Family Matters

The Roof is on!

~ randyaa ~ 2 Comments

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailWe’re getting close.

Dad, My good friend Anthony and I spent 3 days up at camp last week, getting the roof in tip top shape. My Uncle Jerry stopped by on Monday and helped all day while we finished placing the end cap and prepping the roof for shingles.

The three of us then shingled the entire roof in a day and a half. Up to the ridge cap anyway, at which point we had to head home. Not too shabby. Next trip up the plan is the ridge cap and the remaining OSB wallboard. At that point we’ll be ready to place the Tyvek wrap, windows and doors. We might even get to some of that, depending on how long we’re up there for.

It’ll be nice to get ‘er sealed up.

Thanks to Anthony and Jerry. We wouldn’t be anywhere near as far along without all the help. You guys rock!

A New Camp On it's Way

~ randyaa ~ 6 Comments

IMG_0311Some people thought we were crazy to do it but we just got back from a week at my parent’s Adirondack escape (ending last Sunday 7/11/2010).� This was Delilah’s first trip to the Adirondacks and it was a hot one.� She did great, slept a lot (it was in the 90’s with no A/C, ugh!) and smiled at her daddy a ton.

Last year we built a shed (Mostly my father, I helped a little).� This year we’re putting on an addition to the camp.� More like a new camp really… We’re taking the camp from the tiny studio-sized 336 square feet up to 960 by adding 2 bedrooms and a bigger living space.� The current camp is going to become a ‘dining’ area, kitchen and bathroom.� We’re well on our way.

IMG_0044Last week when we got to camp Dad was already all the way up to laying the floor.� It might not sound like much, but there’s a ton involved to get to that point.� Squaring everything up, leveling (& digging) the ground, insulation, wire netting, studding, joists & beams… Not simple work.� He’d been working for over a month just about steady to get to that point.� These things take time, especially when you’re by yourself in the mountains and you’re fighting the rain nonstop.

By the time we left Sunday afternoon (7 days later) we had raised all 3 of the walls (complete with OSB Board covering), All rafters were in place (save the ones that need to be placed over the existing roof) and all Zip System Roof Panels were in place and taped (as far as could be done until the remaining rafters are positioned).

IMG_0113Not bad for 5 days worth of work for 2 guys in 90+�F heat and 2 days with a bunch of help from other family.� Thanks Jerry, Scott, Donald, Wes, Pauline, Virginia, Gage & Mindy Lee!� Still lots to do, but we’re getting pretty darn close to weather-sealed.� We’re only a few steps away:

  • complete & install 1 remaining rafter
  • install Zip System Roof Panels over remaining area
  • shingles
  • small 4ft section of Wall & OSB board panels to go up adjoining existing deck
  • install a few missing OSB Board panels on the walls (mainly the gable end)
  • Tyvek Weather wrap

Of course there’s lots of little things to do as part of those steps, but those are the big ones.

If it was easy, Everybody would do it
~Harry

While it wasn’t much of a vacation for a week off… it was still enjoyable to be around some family and it made me overjoyed Rachel and Delilah were able to come up with us and be around during those ‘off’ times while we were taking a bit of a break from the beating (building) so I could hold the little one.� Oh, and a huge thanks goes out to Rachel for all the delicious meals during the week.

The place is gonna be totally unrecognizable when we get done, but it’s sure gonna be nice.� A great place for Debug to grow up.� I’m looking forward to watching her play in the stream from the new living area.

Some other photos from the process:

Falling Brook – Moving In

~ randyaa ~ 20 Comments

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailWow! Last weekend was an insanely hectic few days.� Not only was our daughter Delilah born but we also moved into a new house.� We’re finally settling back into normalcy, well… as normal as it can be with a 1week old baby and a new house.

Even though we had to move the closing date due to little miss Lilah’s early arrival we were fortunate enough to get the sellers to agree to an early possession.� 7am last Saturday I left Rachel and her mother at the hospital so I could get the move underway and so we could be all set by discharge time (which I convinced the nurses to do LATE in the day).

I did the final walk-through at 8am, picked up the 26′ U-Haul truck at 9 (no I’ve never driven something that big before) and we had the move under way by 10am.� At the new house a little after noon with the truck and my father’s snowmobile trailer fully loaded.� Completely unloaded by 1:30pm.� Not too shabby.

Couldn’t have possibly done it without all the help.� Thanks George, Dale, Brian, Ryan, Mike,Cory, Bill, Chris, Eric.

During the whole process I made the following time-lapse.� There are big gaps because well… I was busy.

Delilah Grace

~ randyaa ~ 18 Comments

We had this short & sweet ‘Pushing’ post all ready, but the little lady had other plans so we had to wait until now to let the world know.  Not the first plans she’s disrupted and certainly won’t be the last.  That’s ok though, it all comes with the territory.

