A few progress pictures of the basement refresh

We are slowly making progress on the basement refresh.  Two little ones and a busy summer of having fun has kept the pace slow.  This weekend we finally got the shelving from IKEA after a failed attempt to get it a few weekends ago from our local store.  They appear to be discontinuing the shelving, or at least pieces of it.  But we had planned the renovation around this shelving, and we looked high and low for anything remotely similar, and couldn't find it.  So we made a crazy Saturday of it and drove to the next nearest IKEA in New Haven, CT, over 2.5 hours away.  To complicate things, they didn't have one critical piece, but our local IKEA did, so we actually went to both in the same day.  And to make things even crazier, it was back to school/tax free weekend in Massachusetts, so our local IKEA was a complete madhouse.  Somehow we managed to get in and out relatively quickly, but it was a sight to behold!

On the way back from New Haven, and on the way to the Stoughton IKEA, we stopped at the Ecotarium in Worcester to give the kids a chance to run around and have a little fun with the day.  Nathan had to be dragged away, he had a great time!

Learning about trees at the Ecotarium

Feeling hurricane force winds in the wind tunnel.

In with the crazy people at the Massachusetts IKEA, back to school/tax free weekend.

Nathan helping Michael with setting up the posts for the new shelving system.

It is a little messy, but a few pictures of how it is coming along.  We are very excited about how nice it looks!

Another shot, showing what a difference the good lighting makes.

Summer Fun!

It has been a while since I posted photos about something other than our basement (and another post about that to follow!), so here are some pictures of what we have been up to this summer...

We took the T downtown to the Aquarium one Saturday.  Checking out the fountain on the Kennedy Greenway, near where Michael used to live.

Saying good morning to the penguins.

Alex was very excited about the fish.

Nathan at the touch tank.

Alex had to be encouraged to touch the starfish.

Another weekend, we took a trip in the Museum of Science.  Nathan checking out the pendulum.

This was always my favorite when I was a kid.

Learning about Mobius strips.

Nathan making friends.

Alex at the great divide.

Nathan learning about differential air pressure, inflating balloons, expanding marshmallows.  The presenter was very good with him and spent a very long time showing it to him!

Can't beat the view from the cafeteria at the MOS!

Another weekend we hit a new beach, paying the big bucks ($25!) for parking.  But it was gorgeous, and the water so fun to play in!

Making sand castles.

Sometimes we just hang at home, the boys having a great time with our water table.

Alex loving his first ear of corn!

The boys and I have also spent a lot of time with cousins at their pool club.  Here Corbin, Andrew and Nathan dip their heads in the toddler pool.

Nathan enjoying Hot Dog Lunch Day at the pool club, which really ended up being lunch of his first bag of Doritos.

Alex enjoying the play area at the pool club.

Nathan's first dentist appointment.  He did great!

Mimi and Alex during a trip up to Maine (I really fell down taking photos that weekend!)

And a few videos to wrap things up!

Alex going down the slide at a local park.  He can't get enough!

When we need the boys to get some energy out, it is Pillow Pile time!

Michael playing the guitar, and the boys shaking their sillies out!