Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Downstairs Room Continued

Daniel's father came up for a couple of days during our break from school and helped us put the finishing touches on a room that has been in progress for a while. Everything that was planned got finished and now we are ready for something we have been waiting a long time for - carpet!! I can't wait to get carpet - we have been living with subfloor for almost two years now - YAY!

The jobs that had to be accomplished were trim for the downstairs room, trim for the downstairs bathroom, and transition pieces next to all the tile floors. It all looks wonderful!

Measuring trim

Cutting trim

Painting trim

Installing a transition

Putting the bathroom trim up

The finished downstairs bathroom!

Putting up trim

Getting the corner transition just right in the foyer area

Last month we had our chimney fitted with a stainless steel liner (there was no liner and from what I understand, that can be pretty dangerous . . .) and the contracter had to open up an existing hole in the chimney. He put concrete over the hole to seal it and I painted it the color of brick.

Pappy and Trafton

Visit from Lish

Just about every year at this time, our old friend Lish comes to town to visit from her current home in Washington state. As always, it's wonderful to get together with her. We met up at Rich's farm and took a walk through all the Christmas trees. We pushed Trafton in a wheelbarrow - which he seemed to enjoy, until he got too cold.

Daniel, Rich, Lish, Trafton - ready for our walk

At one point Trafton insisted on pushing the wheelbarrow himself.

It was a bit heavy, so Daddy had to help.

Inside Rich's place, you can see his massive tree with a lone ornament. We played with Jenga blocks to occupy Trafton, but they were pretty fun to play with ourselves.

Lish's extravagent tower topped with Trafton's cup.

Christmas in Maryland

We made it down to Maryland in the early evening the Tuesday following Christmas. I was feeling like 95% better, so we were definitely good to go for traveling. We stayed with my brother, Jason, and my parents and Aunt Lo and Uncle Jim came over to celebrate. Jason made an incredible dinner complete with dessert and then an equally delicious breakfast the next day. He was a terrific host :)

Jason grilling up some steaks and pork tenderloin

Trafton was very happy to sit in a 'big' chair to eat.

Opening presents with Grandmom and Aunt Lo

Hanging with Grandpop

Trafton quickly developed a fascination for Uncle Jim, playing peek-a-boo around the couch, waving to him from across the room, and handing him his new cell phone toy every couple of minutes.

Opening a new construction site toy with Daddy

By this point in the season, Trafton had become very good at opening presents.

Uncle Jason

Uncle Jason's very nice bachelor pad tree

Jason spoiled Trafton with a new 4-wheeler. Trafton just loves riding this around our house.

In the morning we dropped Trafton off with my parents so we could head to our favorite Starbucks in peace. Grandpop got to show Trafton the train that has run around our family's Christmas tree since Jason and I were kids. Trafton was pretty fascinated by the train and liked pressing the whistle.

Christmas Day!

This Christmas we had plans to spend the morning at home and then travel to Maryland for a few days and see all the members of my extended family. I was really looking forward to seeing everyone . . . but, in the wee hours of the morning, I caught the stomach flu that Trafton had and that Daniel had before him. To say that it was pretty rough would be an understatement. I think I spent a total of four hours awake all day. I made it through a few presents getting opened, but then we had to postpone the rest until the next day. By far not our best Christmas, but luckily Trafton is still too young to be bothered by spending the day alone on Christmas. I recovered some the next day and we made it to Maryland, although too late for all the parties, on Tuesday.

Although Trafton seemed unsure of himself while opening presents, he quickly got the hang of it!

Christmas Eve

This year I cooked my first holiday meal ever. It was a success! We had the Beyer family over for Christmas Eve afternoon and evening. In all the years' passed, we have traveled to both New Jersey and to Maryland to see each of our families. Because traveling is much more of an undertaking now that there is more than just the two of us to take along, we have decided that we are only going to travel to one state each holiday season. It was wonderful to have everyone over to our house even though the Jets lost their game.

At the dinner table

I made a roast in my rotisserie oven for the first time and it turned out really good. I have only ever used it for whole chickens before. Al carved it for us.

Trafton was, unfortunately, not feeling well on this day and spent more time sleeping than actually being awake. He had a 24 hour stomach flu that Daniel had two days earlier.

Jonathan and Melissa - their first married Christmas!

Courtney and Michael - their last single Christmas!

Time for dessert

Al and Melissa

Sanchez fans - Trafton is wearing his new Christmas slippers from Melissa and Jonathan. He didn't like them at first, but now he can't be without them!