The Extra Week or #52b

So I got my wish, the one I made when we stepped into this temporary home, "I hope we're here for Christmas." I wanted a relaxed time together with enough space and freedom for everyone to spend a night or two. I truly enjoyed every aspect of CHRISTmas--the decorating, all the preparations in anticipation, and every minute with the family. All so meaningful and beautiful, even our 'anorexic' tree, as the daughter called it (smile).

Some stayed over till Monday. 

Elijah enjoying his DS-XL before breakfast

He came back the next day with his daddy. Sam worked at the house until late that night, so Elijah came back here with me and stayed overnight. 

He kept me on task with my exercise homework, except that he wanted to teach me some not-so-boring moves.

I assured him they were not part of our (the seniors) balance routines.

On Wednesday we ran errands together and stopped to visit the Indiana Ice Studio which was on the way. It was fun to see both Stephan and Karen at work. I hadn't been there in a long time so was impressed with all that goes on there, and the many trophies and awards!

Uncle Stephan was intent on showing Elijah all that his job entails--design, ice-making, the CNC machine, the fancy saw (glitter-paint for effect), and the finished center pieces for the weekend delivery.

In fact today, both Steph & Karen and Sam & Kristie, traveled three hours north to set up 80+ center pieces for a large New Year's Eve party.
I am looking after the three grandsons while they are gone. The little one is asleep and the older two have gone with Grandpa to the annual event put on by the robotics team--the New Year's Eve ball-drop.
So I have a couple hours of quiet to look back over the week and compose this final post of 2011.

Thursday, more errands and lunch with the daughter and grandson. I got to see her Christmas gift which produced an abundant supply of sweets for the family. These will probably hold us over through the busy days ahead of moving to the new house.

Speaking of appliances, ours were delivered to the house this week. The carpet is almost down. Ballisters being installed and we're still waiting on counter tops and furniture.



Thursday evening we were invited to play a new card game with friends. It was good to get out for a fun time.

Friday our landlady-friend came by with her whole family to show the new family members the home that holds so many memories.

The original family

And now the time has come to say,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Finishing Touches

Ready and waiting for the family to come over for Christmas celebrations!

Last Sunday, DIL Karen and I went for a late afternoon walk and saw the neighborhood lights.

The street sign reminded me that our time at this address is soon coming to an end, not sure when exactly though.

 

As Mike says, "Everything takes longer than it does..." 

He has been up and down and on his knees countless hours this week laying the wood floor, which he offered to do himself. Even today, Christmas Eve he was at it this morning early and now again, every spare moment, determined to finish before Monday.

Son Sam and his coworker finished installing the refinished spiral staircase on Wednesday.

It is beautiful and leads up to what is going to be my area!

The deck is done as well.

However, as of yesterday there is only one functioning toilet and one light in the whole house. So we wait and keep plodding on.

I have gone out every afternoon this week, shopping, running errands, preparing. The gifts are wrapped, the letters and cards sent, some snail-mail, most via e-mail (so many that Hotmail became suspicious and blocked my account!)

Stockings have been replaced and filled with each one's choice sweets. (I was surprised and saddened to realize we had not retrieved the old ones.)

So, we are ready and waiting. Silly Santa leads the way down to the gift area.

One family member is here. I picked up SIL Diane yesterday to spend a few days with us. 

Brother and sister are watching the Colts play and win!  Mike, relaxing a bit before going back out to the house to keep plugging away.

One of the holiday events took place this morning--the Christmas Eve brunch at Stephan and Karen's.

Scotch eggs and Montecristos

We had a good time with the Monday Meal regulars, such dear friends. And got to see Matt and Kayla, the happy couple. (I can't believe I did not get a picture of him in uniform when they stopped by last Sunday.)

Kayla feels like a new person. Her braces came off this week and she got her hair cut.

I leave you with this greeting...

Almost here...almost there

Yes, Christmas is almost here, and we are almost there, in our new house.
This week we focus on the celebration, and later on the move.
Both require hours of shopping.

Last Sunday we spent the afternoon picking out the last of the light fixtures. So many decisions.

Later in the week I was asked what color the outlet covers should be.
Perhaps the title of this post should have been Decisions and Details.

It is always fun to get away Monday evening and meet and dine with friends and family at Chef-son's.
I had fun babysitting Zion all day so Mom and Elijah could visit her father.
Here is Zion, fascinated by Moe while Kayla is getting him to repeat "guinea pig".
In the end he was saying it over and over.

The dogs, Gryffin and Gracie, are entertained for long periods of time watching their new neighbor.

I can't remember much about Tuesday, except that I was tired enough to have to take a nap, always in the sun room with the wicker furniture with glass table tops.

