HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

So, I invited 1/2 the block to my house for dinner today... Mom, Dad, Leah and Kent. I decided I might as well, so this is the first "party" at my house. I've been cooking for the last couple hours and it's actually been fun. I love being able to use my stuff and have other people over to enjoy it. Kent was put in charge of ice, Mom was bringing ham sauce and the jello salad- (that I made this morning.. all the ingredients were already here so I just made that up first so it would be getting cold in the fridge.- she asked me how she could bring it if I had already made it.. well- it is pretty tricky that way, but it was just as easy for me to make it and be done with it.)Leah was in charge of dessert. Dad- well, yesterday he helped me bring in the washer & drier from outside and hooked them up for me since it was raining on them outside (base boards too) and helped me move the freezer back into the washroom so you might say he was on the decorating committee! lol!

I'll give you one guess as to who was put in charge of the table... what? no it wasn't me.. I was too busy cooking! Of course it was Leah- doesn't it look just like something she'd do? It looks fantastic!

Hope you all are having the best Thanksgiving ever!

Me? I'm thankful for EVERYTHING!

Surprise!

So, last night Leah came in my room and said Kent was next door working on my house.. he brought Adam & his friend. Apparently Kent said they were looking for something to work on so she told him about the floor boards needing to be installed, the bathroom closet, etc. So, I came over to check it out and they had started the floor boards! Halelujah! It's amazing how it totally changes the look of a room. They didn't finish the front room last night, but Kent came today and finished it. One room down- 5 to go... It's going to be fantastic once we've got the caulking to fill the gaps and have touch up paint done.. here's what they look like now..

it's BEAUTIFUL!!!

Great expectations...

So, last Saturday after spending 6 hours outside while the youth did the Maryvale service project painting houses and doing gravel landscaping- Myrna and I came back to my house to do some work.. when else is there time? So, I sat down and started a list of the majority of the things that still need to be done.. then decided that right now the most important room to work on is the front room. We even decided to do the moulding ourselves.. but first.. I needed to get the washer and drier back in the house. While we were standing in there- and thinking of bringing them in.. Leah & Myrna talked me in to painting it flaws and all- just so it would be done and look OK. Because realistically- when am I going to get to the washroom to fix it up nice? So, plans diverted and Leah started painting the wash room. Myna started painting base boards and I started doing touch-ups on the paint in the front room. I also spray painted one of Kent's old gold light fixtures white.. I'm going to use that in the washroom. It was Leah's idea- and it's free- that's the best part! It happens every time.. we go for one project and end up with 10 others. Oh, well, it was worth it because the washroom looks 100% better than it did before...

Above is a couple of the befores without the washer & dryer. Below is the almost done afters.. We didn't finish painting the edges because frankly the wooden ladder was too rickety.. and Kent's ladder doesn't have wide enough steps so it hurt my feet to stand on.. blah blah blah.. maybe we were just saving it for Lindy... lol!

Please excuse the mess in the washroom right now.. I had to take all of this stuff out of the kitchen so I could make Thanksgiving dinner today.

FINISHED AT LAST!

I AM SO EXCITED THAT THE FLOORS ARE FINALLY INSTALLED, SANDED AND SEALED! It's a miracle! I know you all must be pretty tired of hearing about each step in the process of getting the floors done.. and really, how many pictures of a wood floor is a person expected to look at?? Well, the answer my friends is just a few more! These are my beautiful new wood floors. They turned out fantastic and now I can hardly wait for everything else to be done so I can move in and get things organized around here. These pictures just don't do them justice.. you'll just have to come see them for yourselves.. now on to baseboards, touch up painting, bathroom closet, cabinets being officially installed in the washroom... there's still plenty to be done, but the "major" project is finished at last.

Myrna did the sanding and the sanding sealer on the kitchen, front room and hallway. I sanded after the sanding seal, and added the 1st coat of sealer. We both did the 2nd coat taking turns.

The washroom I did by myself tonight. I had to get the sander back to Home Depot. I only wanted to do the 24 hr rental... but it turned into 72 hr.. so much for buying groceries when I move in..lol! I got home and sanded the floor, then put the sanding sealer on and let it dry for an hour 1/2 before adding the 1st coat of sealer. After cleaning up the sander I had Leah help me lift it into the back of my car so I could get it back to Home Depot before 10:00 when the store closed. It worked out perfect.. I was gone while the 1st coat was drying and came home and added the 2nd coat finishing the project! Wahoo!!! - when was the last time you said Wahoo!!?? (Leah- name that movie!)

Dad helped me move the freezer that Leah got for me from a Sister in the ward.. into the kitchen.. All 3 dollies that are in the back yard have flat tires... so it was a 20 min. wait just to get a working dolly.. it's been an adventurous and exhausting night. I worked later than I wanted because I have a ton of work to do.. (it's the busy time of the month.. every one's scrambling to get their last files in before the cut off.) I left with more work to do tomorrow than I'd like to think about.. but I had work to do here at home first.

So, why is it when there's a little project to do the whole house becomes a mess? good gravy!

It makes me laugh that all the grand kids tend to migrate towards the SMALLEST & LOUDEST room in the entire house... Grandpa's office. They love it in there.. maybe because he gives them candy every time they go in.. and maybe because he lets them watch movies with him.. Here they're watching Free Willy. or maybe becuase there's 500 clocks in there to look at and listen too.. and the radio's going.. it's a mystery, but they love it!