It’s been a long few days but she’s here!  Couldn’t be more excited (and scared… but that will pass).

Zemanta Related Posts Thumbnail

Delilah Grace was born at 8:26pm May 19th weighing in at a healthy 9lbs 12.5oz & measuring 21.25″.  Because of all the meds Rachel was on she needs to stay in the special care room for at least the night which is a little hard for us but it’s for the best, we can actually get some sleep tonight!  Her name does have some meaning to us but that’s for another time.

We knew everyone would want pictures so we wanted to get these up right away.

Mom & Baby are both healthy & sleeping soundly. Dad is about to head off in that direction as well. Heh, Dad… that’ll take some getting used to.

Love you all!

~The Aldrich Family (all 3 of us)

Spring Lake Park

~ randyaa ~ 1 Comment

If you’re looking for a place to let your dogs (or your kids) burn off some energy, Spring Lake Park is the place to be.

If you walk to the back of the park it’s a safe zone, there’s nowhere the dogs can go. There’s a big open field (the old ‘Spring Lake’ I’m told) with a small baseball diamond in the middle, a 5ft chain link fence on one side and Irondiquoit creek on the other. There’s a nice embankment where the creek bends around a corner and people (and dogs) like to congregate there. Don’t say I didn’t warn you if your pet comes home soaking wet.

Spring Lake is one of our favorite spots in Perinton because we have 2 Huskies and if you know anything about huskies, they need to burn a lot of energy. In the summer we spend hours at a time there and in the winter we’re always the first ones there.

Despite what the signs say, pretty much everyone treats it as a dog park. The only other reason to go is the fishing. I’ve never done it but apparently there’s some god fishing in the Creek. Pretty much everyone that goes does the same routine. Walk to the back of the park, do a lap around the field, let them play in the creek for a few minutes and then head back out. We’re no different. I even mapped it out for ya:


GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com

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Spring lake park would sit virtually unused without the dogs. I’m very thankful we have a place like this in the town of Perinton

A Perfectly Normal Sunday

~ randyaa ~ 5 Comments

On a Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago it was gorgeous outside so Rachel and I spent the afternoon with the little one.  So what she’s not born yet?  We’re anxious parents so we couldn’t wait.

Rachel’s brother George & his wife Stacie gave us Oregon shirts for Christmas last year & we just got a package from them for the baby with a Oregon onesie in it.  It was too cute to wait a few months before using so we had a perfectly normal fun Sunday afternoon at the park.  Leave us alone.

The Coolest Thing Since… The Last Ultrasound

~ randyaa ~ Leave a comment

Wow!

Technology is amazing.

I know Ultrasounds aren’t really all that new but they can show you some really cool stuff! Seriously, this is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.

Our little baby is gonna be an acrobat or something, she sure is active and flexible!  You can almost make out her face if you watch closely.

I just wish the offices would catch up with their technology.  We’re forced to record the Ultrasounds on VHS.  Seriously… VHS.  We even bought a 4 pack of them (smallest available) from Target for the first one and it was like $8!  All we do with them is convert them from VHS->DVD for archival storage and then rip the DVD->Computer for your enjoyment and our viewing purposes (we’re all digital).

A Saturday full of Hockey

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The Labatt Blue Rochester Pond Hockey Regional was this Friday through Sunday. Saturday morning I took it in for an hour or so & It was sweet!  It was great for the town as well.  Lots of people heading in to restaurants, lots of added business for the shops and vendors on an otherwise freezing cold non-inviting snowy February day.

After picking Rachel up at work we headed out to Henrietta and managed to catch about 20 minutes of Liams Hockey game at the ESL complex.  That kid is gonna be a hockey star some day.  He’s been skating since 18 months old and he’s crazy competitive.  I see scholarships & drafts in his future.

Three in the Family

~ randyaa ~ 12 Comments

A man and a woman had a little baby,
Yes, they did.
They had three in the family,
And that’s a magic number.

Gotta say, we’re excited. We’ve got a little’n on the way.

Yep, a little baby Aldrich.

Rachel is about 4 months Pregnant right now. Naturally we’ve known for a while but we wanted to wait to share until we had something to share.

Yes we know what it is (maybe you can tell from the video) and yes we have the name picked out. However; you’ll have to wait and see.  That’ll keep you reading though right?

Baby Aldrich @ 18 weeks:

And, the video of when we told my in-laws:

UPDATE: The video of my in-laws might need an explanation.  We gave them a photo-book of our dogs. The first picture had a label on it “The Grandkids” and the last picture was of the pregnancy test.

Good stuff, Pumped.