Please..........won't you smile?
There you go!
Just when you think everything is going along smoothly (mind you with a ton of hard work to keep it that way), you feel so delighted to see an email in your business inbox indicating your business has been recognized and awarded as the best of its kind in your community. Wow! That was exciting. I called Steve. We read the email together. Press release, and everything. Then you clicked a link to claim your award---for a $79 price. Of course, the crystal was up another $50 and you could go with fancier plaques, crystals, etc. The web site changed its name slightly to match each client. When we clicked on the site, of course, it strategically put the town of "Mountain" in several places. We quickly realized we'd been had.
Later that evening Steve was called out to take care of yet another maintenance issue at a cabin. Back down to earth!
In other news, Ellie has finally found her tongue and can say something that sounds like "no". I say sounds like, but it is closer to "naaa", as she shakes her head to confirm it. It is not the forceful "NOOO". It is the "No thank you, Mama, I'd really like to do things a different way," or "not now, not really, hope you don't mind." It is very cute! You can tell after spending time with Ellie that she knows and understands A LOT, just can't say the words yet, which is perfectly normal, as most say 3-5 words at her age. She and Charity are both so loving towards us and to each other these days. Lots of hugs, lots of kisses. Much ado about when Daddy walks through the door....it is of course an event drawing incredulity and delight!
Okay....back to the pictures.
This is one of Charity's favorite things to do.
Ellie likes it down here, too!
There is much to explore.
In other news.....we've had a super fun time with visiting cousins from Green Bay and Atlanta.
We had fun taking the kiddos to Slippery Rock, a small waterfall that people can use as a slide.
Isn't he a cutie? He and Jed would have been happy to stay there all day!
Back to the home sweet home...I'm enjoying the conversion of our dining room into playroom.
Steve built me a small fold-into-the-wall table that fits our kitchen just right. Now we can keep the "mess" in one room and it is so nice to be able to have the girls close by while I get their meals together.
We had family stay at the resort this month also! Wonderful time with Aunt Heidemarie and Anna and her family! Here we are going on a hayride after enjoying wonderful stories together up at the house over a pizza dinner.
Back to resort news and latest project: renovation of the stone decorative pillars. Way to go Steve!
Old...
New.
In addition to working on a host of maintenance issues around the resort, Steve also installed a new pump and platform at the camp site well. We are excited to have running water down there now, and plan to use it to water our cows mid winter if the stream freezes over.
We've had some wonderful summer hayrides and dessert fellowships this summer. Just three more Tuesday nights to enjoy these summer stays and then fall season comes in with our weekend families and couples.
I've enjoyed doing some painting again.
...with Steve's help, we recreated our front steps into a pleasant entryway. I don't have pics, but Steve also helped me get pressure washing done on stone steps, sidewalks, and cement cistern at our house. With fresh painting, sanding, and staining, things look pretty nice!
It looks as if I've used up space for more pics on this post! I will have to put the last few into the next one. :)