Twas the night before Christmas….

and all through the new house…EVERYONE was stirring  even the cat.  The stockings were hung on the wood mantle with care, hoping that Santa could find them all here. The kids were NOT snug all tight in their beds, they were helping their parents clear a nice path.  They all were exhausted after days of hard work and with still more to do they turned with a jerk!  When what do their wondering eyes should appear but a house full of boxes far and near.  The boxes were as brown as the mud in the yard.  Some open, some shut, some big and some small, with stuff in them ALL!  The presents are wrapped (Thank goodness) after some last minute shopping, but the warm weather down here, sure had us hopping.  Rain Rain and more rain with a tornado warning to boot, had us a bit worried while moving our loot.  As we fall into bed in the wee morning hours, we all are so thankful for a dream house that is OURS!

 

What a CRAZY Christmas.  I am too exhausted and out of time to sit and think of the rest of the story So here are a few pictures and a quick update.  We were all guessing how many loads it would take on borrowed trailers and the back of the van and truck from one house to the other.  Ryan was closest with 23!  We are up to 25 I think and still have to get a few things in the garage and pick up the dogs.  Ryan and Dennis are working hard on the dog pen(fortress) as I “speak".  The cat has been here a few days and does not venture outside much by herself but has adjusted well.  I woke up to her sleeping on Dennis’s night stand one morning and by my feet another….so glad Dennis is just too tired to care or notice.

We do LOVE the house!!!! and are so excited to be in it for Christmas.  I wish it was a little more organized at this point but there are only so many hours in the day and boy have we used them all.  We also had to take nice breaks to watch Preston play basketball and to visit with my brother and Janet.  They were here for a few days.  Dennis also got to go pick up his parents from the hospital!  It is so great that they got to be here for Christmas.  In less than an hour we will have our Christmas there. Tomorrow will be Christmas at our HOME, then church, then dinner and presents with my parents. Enjoy the pictures and we hope you all have a WONDERFUL Christmas.

 

 

Preston and Ryan put together this TV stand (and left the room like that!)

Grant and I put up the Auburn border in his room

The mantle Dennis cut weighs a ton (blog on this process soon)

Lights were a hassle as always.  This was the 3rd tree we helped decorate (we helped both sets of parents with their trees)

Our tree….small but nice and just about the last one in Enterprise!

Ryan and Janet decorated a Gingerbread house

Christmas picture with my family

building the dog pen

 

Oh and don’t look for a Christmas card this year….no time.  We will send out a Happy New Year card (I hope) after our youth ski trip UGH!!!  so much to do……..

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good REST!!!

The FINAL Push

We are in the final stages of house building!! YIPPEE.  We have a few people coming this week to finish up (I Hope) and we will have our closing on the 23rd.  We have already started moving things over and will really get busy today (Sunday) and the next few days.  I should have titled this blog CRAZY IN ALABAMA, because that is what I should be.  I have been working full time and  going to basketball games and practices three nights a week.  We still do not have a Christmas tree up, we have not taken our picture for our Christmas (now maybe NEW YEAR) cards and I have not finished shopping.  I live in a small town without great stores and the ones here close by 5 or 6 each night.  We missed our Sunday School Christmas party putting up shelves in closets.  Dennis’s dad is in the hospital in Birmingham and we spent 2 1/2 days last week there.  UPDATE on him:  He had half his stomach removed to get rid of a small tumor.  They think they have it all but we are waiting on pathology reports.  He was in a lot of pain and having heart rate problems but is much better.  He still has not had anything to eat or drink and they want him worked up to solid foods before he leaves sometime this week.  Thank you for your prayers.  The surgery went great.  Now we just have to pray for a great recovery with no problems and that they are home by Christmas Eve.  They celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary yesterday in a hospital room!  It was probably not the ideal place but you could see the love as they worried about each other (Sandra was sick-probably from nerves and lack of sleep- one day while we were there).  There are always blessings in everything and while we have not put up our own Christmas tree, we have helped both sets of parents with theirs.  Dennis’s mom was not going to put up a tree due to the surgery but we (sort of) made her and went over to help.  My brother and his girlfriend arrived just in time to decorate my parents tree and we all were there to “help”.  I cannot remember that last time my brother and I were there to decorate a family Christmas tree together.  It would have been a bit more Norman Rockwell-ish  if we were not decorating in a hurry because it was almost midnight: a delay caused by Christmas tree lights-what else!  I told them we were all going to do it again in a few days at our new house.  My poor kitty is trying to get me to play with her as I type this (bringing me toys, biting my leg)….have not been here much to play lately.  I hope both she and the dogs adjust to the new house.  Dennis has finally realized that THIS is our HOME….our FINAL move and house!!  Don’t know why it just dawned on him but…. we are all a bit preoccupied and CRAZY IN ALABAMA!!! 
Here is what you have been waiting for……NEW PICTURES!!!

LIGHTS are finished!

This is the built in entertainment center without the doors (they are in now)

The 99% finished kitchen!!! Yeah!!


A far cry from Military movers!  We have NEVER moved ourselves!

First of MANY loads like this.

An EMPTY closet!!!! in the “old” house
I will take more pictures in the next few days!  Maybe of our Christmas tree!

Floors and Cabinets

Boy, Flooring and cabinets can really change the look of a room!  All the flooring is done and the bases of the cabinets are in.  Now they can come measure for the counter tops and get them in.  Still need  the island, mud room bench and entertainment center.  Some light fixtures are up also.  LOTS of new pictures: Enjoy

Sod in front yard

Preston holding Easton up to pull out all the paper they put in the light sockets when painting the ceiling

From Dining room to living room

From Living room looking into kitchen (workers still there)

From kitchen corner looking into living room

From living room right side looking into foyer

View from front door (dining room on right of wall:Living room on left)

Foyer light

One master bath cabinet

Preston, Grant and Jordin Chillin”

powder room vanity                          Bonus room

Upstairs bath

Looking down the stairs

from refrigerator area looking toward stove top and sink

Cabinets around Refrigerator

Laundry room

Kitchen bar (much longer than I thought)

Dining room area

Garage door

Kitchen floor
Still hoping to move in a few weeks AHHHH!

Looking Good!

Lots going on this week with still more to come.  The hardwood floors are going down, the stairs are almost done, light fixtures are going up, heating/cooling systems are working and the garage door is in.  I have a few pictures to add.  I picked out cabinet pulls today and the bases will be set this weekend.  So excited!  Still hoping for a mid-december move in.  Of course that means we cannot put up a tree and decorate until then which is hard for me.  Luckily I have a tree and decorations in my classroom.

The boys are playing basketball.  Tonight both teams won in OT.  Preston and Grant each had pivotal points at the end of the games.  Ryan starts next weekend. 

On a serious note: Dennis’s dad will have major surgery for stomach cancer on December 13th.  Prayers needed for a speedy and pain free recovery.  They found it early and hope to get it all in the surgery.

Sod ready to be put down (already down-old picture)

Stairs look really good

Love MY blue room