365 ~ 2014: Day 181

Deck Renovation Project Day 34: We have a wall for the shed space and a half finished lower deck!

365 ~ 2014: Day 180

Hanging at the pool with Grammy today!

365 ~ 2014: Day 179

Two weeks ago I photographed my cousin's wedding.  I'm not even close to a professional wedding photographer, and I don't even play one on TV, but I was happy to be able to catch some great moments for them like this one right after they were pronounced husband and wife!

365 ~ 2014: Day 178

Deck Renovation Project Day 33: Staining the decking for the platforms and lower level and building the frame for the wall to the shed space!

365 ~ 2014: Day 177

Deck Renovation Project Day 32:  More work on the platform and the lower level deck.  Lots of time spent getting the appropriate amount of support beams to handle the load of the staircase.

365 ~ 2014: Day 176

Deck Renovation Project Day 31:  I took off today to take the boys south to hang out with a friend at the beach today!  It was the perfect beach day, we had a blast hanging out and soaking up the sun.  I'm a little bit crispy but totally worth it!  We stayed in town for dinner so we wouldn't have to sit in traffic.  I have never felt so welcome with my overtired children than I did eating at Marvels' Lunchbox.  You walk into the small dinning room and saw all the toys and knew it was a place that welcomed children!  The owner came out to chat with us and gave the kids some treats and took their pictures for his Facebook page!  Anyway...back to the deck...I left Nantasket Beach with blue skies and 90 degree temperatures...arrived home to pouring rain, thunder and lightning.  The best picture I could get was from the upper level.  Looks like they made some major progress today with the lower level!  I'm looking forward to seeing it in the daylight tomorrow morning!

365 ~ 2014: Day 175

Deck Renovation Project Day 30:  Today they began building the platform for the top of the staircase.  It's much bigger than I thought it was going to be.  I'm looking forward to seeing the finished staircase!

365 ~ 2014: Day 174

Deck Renovation Project Day 29:  The layout for the lower level platform deck began today.  Once the layout was measured and marked out, they began digging more holes to support the lower deck.

365 ~ 2014: Day 173

Practice makes perfect!  The boys are loving the new pitching machine.  Now who wants to come over and play!?

365 ~ 2014: Day 172

A beautiful day to be "Down on the Farm" for a group shoot with the SOPHA community!  I really go for the desserts, but it's fun to hang out and continue learning the ins and outs of location lighting.

365 ~ 2014: Day 171

Schools out for summer!  Here are the boys with their teachers on their last day of school!  All 3 of these teachers were amazing.  I loved watching them learn and grow all year long and it's all because of these wonderful ladies pictured below!

365 ~ 2014: Day 170

Deck Renovation Project Day 28: Today they back filled the retaining wall, smoothed out the ground level.  They had enough fill to fix a deep hole in the back yard (bonus!)  The work on the lower level begins on Monday!

365 ~ 2014: Day 169

Deck Renovation Project Day 28:  It's coming together nicely!  The electrician was back this afternoon to install the balcony outlet and light, flood lights for the backyard, and the recessed lighting and fans on the ceiling!  The concrete guys poured the concrete for the cement slab that will be the floor for the shed space and took down the mold used to make the wall.  Also they began the installation of the upper railing system.  The contractor is at a standstill until the concrete guys finish their work so they will be back on Monday to start the stairs to the lower level.

365 ~ 2014: Day 168

Deck Renovation Project Day 27:  More work on the retaining wall, the cement truck came to pour the concrete into the mold.  The railing was also installed today and they began the prep work for the cement slab for the future "shed" space.

365 ~ 2014: Day 167

Deck Renovation Project Day 26:  Friday it was pouring buckets and cold enough to wear sweatshirts.  Today it was blue skies, full sun and HOT!  But no rain means back to work, and so the the mold for the cement wall was built, the beams and balcony were painted and the door frame was installed.  The rail system came in today so that is going to be installed tomorrow.

365 ~ 2014: Day 166

Happy Father's Day to one of the best!

365 ~ 2014: Day 165

Evan's first medal!  Today was the last T-ball game of the season.  He did really well considering he technically missed the age cutoff by one day!  He's super proud of his medal and couldn't wait to hang it up in his room like his big brothers!

365 ~ 2014: Day 164

Deck Renovation Project Day 25: Today's work was halted early due to the rain.  They were able to get some painting done but it was pouring buckets all afternoon.  So today I share the champagne iris we planted last year, that is now in full bloom!

365 ~ 2014: Day 163

Deck Renovation Project Day 25:  Lots going on today!  The excavator started his work to build the retaining wall for the staircase.  The boys loved watching all the big trucks in the yard, especially watching the concrete pour from the cement truck!  The door to our balcony was installed today and we all got the chance to walk out onto the platform for the first time!

365 ~ 2014: Day 162

Deck Renovation Project Day 23 & 24:  They finished wrapping all the beams, installed the decking on the balcony, began painting the ceiling and the door for the balcony arrived this afternoon.  Installation scheduled tomorrow!  I spent this afternoon removing the hostas along the cement block on the side of the hill.  The excavator will begin his work tomorrow.  He'll be cutting into the side of the hill to get it ready for the staircase that will go to the lower level.

365 ~ 2014: Day 161

Shaun is SIX!  Happy Birthday to my sweet, silly, goofball, who continues to light up any room he enters with his bigger than life smile.  

365 ~ 2014: Day 160

Deck Renovation Project Day 22: Installing the clapboards on the balcony, and wrapping the beams.  They also stained the tiger wood for the balcony floor!

365 ~ 2014: Day 159

Picture perfect day on Cape Code!  Family, food, and relaxation at the BEACH!  I was so very happy to smell the ocean today (one thing I miss dearly about our last place!).  Just wish it wasn't such a trek!  

365 ~ 2014: Day 158

Lots of fun in the Sun today that started with an early morning T-ball game for Shaun and Evan. A parade of all the teams at the field and then off to celebrate Connor's birthday at Chuckster's.  The kids had a blast and I need a go-kart rematch!

365 ~ 2014: Day 157

Deck Renovation Project Day 21: Was tedious trim painting work so they could take down the staging, the changes are not as noticeable, especially in a photograph, so no house picture today.  Today I'm posting David, who pitched for the first time!  He definitely needs to practice more, but he enjoyed it and he even struck a player out!

365 ~ 2014: Day 156

Deck Renovation Project Day 20: Added another beam and working on the trim!

365 ~ 2014: Day 155

Deck Renovation Project Day 19: We have a ceiling!

365 ~ 2014: Day 154

Deck Renovation Project Day 19: Lots of little things going on today! The electrical rough-in completed, work on the drainage system for the balcony, work on the ceiling and we have the outline of a future door!

365 ~ 2014: Day 153

Deck Renovation Project Day 18:  The roof is officially finished!  They spent the rest of the day working on waterproofing the balcony with that black rubbery material.  Also the electrician started the rough-in for the recessed lighting, flood lighting and ceiling fans!

365 ~ 2014: Day 152

Happy Birthday to Charlie!  One day after his 35th birthday, he ran the Covered Bridges 1/2 Marathon, and beat his personal best time (1:21:40) by almost 2 minutes!!

We sill have to wait for the official results, but the unofficial result is likely 1:19:49, he has already crossed over the finish line at the time in the picture.  Also we think he came in 9th or 10th!  The boys and I cheered him on at the finish line with our cow bells, but due to them rearranging the set up, they weren't able to get high fives!  There is always next year!!

*edited to confirm that 1:19:49 is the official result!