Happy Holidays for 2012! This has been an eventful life changing year for us, in many ways. No, we didn't retire. In fact we probably just ensured we signed up for another ten years! Good thing we thoroughly enjoy what we do! After 33 years in one house, with no intent to move, we moved! Through a momentary fluke of online boredom, I saw a gorgeous house that, through sad reasons for its owners, was for sale at a ridiculously low price. Being a short sale, we never expected to get it ... but with fingers (toes and legs, eyes and arms) crossed we put in a bid way below the asking price. We weren't really committed to moving; heck, we knew where the elevator was going for our old age in the other house! Instead of waiting 3-9 months for a response from the bank, as expected, 9 days later, on Mark's 63rd birthday, the bank approved the offer. We closed 4 weeks later on my birthday - March 14. We went from 0.3 acres to almost 2 acres, necessitating a couple of teenage gardeners and a ride-able mower to help out. Mark loves it! (Mark's toy chest is getting bigger) We almost doubled the square footage of our old house too. So much for down-sizing as we AGE. Mainly, the larger square footage has to do with bigger rooms and the fantastic shop. The place is perfect for us, the dogs and grandkids! Room to explore inside and out. And as a bonus, we were fortunate to sell our house within a few days and never had to put it on the market. CLICK ON A PICTURE FOR A LARGER ZOOMED VIEW Lots of pictures and more information about the family below and on older posts for 2012, all posted this month. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, BE SURE TO CLICK EITHER "OLDER POSTS" AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH PAGE AFTER YOU ARE DONE READING A PAGE -- OR CLICK ON THE ARCHIVED 2012 POSTS ON THE RIGHT!