School starts back up tomorrow for all of us here in the Colwell family ...so I thought today would be a good day to post an update on our summer.
Remember the BIG PLANS for the salvaged pool deck wood? A CLUBHOUSE!
Nathan and Grace asked if they could use the wood from our pool deck to build a clubhouse. We bought them a book about building a clubhouse (which was perfect!), 2 good hammers and a bag of nails for their joint Christmas gift. And on Matt's first day of summer, they got to work on plans and clearing the area in the woods they had picked out...and they worked hard finishing their clubhouse mid July. To build the clubhouse, they used the wood from our pool deck, wood from Matt's coworker's old deck, windows from my mom, a storm door we had, and leftover sheets of tin for the roof from Cousin Billy who is a roofer. The only things we bought were nails and one 14' 2x4 for framing the roof. Since finishing it, they've had an "open house" for friends to come see it, slept out there three nights and often say "I'll be down at the clubhouse!"
I love the memories that this clubhouse will give Nathan and Grace!
And it makes me smile that this clubhouse is almost all built
and furnished from reclaimed items!
So that wasn't the only thing that made us smile this summer!
Nathan and Grace spent a night out in the tree house.
Grace wanted to sleep where she could watch the sun set.
Nathan kept an eye on the skunk in the yard ...keeping them safe.
Steve, "our tire guy"
{who we've had to visit too often this summer -
3 flat tires and new tires for the rototiller!}
gave us an old semi tire which we turned
into a tire swing for the kids!
We put up a new basketball hoop {since I let Nathan shoot
hoops this winter when the cement was clear ...
apparently cold and old plexi-glass cracks
and shatters} and Matt and Nathan played and
worked on b-ball skills.
We bought a package deal for Seawolves tickets at
Christmas time so we could take Matt's gramma to
a game when she was home in July ... her Christmas
gift from us because she loves baseball.
In addition to taking Gramma, we also took my mom to
a game, joined a group from our church, and
went once just us four.
Seawolves games are a fun hometown experience!
Anyone up for an Orange Julius and a good book?
We read two books about the Vanderbeekers
this summer...laughing and smiling!
Since we didn't replace our pool, we found other ways
to stay cool on hot summer days.
We made two trips up to Presque Isle...
enjoying our local beach!
I secretly purchased a family set of water guns and
water balloons...
then Matt and I ambushed the kids one hot afternoon.
{the water guns made several appearances}
And we went wading/swimming in Oil Creek twice.
We hosted Fourth of July for Matt's family
for the 9th year.
Grace and I decorated our pies festively.
One pie was made especially for Gramma ...
elderberry pie!
The water guns made an appearance on the fourth!
Luke came armed with his hose-fed water gun.
We spent some precious time with Gramma ...
playing cards, Fourth of July, Old Home Days ...
the best times together were when we took her
to the Seawolves game and the Sunday we went to church
with her then she came home with us for the afternoon...
enjoying lunch together, playing more cards,
Nathan and Gramma drawing a map of what Tryonville
used to be like and we all enjoyed Gramma telling stories!
And Grace participated in Family Life Network's youth
theater workshop in Youngsville PA. She learned
acting skills, choreography, and singing ...
and was part of the "Faith News" production
at the end of the week. Yeah Grace!
You can see we've had great family time together this summer.
But I smile big when I think about the time we spent with
friends, old and new, this summer.
Take time for real relationship ...it is a gift!
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