Uncle Matt Visits Us from Wisconsin

This past week we had a surprise visit from Uncle Matt - Boppy's youngest brother from Wisconsin! Uncle Matt is now an empty-nester with both of his children being of college age, and he is enjoying the freedom of being able to spontaneously visit his family members spread across the globe! We were excited that we Massachusetts folk were chosen as the first visit since the New Zealanders would be tough competition aesthetic wise - a hard act to follow for sure!

The boys really enjoyed meeting Uncle Matt, and I think Jules especially took a liking to him, because he kept asking where Uncle Matt was when he left!

Last weekend Boppy and Uncle Matt came over for coffee, and ended up staying most of the day here! They brought their chainsaws, and Ben and Leo joined them outside for a morning spent clearing a walking trail through the woods in the back of our property. Joni and Jules and I prepared lunch for them and served it to them when they returned - sloppy joes, antipasto tortellini salad, and blackened broccoli.

We knew we had a little babbling brook and a teeny tiny waterfall on our property (too shallow for little ones to drown in - thank heavens) - but we had no way to access it since the trees back there were quite overgrown. Boppy thought it would be neat for the boys to be able to access the stream, and after a few hours of generous chainsaw family fun, we now have a walking trail in our backyard!

Much to their dismay, there doesn't seem to be any fish in the little stream, but ssshhh! don't tell my little boys that! Yesterday they spent 2 HOURS out there pretending to fish using wooden sticks as poles...it was like the old man and the sea...waiting patiently for fish that would never arrive...so I am determined to preserve their innocence and keep their imaginations going...perhaps one day a fish will find its way into our stream...it could happen!

On Wednesday my doorbell rang early in the morning, and Uncle Matt volunteered to spend the day with me helping me with projects around the house while Boppy was at work! It was like an angel fell from heaven...Uncle Matt is quite the helper - let me tell you!!!!

First, Uncle Matt didn't mind my boys horrendous behavior and fighting during the 5 minute car ride to Lowe's. Secondly, he wasn't at all offended when the cashier thought we were married. Thirdly, he did a wonderful job coaching me through projects!

We made a list of projects around the house I needed help with, and then we prioritized and made a list of goals given the tiny 5 hour time frame we had to work with! (I had to leave at 5 p.m. to go teach my childbirth ed class, and by the time we returned from Lowe's it was already noon!)

First, Uncle Matt thought it would be a good idea to consolidate our electrical outlets in the garage...in order to make our electric garage doors open, we had been running an orange extension cord across the garage. Uncle Matt was able to solve this problem by creating 2 new electrical outlets for us! Thank you Uncle Matt!

Secondly, Uncle Matt had noticed that in Ben's office, the florescent overhead light was missing its cover, making the light uncomfortably bright. But since the light is so outdated, it would be difficult for us to find a cover. But on Sunday morning, Uncle Matt spotted one at the local flea market! Then he was gracious enough to install it for Ben!

And then, last but not least, there's my little guest suite kitchenette that is coming along slowly but surely...I am chipping away at the work very slowly with Joni strapped to my back, but it's been a good lesson for me in patience...

Uncle Matt noticed I had been painting the cabinets with a sponge brush, and suggested I switch to a nice Wooster bristle brush...oh my goodness! What a difference! And he also suggested that after I painted them with a brush, I do another coat with a high gloss spray.

Uncle Matt thought it would be easier if we could spray the cabinets on a line outside, so he turned our front steps into a "clothesline type" spray station using the hooks on the cabinets and a few bungee cords!

While I brush painted the cabinets, Joni actually played by herself on the grass...we are enjoying the 70 degree weather here! This was the first time she had actually let me put her down since I've been painting! The only trouble was that she began eating everything in site - from mulch to grass to dirt, so I had to pick her up and attach her to my back again, even though she had been content on the ground!

It was so nice having Uncle Matt here, and I hope this was just the first of many visits! I was really touched that a man on his vacation would choose to spend his time helping me out! What a great guy!

This good ol' fashioned gentleman-ly-ness runs in the family though, don't you think? :-) Boppy and Ben are two other shining examples, and I'm hoping my boys will follow suit!