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

Snapped some pictures of my plants and flowers around the house the other day. The hostas are really shooting up, and I have some new plants that I put in last year my sister in law gave me. Not sure what they will end up being but I think some is Lilly Of The Valley and it smells wonderful! Peonies are peaking through the grass also and will shoot up tall in no time. Now if we can just get some warmer temperatures to really make everything grow. I am so ready to get my garden planted and play in the dirt!

Okay, I always am taking pictures of Bruce with the cats sleeping on the couch so I guess he got me back last weekend. This was taken Sunday night and I didn't even know it until I copied my pictures last night! So I guess he isn't the only one that falls asleep on the couch with the kitty's! I bet he thought he was really funny. Glad I could could be his cheap entertainment for the evening!

Yep, I admit it. I haven't posted in almost a week. I do have pictures on both my cameras to upload just keep forgetting to grab them, or don't think about it at night at home. Still waiting for some summer like weather to come. After the torrential rains that we had last weekend if we do get a couple nice sunny days our lawn will need bailed! Glad to see buds coming on the trees though and everything turning green. Today is 100 days for Obama in the White House-that seems to be the most exciting news on the web today besides the "swine flu" which actually isn't the swine flu! Or at least we aren't supposed to call it that and no, you can't catch it from pork! So Wednesday's words of wisdom (since I have no pics to post)-wash your hands good and often to avoid getting this non-swine flu ! :-)

I stole this picture of me and Lady from Sharon's blog. My Mom used to put rollers (I was always told she used frozen OJ cans!) in my long hair quite often I guess and I would run around outside in my underwear and play. Didn't phase me at all that I had curlers in! I was such a tomboy!

Yep today I am 41 years young! Taking the afternoon off so Bruce and I can go to lunch and then making him hang out with me for the day. Fun, fun. This is a favorite picture of us taken a few years back at a Chiefs game. Wish I had that long hair back! Thanks to everyone that has texted me already or wrote on my Facebook wall to wish me a happy birthday. I think today will be a good day. Wonder if I will like my birthday when I hit the big 5-0???

Here are just a few pictures I took of our first weekend at the houseboat for the year. Everything looked good after a long, hard winter. The fridge didn't want to kick on right away when I plugged it in but eventually it did. Think it has a mind of its own or something. Don't mind the clutter in these pictures-it is usually spotless! Just kidding. We all know better than that with kids! The lamp on the table has to go also. Bruce told me it looks like something an old person would do-just stick a lamp anywhere random! So look out everyone next weekend-I will try and pass it on to one of you. Joey maybe you need it back for somewhere????? I'm very glad that spring is finally here and we can enjoy some R&R at the beach. Yeah for the Mississippi River fun!

Here are a few pictures I took of the new docks at Lansing Marina. They are really nice compared to the old wooden rickety ones (and I don't think our slip rent even went up!). Cannot wait to get our boat moved in to its new digs this coming weekend. It looks like we have a lot more room than before. Yippee for another boating season-let the summer fun begin! Click on pictures if want to see close up.

Took this picture Good Friday in Gilbertville at The Dew Drop. I leaned backwards behind the bar and snapped it. It is ceiling tiles that the beer distributor did for them for advertisement and I just plain thought that they were very cool! Yeah Bud Light!

So you can see by the top picture that yes, Gizmo is up on top of the kitchen cabinets and she didn't get up there by herself. She had some help from Kyle! She did think it was rather nice laying up there looking down upon all of us. But I think she was a little scared to get down. At least Gadget can't drive her crazy when she is clear up there. Maybe we should have left her there longer!

These pictures didn't come out very good at all from Saturday but Kyle's group had to make two cars out of mouse traps, CD's, and other miscellaneous crap. One was to go fast, and this one was distance. They never did get it going very far before Kyle had to take it to school Monday, but hopefully it works okay for him when they test it. It looked like quite the contraption!

Here are just a few pictures I took Easter Sunday at Bart & Sharon's house. We of course had plenty of good food, and Ty you see here making sure there isn't too much ham leftover! The other pictures are of Bruce, Kyle, and Brian playing Wii! Bowling was a blast. I think I need to get myself one of those! Guess maybe I better get the kids PS3 fixed first or they won't be too happy! :-)

Tuxedo Rental $123.53 Limo Portion $40.00 $$ For Dinner & Pictures $80.00 Corsage $25.00 Total: $268.53 Son that actually wins cash at the After Prom and gives it back to you to cover some of the prom costs..............Definitely Priceless!!!! Thanks Kyle! Note : I let him keep $50 of his hard "earned" cash just because I am a nice Mom!

So just a couple of pictures to share of Gizmo enjoying her "condo". I think she believes she is truly special now that she has her own "house". Yes, she is very spoiled and we love her! Hey, she is cheap entertainment ! Have a great weekend and enjoy the weather!

Walked around outside yesterday afternoon and was suprised to find these along the south side of the house. Last time I checked nothing was up yet. I just love cutting the first flowers of the season. Now I know that spring has got to be here to stay. Soon the lawn will be green and lush also. Yeah spring!

The Headless Cat!

Here is Kyle & Taylor Saturday before Prom. I will post all of my snapshots later via a slideshow so it is easier to look at. Didn't they look great? And that dress is gorgeous! Stay tuned for more pictures later. I already went through them all and fixed red eyes, etc. but I just have to upload them to slide and such. You will even get to see some shots of Taylor getting her hair done! She had told me not to put them on the blog, but last night relented and so I will post them!

Took these pictures on my deck Sunday during the April "blizzard" of my regular friendly squirrel and a sweet little bird. I'm sure they were wondering why the heck our weather keeps changing from sunny, warm, and nice to cold and snowy. But the weather didn't stop either one from getting plenty of food! Do you think they get mad at Mother Nature like the rest of us? I cannot wait to shut off the furnace and open up the windows. Are you listening Mother Nature?

Yeah, so I'm a day late. I didn't have any pictures on the home computer so had to find one here at work. And this picture is 3 years old! But anyways, hope you had a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY and got to relax and do something fun! Hope we get to see you guys this summer!

Yep, not sure how much snow we got in Readlyn but it had better be the last time for the year! I was out shoveling some of it and it was very heavy wet snow. I'm hoping most of it melts this afternoon. Mother Nature sure isn't very nice!

Prom 2009 This is Kyle and Taylor and the rest of the gang right before taking off to go eat before the dance.  It was very windy out so their hair is blowing all over.  Many more pics to share tomorrow.  Just thought I’d post one to show what Taylor and Kyle looked like all dressed up and ready.  I cannot believe the girls’ dresses.  Much different than when I went to Prom a million years ago.  Very beautiful!  Hope they all have a great time! 

Tomorrow is Wapsie's prom and the weather is not looking very promising. Sounds like cold and wet (and possibly that awful white stuff-spring? who said it was spring?). Yuckk!!! I'm hoping the forecast changes for Kyle & Taylor by then. Here is a picture from last year. Don't they look great? I think Taylor's dress is even more beautiful this year. If that is possible! Pray for good weather and a good, safe time for all. I'll post plenty of pics after the weekend I'm sure. Everyone have a good one!

So yesterday was Kevin's birthday and I didn't get anything posted. So hope you had a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROCK STAR!

April Fools!!!!!! The vet tells me she should lose weight but lets face it, I am not going to even try to keep her and Gadget's food separate. Way too much work. The self feeder they have might have something to do with her plump figure. Hey, she's definitely healthy. Happy April Fools Day!