A Machine

My cousin Matt is a machine!  Seriously.

We have had a bunch of work we needed done.  Most of it was electrical work, which Kevin didn't know how to do, and we didn't really want to learn from a you tube video.  There was a large section of it up at our cottage.  We had been quoted a price of $650 for the work just at our cottage.  I was talking to my cousin about it when I was home, and he mentioned that he could do it all.  He had learned how to do it all when working on the farm and the mine he works at, as well as when helping with his church.

Kev and I started talking about it, and figuring things out.  We realized we could fly Matt up to do the work for cheaper than we could hire just the work for our cottage alone.  We then decided to fly his wife, my best friend Nessa, up as well.  They paid for their kids and we had our amazing family here since last Friday night!

Matt, well, let me tell you about this guy.  I just have to give you the list of everything he accomplished in the last five days!

At our cottage:

• Installed a light in the boys' bedroom-including the switch and all wiring.
• Installed a light in our bedroom-including a switch and all wiring.
• Installed a new fixture in the kitchen.
• Installed an outlet for our dryer.
• Got the dryer and washer working and connected to breaker box.
• Installed an outlet in the bathroom.
• Installed another outlet in the kitchen.
• Installed a fixture in the laundry room.
• Installed and fixed a bunch of switches.
• Installed and connected the heat lamp and ceiling fan in the bathroom.
• Rewired some work that was wired improperly from years past.
• Reinstalled the outlets in the living/family room. (Actually, Kevin did this!  Matt taught him how and he was excited to learn this new skill.  I am sooooo proud of my man!)

Kevin helped Matt with all of the work at Keats and did an amazing job!  He learned some new skills and really appreciated how Matt was willing to teach him the new things.  He feels confident in doing a lot of different things now!

At our house:

• Installed wiring for outlet for our TV down in the family room.  (Will help us install it when he comes in August...Kev wants to research a few things first!)
• Replaced two old outlets in the family room.
• Replaced the light switch in the family room.
• Installed new light fixture in downstairs landing.
• Replaced all light switches in the unfinished part of the basement.  (3 of them-including 3 way switches)
• Installed a new light fixture in guest bedroom.
• Replaced two old outlets in guest bedroom.
• Replaced light switch in guest bedroom.
• Replaced light switches in stairwells.
• Replaced four old outlets in the kitchen with GFCI proper outlets.
• Checked out this weird old "razor only" outlet in our bathroom that never worked-he then replaced it with TWO outlets! GFCI certified!  We went from NO working outlets in the main bathroom two having FOUR places to plug things in!  HEAVEN!!!!!!!!
• Replaced our old chandelier light fixture in the dining room with a beautiful, eco-friendly and energy efficient simple chandelier.
• Replaced one old outlet in our bedroom that hadn't been done.
• Replaced old outlet in our ensuite bathroom that hadn't been a GFCI certified one.
• Replaced the old switch in our ensuite bathroom.
• Replaced our two outside outlets with proper outlets, including covers.
• Attached plywood cover onto sandbox.
• Started building a custom shoe bench for me...we put it on hold until August so I have time to paint it.

Vanessa helped out too!  She even helped me get our guest bedroom set up with our old bed and rearrange our bedroom with our new bed and bedding!

Can you believe it?  Do you SEE why I say the man is a machine?  He worked so hard, and we are so incredibly appreciative.  We really feel like so many of the unfinished things that were lingering around our house are done now, and we are so thankful.  We also feel like it is safer with those old outlets replaced!  Some of them were SOOO loose and sketchy!

Kevin learned a lot of wonderful skills and realized what I have been saying all along, that Matt is amazing and a great guy!  He got a wonderful chance to connect with Matt more, and felt that they were able to really have some great chats.  He realized why I have always said that Matt is more of a brother to me than a cousin. 

Nessa, the kids, and I had a great time too, and we even got Matt to break long enough to go to the park with us.  Unfortunately, Kevin had to work the last few days, so he didn't get to be working with Matt on those days, but still really loved everything that he was able to do at our cottage.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Matt, Nessa and Kids!  We had an AMAZING time and we are so, so, so thankful!  We love you so much and can't wait to see you in August!

One other side note:  In the picture above Matt is holding his daughter and our little Rocky.  These two are just about 2 1/2 months apart in age.  Matt and I grew up being only six months apart in age.  I was the older, just as his daughter is.  We are so excited to have children this close in age, and that it is sort of the same dynamic we had.  We hope that they will be great friends!  Matt and I always were, and we we still are.  We spend a lot of time with these guys, and we already see them having fun together.  It will only get better from here!