Pool and Backyard Remodel

We've owned our home for about 11 years and had no idea how old the existing pool was. There were definitely signs of deterioration, but we tried to hold out on remodeling for as long as possible because we knew it would be a huge project. Instead of just resurfacing and/or re-tiling, we decided it was time to attack all aspects. Our yard was in need of love because we had a trampoline that killed all the grass underneath it and various other spots in the yard that had trouble growing grass. Lastly, the patio near our back door was sort of a pebble style, which wasn't comfortable underneath bare feet. Like I said - big project! Here are the cringe-worthy before pictures:

After we finally decided which company to use, our remodel list was created. It included: removing a retaining wall, removing two trees, skim-coating the patio, removing landscaping, adding turf and new landscaping, replacing plaster, coping, tile, stone, and decking, replacing the diving board, filling in the unused hot tub and making a tanning ledge with bubbler, installing a pool light, and adding a hidden auto-filler. Whew! Making all the selections and staying on top of the project was time-consuming, and the price tag was not for the faint of heart either. But, all in all, I'm so happy we finally took the plunge and turned our backyard space into something to be proud of. Enjoy the after pics! 

 

Family Trip to Seattle and Vancouver

Since Thanksgiving week is typically a slow one for business for Meezy and I, and the kids are off school, we like to use that opportunity to take a vacation. Being the good wife that I am, I found out that the 49ers were playing the Seahawks in Seattle on Thanksgiving Day 2023, so that could be a fun outing for my 49ers-loving husband. We're trying to bring the kids to more live sporting events, so it seemed like a good option for all of us. I planned the trip around that, but knew that we wouldn't want to spend the entire week in Seattle. 

After landing in Seattle, we drove to Vancouver for the first half of our trip. We stayed at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront, which was a nice hotel and close to the Christmas Market. The market was cute to visit, but didn't quite live up to my expectations. Jude loved the carousel though, so it was still a win.

The next day we visited Granville Island (by ferry), Sunset Beach, and enjoyed Kooza, by Cirque du Soleil. The kids really enjoyed the show and it was fun for us parents too!

Our final day in Vancouver was probably my favorite. We started at Charleson Park, visited the Capilano River Hatchery where we lucked out and saw bald eagles, and braved the amazing Capilano Suspension Bridge. It was breathtaking and probably quite terrifying for a lot of people. We got a bunch of great pics there!

 

We made our way back to Seattle and stayed at the Alexis Royal Sonesta Hotel. Even though we had a car, we were hoping to walk to a lot of our destinations, so this hotel was a good option for us.  Our first stops were the Pike Place Market, the Gum Wall, and the Great Wheel at Pier 57. The weather was really cooperating, so we got some nice shots.

The next day we took the monorail to the Seattle Center and checked out the playground and went to the top of the Space Needle. The views were pretty great and the kids enjoyed it. 

That night we didn't have concrete plans, and we realized that the Kraken had a game nearby, so we checked on some last minute tickets. As luck would have it, there were some seats available on the glass, so we snagged them. I'm so glad we did! The game was awesome. The kids thought it was crazy to be that close to the action, especially when the players would slam into the wall in front of us. An usher found out it was Jude's first game, so they gave him a certificate and pin. We stayed all the way to the end and cheered for the Kraken players as they skated around and celebrated their win. As Bellemare was about to head for the tunnel, he spotted Dutch and handed his stick over the glass to him. It was unbelievable! How crazy to spontaneously attend the game and end up with a player's stick. It is now proudly mounted in our game room!

The next day was Thanksgiving, so we found a nearby restaurant that was actually open for lunch, and then headed to Lumen Field to watch the 49ers and Seahawks. It was the night game and quite chilly, so we bundled up as best we could. We had some pretty good seats and were near many other 49ers fans, so it was a fun experience, especially since the 49ers pretty handily beat the Seahawks. 

  

The next morning it was time to head back home with our cute little jet-setters. I love making these memories with them, and it doesn't hurt that Meezy and I are checking items off our bucket list at the same time!