~~ODNEAL FAMILY BLOG~~Port of Readlyn, Iowa

Just thinking spring and the sight of this picture is what I look at all day long on my desktop at work. Can't wait to be back at the river doing just what this photo shows. Oh can spring please hurry up and get here. At least the ice and snow dodged us this time around. Warm thoughts for the weekend!

Came across this picture from December and totally laughed. Not sure who took it or why but it is a funny one of Cole and I. Nice picture-wonder what we thought was so funny???????

Kyle brought this home the other night from Taylor's-a guy that works for her dad apparently brought it in and asked Bill if he knew Kyle Odneal. Turns out Kyle was selected to the 2008 Iowa High School Football Coaches Association Academic All State Team. How very cool. He didn't know anything about it and Coach Foster never said a thing. So anyways, had to share (brag) so Grandpa & Grandma can see! Good job Kyle. He just loves it when I embarass him like this. Sorry Kyle! (can click on picture to see close up)

*** Update- Very sad news for Taylor. Completely tore her ACL which will not be a fun recovery at all. I feel terrible for you Taylor. I wanted to bawl with you when Kyle told me. Hang in there! Well, we went to the substate game last night vs. North Butler. It was a very close, exciting game, but unfortunately Wapsie came up short 32-35. And once again they blocked Taylor out and she didn't get to shoot. That really bites as she had 5-3 pointers last Friday night! But I think our girls did very well. I feel bad for the seniors that had to have it be their last regular high school game. Taylor got hurt at the very end also so that was the worst part of the evening. Hopefully she will be fixed up in no time. The trainer thinks it is her lateral meniscus like Kyle has had to have done three times. I hope she was wrong and that is not it. Good job Taylor and Wapsie on a great season! Hope you get fixed up in time for April 4th Taylor!

Who knew that Gizmo & Gadget could have so much fun playing with a set of earplugs. I didn't know the fat girl could jump up like that!

Yep, I'm telling you I should have had wrestling mats installed instead of carpet back in 1999 when we moved into this house! I do need new flooring in the living room, but it is a little late now to put mats in there. Guess they can't hurt the carpet. They can only hurt each other at this point and boy do they LOVE doing that! Wrestle on dudes, wrestle on.

  Went to the game last night at Wapsie against Don Bosco. Our girls played well and won 60-31. Bruce thinks he is a jinx to Taylor because she doesn't get many points when he is there. I doubt that is it because the last game we went to she didn't know we were coming! Anyways, good job Taylor and Wapsie Ladies and good luck Friday night!

  I didn't get flowers from my sweetheart on Valentine's day, but Cole & Ashley did bring me this tulip plant on Saturday night. I guess I can plant it outside in the spring. It didn't really say on the sticker. It sure looks pretty in my kitchen, and makes me wish spring would get here even sooner! Rain forecast for this afternoon but unfortunately it will turn to snow before morning. Bummer!

  Just a picture from the weekend of Tyler sitting on the couch chillin' with Gizmo. He looks either really tired or just really into his TV show. May everyone have a good week. And may we miss that snow and crap that is supposedly coming our way! Think spring.

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. We don't usually get each other anything but since I had to do the "girlfriend" shopping the other night I did pick up a card and some sweets for my honey. It's the thought that counts, right?

For the girls district basketball game last night against West Central, the students decided to dress pink for breast cancer awareness month. Well, of course Kyle wanted to decorate his shirt with Taylor's name and number and requested my assistance. We couldn't find any iron on letters big enough, or any numbers so we decided to use fabric paint. Kyle cut out the stencils and I painted them. It turned out pretty good. We had a little trouble with the paint bleeding through some spots we didn't want it to, but the shirt looked awesome I think. And our girls kicked butt and won by 33 points I think Kyle said. We didn't go because Kyle warned us it would be a blow out. Good job Wapsie ladies! Keep on winning your way to state! And Kyle, did I mention that I suck at painting and that is why Dad always does it???? Too late.

Yep, Gizmo was very happy to have it be in the 50's yesterday. She even had to check out the squirrel feeder. And didn't she pose pretty for me when I asked her to? Maybe spring will be here very soon. That makes for happy parents, happy kids, and happy cats!

Once again our living room was a wrestling room last night. I'm not sure who started it but they sure had fun and wore Bruce out!

Last night was Tyler's last wrestling meet for the year at Traer. He did great. Pinned his first and last guy, and got pinned his second match but has nothing to hang his head about because he fought hard and the kid was good. Great season Tyler!

So last weekend Cole's phone accidentally went through the wash. He was not very happy to say the least. But, Ashley took my blowdryer to it right away, and then we put it in a baggie with dry instant rice. It really dried out the phone very well. As of Monday it was working somewhat, but still had a bit of moisture in the screen so Cole left it in the baggie for a while longer. Who would ever think that rice could save a phone? Genius!

Finally found some bedding that matches Kyle's room so he now has bedding that looks good in there. We only did his room like 2 years ago or something! Now I need to get some new blinds and curtains and it will be finished. Yeah, finish his room when he leaves home in like 6 months for college!

So Bruce ran with me Saturday to Wal-Mart to get some groceries and more paint for the basement, and it just so happens they had taken two floor model TV's up front by the checkouts and slashed the prices just as we were ready to checkout and go home. Well, we got a 50 inch plasma flat screen for the living room for $500. It had been $1000 so we couldn't pass it up. Bruce will have to make a stand for it to go on but we used an old one from the attic for the time being. And the old big screen did fit up the stairs (barely) so Tyler now has the 56 inch TV in his bedroom. He is in heaven even though it really takes up way too much room in there. Yep, think we should have stayed home and we'd have saved some money, but Bruce has wanted one for a while and we couldn't pass up the price. Oh well! I'll leave him home next time to save some money!

Went to watch Taylor play Friday night. Didn't get too many pictures but here are the ones that I did take. Bruce said he isn't going to anymore games because everytime he has went to watch Taylor we lost. He's gone to like 2 games total so I doubt he is the reason for them losing! Glad we got to see another game. I really enjoy watching Taylor play and shoot 3 pointers!