Exploring Barns and Old Reclaimed Wood

Brett has discovered a love of old wood this past year.  He has visited nearly every old barn in Niagara County and knocked on many a farmers door asking permission to take a look around.  Most have been more than willing to have him go into their old barns to see if there is anything that he can use.  We have had some fun family afternoons out driving in the country and taking a peak into a different way of life.

There has been quite a collection of old beams in our garage and I am looking forward to a new "old" kitchen table that Brett is going to make me this fall.  Some of the wood for the table will be from huge beams that were used to make a barn that was built in the late 1870's so we think that the wood at that time would have been at least 100 years old or more so we have been excited to gather as much of these rare beams as we can for reclaimed projects.

Here is a cow skeleton he found in one barn

Horse Stall Door

Brett's dad helping to remove some of the beams

Once he got them home he power washed of years of grime

The Stall Door Cleaned

Brett's friend has built his own mill so here is one of our beams being run through it

Joshua this past spring checking out another barn with daddy

At the second barn taking out more beams

Someday the table will be finished and we will have some pictures to see where it all came from!!

Day with Cousins

 One Sunday we were able to take some quick pictures before we headed off to church when the Magnolia Tree was in full bloom.  It is always the first sign of spring for us and let us know that another year has come.




Cousins Nathan, Brenna Joshua and Matthew - April 2013

Of course then the pictures get kinda silly!!

Later that afternoon Reece came over to play also

Here is Mac taking good care of him on the play set...

....and Joshua cuddling with him on the couch.  

Check out those awesome blue eyes this little guy has.

Just Some Random Spring Pictures

This is a quick walk through this last spring in pictures

Mommy and her sweet kids on Mothers Day 

Joshua's book he wrote was chosen for Young Authors Club and on display at the Library in town

Brenna just being her silly self waiting for the boys after school

Give us Spring..Give us Mud...Give us Happy Boys

Daddy and Matthew

Just a reminder to me of all the beautiful flowers that generous family and friends sent  in March

Soccer Season 2013 Began

Brett once again making his children wear his glasses- good thing they always like it

Brenna getting some nail polish, in a bathing suit, when its freezing outside - Craziness

Brett helped each of the 5 children make bird houses this spring

Painting Fest in the Garage

Finished!

Brett and his tower of flies - for fishing of course!

Daddy and Brenna after their first "run" together...through the years I bet there will be many more of these

This was an after church one Sunday trip to Lowe's - Yep Brenna in a large mailbox..happy as could be!

Matthew's Battles

I just had to post these pictures because someday when our kids are all grown up and ask what they liked to do when they were little we never want to forget.  

These shots are a perfect example of how we will always remember our Mac.  

Having "Battles" and I mean lots and lots of "Battles".  

Some are GI Joe Battles with all his "men" up in his bedroom 

and "set-ups" all over the floor and GI Joe Fort.

 Some "Battles" take place outside in the sandbox with is best buddy Rayhaan.  There have been days that they have played with little green army men in the sand for hours and hours till we finally call them in for the night.

Some "Battels" are almost life-like.  Here is the fort that Matthew has been working on in the woods.  He digs and digs to make his hole bigger and then has covered it with wood.  Notice the cow skulls that daddy found in the hunting woods - they now make their home in our backyard!

Science Fair

This year Joshua was able to enter the science fair.  He spent some time thinking of what kind of project he would like to present and finally came up with making a set of "Working Lungs".  Really when you have a mom and dad who love the human body your best bet is to stick with what is known in your home and be creative!

Josh and Brett spent a lot of time working on this project and Josh really did build his lungs all by himself.  It was a great learning experience for him and he did a wonderful job.  He learned how lungs inflate and deflate and how the diaphragm works as a muscle to help push the air out the trachea.  He was able to explain the whole respiratory system to his school.

Joshua putting his "balloon lung"s into his "chest cavity" a orange juice container and using a straw as the trachea.

The Finished Project

Science Fair Night 

Grandpa and Nanna came to see all the presentations.

Joshua was interviewed and his project was picked for the local newspaper!