Grandma and Grandpa, I miss you.

We received this little letter this past week from Halli, our little letter writer, She misses us... mostly she misses her cousins, and we don't blame her.


April says she has learn in 1st grade to open MS Word and type a letter. The other day April found her on the computer typing this letter to us, then that afternoon she had mom print it out and proceeded to embellish it.

Next to her mom Halli has been on more planes than anyone I know, I thought it was cute that this is the drawing she did for us. She should know what a plane looks like, landing gear and all.

I thought I'd post the pictures of Logan and Brett's handy work on the basement. We did manage to have it completed for April & Kevin's and Eric & Jill's and all those girls arrival. Our small family room, with plans to put in a window and a french door in the future, I can't wait to have sun shinning through.

Love, Love, Love the sun shinning in this new window. In previous post, this is the window that Logan and Brett were cutting in.

2nd bedroom, soon to become the nursery for Ashlyn.

And the new bathroom.

It was wonderful to have these rooms completed and fresh and new when the family was all here last Thanksgiving. And I know Brett and Britt are enjoying the space and fresh air, no longer having to live among the dust and clutter while the remodeling was going on.

There is still a lot to do, even in the basement. Right now we are considering a pool outside the sliding door. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas the guys tore off the deck and Brett has been pulling dirt from the side of the house, but with the rains, it one step from the kitchen slider into the newly formed mud pool. Logan spent yesterday bricking up the old basement door and windows, next he'll need to tar the exposed part of the basement wall and this coming spring we'll be able to back fill and grade the side yard.

Brittany and I are making preparations for the new baby, she is planning the nursery and I am now ready to begin all the massive sewing projects. Not to mention in between it all a trip to Texas to help April with the girls "Playroom" and a short detour to Tulum.

It never really seems to settle down, we jump from one activity to another, I'm going to have to giveup socializing for a while just to get everything done in the next few months.

The Christmas Season...was busy

December was a busy month for us and it came on the heels of a busy fall.

The month ended with the wedding of Brett and Kymee.

On Christmas Day, mom and dad flew out for our Christmas celebration and for the Wedding. Shellie and Maggie flew in a few days later. Here, Maggie is getting pictures of our local wild turkeys that roam the area.

Christmas Morning, wasn't celebrated sitting around the Christmas tree opening presents, but we dressed and I into my car and Logan into his truck and we headed to Tyler and Chase's home. Logan was towing some wintery Christmas cheer for the boys. On Christmas eve he headed into the hills and loaded his trailer with Snow. His gift to the boys, was snow on the front yard.

LOVING IT!!!

Building a snowman, then karate chopping it down.

It wasn't the freshly fallin' snow, but with a little work and patting, the boys were able to get a snowman made, and lots of snowballs thrown.

Among the December birthdays we have in the family, Only Chase's had us over for cake and ice cream. (Happy Birthday to Eric and Jill, too...sorry you're so far away).

Earlier in the month, I had along conversation with Chase about his "Un" birthday he was going to have, apparently a sentiment of Grandpa Fink ingrained into Chase, the idea being to keep the Chase from getting any older. Therefore the"Un" birthday where we have cake and ice cream and gifts BUT do not 4.

For his Unbirthday Chase said he would like a Buzz Lightyear, and another Buzz Lightyear, remember Toy Story 2 has two Buzz Lighyear's. Unbeknown to either set of grandparents, we each gave him a Buzz Lightyear....Wishes do come true and Grandpa Fink let him turn 4.

Every year when we bring the nativity out, the boys love playing with it. I meant to get pictures, but didn't...after they'd leave for home, I would find the Baby Jesus in the wisemen's tent...it had a light in it and Chase found it more comforting to have a light on for the baby.

Tyler and Chase were highly entertained with the computer game Halli introduced to the family, the boys laughed harder and longer each time the "Block" fell from it's platform.

We wish you all a Happy New Year, may it bring us all peace, prosperity and happiness.