Chronicles of Jackie: Whew! Time to Catch Up!

Here it is after Thanksgiving and I haven't blogged in such a long time. Remodeling the house and going to school at the same time has proven to be quite a challenge. It has been very busy at our house and I have just finished my last midterm. Construction and midterms should never be going on at the same time! I have just finished midterms and finals are in about two weeks. I will need the winter vacation to recuperate. I really hope the construction is finished by then, or at least by Christmas. We thought it would be finished at the end of September, then by Halloween, and hoped by Thanksgiving, but no such luck. Counter tops are being installed today. They have been the hold up. They were supposed to be installed on November 18, then on the 20Th, then on 23rd and now on the 30Th here we are. We will be able to get the sinks, dishwashers, and cook top installed tonight after they leave. That is very good news. Tomorrow and Wednesday we will have the cabinet manufacturer come and finish them and finish the final touches on the railings and stairs. The carpenter will be here Thursday to finish the moldings. I love how the moldings have turned out. If you need a good carpenter I have one, his name is Jeremy Beck. He actually used to be employed by Premier Vending but left us a few year ago to start his own company. He is doing really well because he does such great work. December 14, brings the shutters and I believe that is the final touch on the room. I am very excited to see it finished and show my friends and family the final product.

Now onto a more fun topic. On August 29, 2009 we attended Oktoberfest at Snowbird again. We went last year and had such a good time that we have decided to make it an annual event. This year we had J.R. and Shyann so it was even more fun. We ate our delicious dinner, J.R. ate caramel popcorn and Shy ate cookies. I know not very nutritious but I am grandma and they can eat whatever they want. Then the big kids, Scott, Brad, Amy, Jacob, and Josie went down the Alpine Slide while the little kids and I watched. It took them a long time to come down so grandma had to do some entertaining while we waited but all in all it was a very fun day. J.R. loved watching the Yo Yo man who is always at Oktoberfest. It is so nice to spend time with my children and grandchildren. I am glad Brad and Amy reminded us that we needed to go or we may have flaked out.

Whitney has been home twice lately to visit. She came home on October 16 which fell at the same time as Josie's Homecoming Dance. We spent Saturday with Josie taking her to get her hair done and a pedicure so that she had fabulous toes for her fabulous new gold sparkly shoes. She looked so cute. She wore a cream and gold dress with her gold shoes and she looked liked a pretty pretty princess. We had such a good time with her. Whitney and I also were able to go to a movie because that is one of the things Whitney misses while away and busy with school. We went to see Couple's Retreat and I don't know if it was funny or Whitney was funny but she laughed loudly and I then laughed at her laughing. It was so fun. She also came home came home for Thanksgiving. She was a little bored this time because I had to work one day and go to school for class and the last midterm. When she comes for Christmas we are going skiing and I will not have work, construction, or school so it should be more fun for her.

Shauntel came to pick up supplies for gift baskets she was making for Banasky Insurance a couple of weeks ago. She brought Shy and we had a good time having a girls day out with Josie, Shauntel, me, and her. We went shopping and to dinner. We, of course talked Shauntel into staying because she was going to go home on Saturday but luckily for us, we had a snow storm that kept her here so we could have the fun girls day out.