Wednesday I went to a ladies' Bible Study Christmas brunch. The food and fellowship were wonderful! And I especially enjoyed looking at all the decorations and wondering what it will be like to prepare our new house next year for the annual Tour of Homes. Enough people have asked us to do this and it does seem the right response to a community that has seen us through the life-altering event of this year.

More meetings, shopping, decorating and wrapping presents.

I have enjoyed every aspect of this season, and every kind of decor...

...but my favorites are the nativities because they portray the amazing story of love we celebrate--the Creator of the universe entering our world as a human baby. .

Leah's Clay Nativity

Yesterday we attended the funeral of a five month-old baby taken suddenly. The service was so moving. The grandpa, our former pastor, and his sister shared some very meaningful thoughts. One that stood out was that only one baby was born into this world to die--Jesus, who came to give His life for us.

The State of the House
The various tiles are down in their respective areas.

Ship Room

This tile was chosen because of name and color: Argentina! See the blue? And where it comes from?

The painter should be finishing this coming week.

The deck is coming along.

Mike is laying the wood flooring.

The appliances are scheduled for delivery next Saturday. Really, on Christmas Eve?!

Next week I'll let you know how close we are to moving in. Meanwhile, have a very merry Christmas!

Christmas is coming!

This week included: our town's Winter festival "Olde Tyme Christmas" with its Tour of Homes; a belated celebration of two birthdays (Malachi's 13th and Zion's 2nd); two trips to Fort Wayne (circa four hours each time) to chauffeur family members to necessary appointments; an elementary school's Christmas program (Elijah's at BSU's Emmens auditorium); a funeral dinner; and all the routine activities and those related to house reconstruction. In between all that I have been steadily decorating and preparing for Christmas.
So, in no particular order, here are the photos I managed to get this week.

After birthday cake, next best is anything Carz related!

One snowy morning

We made the paper chain at Thanksgiving dinner, each link has a written thank you to God.

The woodsy, snowy corner

Country Christmas

Dining room

Royerton Elementary Christmas program--first grade

Elijah is in there somewhere in the middle. The production was an hour and a half long, never a pause, very well choreographed. We enjoyed it but were kept busy entertaining the wiggly little one.

A brief respite--reading a book with Daddy

State of the House:

The doors are in and the trim is going up.

Mike is nearly finished with the heating system, making sure every aspect works right. He is very pleased with the efficiency of the new boiler which takes one third the amount of wood and heats up fast.

The flooring arrived and the very next day was reported to be unsuitable for radiant floor heating. We are grateful for this timely discovery! After several telephone consultations, Mike ordered the new material.

Today we bought most of the light fixtures. 

I will end with one final decor detail.

I enjoy seeing the sleepy Christmas bears every time I go up to bed.

Good night to all and have yourself a merry season of reflection and celebration.

Snow and more...

 It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas...

Sunday a beautiful poinsettia was delivered to make our temporary home begin to feel like Christmas.
I decided to enjoy the season and began decorating our current abode as our moving date is so uncertain.

Mike gave son-Stephan an early Christmas gift so they could continue hunting together. (Muzzle loader season opened this weekend.)

Monday
Another shopping expedition and more decisions--counter tops and sinks for the vanities. Check that off the list. Hope we made the right choices. We also settled on faucets for every possible water outlet.
I have never paid much attention to the style, size or color of these necessary fixtures. Now I am learning to be more observant.

Tuesday granddaughter Kayla  and I were out Christmas shopping when it began to snow heavily. We left right away. No problem. We'd already been at it for over two hours. Both of us drove carefully and made it back safely to our respective homes. That evening I looked out to see how much had accumulated.

Wednesday morning the sun shone brightly through the sparkling trees.

First snowfall on the tree sculpture

Thursday
The LITE (Life Independent Through Exercise) program for seniors, led by exercise science majors, is soon coming to an end so it was time to get at least one photo. This semester we've had the largest group ever and that has been so much fun.

Warm-up

Friday
Little by little I am digging out what Christmas decorations were saved and/or given to us. Here is my mere beginning with a small tree and Santa's train.

It will be a slow and oft interrupted process. Almost daily another decision is required. What style and color handles for the cabinets nearly led to an argument. What about toilets? Too many choices. Order grout color for the various tile floors, and blinds, and light fixtures for each area,...and on and on and on.

However, we made time to enjoy several favorite community events--two theater productions:
--A Christmas Carol, the musical at Taylor University
--Miracle on 34th Street at the high school.
--Sing Noel, a marvelous concert featuring international music and dance held annually at Taylor University.

We were uncharacteristically early which allowed us to listen to lovely, heavenly harp music while we waited to enter the auditorium. And doesn't the harpist look angelic?

How are you preparing your heart and home this Advent season?