I was able to actually get my "stuff" together and choose lighting. Thanks to the internet, I did my research, typed up my list of favorites, and then got pricing info. The other nice thing was being able to go to the showroom and look at these in real-life. Matthew and I chose the Hendrik series from Kichler lighting. 
And this is one of 3 mini-pendants that will hang over the kitchen bar.
We will have Brushed Nickel versions in our Master and Guest baths. 
Animatronic creatures that blink and "play" instruments. Yeah, it kind of creeps me out, too.
This is a picture of my other nephew, Stephen. He turned 9 last October. I still can't believe how big he is getting.
Josh loves playing games. His friend, Jake, and him played this one for awhile. This was a good game for them because it keeps going when you run into walls (which happened a lot). :P
After some coercing, Josh decided to blow out his candles.
Josh received a Nintendo DS and a few games. Here, he is contemplating how much time he will spend playing these games. 
I stayed a litte longer, and Mom and dad gave me my birthday gifts. I got a nice watch and a Fossil belt. Our new tradition for birthdays and Christmas gifts is to go shopping together, and we pick out presents and go ahead and buy them. It's really fun! Then we open our presents and act all surprised... "How did you know?????"
This is the third time it has snowed here in Hendersonville, and it's not even Thanksgiving yet! You must understand that this is very exciting. In Hendersonville, we usually hear "Snow in the higher elevations," or "Snow along the NC/TN border." So for snow to actually fall in our area is cause for excitement.
Here is some "accumulation" on my truck window. 
Can you see the giant flake in the middle of the picture?
Ha ha! That was fun. I'm hoping that we will have snow for Christmas! I'm probalby jinxing it, but a girl can dream.
WARNING: This is a sad note.
With the final framing inspection passed off the list, we started drywall! Here is the guest room's closet, and the view out the window.
Stephen decided to pose for the picture of the kitchen.
Here is the aweful machine I had to assemble. It's a mixer for the stucco applications. I put it together backwards more times than I want to claim. Matthew had to keep helping, but "bada bing" it's together AND works!
Solar panels...
That's about it. We are still sporatic on getting gasoline here. I saw a few stations on my way home, a line waiting while a tanker refilled a station, and I didn't stop at any even though I just dipped below a half tank.
In case, you couldn't see...This is the scene at any station in this area lucky enough to get gas (until it's drained dry in a few short hours), and our police officers have to direct traffic to keep fights from breaking out!
Honestly, I think we would have enough gas if everyone would quit freaking out. But??? Would we? I don't know how much the media is influencing everyone. I'd say we should panic when the school calls and says they can't run buses because of a fuel shortage. (Which HAS NOT HAPPENED!!!.. yet)
Meanwhile... to the people who still have a half tank of gas and are sitting in any line like this one... please don't panic. I wonder if everyone quit "topping" off their tanks, the people who really need gas would be better off. Plan your trips into town. Make trips that are needed, and the plan the route.
On a side note, I am driving a bus after school. Today, I am supposed to drop off a student at a bank across from a gas station. People were lined up and blocking my "normal" path, so I had to go a different way. As I came around to the stoplight, the "new" idots were lined up and blocking the intersection, so I had to sit through 2 green lights before I could turn.
People of WNC... quit freaking out! Be the liberal, environmentaly conscious people (you claim to be) and save gas!
Okay. Apprently, Brisingr was released yesterday. I received a message from B & N telling me that it hasn't been shipped yet, BUT it will ship within the next 1 - 5 business days. 
or is it "turkies"? Whatever... I was so excited to finally capture them digitally. This same little family has been around for a few years. We've been watching these turks grow all summer. They are so cute when they are little turklings. 
Here is the back of the house with all the windows and doors! See the upstairs door... watch that first step... it's a doosie!
I am also very excited at some of the kitchen colors. The color is hard to see, but I really like them. There is the granite countertop I want, the cabinet color (I think we finally decided), and the tile we will use for the floor. We are thinking of using the same tile in the bathrooms, too.
We also have some wormy red oak beams. Matthew has planed some of the rough boards, added some stain, and I think they are beautiful! We will use them for the trim inside the house. And, yes, the wormy effect is natural!
Let me know what you think :) (BTW - that IS Tom Seleck, and Emma is one lucky girl!)
