Happy Fathers Day

We (meaning I) recently installed new windows in the bathrooms and first floor.  You can see one below.  I also installed the wood floor in the kitchen.  Gwen is showing off how smooth it is compared to the plywood subfloor by sliding her butt across it. 

Baby turtles hatched in our yard and tried to make the migration over to the wet lands across the street.  Most were hit by cars unfortunately.   This one was hand escorted. 

 Gwen lost three teeth.  The two upper front ones and one on the button.  Makes it hard to eat. 

 Three lovely ladies at the baptism.  I couldn't get all three to look forward at the same time. 

 Jeremiahs (plural) at the baptism. 

 Gwen pondering why Jesus would be nailed to a cross.   Religion is confusing to a 6 year old. 

 Morgan had a "born in 75 day" 1775 that is. They had to dress as if it was 1775 and bring a lunch that would also be appropriate.  She had beef jerky, cheese and I think an apple. 

My barn (glorified shed)

Well there's ur problem!

I used a lolly col in each corner to lift the barn

One of the old posts that used to support the center

Shows the garage door elevated off the ground

 I built four large beams to go under the ceiling joists and the top plate of each wall.  I then lifted the large beams with adjustable lolly columns.  Next step is to fix up the foundation adding some height so the wood is not so close to the ground.  Then I'll add a pressure treated sill.  Once that is done I'll replace the old posts in the center with permanent steel lolly columns. 

Pictures of the house

New tile in the dining room

Funky wallpaper on pantry

Morgan's new Guinea Pig

As the pictures show we're applying finishes to the rooms we're remodeling.  I still have to install doors, the floor in the kitchen, cabinets, and trim.  Long way from done.  Morgan received some money for her birthday and bought a guinea pig from a rescue shelter to keep the other guinea pig company.  So far the two pigs don't get along.  They're in separate cages which we bring closer and closer to each other to get them used to one another.

Gwen's new bed for her American Girl Doll

For Gwen's 6th birthday we went to the American Girl store in Natick MA.  As luck would have it it was also no sales tax weekend.  We walked into this place which is two stories of pink and dolls.  The first display has the doll Gwen wants to buy.  She grabs it and says - Okay let's go home.  So our day at the American girl doll store was a little shorter than planned - I was okay with that.   

Arcade

We hired a nanny for the summer to watch the girls.  Now you might think that sounds expensive but the cost is very comparable to the cost of sending the girls to camp and its far more flexible. 

We used to have a pile of boxes from moving but this weeks craft project took care of that.  The girls made "arcade" games.  The best one being Morgan's skee ball with neat system to return the ball after it goes in the holes. 

Fletcher St Pre-Demolition.

I finally found my firewire cable to hook the camcorder into the computer so I could upload this video.  This was shot the night we bought the place.  Most of what you are about to see no longer exists - heck some of the rooms you are about to see no longer exist. 

Sorry about the metal door comments. 
  

Piano

Better late than never.  We're spending more time now at the "Summer House" on Townsend st.  It has taken some time to get the facilities up to par.  The camera has a firewire port and the only computer that has a firewire port does not have wireless network card and this house doesn't have CAT 5 in the walls.  In the end I've got it working and I have access to that new fangled intra-webs now.

My grandmother decided the girls needed a swing set and oddly enough the girls agreed.  As if I didn't have enough projects on the my plate - but I have to agree the girls would enjoy it.  Gram wanted me to go out and get a cheap set at Kmart.  I didn't know they were still in business, but in any event I think we need a swing set that will hold up to a kid Morgan's size.  I therefor decided to build a custom swing set with a pirate theme.  I'll get some pictures and video as I make progress.  I have the ships mast in place with a couple swings hanging off it. 

The video is of Morgan at her piano recital.  She played two songs and despite not practicing as much as we would have liked she did a good job.