Twas the week before Christmas...

It has been a crazy couple of weeks, and will continue for at least one more. I'll make this a bullet posting:

• New barn!! Jeff is finally getting to build his barn! It's 40x60 and 16 feet tall. The concrete was poured on Monday, and the workers troweled and scraped it to an almost mirror finish. Today they are putting up the red iron. If I would quit taking pictures and download a few, I could show you. And maybe I will. Later. If there is time.
• Pouring the concrete was the perfect anniversary present to my dear husband. On December 17th, we celebrated 13 years of wedded bliss. We topped the day off with going to the school faculty Christmas party and our annual walk around in Walmart for the last of our shopping.
• The community Christmas dinner that myself and another fire department wife planned and held was a success. About 120 people came for our free Mexican dinner, and a great time was had by all. We plan to do the same next year, but bigger!
• The stomach bug hit each of us last week. First Jeff, then Drew, Chance, Shelby, me, and Ch'ree. Luckily, there was enough time between the girls and myself that we were still able to make it to basketball tryouts on Saturday.
• My new car is awesome!! Still love it (though nothing can take the place of my beautiful blue pickup in my heart! Glad we are taking it for our vacation. I do love that truck).
• Shelby, being the big 5th grade middle schooler that she is, has finals this week. One today, 3 tomorrow, and 3 Friday.
• I have three class parties to attend/make stuff for.
• There is much to do here in preperations for Christmas. I have tons of wrapping left (though got the stuff I had to ship done and shipped off). A bit of baking left to do (working on the Buckeyes as soon as this is posted). And as always, tons of laundry, cleaning, etc. Loading up the camper for our vacation (we leave as soon as school is out on Friday). It's crazy here!!