MERRY CHRISTMAS!  What an exciting year it's been - and what a challenging year lies ahead!  First of all, we got the LBH (Little Blue House) done, and it looks adorable, LOL, and my folks were all moved in mid-November, and the sale on the house we had them in closed Dec 1 - so two major things off my list!!

I told you Bill started a new job, and he's quite enjoying it - however, housing in BC is soooo expensive! We're still hemming and hawing about a move, and he's still keeping his ear open for work that will put him back on a 2 week rotation (2 weeks away, 2 weeks home - no move necessary - fingers crossed, LOL)... but at this time it does look like I'll be moving west in the spring.  This will bring about a few changes - for example, it won't be practical to do many shows... basically, Victoria and Nanaimo will be easy driving distance, anything else (even Abbottsford) would be a stretch... so my designing would get more time, but I'd get to see fewer stitchers, which would make me sad, as I enjoy meeting you all at shows like the Creativ in Toronto!

So that change is up in the air, but another exciting change we're looking forward to is the arrival of our first grandbaby in the early spring as well!  We know it's a girl, and they are thinking of REEM for the first name, still working on a second name, LOL.  We already have our flights booked for May, and can't wait to head for England to see the new arrival - and our DD and her partner as well, LOL.  We have 2 step-grandkids over there, as Katie's partner has two boys with his ex, and we look forward to seeing them again as well.  We skype often, but it's not the same as visiting, and getting to hug and play with them in person!

I keep looking around this house and thinking how many things have to be done before we can move (sigh).  Not just packing - though sorting through 12 years of accumulation and down-sizing as much as possible is a daunting task all by itself... but there are things like a ceramic floor tile in the kitchen that needs to be replaced, and the kitchen island has to be finished before I can grout the backsplash, and the library needs a wee bit of painting finished, stair railings installed, and a bit of ceiling tile underneath the balcony as well.... the floor in Bill's office isn't laid, and about 4 doors and one window need headers (which Bill designed and has to build more of)...

On the plus side... I did get the new floor in the livingroom laid, and it's lovely!  I also think I have enough tile left over to do the floor in our walk-in closet, which will finish that area very nicely....

I spent most of Saturday baking 16 dozen rolls, LOL, most of which I took to the Gatenby Christmas party at Bill's mom's house, in Kingston on Sunday.  What a houseful we had - all the nieces and nephews are having little ones, and it's so much fun to watch them all run around... her little house was just bursting at the seams.  Of course we all missed Suzanne, my SIL who passed away quite unexpectedly this past fall ... but Bill's brother Jim was determined that everything would be the same, and he even cooked the ham - and did a splendid job!

Bill and I are doing some last minute shopping tomorrow, but we really don't need anything... just spoiling each other now, LOL.  Saturday my family will come to our place for a gathering, and Sunday Bill and I are heading down to see our other DD, Adriane, who only has Christmas day off.  We really miss her being around, now that she's not working for us any more, and I know some of you miss seeing her at the shows too.  We're going to stay until Boxing Day, then spend that night in Toronto, as Bill heads back to work on the 27th... which means I'm all alone for New Years this year, <GBG>, just me and Miss Mollee, and a pile of movies - and stitching of course!  My favorite way to spend a night (at least when Bill isn't home).

Anyway, time to run, just wanted to wish all of you the very best for the holidays, and in the 2018... talk to you next year!