Getting Ready for Christmas

 Some decent progress happened on the house while I was in CO, and there has been more upon my return. but we still have a bit to go. The contractor finished up the last of the trim on Saturday and has to come back only for the wood stove and an awning out on the deck. JD has bathroom lighting and kitchen tile, lighting, and cabinet doors to put back on. 

Alei and I wrapped up wall painting last weekend but have some touch up work to do and a coffee buffet to paint. 

In the meantime, we put up the Christmas tree, because it's coming fast this year!

The purple wall is finally grey - 

After painting all day Friday and Saturday, Sunday morning came and the tables were covered, the floor was filthy and there was no lunch for all the visiting adult kids after church, so I stayed home and watched the service online while making chili and cleaning up. I enjoyed the quiet!

I gave the Pyrenees their Christmas dog beds early; the old ones moved to the garage where they sleep on them when they are too dirty to come in, which is frequently the last several days of rain.

Now I'm shopping online in between coats of paint! I'm hoping there is very little left after Christmas!

Saying Goodbye

Early Gift

 I wrapped and left the boys' Christmas gifts, but wanted to give them this one early. Nathan was kind to demonstrate to Samuel how to unwrap a gift. Samuel enjoyed backing up and sitting on the box. 

Last Colorado Run

 I honestly wish we had counted how many trips our family has made to CO in the almost three years that Gabriel and Alayna have been stationed here; Frontier Airlines cheap, direct flights have made it so easy to be able to visit. JD has been out twice in the last month, so he held down the fort at home and let me make one last trip. I say it's probably the last, because Gabriel leaves for his next schooling/training in Feb. and Alayna is going to come to VA for Nathan's birthday the same month. Then they move to WA State a few months later. I'm bummed that WA is even further away, but it's an area of the country we haven't visited so that  opportunity is a bonus. 

Gabriel turned 28 on Dec. 6th; I know people always say they don't know how their kids got so old, but it's so true. Here I am with Gabriel and his sons outside his chosen birthday lunch eatery -

Inside, in case you were dying to see the inside of the establishment. 

One day we hit up Santa at the mall; Samuel was less than impressed with the man in the red suit. Santa made a valiant effort at winning him over, but not this year. 

Nathan was in charge of candles on his Daddy's cake - a 2 for 20 and eight  randomly placed individual ones. 

Alayna snapped this picture as Nathan and I read the Christmas story. 

This is Gabriel and Alayna's house decorated for Christmas. 

They also have a house in their neighborhood that decks out the backyard with a Christmas wonderland and leaves both sides open for people to walk through. They have been doing it for over 20 years so it was cool to see. 

Got this darling picture of Selah and Bella with their friends at the Bethlehem Walk while I was away. Bella had been asking to go this year, so I'm so happy for them. 

My last serious task of today is Nathan and I need to make cookies. I head home tomorrow.

Jenny