Oh My Goodness....

Oh my goodness....decorating for the holidays on top of finishing the rehab work has taken on a life of it's own as I try to get it all done in time for Santa!

As you can see, the outside lights adorn our castle and the inside tree(s) and decorations are going up at a fast pace amidst the plaster dust and plastic furniture wrappings.

We will be done, we will be done, we will be done by Christmas...is my manta. The old cabinets will have to be painted after the holiday season comes to a close because frankly, my painting hand is cramped and tired and itching to hold a drink in it so I can propose a toast to all of you.

The great celebrations of our 2010 year began with a trip to Kauai with wonderful friends, then onto our daughter's wedding in early March.

The storm front(s) hit in June with 3 tornados, lightening strikes, no electricity for 8 days, and finally the flooded basement and business offices.

We lost two friends this year, one was an old neighbor, she was "Mom" to many of us kids growing up, the other was a school friend's husband from the same era and neighborhood.

Lastly, we are ending our year and beginning another one on a high note - we just finished vacationing in Florida with the same friends we went to Kauai with in January and yes, we are still friends and had even more fun than the first trip.

Our final celebratory news of 2011 is that my husband and I are going to be grandparents for the first time with TWINS. Our daughter-in-law is due in the spring and is glowing! We can hardly wait! There is something "wonder"full about watching the circle of life move forward...

So as I put the finishing touches on the newly plastered basement walls as well as hang the ornaments - I am thinking of all of you and hoping that you get done what you think needs to be done and let the rest go so that you too, can catch a breath, make a toast and hug the ones you love.

The ornaments that decorate our lives are the people we hold near and dear to us...not the gifts, not the decorations, not the food - although a good homebaked cookie is hard to refute, and certainly not the stress that we put upon ourselves to get it all done by a certain date.

Wishing you all a blessed, healthy, happy getting it done kind of day!

Laura Anne and Bella Boo