A Day at the Lake

On the Saturday of Fathers' Day weekend, Richie decided that he wanted to do something besides work again.  He's been working so hard for six long days each week, I was glad he realized he needed more than a one day break.  So he and I went to a garage sale while the girls decided where we were going to go for the day.  And they decided that we were going to go to Park Lake.  For once it wasn't raining so that made it a "nice" day, even though it wasn't very warm and was rather windy and overcast.  So we packed up a few things and were on our way! 

Just arrived and set up and now the girls are exploring the beach. 

Watching the minnows.

Richie picnicing!  This was our annual visit to KFC.

More exploring on the dock and watching a huge boat get launched.

Katia and a robin.  I'm excited about this picture because I've finally taken a few minutes to read parts of my camera's instruction manual - I actually zoomed and cropped this picture on my camera!!!

Time to pump up the rubber dingy.  We realized that we'd forgotten the oars again!  We do that a lot!

Everyone takes a turn at pumping.

Katia's working hard - you can tell by her pony tail.

Speaking of pony tails - Jenna's is flying as she jumps out of the dingy.

Mackenzie didn't like the dingy.  She sat there with Jas and didn't more - wouldn't even eat her potato chip!

When Carlee started dragging her down the beach in the dingy she started to freak out.

So the good sister Carlee lifted her out.

She's trying to get away from that thing as fast as she can.

Then she came to a little sandy bank that lead up to the grass and couldn't make it up and stood there crying, still clutching the same potato chip.

Good old daddy to the rescue!  She's double checking to make sure that dingy is far away.

Safe in daddy's arms and now noticing, "Hey, I have a chip!"

And Carlee, looking pretty comfy, sets herself adrift a few inches from shore.  Carlee has a stick for a paddle.

Look out!  Here comes Jordyn carrying a short shovel to use as a paddle.

More girls on board now and they're trying desperately to paddle away from Jas.

But Jas comes running out and catches up to the boat!

All aboard!  In a shallow lake like this, that stick made a good paddle!

Canoe, kayak and dingy - such a busy lake!

Katia comes ashore ladened down with everyone's valuables - must be time for some serious boating!

Looks pretty intense!  Jordyn with the spy glass scouting out the enemy.  (I think the enemy is right behind you Jordyn.  Carlee is just about to push you!)

And down they go, but no one fell in.  They got back up again, and the next time . . .

. . . they all fell over backwards like dominoes.  You don't want to be the person in the back of the boat when that happens!  Poor Jas toppled right in to the lake.  She took a breath and prepared herself to go under, but instead her hinder hit the bottom and she didn't even go under.

Seems to be ball time now. 

And Jenna gets the ball first!

And Carlee gets the ball first! 

Time for some serious sandcastling now.

Everyone was so focused and worked hard to create a masterpiece.

Back on our grassy knoll, some people are enjoying watermelon.

Awww, daddy daughter time.

The construction continues!

Daddy taking a much needed nap.  He was on the blanket that I was snuggled under for most of the day to keep the wind and mosquitos away.  So I went back to the car to keep warm.  Some dark clouds were starting to roll in.  After absorbing some much needed warmth into my bones, I went back to the beach to discover this masterpiece . . .

Wow - that's quite the creation Jas!

And these are the general moat builders.

 The final view, including a flag and a little army guy they found guarding the gate.

And then it started to rain so we packed up at lightning speed and were on our way, and the storm moved in behind us.

I delight in watching my family play together and seeing the love and enjoyment and fun and laughter they have with each other.  I'm so delighted that these are the people I get to spend eternity with because I just love them all so much!  And the only way the day could have been better was if Chelle had been there with us too.

What's Happening at the House?

I think it's time for a house update!!!  It's been going slower as Richie had to go back to work, but things are still happening - which is a good thing because we're moving in a month and a half!  And no, the house won't be ready when we move, but it's summer - we'll be camping in our yard and working working working!

Anyway, remember that shopping trip Richie and I went on?  Well, while we were away, Chelle and Jas did all the insulation in the garage (ceiling too) and house walls.  What great girls!!!  Let the drywall begin . . .

. . . in the garage!  Rich and Kevin were being assisted by Jordan and Scott.  Sorry the pics are fuzzy - I was not the photographer!!!  I won't mention the fuzzy photographer by name, let's just say it starts with a "C" and ends in a "helle".

The reason for the garage being done right away is so we can move all the tools and stuff from the shop into the garage.  And what will go into the shop you wonder?  Why, we will - and all our boxes and furniture that are waiting to go into the house someday.  We'll spread out some carpet, put some couches around, set up the table, plug in the fridge and have a temporary home.  Beds will be in the camper and tent.  Bathroom will be in the house.  Laundry - hopefully in the house but maybe the laundromat for awhile!

Back to the drywallers - they were a pretty efficient crew there.

Rich is so strong . . .

. . . he can carry a sheet of drywall up to the bonus room with one arm!

Drywalling the bonus room. 

I took this picture to show the bonus room, but Rich decided to pose with the power tool that screws the screws in - what would that be called?

On one day between rain storms, Fred and his big machine were able to scrape back topsoil from where our driveway is and pack in more gravel.  This was nice because we had a dip in the driveway that was always a big puddle, and now we don't.

He's working on the shop driveway too.  Sorry about the dandelions neighbours - at least there are no houses west of us.

What have we here?  It looks like the heating guys installing the gas fireplace - yay!  Can't wait to decorate that for Christmas (which is only six months and nine days away!!!).

Chelle is in the garage attic beside the bonus room, putting boards up to hold the insulation in place.

Boring picture, but it is exciting that Rich has been doing some plumbing - it's kinda necessary!

Welcome garage door people!  They're bringing in the pieces - funny, I always thought a garage door was bigger than that!

The big door is installed and the small door was just a temporary door full of dented, dirty and mismatched panels.  I drove Jordyn, my decorating consultant, past it one day and she said, "Mom, why does the door look like that?"  I replied that it was cheaper to get a door that looked like that.  She hesitantly responded that if we were trying to save money maybe we could do it in a spot that wasn't quite as noticeable.  I assured her that it would look better once we painted it all the same colour.  She still wasn't sold on the idea though!!!  Anyway, you and Jordyn will all be happy to know that the real door has now been installed and it looks awesome.  Love the doors!!!

And the shop doors now have their decorative hardware on too.

Rich framing around the fireplace.  It will be stone all the way to the ceiling.  Can't wait to decorate it for Christmas (oh, sorry - did I already mention that?).

Drywall again - this time on the ceiling of the house.  Can't do the walls yet because they still need some plumbing done.  This shows the vaulted ceiling over the great room.

Look at all that taping on the vapor barrier.  Those blue things are recessed lights for those who were wondering - like maybe my sister!!!

There is that wonderful ceiling drywall crew again - Kevin, Jordan, Scott and Rich.  They're smiling for the camera before the big lift of drywall to the ceiling.  Jordan went to school with Chelle, and Scott is just finishing Gr.9 (yes, he's pretty tall!!!)

They are doing the ceiling over the stairs - probably the most awkward spot in the house, but Rich knows how to set things up safely!

I delight in helpers!  Kevin is always willing to help and we appreciate him so much.  Jordan and Scott came to be helpers by random chance, and exactly at the time we needed them.  They've come back a few times to help and Rich has really enjoyed and appreciated them.  And Chelle has been a wonderful help too.

Good help is so delightful!!!