a new project ~ baby grand

we were semi-gifted a baby grand piano. 

john david's aunt needed to place it in storage and well, we had a place to store it!   

there were scratches on the top from it being in storage before...  

the wood underneath, once the finish was off, was in great condition.  the scratches were just on the surface and the wood was in good shape. 

 the pieces that can be removed have been taken off.  and this is what the room looks like while this is going on.  this might take a while. 

p.s.  one day while sanding the top in the garage, the children were riding bikes around the block.  it dawned on me that come school time, I would have lots of time on my hand for this project. 

so, I put it neatly away and will pull it out once school is underway. 

and he's up... wesley skis

 

all the children have gotten up on trainer skis, but they were starting to outgrow those.  Wesley was brave enough to try *real* skiing.  once he was up he decided to try dropping one.  so glad that the others were cheering him on and he was successful.  

sister offering him congratulations after his success.  he then wanted to try getting up on one.  the picture below shows how much water he has to fight in order to get up.  seriously, after seeing this us adults now know why we have to hang on so long!

yep, we are back at the lake

fireworks on the lake

we took the boat out to the middle of the lake and enjoyed the fireworks ~ along with snacks.

as small as the lake is, these are not professionally done (gasp!).  individuals around the lake set off fireworks, one at a time, from their pier, while others clap and holler appreciation. 

I love when several are set off at the same time around the lake.  you can see the reflection of the water, pier and sometimes people in the water setting them off. 

 

we always have sparklers at our pier which the children love.

  

 

 

 

Meredith was trying to make a heart, but we could not capture it just right.  maybe next year. 

 

nap time ~ lake style

sometimes you just need an afternoon nap!

more from the lake

daddy pulling the girls... oops one must have fallen 

 

 I love McKinley's hair in this one!

beautiful girl       and those handsome boys getting ready 

 some serious air

  

 

funny how air gets under it when they all fall off! 

we're going on a bear hunt

down about a mile from the lake house is a wildlife preserve.  somewhere along this road, sister cues up lauren alaina's dirt road prayer and cranks it up loud.  there are a few canals where we spot many varieties of birds and deer.   

 

as we drive farther into the preserve, the music stops and the children get really quiet.  what they really want to see are the bears.  this night we saw two. 

the first was a baby.  the second was a bit larger but took off quickly.  we only got a look as he was leaping into the woods.   maybe we will have better luck tomorrow night. 

a denial break

i'm a bit sad that my caboose will be going to all day school this year. 

she talks my ear off all. day. long.  boy is it going to be quiet.

back to the lake

after a great week in topsail we headed home for church, a fun day zip lining and morgan's ballet recital (due to a dead camera battery, there are no pictures of that event).  now we are back to the lake... our summer home away from home.   

it's always more fun when daddy can take off work and join us for a few days! 

ha! Meredith is in there somewhere. 

somebody needs to alert the crew to the coming storm! 

 they come up quickly here and head out just as fast.   

 

 

it's relaxing watching a storm on the porch.   

after the storm passes, everybody is back on the water.   

  

 

and yes, these pictures were taken from the back of the jet ski...

with my nice camera and zoom lens.  I must really trust my husband's driving!