It also gave me the opportunity to work on Grandpa Clement's Christmas presents. I finished making a memory book on snapfish.com and got it ordered. I didn't think there'd be any way it would arrive in time for Christmas but it got here Christmas eve! And then I worked on a family birthday calendar for him as well.
Lindsey and I also made a trip to Michaels where I bought some canvases and used some of my scrapbook paper and mod podged the scrapbook paper onto them to make some wall art for our house staging. I also got my primary class's Christmas presents finished.
We made time to visit the Idaho Botanical Garden which is on the grounds of an old prison. They have a yearly event: Winter Garden aGlow. What a beautiful display of lights!
Darvin had removed the kitchen sink for me before we left and I was able to get the small counters spray painted with the Krylon 'Make it Stone'.
Once we returned I painted the long counter and started putting a clear finish on top.
After the counters were sprayed Darvin installed the new cast iron sink and new faucet. When I returned from my visiting teaching temple trip on Thursday the 20th as I walked in the door he said I was going to kill him because he'd dinged up the sink. I thought he was talking about the actual cast iron sink, but fortunately it was just the edge of the new spray painted counter that got dinged up as he was trying to place the sink in the hole. That doggone sink weighs more than 75 pounds! That will be part of my patch job once the kids have left too!
Anyway, he got the sink and faucet installed but when he tried to reconnect the water lines and drain on Friday night he had problems because the new sink drains were set back closer to the wall. I was a wreck worrying about trying to have meal prep including Christmas dinner without a kitchen sink. I texted my usual handyman, Barney Zauss, who never responded. So Saturday morning I called Alan Afualo, but he was in Seattle bringing his mom home from the hospital. In a panic I called Arnold McBean who has rental property, and asked if he could come help, but he was busy getting ready to go to Hawaii. He suggested that I call his handyman Gregory Ramirez who I've used in the past, but nowadays he's usual too busy! Arnold indicated that Gregory was doing some work for him that day but it wasn't anything that he couldn't stop and then restart again. So I called Gregory and told him that Arnold had told me to call him. He came with his son early in the afternoon and he was just finishing up and leaving when Lindsey, Thomas and Brooklyn arrived around 2:30 in the afternoon. Whew, barely dodged the bullet! I wasn't expecting them until early evening as they'd planned on stopping at Thomas's Grandma Golladay's house on the way. Brooklyn and Lindsey were sleeping at the time so he just kept on driving. Instead they stopped at Grandma and Grandpa Giles', but Grandma was just leaving for work and I think Grandpa was sleeping.
It has been so fun to have Lindsey, Thomas and Brooklyn here. Christmas just isn't the same if there are no little people around! We have enjoyed each other's company. Lindsey and Brooklyn made some sugar cookies which got me in the mood to do some Christmas baking as well.
I made gingerbread cookies, thumb print cookies and Aunt Eva's banana cake. We made up some goody plates and went caroling on Christmas eve to our neighbors Joe and Ann Hall (none of our other neighbors were home), the Middletons and Jessica Melton Hunter. Jessica's reaction to us coming was priceless, she was speechless and didn't know what to do or say. She gave each one of us a hug and acknowledged that we were her first ever carolers. Jessica even posted a facebook message later saying: "Oh my gosh overwhelmed with the love of caroling and a plate of goodies. The love brought tears to my eyes, thank you Lindsey and family for sharing your warmth and kindness. In my response Lindsey had me post a quote from Buddy the Elf from the movie Elf "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear!" Boy is he right on there! As much as my kids grumbled and complained over the years, I believe we all enjoyed spreading a little Christmas cheer with our goodies and carols!
Monday night we also stopped at the amazing house off Ahtanum and 62nd Avenue (I think it is) to show Brooklyn their wonderful Christmas light display.
The whole property is lit up and they have Christmas carols playing. Brooklyn WAS an appreciative audience!
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