The Bet ...

April 7, 2015

The bet was on that James could not be quiet for 5 minutes ... for five dollars ...

he suggested taping his mouth shut ...

Grandpa had some duct tape to do the job ...

the timer was set ...

tic ... tic ... tic ...

and lo and behold ... it actually worked ...

although, there were a few giggles during that time ... !!!

The rush was on ...

to complete another puzzle ...

before it was time to head back to Alberta ...

The "Floor of Puzzles" ... in my kitchen ... !!!

AND 

Yes ... they did help to put every one of them away ... 

ready again for the next time ... !!!

They love doing puzzles at Grandmas house ... 

Let's Play While We Wait ...

April 7, 2015

While the hot tub water was heating ...

the grandchildren were hungry  ... and wanted lunch ...

they wanted to have roast hot dogs over an open fire ...

wood was gathered and a fire started in the pit ...

More sticks were needed to cook the hot dogs ...

Grandpa and Ella went to get more willow sticks ...

then the kids spent the time whittling them a sharp point ...

After lunch ...

the games were on ... badminton to start ...

then 

Katie brought out her golf clubs ...

and hit a few balls ...

then Craig was given some instructions on his golf swing ...

 James and Ella figured it was time to try out the hot tub ...

and they insisted that Grandpa join them ...

Once Craig was finished his golf lesson ...

he went to the hot tub and stuck his feet in ... not enough time for him to go in ...

as they were going into town to meet Nathan for dinner ...

I ended up going in the hot tub once they had gone ...

It felt good after raking out the gravel ...

that Mike had dumped along the pathway ...

All the gravel was spread ...

the gang arrived home ...

and the first thing they wanted to do ...

was to hop in the hot tub ...

they loved all the different colours illuminating from the light ...

in the dark night ... !!!

There will be many more days and nights ...

 that the hot tub will be enjoyed ... !!!

Hot Tub Delivered ...

April 7, 2015

It was an exciting day for our family ...

we were ready for the hot tub to be delivered ...

The guys put the hot tub in place ...

they were impressed that the site was so well planned out ...

no adjustments needed to level it ...

they attached the motor ...

and I started to fill the tub with water ...

At last it was time to install the cover ...

and for Nathan to hook up the electrical ...

to get this hot tub started up ... !!!

A few hours of treatment and it would be ready to jump in and relax ... !!!

Going To The Movies ...

It was a cloudy day ... periods of rain ... 

we needed a break from working so hard ...

so it was decided for all of us to go into town ...

and see the movie "Home" 

Spending time in the arcades before and after the movie ...

It was a really cute movie ... enjoyed by all of us ... !!! 

I later learned that Daigen and Nixon went to the movie ...

to see "Home" as well ...

Glad that they were able to have some family time together ... !!!

Working The Backhoe ...

Craig had approached Grandpa ...

to teach him how to work the backhoe ...

There was an area that Mike wanted to level out a bit ...

so it was the perfect place for Craig to try it out ...

James had been riding the dirt bike around ...

he soon stopped to see what was going on  ... 

and just like his brother ...

he wanted to try running the backhoe as well ...

It wasn't long before Ella had come around on her quad ...

stopping to have a look as well ...

She was so excited to have a turn ... !!!

All three of them took to it like fish to water ...

they loved it ...

Amazing how well they did handling the levers ...

understanding which ones to use ...

to lower ... scoop up ... move and dump ... !!!

So proud of them ... !!!

(Can't wait for Daigen and Nixon to try it out too ...)

Moving Patio Blocks ...

It was time to move the patio blocks out of the way ...

all three of the grandchildren ...

were lending a hand in helping Grandpa ...

Each of them taking turns lifting up the slabs ... with a crowbar ...

for Grandpa to pick them up ... stack a few and haul the extras away ...

Gravel and sand were hauled in ...

Mike spreading it to make a level base ...

to place the patio blocks ...

for a solid foundation ...

James and Ella figured it was time for a break ...

they wanted a bonfire to roast marshmallows ...

Nathan helped Mike install the new cable ...

thru the ceiling of the house ...

 from one end to the other ...

