Our cottage exterior is officially complete!
We’ve had a lot of fun this summer
planting trees and landscaping, building
and installing a new gate and fence and
overhauling our backyard.
This exterior project was a little different
because we did it as a family. The girls are
finally old enough to take part in the reno
process! Ella helped by loading up small
fence boards and bringing them to me to
install the white picket fence on each side
of our new driveway gate. The little one,
Emilie, would pass me the measuring tape
and other tools as needed. Mandy even
had a chance to try her hand using the air
nailer! As I contemplated how far of a drive
the hospital was, she nailed in those fence
boards like a champ! It was truly a family
affair!
Some of the best memories that I have
from my childhood were on a construction
site or renovation project. There is
something special about knowing that you
were part of something bigger. The girls
were officially introduced to that Atiyolil
tradition this summer! When Ella starts
school this fall, her new friends will tell her
about their play time during their summer
holidays and she will reply proudly “I
helped my Dad build a fence, plant trees,
and paint.”
One of the greatest treasures a man has
is his family and I can honestly say that
mine is truly one of a kind. I am incredibly
blessed with an amazing wife that goes
with the flow as I start to dig out the
backyard at 5 am and say “We are going to
build a compound with a pool, hot tub, an
outdoor living room with a fireplace and a
dining area. Why you ask? Because it’ll be
pretty!”
MARC ATIYOLIL
Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]