it is just the unknown if we will be able to drive home to WI. I love all this snow. . . I really do. . . but I will be praying for good roads on Christmas Eve day for sure!! I still have so much to do. Kaiti is coming over tomorrow. She has been moved to "we don't need to clean our house for you" status. There just isn't time--and I'm still living with the unknown--as in--will I need to leave the house while the creepy construction guy opens the big hole up and exposes our house directly to the outside freezing cold air forcing me and my babies to venture out into the snow storm to go somewhere warm. That status just shows how close we feel we are to her and no longer need to pretend to be somebody we are not. And right now. . . we are not a clean family! :0) I am waiting to clean our spit-up infested carpet until after the windows are done (and hopefully the creepy guy will be done by then too!)

It's time for me to start making my list of things NOT to forget IF we are able to go to parent's for Christmas and the list of things we need to get done before we go--and when we are supposed to get those things done (and shovel the driveway, and go to work, and spend some quality time with Kaiti, and cook a meal for my husband's boss whom just had a baby and deliver it during the next snowstorm on Sunday, and take care of my sweet and adoring children!) Hey, chaotic bliss--what more could you ask for. Despite all of this, we have found plenty of time to have fun--which is probably why the house is not even close to being presentable!

And, Jakob surprised all of us by marching right up to Santa and getting right on his lap. Who knows where that came from since he is terrified of pretty much everything. I guess I have the TV to thank for that since Santa has made some guest appearances on Go, Diego, Go! and Dora the Explorer. He didn't say anything--at all--but later told me all he wanted for Christmas was a sucker. That's an awful tall order, Santa! Merry Christmas everyone!

Let the chaos begin. . . .

No, I'm not talking about Christmas. . . I'm all that and more organized than anyone when it comes time to Christmas! I'm talking about our home improvement projects!! Yes!! Our loan was approved and signed yesterday and as soon as the contractor has our windows--they are going in!! We are also getting our old well room removed, sealed, closed off--whatever--all I know is the arctic air will no longer flow in during winter when it is done. (Evidently they will be able to do that now and not have to wait until the Spring thaw.) We will also be getting a new driveway, sidewalk and front step when the weather allows. Can't forget about replacing some of the siding that the umbrella tore apart when a big gust of wind ripped it out of the stand and smashed it into the house--just missing our bay window by a few inches! Whew! I almost forgot about the rewiring that will be done in our kitchen so we will no longer be blowing fuses when we are cooking our gourmet meals and overloading the circuits with our microwave, stove and toaster! I did not think that we would be lucky enough to get the loan this year!!!! The city ran out of money last year before reaching us. And thanks to Jada for joining our family just in time or we would have not been in the required "low to moderate" income range to qualify. We eked in by about $100! I just cannot believe that we got in this year!! So many good things have happened to us!!

Onto more good things. Thanksgiving was wonderful. My mom and dad came up for the first time ever and I think they got enough food. (They were worried we wouldn't have enough to eat for some reason.) I do have to say that my turkey was picture perfect and very delicious. I'm not accustomed to taking pictures of food . . . so your going to have to take my word on it. It was nice to have some quality one on one time with them--no projects for my dad to work on--just a lot of sitting around and eating! Jakob just adores grandpa and followed him EVERYWHERE! He is still trying to play the games with the remote control that Grandpa created. Mom and I did some shopping at the MOA. It wasn't that busy on the Saturday evening after Thanksgiving. A good time to go. We were exhausted after only 2 hours. I didn't buy anything significant. . . but if I had money to burn--the LUCKY STORE had the most adoreable clothes for children/babies--yes! The jeans and sweatshirts are only around $80 each! haha! But--just way too cute!!

Jada also got baptized on Saturday which prompted another glutton feast! Good food, good friends, precious family! We are truly blessed beyond anything than I could have ever imagined! Now all I need is a good camera to capture all these beautiful moments. . . mine has been a bit disappointing lately!