We Passed

Truthfully, I am not exactly sure when started the basement "project" but it was probably around the end of April. Though we still have a few more punch list items to attend to (like a mirror for the bathroom), we passed our final town inspection yesterday. : )

Here are a few of our "before" pictures from the time of our original move in May 2005:

This space would become a bathroom, bedroom, hallway, and play area for the kids. ↓

There was a space identified very early as the future Media Room. It was like "calling shotgun" for the passenger side front seat. I was within view and called it early ; ). ↓

Mostly completed construction:

Heading down the stairs from the Kitchen. ↓

[clicking on most images will download larger images]

The bottom of the stairs, turning left ↓

Warning: Most of these pictures are "composite" pictures. In other words, I pasted 6-10 images together to get one very broad shot. As a result, you will see a bit of a "fish-eye" affect. For example, the wood floor is actually straight. Also, Bethany's colors don't come across completely acurate. But, you get the idea ; )

This is the emerging Media Room (22'7" x 14'8") ↓
It won't be fully out fitted for a while.
(For some fishy reason this image makes the room look longer than it really is ...gotta love the "fish-eye". Honest, the room is rectangular and the window is spaced on the midpoint of the wall. :)

Heading back down the short hallway is a small Bedroom and Bathroom ↓

The fairly small guest bedroom (8'7½" x 13'6") with the attached bathroom
(I think it is actually smaller than it appears ) ↓

Bathroom, without a mirror ↓

I think we fished off just under 1,200 sq ft of our 1,400 sq ft basement.

Next comes our multi year effort to actually put furniture in our new space. We are pretty excited and pleased with each of our design and layout decisions.

Now, we just need visitors to come help us fill it up : )

A Run on the Revolution's Field

Rachel and David attended another Revolution Soccer Game this past Saturday. But unlike other soccer games, Rachel got to go down in the field during half time.

Rachel attended an all day soccer camp sponsored by the New England Revolution Professional Soccer Team. As part of the camp, she got 2 tickets to a game an the opportunity to run down onto the field.

I may take a minute to point out that she only had 2 tickets. David seemed fairly excited when she picked him for the #2 spot.

As always, the game was tight, well played, and competitive. The Revolution played a team from New York City (the Red Bulls), but once again the Revolution came out on top.

You may note the large number of kids in the group. ↓

[for people with weak eyes ... the kids are the gray shirted small people running near the on the edge of the field]
[click on most images to enlarge]

Despite the huge number of kids, David was able to find Rachel amongst the crowd and snap a few pictures with his telephoto lens. ↓

All tuckered out from the run around the field, the kids lined up waiting to get back up into the stands. ↓

To Rachel: Well Done. : )

Happy Anniversay

Fifteen years ago today, Dave and I were married in the Toronto temple. My sister and her husband were married on the same day, and we have wonderful memories. We had met almost exactly 5 years before at the Sherwood's house. And the ensuing years included 3 proms, a mission for Dave, and a couple of years of college for both of us.


Twenty years of knowing my husband has made me grateful for the gifts he brings to my life. We are also lucky enough to have three bright, beautiful, healthy, and very active :-) kids. We have been through thick and thin together, and love each other the more for it.

I'm probably one of the least romantic women I know, but I just wanted to mark this milestone.

Family Time

Despite good intentions and best efforts, scripture study doesn't happen every night, but when it does everyone can't resist piling onto Mom.

Rachel invited her friend over for a sleep over. While she was here, Dave taught them how to "paint" a photo graph with light during a long exposure.

After seeing all the fun they had, Dave couldn't resit trying it himself

Ben continues to love his super cool sun glasses he got while visiting Aunt Becky