Just in time!

When I say "just in time" I really mean just in the knick of time! We literally finished decorating the tree Christmas eve morning. Bob was running to Wenatchee picking up our furniture and some other odds and ends that morning. We had Bob's two employees (plus Kyle) here all day as well finishing up trim around the windows, putting in two of our new doors and they helped bring the furniture in and assemble it that afternoon! Whew!Tree is leaning a little to the left, oh well!
my pictures didn't turn out very clear but I think you can get the over-all idea of the space

This is our new living area, just missing the big screen! Bob said we are too broke now for him to afford one. We'll see...
New dining room table all ready for dinner. You can't see them very well but I got new dishes (Christmas dishes). I have always wanted Christmas dishes and I decided this was the year!

Finishing last minute dinner preparations, Mia is standing by waiting for any small scraps to come her way!

the girls, aren't they beautiful! Joslin joined us again this year. Katie has a big heart and it made her sad that her family wasn't really doing anything. We scrambled around and got a few gifts for her as well.

Bob carving the delicious prime rib roast. It was sooooo good. I will make a long story short and just say that with all the craziness around here I had forgot to take out the $100 prime rib roast I had bought at Costco the week before from the freezer. We discovered this at 3pm Christmas Eve! Bob said God was shining on me because he ran to Brewster and found a nice prime rib roast at the small grocery store there (even on sale)! So dinner was saved and we didn't have to have hamburgers.

Christmas means family pictures in front of the tree... can hardly wait till we have our missionary back home next year! We got to talk for over two hours Christmas morning. I think he was a little homesick but overall doing really good! He is really enjoying his current companion and area.

a good looking Toolson family...

everyone getting comfy for the evening after dinner

playing games...

pj time!

The End.

SURPRISE!

Katie's friend's managed to pull off the impossible! Keep a secret from Katie and throw her a little surprise party last night. They managed to keep the plans from the ultimate planner. I was excited all week for her, the mess upstairs...that's is a different story!

True Meaning of Christmas

As I rush about shopping, wrapping, stressing, and just "doing" I always appreciate a little reminder...

drum roll please...

After weeks and weeks we finally have countertops! They are beautiful and worth the wait.the pictures don't do them justice but at least you get the idea
it's after ten on Saturday evening and my hubby is still working away...

still a lot more to do, stay tuned...
(for some reason the same picture above loaded twice)

Our Thanksgiving

We had a great week-end. The only bummer was Katie was not with us, she was having Thanksgiving with her dad in Hawaii. Can't feel too sorry for her! We went to Bob's brother's house in New Castle (near Bellevue). We got up and left Thursday morning to head over. Spend the day at his brother's house with his family, Bob's mom and his other brother and his kids. We saw the movie "The Blind Side" that evening and LOVED it. Stayed overnight at Kurt's (thanks!) and spent most of the day Friday shopping and eating some more. David, Tiffany and Sean joined us for lunch Friday at the mall. They back to Pateros Friday night.the kid's made the table decorations
the whole gang

the boys...

Kyle got to meet Sean!

Bob finally held Sean when he was actually awake! He thinks you shouldn't hold them when they are sleeping (you might wake them up). He has a lot to learn :)
He's still cute...and last but not least shopping (these are just a few of the bags)

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody...

3 posts in 1

First up: house remodel. It's coming along, slowly. We now have walls that are painted. The new windows are in and Bob is starting to put in the new cabinets!
do you like our tape knobs :) new ones have been ordered and are on their way!

the new windows from the outside.

Guess who came for a visit? Sean! David, Tiffany and Sean came for a quick visit Wednesday and went home Thursday. Their trip over started out a little rough. Their clutch went out going up Snoqualmie Pass. They had first left around noon Wednesday but by the time they got their car towed, a ride back to their place to get their other car it was around 10:30pm when they got to Pateros.

Katie and I thought it was worth it!

And today woke up to SNOW! First snow of the season. It lightly snowed most of the morning but by the afternoon it had cleared up and all the snow was gone. I'm sure there will be plenty more to come.

the thrill of victory!

The district play-offs started last Tuesday in Entiat. We were the 4th seed. We got to play the #1 seed, who by the way we had not been able to beat in the regular season. This picture was taken after we handed them (Wilson Creek) a major upset! We won. Took 5 games and Katie was the server in game 5 when the score was 14-8 (we had 8). Usually it is the first to 25 but when the match goes to game 5 it is the first to 15. Katie served 8 serves straight to help her team win!!Saturday we weren't as lucky :( We were playing for district championship and lost to Thorp. Then we had to face Wilson Creek again for 2nd place and lost. There were lots of tears, but as they say "there's always next year" ...

Bat Baby!

I wonder if I will slow down posting pictures of Sean? Probably not for a while.I love the pacifer. It is becoming a common item in all his pictures :)

More homecoming pictures

Saturday was the dance. As you can see Katie went in a big group. Her date was a good friend. Since the dance was actually on Halloween it was a costume dance. It could have been a cheap night had I just needed to buy a costume. It was not a cheap night, weekend for that matter! They met at her friend Jamie's for pictures, then went to the Bamboo Shoot for dinner in Chelan. I got reports that the food was excellent.
all the girls, they all looked cute with their their costumes

Katie got her hair done again on Saturday, dressed in her costume for pictures and dinner, then went to the school and took one set of pictures with this group and her date and then changed into her dress and took another set of pictures with the homecoming royalty and then stayed in her dress the rest of the night. Only cost me 82$ for the pictures. Thank goodness her date paid for dinner!

Happy Birthday to Mom!!!

Happy Birthday to the best mom ever! Since this post is to you I can write it to you! I miss you tons but know that you are where you want to be right now. However, I can hardly wait till you can come visit and be part of our lives in person again. You have so many qualities that I admire and your example is always with me. Thanks for being my mom and loving me, no matter what! I love you.

Isn't she lovely?

I try not to use my blog for bragging, but occasionally I just can't help it. You know?? Tonight was homecoming here in Pateros and Katie was the Junior class princess. A lot of work goes into this entire process. A trip to Seattle. Make-over at clinique make-up counter. Get hair done in Chelan. Best friend to help you put your make-up on!Katie and Joslin as they head down the driveway to go to football game.
Waiting for her turn to go out on field during half-time.

Bob was the lucky one who got to drive the convertible and show her off!

Mr. Football trying to get the tiara just right.

Katie and her escort, Paul with Ms. Volleyball and Mr. Football

Gorgeous!

(Shannon got some great pictures, she is going to email them to me and I will probaby post a few more.)

heading off the field...

I know it's not life or death but we were soooo thankful that it didn't rain tonight. Our weather has been rainy, windy, cloudy, sunny. You never know from minute to minute what is going to happen and we could only use this car if there was NO rain on the roads and thank goodness there wasn't! I told Katie the back-up plan would be riding in my car and I would open the sun roof and she could stick her head out. She said "that's would be dumb mom". True.

I should go to bed BUT

I just can't wait to post all my pictures. Just a few tonight because it is late, I've had very little sleep this week, I have to work in the morning and tomorrow is Katie's special day.

one more picture of Sean

warning: be prepared for lots more pictures to come!