It's a week (well almost) after Christmas, when all through the house, the hammers are pounding and the saws are sawing, and electricians and plumbers are working without a single grouse!

The roofers wanted to start on New Year's day, but this homeowner said 'iksney'!

As if this isn't enough, the earth movers and cement trucks are are at it next door, and the interior walls are tumbling down too so that your can look from the kitchen to the living room - straight through.

OK...enough of the home construction version of 'The Night Before Christmas'! Suffice it to say that things seem to be firing on all cylinders here and next door...finally! Was up in the attic/master suite last night giving the flashlight tour (currently no electricity up there) to my uncle and his wife from Chicago and almost stepped through the floor/ceiling of the bathroom....some planks have been removed to 'rough in' the plumbing...they're also working on the HVAC and electrical.

And so it goes...................

"Y".....

....the most popular word in my house right now can be boiled down to a singular letter "Y". My three year old niece is all about the 'Y' right now...and when she is not speaking that particular letter, most everything she says is in question form!!!

When talking about this with my dad's brother, "Uncle Paul" he suggested there is but one answer for that question...."Y" not!!! I have experimented with that response and actually, it is fairly effective - she has no clue what to do with that question!

We had a great Christmas here..."Y" you ask...because the three year old had an amazing Christmas - a doll house, dolly, art cart, chimes....all perfection when you're living in the realm of being three!

All the adults and teenagers had a good Christmas too, "Y" is that - everything fits or is something that I needed/wanted, and a couple of surprises. It's always nice when what you give and get are 'on the money'.

So, all is fairly quiet in the land of "Y" - the inquisitor is sleeping..."Y"....because asking questions is tiring work!

Really....?????

Having been a nurse for almost 30 years I'm familiar that different professions have their own 'lingo'. With the current construction project going on in my attic I'm learning that the construction trades certainly have a 'lingo' all their own....and when people have a conversation with me, they look at me and start talking like I REALLY know what they are really saying, when they are speaking this 'language'. REALLY????

Now, the 'lead guy' of the team just came down and told me they were going to need to get into my closet to run the "chase" down to the basement...it involves a three inch pipe - so I'm assuming it revolves around plumbing....really???? He wondered if 'how much I would need to move out of my closet...are you kidding me....REALLY????? Storage space is down to a bear minimum, what do they really think my closet is empty...REALLY???

I've made it a policy not to venture upstairs on any regular basis....but as Sara says, "dair rewee noisee up dair!" - and that they are! The plumbing is suppose to be done this week, that is the 'rough in'...OK, I think I can figure that out too...but, REALLY?!?!?!?! Then there is something fairly straight forward on deck for next week...the HVAC...now do you know what that is....REALLY!!!!

So, the question is, do I continue to look at people and engage with them like I REALLY know what they are talking about - or just fess up when I am clueless and feel like the proverbial deer in the headlights?!?!?! Really..............

Construction, Destruction, and Christmas...

Yes indeedy, it is true the construction is ongoing...and it occurs simultaneously with destruction. Out with the old, in with the new as that old saying goes. Monday through Friday sitting in my living room it pretty much sounds like a war zone up above - thank God those are sturdy hardwood floors up there!!!

And yes, have I mentioned the giant hole that was once the northeast corner/roof of my house?!?!?! Actually, they have 'framed in' what will be the dormer on the north side of the house, it will run the full length of what will be the bathroom. I didn't fully appreciate the gravity of the situation until I came home from the store one day this week, and oh my gosh - thank goodness no one else was on the street!!!

Last week was spent selecting tile, granite, flooring, sinks, toilets, and ordering my dream tub...in addition to everything else!!! For the record - think subway tile/white, mosaic floor tile/black and white, beautiful 'ice' granite, 1940's style sinks w/a toilet that 'matches, an air jet tub w/heated backs, and hardwood pre-distressed maple floors.....the number of choices is crazy. Also, with the cabinet guy and my designer I helped design a custom piece of furniture that is going to be in the bathroom for storage. I'm told I still have 'lighting' to select - as well as 'knobs'....this really takes on a life of it's own.

Today was spent driving to Lafayette to cut down a Christmas tree - Rob cut it down, and now with the star affixed to the top only a few inches away from my 8" ceiling, it stands proudly in the corner of my living room....with the white lights twinkling!!! Tomorrow will be decorating day....Sara is so completely jazzed about this Christmas, it is something - and so much fun!!!! Tomorrow will also be a day to start baking cookies for Santa - and Santa rocks, especially when you're three...but technically Amy started the Christmas baking tonight!!!

Ahhhhhhh.......tis the season!

Think Pink and Purple!!!

I'm not exactly sure how it happens...every year it happens....that suddenly almost inexplicably it becomes December 1 and the world explodes. Granted, Thanksgiving was late this year and pretty much, right after Thanksgiving it was indeed December 1...but still, it never really seems to matter when Thanksgiving comes.

The first full week is occupied with more important 'things' than Christmas preparations and Christmas hoopla....my brothers triplets (who are truly amazing...and they still are at 16!) have their birthday and then 4 days later my sisters' daughter has her birthday...she's going to be 'free' tomorrow!!! Throw in my brother-in-laws birthday and remembering my Dad on his birthday on the 15th - well, you get the idea. It's a jam packed month before you even start considering Christmas.

So tomorrow, it is going to throw up pick and purple at my house. My niece is quite enamoured with fairies, especially Tinkerbell...it's all Tink all the time around here!!! My sister has done her usual amazing job of planning and pulling things off - she's made pink and purple bunting to hang. made star/flower cookies and glazed them with either pink, purple, or white glaze, then put a little gum drop in the middle...very cute. The cupcakes are to be frosted with cream cheese frosting and she has cut out fondant in the shape of flowers to decorate them with...again in pink or purple.

We just did a head count and there will be 15 adults and 9 children here....we will all be cozy, but as long as my niece has an amazing birthday I don't really care how many people are here!!! My contribution to the party is that I'm making goodie bags with chocolates, peppermint candy canes, and a jingly bell. These bags are going to be distributed to all of Sara's guests by the big guy himself, that's right Santa is coming. Sara wrote him a letter and invited him....and he's coming!!! It should be something...I say she's going to be speechless, and let me say....that is saying something!!!!!

Even though there was snow in the air today and we had some accumulation - it has to be pink and purple before it cane be evergreen green and red!!!