OK- so here we go again.. I just made a new blog header so below is the one that I LOVE that was on there before. It's so simple, but it's totally fun. So, tonight Myrna came over to help with the floors.. I went to Home Depot after work to pick up the sander and sand paper. Myrna's been sanding for me while I've been on the computer. I spent a fantastic time instant messaging with Tammy - the mission companion that I was lucky enough to serve with TWICE! It was great talking/typing with you Tammy! Let's do it more often! While Myrna worked and I was on the computer, the kids were hanging out at Grandma's house. Leah told them it was "movie night at Grandma's" - and well- with popcorn, licorice and Winnie the Pooh - that's a pretty dang good movie night.

Here's Myrna sanding the front room.. this is after she figured out that the first sand paper she used wasn't the roughest stuff.. behind her to the right is the couches piled on each other and the kitchen table and buffet.. they just get to be moved around while we do parts of the floor.

Tomorrow we'll work on adding the sealer. I can't wait to see it all finished. More importantly- I just can't wait until it's finished!

Next time I do a floor.. (in my dreams) I'm going to have the installers who put it in all in one day use the already sealed kind that's done once it's installed. It's going to be amazing!- did I mention that will be happening in my next life?

Ok. so Leah keeps talking about me adding pictures of the progress to my blog on her blog.. I guess I better do it so here goes... Here's the floor with the holes filled in. I can't wait to see it all sanded and sealed. It's going to be GORGEOUS!!!

Dad helped Jordan & Sterling with the floor in the pantry. I don't think he could help himself. They would have done just fine on their own, but it was nice knowing he was helping them out.

Getting to the bottom of the wood pile. We just barely had enough of the "good" stuff to finish off the floors. It was pretty slim pickings by the time we were down to the last bundle.

Here's Sterling cutting a piece for the floor- in the background you can see Kent up on the roof @ Mom & Dad's. Dad finishing the last two rows of wood in the pantry. I filled in the holes in there since the boys had already left. Boy am I glad they were willing to come over and do the rest of the floor! I am too old for ground work- lol!

The pantry floor is done! Now I just need Kent to actually install the cupboards that are currently just sitting in there. Once that's done I'll load them up in no time... really- they'll be full. I've got 3 sets of dishes to fit in there.. Here's the slim pickings left after all was said and done with the wood. It might look alright in the picture, but they're not. Lot's of crooked cuts.. big holes, cracked wood and missing or not cut right tongue & groove parts. See the beautiful bathroom door I painted? It looks like a brand new door now. I love it! Plus Dad cut it down last night so it actually closes again! (it was being stopped by the wood flooring) Here's the closet in the hallway that I taped and the part you can see I spackled... Myrna did the rest.

So, all in all it was a FANTASTIC day with a lot being accomplished yesterday.

When I got home from work today Kent had finished the flooring in the closet so now the floor is completed installed!!! wahooo!! The wall to the left that you see is going to be cut out so I can have access to this closet from the bathroom. Dad and I went and got all of the supplies Monday night. So, I just need to sand and paint this closet and we can get started.

NEW DEDICATION!

OK.. so I haven't been on this blog in FOREVER.. Obviously because this time logging in I found out I have 2 "followers" and I'm excited about them! Tecia you know you're one of my Fav's and Amy - I think we've talked more post mission than we ever did during- I love it!. I'm more excited than ever about the house... I called and had my nephews come over yesterday (I had the day off- unlike some of my co-workers..) to help finish filling in the holes in the wood flooring. I haven't completely given up on my brother helping finish the house.. he's just moved on to a new project of putting a new roof on my parents house. My sister Myrna came over too and thank goodness she did! She put the boys to work. She knew they could put the rest of the floor in because they had done her entry way. (they're 14-16) So, they got to work on the pantry/wash room. James, Jordan, Lance and Sterling did a fantastic job! Jordan and Sterling did the floor in the pantry while James & Lance went and helped Kent on the roof next door. There wasn't enough room for 4 boys to do the floor together once they'd finished filling in holes. They had to leave at 6:00, but they got all but the last 2 rows done.. Dad helped me finish that up after they left. So the flooring is now installed! (minus a couple rows in the hall closet..- but that's an easy fix too.) Now, this weekend I'll be renting a sander and will be sanding the floors and then putting the sealer on it.. I'm not staining them.. just keeping them "natural". While the boys were working on the floor, I was painting the bathroom ceiling above the tub and then I painted the door. It's amazing how different things look with a new coat of paint! The house is almost done- I'll add pictures when I get home tonight. I'll probably start painting the 2 bedroom doors tonight so that is done too. I'll have to see if I can get my dad to help me with installing the office door. The two other doors that were installed had to be cut down so I'll need help with that part. Thank goodness for deadlines! I volunteered a long time ago to have a Christmas party for my "sisters" at my house and I have to have the house done by the 1st week in December for the party. Besides the obvious fact that I've wanted to move in for a LONG time. Plus, starting in January I'll be having a monthly Enrichment activity of scrap booking at my house so it would be nice to be settled in the house before that starts too. So, things are looking good for moving in by the end of the month! I can hardly wait!