House and Christmas and Visitors. What a month!!!

In December, they first flattened out the garage base of dirt and "type-2" gravel stuff.









Then they put rebar (reinforcement bars) in a grid pattern for strength.
Then they bring out really cool heavy trucks with cement, which the kids LOVE!!

Then they smooth out the cement. And hope it doesn't freeze that night. ...Which it did. Sad face.

Now the framing starts for the garage. This is looking from the backyard toward the street.

This is the back of the house.

Now, THIS is the back of the house. What differences do you see?

Our fantastic work crew (Kim, Polo, and Jaime) are securing the trusses in place. THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

 And now they are adding the trusses that connect the new garage roof to the existing house roof. I love this forklift!!!

Lenna was brave enough to go up in the forklift with grandma!
But she was extremely concerned as we went higher and higher!

The garage has plywood on the top!! (Just in time to get rained on!)

AND NOW, DECEMBER UPDATES:

We got to take Daniel and Lenna to the Christmas parade. Everything is better through a child's eyes.

Thanks, Ashley, for the use of your front yard for the perfect front-row seat  during the parade!
And for the hot chocolate!!

Fall is not complete without a fantastic leaf pic. Nadine is loving it!

Weston and Trent spent a lot of time sitting on this foot  ledge---perfect for kids.
And they love pushing the little car around!

We made a trip down to Cornville to see Papa and Carole. Nani and Weston could have spent the rest of their lives throwing rocks into the creek. Whoever said kids have a short attention span didn't live near a creek.

Trent, Maren, Nadine, Jen, Papa, Weston, and Carole. What a great trip.
They always make us feel so very welcome! Thanks!!!

One of the best things about Papa and Carole's home is the doggie door---easy access to the outside world!!

Kristin and Earl's home is one of the most wonderfully decorated Christmas homes I've ever experienced. Earl sets up this elaborate train set with three trains going around---one with candy just for the taking. A kids dream!!

We had such a great time when Megan, Jenae with Eli, and Carissa...and even Bubbles (Brandon) came out to eat crab at our house. Such wonderful cousins, these "kids!"

And we got to celebrate Nolan turning the big 1 this year!! WooHoo! His face says it all!

Wait...THIS face says it all! There is nothing like demolishing your very first birthday cake!!!

We got four of the five girls in one picture while we had Jen, Maren, and Kelsey home.
Left to Right is Kelsey, Lindsay, Jen, and Maren.
Man, I love my girls!!

We got to enjoy a wonderful dinner at mom and Wayne's home with all her kids and spouses. Here is Gregg and his sibs.
Left to Right: Gregg, Danny, Laurie, and Kristin.  There's never a dull conversation when this crew is together!

I love this picture of Daniel cuddling with Trent as they watch a movie. Very sweet.

Nana is such a sweet great-grandma to these little ones.
Weston was concerned that she didn't have a necklace that evening and thought someone should buy her one! 

Lenna is thrilled with the one-on-one time with her Nana.

Kelsey made her fantastic chocolate log for Christmas Eve dessert. Mmmm-mmm. 

Christmas Eve included music and LOTS of noise with seven little kids running around. Here Lou and Kelsey are playing "Oh Christmas Tree" and the kids are dancing with their "tree" sticks. They loved it!

Ahhh. We did get Whitney in a sister shot! Hi, Whit, Maren, and Kels!!

And here is Rikky doing his "balance your baby on your hand" trick.  Amazingly, it works.
Don't you try this at home.
It is only for professionals.

 And, that's the official update!!!