Pool Days

Summeretime! 

Time for swimming, popsicles, visits from cousins, poolside picnic with friends, swimming with our pups, and just hanging out at home!

Sometimes I'm not sure who loves the pool more, the dogs or the boys!

A New Backyard

Last summer we began renovations on our backyard, building a pool and a pool house.  Construction began in June '16 and was completed about 9 months later.

A look at our backyard before we began construction.  We had a lovely backyard with lots of room for any kind of sport.

In anticipation of the start of the project Eric spray painted a ball diamond on our lawn where the pool construction was soon to start.

That was a huge hit with the boys!

Ben was a good sport and walked around the yard with me for some final "before" pictures.

We used this wall a lot for family photos through the years....

and this staircase too.  

My favorite sign of the summer!

Construction begins! The boys had a birds eye view of all of the activity.

The chimney in the back of the house was brought down to make way for a new double glass door providing a more convenient way to access the backyard.

The boys each had a turn in helping to dig the pool. 

The pool is taking shape!

Ben is a good sport posing through out the pool house construction zone.

Pool water!

A very happy sight!

The pool was completed in early November, but not yet heated.  It took us until late December for the new gas meter to be installed so we could heat the pool.

It was well worth the wait!  The kids got out of school for winter break and came home to a warm pool ready for an inaugural swim.  

It was so worth the wait!

We played Christmas carols on the radio and dove in!

Chistmas day swim with their pool noodles from Santa.

Thankfully we had a mild winter.  We closed the pool for a short time at the end of December and reopened it the first weekend in April.  This might have been the only measurable snow fall of the season.

We opened the pool again the first week in April. 

It's been quite a summer.  Daily impromptu pool parties, BBQ's every weekend, popsicles after every meal, sun kissed cheeks, and worn out boys from swimming 10 hours a day.  Pure joy.

Ruby and Louise are big fans of the pool as well!

If you are looking for us this summer, we will most likely be home, swimming in our pool!

Little League Baseball

It's baseball season!  Nick and Sam were on the same Little League team this season, the Indians.  They had a fun, successful season.  Nick became quite the pitcher, catcher, fielder and hitter improving all around!  Sam pitched quite a bit more this season and really improved greatly.  He enjoyed catching and played 1st base quite well, too.  

A triple for Nick, followed up by a triple from Sam!

Ben gets the award for the best brother.  He came to every game and didn't complain, if the concession stand was open!  Luckily our local park has an awesome playground right next to the ball diamonds.  

Sam catches for Nick.  

So much fun for me to watch!

The boys with their buddy.  Nick with the game ball!  

The Indian's season ended late on a Monday night with a loss in the second round of the playoffs.  The sprinklers on the field had even turned on during the final inning, we all got a laugh out of that!

They really had a great team and all had fun playing together!

In addition to the Indians, the boys were both on Sunday Showcase teams.  They played double hitters most Sundays.  We had a lot of baseball this spring and early summer!