New Year's Eve

Twenty five years ago, Susie and Scott came to visit us in Hawaii for Christmas.  Susie had no idea that Scott had contacted me earlier and told me he wanted to surprise Susie by proposing to her and getting married while they were in Hawaii.  I can pull a wedding together pretty quickly (which came in handy when my girls got married) I arranged for flowers and a cake. We had the wedding in the backyard of my friend Jane Jewell. They lived in a housing area on the base that was on the water leading into Pearl Harbor. It is beachfront, so Susie and Scott got married on the beach. Our bishop, David Horikami officiated the wedding. 

My girls were so surprised to be able to be in on the surprise.  They were very good at keeping a secret from Aunt Susie, because they really wanted her to be surprised and she was. 

Happy 25th Wedding Anniversary Susie and Scott!

Touch-ups and putting switch plates back in place. Master bedroom

Izzy's room

Another view of Izzy's room

Looking from Izzy's room to the hall and living room. 

Bathroom was painted 

The bathroom is the same color as the Aina's bathrooms in their new house. Shared paint is smart. The Ainas had a beach theme in here. The Kissels are going with a rubber duck theme. The blue was perfect for both.

Sarah sent this in a text to Liz and I.  Her caption was " One of these things is not like the other ... and I JUST noticed today!! Do you guys see it? Did you notice before? Now we know why this was a returned item and just sitting in the warehouse. It was a $3500 door ... I would have returned it too! We got it super cheap. We didn't pick it and I've never loved it, but the price was right at the time! It was cheaper than getting a plain door. How did I NOT notice it before?" 

I told her it is unique. A one of a kind original.  That's the story I would go with. 

Monday

Gary gives the most thoughtful gifts. I collect nativities and he always tries to find me a unique addition to my collection.  He ordered this from Maxim Kozak, a carver in the Ukraine. 

Izzy's room is painted

Clay putting the finishing touches on the paint in Izzy's new room. 

Gary helps out too.  He is always looking for a way to help. 

Denise and I went to see Little Women in the theater.  It was really good.  

Busy Weekend

The kitchen is taped

The dining room is taped

Hallway taped

Master bedroom taped

I made gluten free banana bread

Meanwhile over at the Aina's, stairs and deck for the apartment were finished and their tenant moved in. 

Hooks for coats and book bags were installed in the mudroom. 

Pavers for the temporary base until Gary and Tony can put the sidewalk in. 

Adeline and Isla surveying their backyard and staying out of the way. 

The mudroom

Backyard

Abby, Ellie, and Adeline testing out the deck. 

Painting started

Izzy got to get the hard to reach places above the cabinets and behind the refrigerator and stove

Dining room painted

Living room painted

My Izzy

Master bedroom

Master bedroom looking toward the hallway

Izzy's room is taped but not painted

We still need to put in new baseboard that had been damaged when we had a leak. 

Looking from the patio door to the kitchen. 

Clay, Liz, and Izzy hope to move in around January 18. As soon as the painting is done, and the kitchen and dining room floors are replaced, they can start moving in. 

After Christmas

Now that the Aina family is in there new home, it is time to get the apartment ready for the Kissels to move in to the apartment. 

Clay took up the flooring in the kitchen and dining area.  He and Tony are going to fix the area under the door to the patio so it won't leak anymore. 

Izzy is helping out too.

Her first job was to use the Magic Eraser to get marks off of the walls. 

She kept at it. 

Isla, Sarah, and I went shopping. She found this cute Sven reindeer 

At first she was a little afraid of it. She said he might bite her. 

When I assured her that he couldn't bite her, she wanted to kiss him. 

Then she said, "I take him home with me!" Sarah convinced her that he needed to stay with his reindeer friends. 

Next stop was the base.  We went to the food court for lunch. 

We had Panda Express

When we went in the NEX (Navy Exchange) Isla found this cute Santa toy. Since it was on a fabulous clearance sale, she got to take him home.  

Last stop of the day was the commissary.  Helping Sarah get stocked up in her new home.