July 31, 2014

365 ~ 2014: Day 212

Deck Renovation Project Day 52, 53 & 54:  Lots of paint and yesterday's biggest development was coming home late from a day trip to Water Country and seeing the start of the screen installation!  Today it was more finishing work and hopefully the rest of the screens will be installed tomorrow!

July 30, 2014

365 ~ 2014: Day 211

Annual trip to Water Country today!  Wish it was warmer but still lots of fun!

July 29, 2014

365 ~ 2014: Day 210

Evan showing me his freckles...unfortunately they don't show as well in the picture.

July 28, 2014

Staycation 2014

After celebrating the 4th of July, we were officially on STAYCATION!  It was a nice relaxing week and our big day trip this year was to take the boys to Story Land.

Monday July 7th:

On Monday we stayed close to home so that Dad could get the oil changed on his car.  We all drove up to Laconia and hit the Captain's Cove on the way home.  The boys love to play mini-golf and since right before we played there was a fast moving thunder storm that passed through, we had the place pretty much to ourselves!  On our way home we tried out an Italian restaurant that had good reviews on Yelp and we were not let down!  The food was delicious and fresh and I'm looking forward to going back again.


Argh!
Ahoy Matey!


With their prizes after playing!
Tuesday July 8th:

Tuesday we headed into Boston to take the kids to the Children's Museum.  We never think to take the kids there.  Even when we lived right off the Blue line in Revere, we never ventured much to that museum.   The boys had a blast and it was nice because it wasn't too crowded.  We left around noon and headed north to have lunch at the Rainforest Cafe.  We thought the boys would get a kick out of it and that also meant that we could hit up the Cheesecake Factory on our way out and pick up some dessert for later!

David pulling his own weight using the pully's
Shaun's turn!
Evan needed a little help getting up, but then he held on tight for the shot!
Woodworking!
Sitting on the bobcat!
Construction Worker Evan!
The big bubble maker!



Wednesday July 9th:

Wednesday was a stay home and purge the playroom day!  Not exactly fun, but it was necessary!!

Thursday July 10th:

Thursday we got up, I packed some lunches and we headed north to Story Land!  And no trip to Story Land is complete without the traditional pictures with Humpty Dumpty and the weird clown!!  We spent the morning riding on the rides we thought would get more crowded as the day went on and then left the park to have the packed lunches I made.  When we returned to the park I decided to leave my camera behind.  I wanted to go on the Splash Battle and since we no longer have a stroller to push (YAY!!!) were don't have any place to leave things when we all want to ride.  I got all the "token" shots that I needed to get before lunch so it was all good.


Oh No!!
The boys and I after our adventure on the Dr. Geyser's Remarkable Raft Ride!
David, Shaun and Dad ride the Bamboo Chutes!  At the end of the day we convinced Evan 
Evan hanging out while I watch the other boys ride the Polar Coaster, another ride he eventually rode at the end of the day!
Polar Coaster!

Evan and I on the Antique German Carousel!
#ClassicStoryLand

Cooling off!

My boys with Humpty Dumpty!

Friday July 11th:

We started our day taking Evan to his swimming lesson and then headed straight to the Lost River!  The boys had a blast here last year so we made sure to take them back again!



Even Dad has a fun time climbing through all the caves!

Evan was a little nervous but he made it through with a little help from Dad!


I love our Staycations and I'm already looking forward to next year!  Our next big summer trip is our annual trip to Maine!  That is coming up in a week!

365 ~ 2014: Day 209

The skies opened up today, it was like Noah's Arc style rain and so that prevented work on the deck.  Hopefully we dry out so they can pick up with the painting tomorrow.  I was reading upstairs when I realized how quiet it was in the house.  I came down to find the boys building a massive fort.  They asked me to take a picture of their hard work...how could I say NO to that!

July 27, 2014

365 ~ 2014: Day 208

On Friday David taught himself how to dive.  I tried to give him tips, but I was having a hard time showing him.  He watched another kid diving and tried to copy his moves and practiced over and over until he finally got it.  He still needs to work on his form (like keeping his head down and his feet together) but he was really proud of himself and so was I!

July 26, 2014

365 ~ 2014: Day 207

Evan gaining more confidence in the pool.  He swam the entire length without help.  I still wouldn't let him swim alone without a vest yet, but I think he is close!  We'll keep practicing....maybe before summer is over!

July 25, 2014

365 ~ 2014: Day 206

Deck Renovation Project Day 51: The rest of the beams are wrapped, another coat of red paint applied, lots of cream paint started, they prepped the ceiling for the screens and the railings are now 100% installed.  We also got our new patio furniture delivered and finished setting it all up tonight!

July 24, 2014

365 ~ 2014: Day 205

Last nights rain storm soaked all the wood that needed to be painted so no deck update today.  Instead here are the boys with their first friends.  They met at a park on a summer day in July 6 years ago and have been the best of friends ever since!  I'm so glad we can meet up every now and then and it's amazing to see them just pick up where they left off.

July 23, 2014

365 ~ 2014: Day 204

Deck Renovation Project Day 50: More paint and railing work, they also began working on wrapping the lower beams!

July 22, 2014

365 ~ 2014: Day 203

Deck Renovation Project Day 49: More railing work, and PAINT!  The end is near!

July 21, 2014

365 ~ 2014: Day 202

Deck Renovation Project Day 48:  Today they made the door for the shed and began installation of the rest of the railings!  No more crime scene tape!

July 20, 2014

365 ~ 2014: Day 201

Finally getting around to editing our Staycation pictures.  Here are the boys from our day trip to Story Land back on the 10th!

July 18, 2014

365 ~ 2014: Day 199

Deck Renovation Project Day 47: Today they put in the access door for the space under the stairs, and installed soffit all around the overhang to prevent bugs and birds and other nature like stuff from getting inside the shed space.