For the past year, everytime Adeline does an art project (which is nearly everyday), as she finishes, she says, "this is for my art sale." I usually nodded and wondered what in the world her art sale was, but Oh well, as long as it was all cleaned up...
Well, she's been talking about this art sale all summer and finally told me she was ready to do it. I decided that I had better pay more attention and see what I could do to have it be a positive expereince for her. She pulled out a huge box FULL of things she has made for the past year.
I helped her make an invitation to deliver to her "fans" that would love to come and buy her art. She delivered the invites to neighbors and family. I also helped her make a few last minute "marketable" items (ie. bookmarks with pressed wildflowers and cards).
The day of the sale came. I helped Addie locate enough baskets to set her various items in- coloringbooks, books she wrote herself, make-your-own-art-kits, bookmarks, bracelets. We also strung her artwork for a clothesline and displayed several large paintings on make-shift easels. Then that cute little girl labeled each basket with prices and set up a play cash register.
Before the art sale even started she had early birds coming to purchase and browse at her art. The show went for 3 hours and it was packed for the entire time. I frantically tried to buy some of the things I couldn't live without, and called Jeremy at work to make sure he got home before there was nothing left to buy! I had to fight a neighbor for a painting that I didn't realize was for sale, and she was even commissioned to paint a painting for another neighbor for the price of $3. When the evening was over, exhausted, exhuberant Adeline opened her cash register and we counted $95.67! She could not believe it! She jumped right up and announced to those still there that there would be another art sale next year! Explaining that we would like her to pay $9.56 for tithing brought her to tears, but she paid it sweetly. Now she is shopping arduously to find the right item worthy of spending her cash! She would like to buy a motor scooter- Jer and I are trying to convince her otherwise. It seemed to be a marvelous lesson of hard work and using her hard earned money wisely. We will see... Great job Adeline, I am proud of you.
The joke is on me! This project was soooooooooo much more than I expected. (Jer likes to call that an "Amy project"). I told Jer many times that I regret the stress remodeling a kitchen has caused us, and wished I could take it back, but its too late. BUT, now that I am looking at the BEFORE pictures, I would NEVER want to take it back. 
May I just say that this was a "recycling project". Same cabinets, same appliances- new colors, new floor, lights, hardware and countertops. I am so happy the white linoleum floor is gone! I no longer have to feel frustrated about the many, many cute little feet that track in mud and dirt daily, and can happily continue to be the cookie and popcorn mom without having to mop every night!
Hooray! Im done! Now what will I do with myself? I am sure that the 4 other people I live with have plenty of ideas about what I could do with my time~
