2010? Already? ?

Well, here we are on the edge of a New Year! Holy Cow I can't believe it! This past year has been VERY eventful, lots of blessing, lots of water under the bridge. We added two baby girls to our family this year, one in April, and one in December. We will be adding yet another new grand baby in 2010, bringing our total up to 8, and hopefully, we are praying, will be blessed with yet another one!
We have been struggling with our small space here at the Stone House, wondering what to do to have MORE family gathering space, without breaking the bank. We have a 9 more years till retirement, and we have plans afterwards that don't include large payments! LOL Yesterday our DIL came up with a plan that my DH even liked! WAHOO!!!!! So this is the year of another remodel to the Stone House! (I'm so excited I can't even begin to get it together!) We added on to this house almost 16 years ago, very modestly. Too modestly. Oh if we would have only known! The cost was soooooo much less then........but that's how it goes sometimes huh. Anyway, to make this way long story short, we are going to leave the kitchen where it is, (cuz I was always wanting to change it...) and open up our bedroom and the dinning room/family room and make it all one big room! Then, we will move our bedroom upstairs and add a bathroom and closet from out of the unfinished attic space! We can afford this without breaking the bank, and my DH can live with it, and so can I. (however.....I am going to paint the kitchen cupboards for sure now!)

This is our fire pit, out in the yard, out the back door, across the driveway, through the grape vines, out under the old apple tree. This is where we sit and laugh, and stuff ourselves with smores, swat mosquito's, and enjoy our family. There is even a log or two still there, just waiting...............

here is a little wood stack, also just waiting..........................

but in the mean time......there are remodel plans to be drawn!
Pot lucks to be had!
Sleds to be ridden!
Boots and mittens to be dried in front of the wood stove!
Hot Chocolate to be consumed!
Marshmallows and chocolate chips to be snuck out of the cupboard when Granna isn't looking!
Upcoming holidays and family events to be enjoyed together!
And just plain old everyday life to be lived as a family, here on this old farm in this old stone house!
So, from our family to yours.....
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
And may it bring you many blessing!
Enjoy your day.