Mike under part of the deck installing the GFI box ...

getting everything ready to terminate for power ...

Craig and James working hard at playing ...

on the old Apple II GS ...

They just love that old computer in the shop ... !!!

"D's" Tooth ...

Daigen lost his first tooth on Sunday ...

while brushing his teeth ...

Daigen was thrilled that the Tooth Fairy arrived ...

and left him some money ... !!!

This is only the beginning of loosing his teeth ...

it may take him awhile though ...

as in this family we tend to hold on to the baby teeth ...

as long as possible ... !!!

Pink For Ella ...

Ella was so excited when Nathan showed her ...

the new pink body for her quad ...

and new tires ...

Looking good Ella ... !!!

The boys waiting for their sister ...

to go for a ride ...

They rode their dirt bikes and quads ...

every day ... lots ...

throughout the holidays ... !!!

Removing Shrubs ...

These two shrubs needed to be moved to an other location ...

so that we could prepare the site for the new Hot Tub ...

being installed in just a few days ...

Once again ... grateful for our Trusty Tractor ...

It removed the shrubs with ease ...

Mike had dug the holes for the shrubs to be planted ...

one was placed by the outdoor furnace ...

 an area that needed some support from the edge of the lawn ...

The other one was planted at the back corner of the lawn by the woodshed ...

This was the day that Nathan and his family arrived for the holidays ...

yipeeeee ... just in time to help ... !!!

Preparations Made ...

Just over a week ago ...

the gravel was ordered and delivered ... 

preparing for the renovations in the backyard ...

It was an exciting day ... 

after I picked Mike up from the airport ... 

he was home for his break from working up North ...

We went into town to pick up our new Quads ... 

 we had talked about purchasing new ones for quite awhile now ... 

Our old Quad is no longer dependable ...

it is over 25 years old ... and was well used ... !!!

It was time to start dismantling of the old deck ...

Thank goodness for our Trusty Tractor to hall it away ... 

into the cleared area behind the shop ... !!!

The grandchildren have already called dibs on the wood ...

to build a deck and who knows what else they have in mind for the Fort ...!!!

It was time for Mike ...

 to remove the blade from the tractor ... 

and put the back-hoe on for our next project ...

but ... before he did that  ... 

he had rearranged the piles of logs ... 

pulling the wood down ... 

for safer and easier access ...

to cut up into firewood ...

Easter Baskets ...

The Easter Egg hunt was a success ...

the kids were running all over to find all the hidden eggs ...

After enjoying our waffle breakfast ...

Nathan and the family went to town ...

 to spend the afternoon riding their dirt bikes and quads at a track.

Nathan is spending as much time as he can  ... 

riding his new dirt bike .... 

The Easter Egg hunt was on ... 

at Daigen and Nixon's house ...

a trail of eggs leading them to their surprise ...

They had a busy day with families coming to the house to enjoy the festivities ...

I think the "Rock'em Sock'em" game will be played with a lot ...

 It's been a long time since the whole gang here had seen one ... !!!

We had a great time on Skype visiting with them on Easter morning ... !!!

Oma came out for our Easter turkey dinner ...

It was a busy eventful day ... !!!

Egg Colouring ...

Daigen and Nixon received their package from Grandma and Grandpa ...

they were so excited when they saw the package at the door ...

Kendall said they were thrilled when they saw the chocolate Easter Bunny ...

and the Easter Egg colouring kit ...

After the eggs were coloured ...

it was time to hit the pool ... 

We spent the evening before Easter ...

colouring eggs as well ...

All different colours ...

my favourite were the Tie-dyed eggs ...

Once the eggs were done ...

it was time to watch a movie  ...

and then an early bedtime ...

so the Easter Bunny could make all his deliveries ...

Before Easter ...

Preparations before Easter ...

I went for a walk down to the lake ...

and picked a few pussy willows ...

bringing them home and arranging them in to a vase ...

in order to hang up some of the hollow Easter Eggs ...

We have been creating these decorated eggs in the family for years ...

Oma gave me a few dozen that she had kept ...

It sure brings back a lot of memories ... !!!

Happy Easter ...

Wishing all our family and friends ...

A Happy Easter ... !!!