Field Trip!

Last week was hard.
It felt like we spent every waking minute around the dining room
table deciphering school work. In truth we spent a max of 4
hours around the table each day, but it's just exhausting work.

To start our school week off right,
I decided that today
needed to be a down day. A day to read, play, color
and best of all... a day at the park.

The weather has been in our favor and it was
genuinely great to spend some much needed time outdoors!

Brooke can't seem to go anywhere without a book in hand!

Diana is still trying to master the monkey bars, but this IS the highest she's gotten to date!

The three best kids (and students) a mom could hope for!

Maiden Voyage

Last Sunday we took
the boat out for her official "maiden voyage".

It was a gorgeous day, and we took full advantage of the fine weather.

We'd found a little lagoon the week before that we were eager to explore this time around.

We beached the boat, made lunch and spent hours swimming,
exploring and soaking up the sun!

Big Blue is Sea Worthy!

Remember that boat we bought from Ed's brother?
If not, let me refresh your memory:
That boat we bought

Well... It's done!
Progress has finally prevailed.

If you were expecting some "before" pictures,
forget it. Ed was ripping out the interior before
I even had a chance to get the camera out.

(And then, staying true to form, I just forgot.)

So let's just enjoy looking at the finished product.

____________________________________

WHAT WE DID:

Very lucky for us, the deck of the pontoon
boat is aluminum and needed nothing.
The carpet *could* have been replaced, but it was in decent enough shape.
And truth be told, it was a project much larger than
we were willing to invest our time in this summer.
(Maybe next summer. ...Or the next summer. ...)

Unlike the carpet, the interior needed a major overhaul.
The wooden frames of the old furniture had rotted through
and most of the upholstery had splits and / or
tears in them that made them un-salvageable.

When I ordered the new furniture, I tried to keep it
as close, in color, as possible to the original furniture.
When all 30 boxes arrived I was thrilled to see that
it does actually look quite a bit alike to the furniture we'd ripped out.
(Only newer and shinier!)

(Random shot of the new interior)

The outside of the boat didn't need anything

more than a good pressure washing.
The pontoons cleaned right up, and the siding
just needed some soap,water and elbow grease.

(Random shot of the exterior)

It goes without saying that Ed had to give the boat
just a bit more power.
Our old boat walked on water with a 350 chevrolet engine, so
the dinky 70hp outboard on the pontoon wasn't going to cut
the mustard. Ed found a 90 that seems just right for how we
like to spend our time on the lake.
(But I'd be willing to guess that if Ed could have fit a 210 on
the back without sinking the stern, I think he would have!)

(Random shots of the motor)

Finally, Ed, Anthony and Dominick spent a weekend

building a support system for the cover that *should*
withstand any rain and future sleet or snow headed our
way this winter.

It goes without saying that we're pleased
as punch with our new aquatic ride.