Happy be-lated Christmas/New Years to the 3-4 people who actually check this site. Things have been a touch busy since Christmas, so I have fallen behind in my updates. This happens when you pull your house apart 4 days before Christmas… More on that in a bit.
First off: Christmas. It was an awesome holiday once again. Things were a tiny bit different though. Basically, the one big change was Christmas morning. For the past 31 years, I have celebrated Christmas morning at my Grandma/Grandpa Armstrongs, and later on the Shoup’s house. (Same house, but Grandparents live upstairs now). It has always been crazy and awesome all rolled into one. This year however, we started our day with my family at my Parents place. Was it a bit strange? Yes. Did I miss the normal holiday crazyness of all my aunts/uncles/cousins/grandparents together? Of course. Would I have it any other way? No. Although it was a bit of a change, I feel it was a good one. It was very nice to be with just my parents, my sisters and their signifigant others, and Shannon/Abby. It was the start of a NEW tradition. We still spent Christmas Eve, and Christmas night with the extended family. There is no way I’d give that up. We have a very close extended family, and I simply couldn’t imagine not getting together for at least some of the festivities. Thank you EVERYONE for great holidays and wonderful gifts.
Other then the change in Christmas morning venue, everything else pretty much went to plan. Christmas Eve at the Shoups for snacks and finger foods, and Christmas dinners started at Shannons Dads place on the 25th and continued back at the Shoups in the evening. Thanks again for everything!
Next up: Abby growing like crazy. This kid is growing like a weed. Shes now talking up a storm. Starting to sing! and string words together in sentances. Everytime I hear “what’s that noise?” I laugh. She just wants to know what everything is, and what everything does. I also can’t help but laugh at how tightly she has her uncles wound around her baby finger. Grant, Brian and Alex can’t come over without getting suckered into tea parties, or playing dolls. Her aunts don’t seem to be able to say no to her either. I think they inherited that trait from my Mom and Dad. A bunch of pushovers…. the whole lot of ya!
Baby #2 halfway there! Shannon is just past the half way mark. So far, so good. Baby is measuring perfectly, and momma is as well. We had the first ultra sound recently, and got to see the wiggly little bugger flipping around and doing gymnastics in Shannons belly. Nothing better then watching your baby play. Even when they are on the inside 😉
Finally the basement reno’s part 1 is nearly done. The main recreation room/living room/man cave is nearing completion. Still a handfull of small tasks to do such as carpetting the stairs, painting the handrail, etc. But the room is useable. Tv is now setup and being used on a daily basis. Still seems odd to be using the basement after all these years of the room being a grey concrete bunker, but we’re getting use to it. Stage2 for the basement will be finishing the bathroom (already framed in, and roughed in, just needs to be finished) and also the small hallway between the bathroom and main room. Thank you SO much to my Dad and Alex and Grandpa for all their help. There is no way this room would have ever got finished if it wasn’t for you guys. Thanks again!
Picture updates will be coming soon. They have all been sorted and uploaded, I just need to put them on the web page. Check back this weekend.