Day 243 - Christmas eve

Day 243 and 244 were Christmas Eve and Christmas. The new house was full of people thru the days making the sounds of laughter ring thru the air. It was such a nice way to spend our holiday season.

Vance giving snuggles

Kaylin and Aaron arrive, wow great color coordinated paper sweetie

Gran keeps the younger ones busy

while Sheldon installs a coat bar for guests

while others play cards

and yet others feed babies and enjoy a celebration beverage

Asher helping Kaylin play cards

girls making traditional apricot salad and wheat salad recipes

 all the grandkids trying to get ready for photo

 but Mya had other ideas

 but for a candy she was back even with a smile! :-)

 AWW cute kids I must say!!

 Asher saying his good byes

 my two little ones (twins 2 years apart but weigh the same LOL)

 Travis sharpening knives for me

the ladies making food

 Great Grandma Walker's apricot salad with dried fruit art by Shaina

 Kaylin, Aaron and Britt ran to town for their gingerbread

 Mya wanted to share with Coco

 and the cookies begam

 some played cards

 and most made cookies

 they were a real hit, here are the big girls and boys cookies

 and Shaina's

 and Vance and Mya's, note the chocolate they contain LOL

 Vance writing his note to Santa

at about midnight the leg wrestling started... winner of most challenges lies to the right ! :-)

Day 242 - day off for all

Day 242 was a flex and golden Friday for work and school so we all slept in till 10 am! Shaina headed into work 2-6 at the gym after cleaning her room!!! YEAH

Britt, Sheldon and I headed to town to do errands ,buy more gifts, and grab more groceries! Back home I made chili while Britt gave Coco a bath.

J

by now it was 6 and we remembered Matt, our electrician and neighbor,'s Xmas party so we ran over their for an hour, back home by 7:15 we played games with the girls until dale's family arrived after having supper at AJ's. We all played  games fun till one! Very fun night full of laughs!

Day 241 - glass shower door and RO go in

Day 241 - Britt was up early anticipating her big social dance at school, we ran her early into Kaylins for her makeup appointment. I ran to grab tims for work but when I stopped back to pickup Britt, she was not feeling well, poor girl even fainted and threw up outside Kaylin's apartment but she was determined she felt better and must get to school. Dedicated dancer she is, she was dissapointed she only placed 2nd in the 2 step and was dropped twice during the highly anticipated flips during the jive. But she seemed to feel better and have fun.

 Morning found me scrambling at work to finish up by noon when Coreena, Sharon and I came back to the ranch to celebrate our annual girls Christmas. Snacks, drinks and lovely presents were enjoyed during the well needed social time. The glass guys arrived at just after 1 and installed the glass shower doors.

 shower guys hard at work

coco's after nap hair

Sheldon was done early too and he spent the afternoon taking garbage to the dump and helping Darren get his filters changed on his RO (reverse osmosis water system)

By 4 the girls headed home, Sheldon picked up Britt at gate off the bus. The glass guys finished up at just after 4 too. We just picked at snacks for supper while trying to do more preparations for Christmas and house projects. Shaina of course was working till 9:30. The main project was the installation of the RO system. Rick even ran a part needed out in 20 minutes :-) Now we have our good drinking water up and running for Christmas.

 shower door all done

 Reverse osmosis water system going in

 Shaina getting a good seat for Bieber's Christmas songs :-)

Day 240 - not even Christmas ready

Day 240 was another chinook day (started yesterday). Britt woke up feeling even worse so stayed home for the day to try and get better. Shaina came in with me. On the way we called Mom to wish her Happy Birthday!

Lunch found Sharon and I running errands trying to find some special ornaments for the tree for the pets we lost this year as well as more gifts on our lists. Work inundated me with many lovely gifts, I really do have a great job. I made a quick trip to the rental house to have new pantry door installed and saw the gas had jumped back up to $1.059 today from .999 yesterday :-(

 After school I picked up Shaina, stopped to grab the turkey finally and few other things we will need and headed to the ranch. Quickly cooked up tacos so Shaina could eat and head off to work till 9:30. Sheldon and I got to work on outstanding projects like installing the island lights. So far I have not found the blue glass shades I want but I am looking, anyone see any?

and a clean island to boot, other than beverage :-)

Day 238 & 239 - thanks to friends & family

Day 238 and 239 were days we got thru thanks to the kind words and gestures of of friends and family. Emails, texts, facebook posts, phone calls, cards, hugs, chocolates and even a jumbo red velvet cupcake helped us get thru the days of missing our little piece of sunshine.

Monday was a very hard day for everyone to try and resume work and school but we all managed. Again thanks to friends at each. After school Monday Britt worked only 1 1/2 hours. Shaina worked till 9:30 but found it really hard, she had to leave a few classes during the day. The girls drove in a bit early and took Coco to Kaylin's for the day as she was off and they all had dinner together with Kaylin making them yummy grilled cheese. Rod the shower guy came after work to seal the shower finishing it all up but the glass door which is to be installed later this week. Sheldon worked in the garage getting his truck in and changing filters and I tried to unpack and sort a bit more.

 Coco is definitely getting allot of attention, even now being placed on the bar stool next to her people

first time his truck was in the garage.. all clean and detailed, tomorrow a new windshield.

Tuesday I ran Britt to school even though she was starting to feel achy and a bit off but since it was pajama day and off to dentist at noon she gave it a try. Shaina had double spare so she took Coco in with her and Shannon babysat her during her spare when Shaina had class, she even got to go to the school in a large purse. At 12:15 I picked up Shaina, we loaded up on Tims, grabbed Britt and it was off to Hanna to get Britt's long awaited appliances. Shaina had her retainers checked and I rounded out the appointments with another ozone shot. Quickly grabbing a snack we left at 4:40 making it to Strathmore at 6:30. Shaina was dropped off to go for supper with a friend while Britt, Coco and I carried on home. Sheldon was visiting with Rick our plumber who was here to finish up a few things, finally! :-) He also had brought home the truck with new windshield. I wrapped a few presents and did a few other things but found a bath and relaxing was needed more.

 Sheldon built this grate for the fireplace, well done!

Poor B had the teeth hurting and the cold kicking in even worse by the time we got home so she was ready for medicine and bed. Shaina snuggled up with Sheldon and I again and we watched Santa Claus 2!