is this really happening?

OK, I ordered my Christmas card pictures to pick-up at my sister's in order to get them out prior to the 25th. They were not yet delivered during our 24 hr-rush tour of vomiting through TN. So, my Christmas cards are now going to be New Year cards. Suggestions on whether or not to write a little ditty about why they are late on the envelope?

Now for the house: how fortuitous that we were ill and had to come back home. We've successfully avoided yet another catastrophe. I think Carl must have just said to the concrete guy - go out and look over the job site and do what you think should be done and give me a price. The back steps off the family room were totally missed (like not in the outrageous bid at all) and now we find out that the side steps off the screened porch were missed as well and that the back steps from the back door and the back garage door are about half the size discussed. But with it only being like 10 degrees, there's no concrete work being done.

Brent was over this morning and we should have more pictures in the next couple of days as the remainder of the countertops get installed.
As for the list of things still to complete - the interior trim is close to finished - just set the 4 interior columns, mantles after granite installed, set the old bookcases from the LR into their new position in the new LR, and 4 closets- shelves/rods. They are working on the front stairs today (the only thing "wrong" with the stairs is that the banister is now 2" too short for codes - love the gov't!).
we have dates for the installation of door hardware and for the finish electric - next Monday.
the floors were stained at the end of last week and will need 1 or 2 coats of poly at the very end.
garage doors are done.
luckily it's too cold to pour concrete, but the big stuff is done and all of the exterior columns can be set now. And we don't need exterior columns in order to move in...
finish plumbing is being completed a step at a time as other items, like countertops, are put in.

I'll give him credit - I think Carl is TRYING to get this job wrapped up for our Jan 10 move-in date. Wish us luck!