End of Summer Fun

Monday, we were back to our regular life at home.  The builders returned, finished the roof, and got busy putting up the attic floor and knee walls.

Monday night, the older girls and I headed off to our final 4H meeting before the fair.  They were both very excited to receive pins!

Tuesday was rainy for much of the day, but it cleared away by late afternoon, just in time for us to head to our friend Jacci's house for some more yard work and to plant Paw Paw trees in honor of our friend (her husband) Nick.  We did some work clearing weeds and other things from the garden space.

Then we dug and prepared the holes to plant the little Paw Paw tree seedlings we had picked up from a nursery near Owosso on our way back from our Thomas weekend.  These little trees are actually native to the area, though somewhat rare to find now.  Something Nick had searched for and hoped to plant, we were glad to find some and get them in the fruit tree garden for Jacci.

Wednesday morning greeted us with more rain, so the builders did not come, but it passed pretty quickly and by the time the Reader Feeder Bus pulled in across the street for the final visit of the summer.  After the kids chose their books and got their snacks, they enjoyed playing on the playground for quite a while!

 Thursday's building progress had the upstairs walls and windows framed in.

 They also installed the lower windows on the south wall and put up a layer of wrap as well as began to hang soffit.

 Friday, the builders finished installing soffit around the full barn and trimmed out the overhang.

 After the builders had left for the day, the siding arrived on a truck, so we all enjoyed watching the little loader unload from the truck.

 Daddy got to have a little fun while that was going on as the builders' Sky Trak was in the way, so he took it for a ride!

No sooner had the siding been unloaded than a truck arrived to haul the Sky Trak away.  We had a few troubles with the builders driving it all over and tearing up the neighbors' yard in addition to ours, un-necessarily.  They also damaged our big tree and hit the clothesline pole, dislodging it enough that it now needs to be re-set in the ground. So, after our very gracious and patient neighbor complained directly to the builders following many requests and reminders on our behalf over the past 4 weeks, it was decided the vehicle needed to leave our yard.

Lately, Elam has been really into bubbles, having just learned to say the word.  He especially loves to get his little chair or step and get right up next to the sink to dig in any time dishes are being done.

 Saturday, we had a semi-quiet day.  Daddy got a lot of work done outside on the play barn.  He installed seats on the inside walls, attached new hinges for the door and installed handles as well as hung the climbing rope inside.  In the afternoon, the kids and I were off to a baby shower for my cousin Liz.  That night, we enjoyed a bonfire outside together and the kids got to roast marshmallows and enjoy a S'more with their neighbor friend Jamesen before retiring to bed to leave the fire for Daddy and I to enjoy quietly together. 

Sunday, after church, we took a little road trip with Jay & Becci in search of a lake to swim in as it was hot and humid.  We started out at Little John Lake in Allegan, but after the very small beach area became crowded by a large and boisterous group, we opted to hit the road again and ended up at Dumont Lake for the rest of the afternoon.  The kids had a blast!

We ended our week with much excitement as we tucked the girls in to bed, for the next day would be the first day of school for us!