Cool Summer Awaits!!

We got an above ground pool!! YEAH!!! I have always wanted to have a pool but Tony and I decided a long time ago that it wouldnt' be worth the expense to put in a pool at this house. Our backyard is not that big and we would most likely never get our money back out of it when we sell.

So I am pregnant the days get hotter, I am already thinking of how I am going to make it through the summer and one day when in Toys R Us with Misty, we say some above ground pools for $200. So I pass that on to Tony, thinking for very little investment we could get something that would be fun for the summer and maybe last a couple of years...

Of course Tony does what he does best, and starts researching....which eventually leads us to more sturdy rectangular steel frame pool (18' x 9' x 4' deep). And once we decide to get it....the race is on!! Of course I want it RIGHT NOW!! We did get it last week and put it up this past weekend. Brian (Tony's cousin), Andre and Felicia came over to help Saturday morning and the pool was up before noon. It was filled by that evening and we were adding salt (115 pounds).

Tony decided to go the salt water route rather than the harsher chemicals, which is great! All we had to do was buy a special converter that goes with the pump that chlorinates the salt water with electrical current through a copper conductor. Not exactly sure how the science works, but its cool!

Sunday we took the water and had it tested and the alkalitity was out of balance so all we had to do was add about 3 pounds of baking soda. So we did that yesterday and ran the pumps, everything seems to be working well. Unfortunately it rained late yesterday and its supposed to rain today and for the next few days probably... so we won't be able to enjoy it yet.....

Before we have many guests, we are ordering a differnent entrance system for the pool, rather than the rickety ladder that came with it. We are going to get a sort of platform with a ladder going up onto the platform (that has a locking gate for safety) and another ladder going into the pool. This will be much more substantial and stable, especially since i'm so clumsy and my sense of balance is getting worse by the day!

Here's a picture of the main part of the pool, this was the first day so the water has a slight green tint to it...but that will change and the chorinating converter does its magic!