Family Fishing Weekend

After Bret christened the new boat with his boys' fishing weekend, we were able to get out as a family. We rented a cabin on Birch Lake (between Babbit and Ely, MN) for Memorial Day weekend. We all had a great time. On Sat., Brendan caught 5 fish all by himself. He was looking for "Mr. Pike" to catch. All 3 kids caught at least 1 walleye and 1 northern pike each. The weather cooperated, but the gnats were bad in the afternoon. We're already looking for when we can go back.


Maren's first northern pike on Brendan's batman rod


Maren watching her pike slip out of mom's hands

The kids were crazy enough to put on their suits and get some swimming in. We had our own dock and Maren jumped off the end first for $1.00. Brendan wanted to follow suit. Here's our video documenting his attempts.


Brendan's first attempt


Brendan's last attempt

Our new boat

Bret got a new boat a couple of weeks ago.
It's a 17.5 foot G3 boat with a 135hp motor.


The driver's console


The motor and backside


Bret's baby

Backfilling

Now, it's starting to look like a real house.
Framing is supposed to start on Monday,
and the well will be drilled then too. Then,
plumbing and electricity to the site will go in.


The lower level from the walkout door


Looking down at the walkout from the GR side


From the front of the house

Waterproofing and Insulation on Foundation

We now have blue foundation walls. The waterproofing and insulation have been put on. Back filling comes next.


Looking from right side of front porch back towards walk out.


Front porch on right, garage on left


Front porch on left, great room on right

Foundation Walls Poured

They were supposed to pour yesterday, but with a smaller crew (due to the bad economy), things got pushed back to today. The walls are poured by noon and they were working on the drain tile. I'm not sure when the forms will come off, or what comes next, but I'll keep the pictures coming. Ordered windows on Monday and picked out plumbing fixtures last week.
Progress!


The garage (and a worker who shouldn't have his shirt off)


The boom/crane carrying concrete and rocks to the needed places


The walkout corner looking back toward the great room


Some more concrete poured in the basement

Foundation Wall Forms Going Up

They have started to put up the foundation wall forms (we're having a poured concrete foundation). They were working on Saturday, which is always a good sign. They hope to pour on Tuesday. Then I'm not sure what's next, but I'll keep you posted.


Looking at the house from the front porch,
with the great room to the right, and the
dining room in the back.


The front porch looking toward the back left corner of the house.


The garage


Looking at the house from the back left corner
(southeast corner) back at the great room (east).

Brendan shooting his bow & arrow.

Brendan got a bow and arrow from his cousin, Nolan. Here he is practicing on our back deck. Not bad for a 4 year old, I think.

Brendan's getting ready.


Brendan's first attempt


Brendan's second attempt


Picking up the first arrow


Picking up the second arrow

WE HAVE FOOTINGS!

FYI, footings are the concrete underneath the foundation walls. We hope to have the foundation walls poured next week. The pictures are a little hard to make head or tails of, but I'll try.


The back wall of the house, with the
walkout at the far end--boy, that's a
lot of dirt to move!


The excavator is working on clearing the septic site.


The front wall of the house (with the fireplace bump out)


The front porch.


The powder room looking back at the walkout corner


The wall between the house and the garage


The front garage wall

Brendan enjoying the dirt piles

Brendan and Sadie running down the new driveway.


More running....


Even more running....


Now sliding...


King and Queen of the Mountain


More laundry for mom...

The Big Dig

The big construction project started on Monday, May 11. The foundation was pretty much dug in one day, similar to the children's story Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. There was water in the hole, but apparently, that was expected and does not worry our general contractor. The cement guy was out there today inspecting the hole. He hopes to get the footings in by Saturday and then pour the wall early next week. Enjoy the pictures and stay tuned!


At the southwest corner of the house looking NE at the garage.


The southeast corner of the house, which will be the walkout. Nice river, huh?


The entry hall/swimming pool


The cement guy standing in our basement.


Brendan in front of the northwest corner of the garage

Mother's Day

Bret got a new boat last Friday. He picked it up and we all went out for a quick ride on Island Lake. It's a G3 17.5 foot fish and swim. It has a console, canopy and 5 seats and can also pull the kids if they want to tube/ski. We are all very excited about it. Bret, Connor, Maren, Bobby (Bret's brother) and Nolan (my nephew) all went fishing on Saturday. Bret caught 2 pike and 1 crappie. The boys fishing weekend is coming up this weekend, so Bret and Connor are extremely excited for that.

As for Mother's Day, I woke up to a wonderful homemade breakfast: hashbrowns with onions and green peppers cooked in bacon fat (what's better than that?), bacon and eggs benedict with my favorite OJ (Tropicana). After stuffing myself, we went to visit my new niece, Darby Layne Friday. She was born last Saturday and both mom (Bridget) and baby are home and doing well. Then we went to our land to play in the river. The kids caught minnows and crayfish and Sadie had a blast. Then it was back to our house to relax and watch some golf. The PGA pro that I met in Las Vegas last year (Ben Crane) was in contention, so I had fun cheering for him. Bret got a nap. About 5p, we headed over to Bob and Gayle's for a bbq. We celebrated Gayle, Taylor and Sally (T's girlfriend) birthdays.


Maren and Brendan cuddling with Sadie


Brendan loving Sadie


Maren's Mother's Day drawing/gift


Maren's mother's day card. It says that I'm 36 and 6' tall. I weigh 97 pounds and have 3 children. I'm as pretty as a rose and as smart as a cat. That my favorite food is seafood and that I love to exercise. She loves me because "she takes care of us". How could life get any better?

WE'RE STARTING!

Road restrictions come off on May 13 (next Wednesday), so they are starting to dig the foundation next Monday.

HOLY COW!