Insulation

Sheradia and Zephy took these photos the other day. This is me insulating on day 1. It is now day 3 and I have all the walls done on the main level and started on the second and basement. I prefer working with the unfaced bats so may let scott staple in the basement. So two more days will hopefully do it. Scott gets to do the ceiling. This is scott running speaker wire or coax cable or maybe it was venting. Personally I think he was just hiding out in the corner of the basement.

Front lights!

When we got to the house today we had lights on the front of the house. I was pretty excited to

see that. Then the big wagon wheel light was up as well. I thought it was pretty cool. So here is the entry pretty much done.

More elevations

This is as finished as the outside will be for this winter. Except to add garage doors. We want to put rock work at the bottom of the garage and the one piece of the house that sticks out next to it. It just has tyvak on it now. I am trying to talk Scott into doing another small deck out our bedroom door on the other side instead of a patio but we'll see. ON the basement it will be nothing for a while but I would eventually like to do rock up just past the window ledge and side the rest of the way up. Railings for the deck will also be done in the spring.

Shakes are done!

The shakes are finaly finished! It took almost three weekends and a lot of staining but there they are. As I said in another post that all the stain turned out darker than what the sample said. Scott and I laughed as all 3 shades are suppose to be variations of brown! And it's not even close! Oh well. Still turned out okay. So here are some shots. Scott finishing a weird spot. and the elevations of each side. Scott and I had a great system of in the end of cutting all the angles to save time. It was a lot of fun and went pretty fast.

Our Trip to New Zealand

I wrote so much about this in my Christmas letter to everyone I though I would post photos so you could see. I got a little carried away so you will have to use the archive at the right to see everything. Hope it is somewhat of interest though. I had a lot of fun reminiscing about the trip doing this. Usually when I blog it shows the last thing I said first so when writing this I had to start backwards so it would be in order for you. If you start on this page and go to the next archive down or scroll to bottom of page and hit older posts it will be in order. Love you all!

Universal

We arrived in LA to get on our international flight to find out it was canceled so off to a motel and we were delayed two nights so spent a day at Universal Studios. Scott and Zephy both met up with friends! and here is Sheradia waiting for the shuttle back to the motel late that night. A long day!

Fiji

We finally left LA only to be diverted to Fiji. It is a long story but for the short of it we were lucky to make it there. When we got there late at night or early in the morning everyone had to get off the plan and wait in lines for over an hour before we were told there were no flights going out till the next day or two so we were bussed to a motel and stayed there till morning and went back to the airport to try to get a flight out. They told us to go back to a different motel and come back that night. We did and they said no flights but they would call us at the motel when there was. So long story short we stayed 2 nights 3 days untill we got a flight out. At least the motels and food where free even if we did stand a total of 16 hours waiting in lines. And you can't beat all the freash fruit and fruit juice!

Fiji

Swimming, and chilling out by the pool. Don't let the gray day fool you it was so hot and muggy!

Cousins.

We finally arrive in New Zealand and the girls loved seeing their cousins.

Around Christchurch

We took the girls on a tour of Christchurch since they obviously wouldn't remember last time. we did all the usual things like looking over to Lyttleton harbour as you see here. Climbing the bell tower at Christchurch cathedral, and boating on the Avon river through the botanical gardens while playing bumper boats and trying to run over the ducks! Loads of fun!

Grandad and Jay

Grandad's house is fun! and don't worry becuase if the horse gets tired there is always grandad!

Australia

We arrived in Australia. It was like being inside an oven. WE went into Brisbane and went to museums and art galleries and things. Some favorite shots are Dad, Scott and sheradia by the river. Scott and Sheradia trying to figure out what the sign means and Zephy "umm...I think we're lost guys!"

Video

Found a movie of that guy we liked to watch. It is bad quality becuase it was with my normal camera not a video camera. But at least you can hear him. This was the same night sheradia was swimming not 100 feet from where this guys is and got stung by a blue bottle!

Sufers Paradise by night

The resort we stayed at was not far from Surfers Paradise so we would go down here at night for dinner and entertainment. This Aborigine was so good! He was there a couple of nights and there was a farmers market another. This is Scott and Zephy paying tribute to a great Surfer. And Sheradia on the beach.

Another Forest

Another hike to these falls. I forget what one it was. we went pass this view point of the city behind. This is my mom and Dad. Then a view of the top of the falls. Another lizard and a cute couple.

Punch bowl Falls

This is another hike we did. It may be my favorite. It was so cool!

Koala Sanctuary

One day we took a river boat tour of the city up the Brisbane River and ended up at the Koala Sanctuary. On the way there we went pass these fox bats (you may need to click on the photo to see them bigger) From the boat we could smell them. They were everywhere! And did you know that if a bat falls it will die? their feet are on their wings.

Mountains

I forget what National Forest this was but we spent a day here. We did two (or 3?) trails here. There was a mountain village at the base of it all that was so cute. We spent a lot of time there looking round the art stores and lots of chocolate stores. We loved chasing these lizards where ever we would go. Some looked like mini dinos and when they run some stand up on there hind legs and run fast with a little waddle with their tails swishing behind them. Its quite funny!