We're down to the bones...preparations in warp speed!!

The gifts are bought...and mostly wrapped. Obligatory baking has taken place...by Jim no less...who commandeered the kitchen all day yesterday and was a cookie chef extraordinaire!! Our laundry is done and waiting to be packed for our visit west...and we clapped our hands in glee that we were done...for about 1 hour yesterday afternoon...until the contractor showed up with some great ideas for our family room.

As we celebrate a year in our home, we are so excited to be starting a small renovation project. As these things often do, it has grown in scope just a bit from our original intentions...but still a modest project from most standards. Our contractor convinced us of the value of doing a lot of the demolition when we are away for the holiday week...and while that sounds great...it means I have a room to clear out before we leave on the 26th. And there was the small issue of the computer having to be disconnected...we will have to figure out plan B for that...I can't go three weeks offline!!! :-) The Laundromat may become my new best friend as we will also be without a washer and dryer. I am hoping this temporary inconvenience will be worth the end result. You can be sure I will be taking lots of pictures along the way!!

We had our first weather event yesterday...a small ice storm...that melted by noon. We enjoyed being housebound for a few hours playing Christmas music! We won't talk about the very ungraceful fall I took while snapping these photos!

Lia was super snugly before bed...and allowed me to take a few shots. They are a little blurry, I know...still practicing getting clear shots inside...

I hope you all are having a wonderful Monday!!