Project

With some good luck we were able to get the opportunity to have my sister in law's Dad who is a builder come finish our basement. Being the week before Christmas he was in between a project so we got a good deal. He normally only builds luxury homes so we were getting quality work (which is hard to find these days). Which is the only reason I agreed because

it was just weeks before Christmas.
My basement was full to the ceiling with stuff.
oh and it was weeks before Christmas (ha ha).

We worked really hard and got the basement cleaned out. For the first time in 8 years we could see the basement.

As the stuff came upstairs my anxiety was going through the roof!  My house, and garage were becoming a mess!

But with several trips to donate stuff and return stuff we were storing for people it got more manageable.

A big crane delivered the dry wall but the men still had to load it down stairs.

With some instruction even I was able to help with the insulation (thanks to Craig and Lisa who worked hard helping too).

The project was dusty and messy and my house was a diaster for most of the holidays but the day before Christmas Eve it was done.  I was so excited to have made it through it all and see the progress.

We still have a lot to do... paint, carpet, wood work but we are getting closer to finally having it done!

Thanksgiving 2011

This year we spent Thanksgiving in California with family. It was a great day! We woke up and ate snacks and then we took the kids to see Tangled (very cute). When we arrived home we helped get dinner on the table. It was really nice to be with family we don't see very often.

By middle of dinner Sydney was so tired she fell asleep.

Later that night I got to do my normal midnight madness shopping.  Being out of town I was away from "my girls" so Alan offered to come along .  I had  a great time with him.  Got several good deals my best was new balance shoes for everyone for only $12 a pair!  It was amazingly crowded and some stores had a 2 hrs line just to get inside!  My girls here at home were shopping in -3 temps so the 40 degree chill wasn't bad at all!

Visiting Santa....

This year we were in California for our traditional Santa a visit. What a treat it was to go to San Francisco (which holds a dear spot in my heart) and see Santa and enjoy the beginning of the holiday season!

 Hailey was OVER taking so many pictures.  With a Mom like me she gets annoyed.

 Daddy let the girls pick a rose.

Santa requests were as follows:
Lindsey- DSI
Jacob- Air soft gun
Sydney- Liv Doll
Hailey- Dsi

California- Beach Days

We spent two days at the beach. It was unusually cold so the first day I did not bring swimsuits. It proved to be a mistake and Jacob was sad about it.

Look it was not warm...


Jacob survived playing football

 



the girls just dug in the sand.

Lindsey was crazy (as usual) and just ran out in the water.

The next time we went we went to natural bridges. This is the beach of my childhood.  It's a great beach and has tide pools for the kids too. I brought swim suits even though it was still too cold.

Before we went down to the beach we went on the Monarch walk.  The trees were almost empty. I read somewhere that the butterflies were not coming as often. That's too bad.

 In the cold water, crazy kids!

Looking at tide pools.