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

Now this is comfy nice for both Ava and Kyle. Her uncle put her right to sleep on his chest when she was hanging out over at our house Tuesday night. And she loved watching Grandma dink (like I always do) in the kitchen and sat so nice in her seat. Cole got mad because apparently they don't sit/set her down too often when she is awake so she doesn't know how to act at home when they do. She is so sweet and growing up so fast. Love her to death and cannot wait to be able to pick her up a few days a week from daycare and spend time bonding with her. She does like Grandma Kay's voice so I think I'm in! Everyone have a great weekend. We have our "boater's sale" at the Lansing Marina this weekend so hopefully we get rid of some good stuff and also find some great bargains. One never knows! And I hope our cookies are a hit since I spent so much time on them. Otherwise we will all gain a few pounds this weekend. Oh well! Have fun!

This is the ONLY picture that I got at 7 on 7 this year and it is because my good camera is broken and my little one has issues also. Yep I will be purchasing a new small one to throw in my purse tomorrow so if my SIL Sharon has any thoughts on that for me it would be appreciated. Bruce did drop off my good camera (in my opinion plenty good and big for me) to get fixed but they said it will be a few weeks. And my small one is not behaving lately so hopefully I pick up something that I like. Ty is one of those kids to the lower right. It was fun watching them. Too bad it was usually 115 degrees in the shade on Sundays when they played. But I don't think our Wapsie boys lost. Although the scoring is way confusing to me so that may not be accurate. Anyway I baked 6 dozen cutout sugar cookies tonight for the weekend and lets just say that I am not a big fan anymore of cutout cookies! Way too much work. Round is just fine by me. Everyone have a great Thursday. The weekend is almost her...

I cannot believe that today you are no longer a teenager and now are 20 years old. And what a wonderful man you have grown up to be. I'd like to think Dad & I had a little bit to do with that! We are very proud of you in everything that you do. The fact that you worked 30+ hours per week all through your second year of college and made the Dean's list both semesters says a lot about your character and conviction.  I know you will be very successful in life. You are a wonderful person and we are so blessed to have you in our lives. Have a wonderful birthday favorite middle son! Love, Momma ***I had to put that for your brothers benefit!!!!!  Too funny! 

This is what we (picture is SIL Helen and a dear old friend) did last weekend on the sandbar. Let's just say that the "big" kids had just as much fun as the little kids. We had excellent weather and have now decided it needs to be an annual event. Thanks to Ray & Tracy for getting all the stuff to make it happen. We all had a great time and I'm happy to say no injuries (besides Bruce's toes-not water slide related). We finally got some rain today and the humidity was down quite a bit. I guess it is coming back tomorrow I believe. Guess we might as well be back on the beach sitting in the water and staying cool. Everyone have a great weekend!

I finally got the garden all weeded last week after being on vacation for 10 days.  And it is looking better this year than it has for a long time.  I'm glad that I waited so long to get it in. We put new fertilized soil on the top.   And I didn't get cages on all the tomatoes before we left and now they are too big so hoping they fare okay without.  I at least was smart enough to space them out more this year.  Hoping for lots of tomatoes to make my version of V8 juice.  I didn't get any canned last year due to the tomato plants rotting.  Here's hoping for a bountiful year of produce right in the back yard!

Had another great weekend at the river. All except for the part when we were coming into the pump out dock with the houseboat and suddenly reverse turned into forward and we had no reverse! Bruce handled it well and we only might have done a little slight damage to the dock. We got back in our slip safely and Ray and Bruce think they've figured out the problem. Hopefully we will be good to go again next weekend. We had a waterslide on the sanbar this weekend and a great time was had by many. I never shared any 4th of July pictures and here are just a couple of Ava's festive outfit, and the cupcakes Ashley and Taylor frosted and decorated for me. Woke up this morning with a bad sore throat and not sure if it is a cold or just from all of the river water I swallowed this weekend going down the waterslide. Think I'll call it an early night and hope to feel better when I get up. Have a great week and stay cool. Sounds like it will be a cooker here in Iowa for sure!

Ashley calls this tummy time but I think it is torture so far. She claims she loves it but I haven't seen that. Although we have only been there for it a couple of times. This little sweetheart turned over several times from "tummy time" when she was about two weeks old. Can you say genius? I think so! Everyone have a wonderful weekend! And if anyone is getting sick of grandbaby pictures already then GET OVER IT! There will be plenty more of those to come on this blog from now on. I will try and add some other stuff in here and there. Its not like I have many more lurkers other than family! Happy Friday all.

Tyler has been so busy this summer with summer basketball, baseball, lifting weights a few mornings a week at the high school, and football 7 on 7 get togethers. Also attended UNI all position football camp and a basketball camp at Wapsie. He also has another basketball camp coming up. The kid finally turns 16 and could get a J-O-B but he is just too darn busy to do so. Talking to a neighbor up at the marina she made a very good point. They have the rest of their lives to work and need to enjoy now. I guess that is so true for the last baby growing up, but damn I'm wishing he could pay for some of his own stuff like the older two did in high school! Momma's pocket book is definitely feeling it. Two more years I guess and then he will be gone. Will we feel rich then??????? Nope it will be something else. Always something else isn't there?

We have been gone on vacation for 9 days and just got back last night for anyone that didn't know.  I didn't post anything while on vacation (obviously), and actually for the most part not being on the computer or watching any TV (except for a DVD one night) was awesome.  Guess if Bruce can live without TV for 9 days I certainly could.  Although it was the first thing he did when he walked in the house.  Turned it on and started flipping channels.  I definitely have pictures of Colorado family here over the 4th, and new ones of grand baby Ava both on her first nights stay on the houseboat and from tonight her 1 month old date the 11th.  Will try and get some posts together very soon.  We took today off to get caught up after being gone and I still feel like I didn't get everything accomplished.  But I am glad to be back home and see the kids and Ava.  Everything will get back to normal soon.  It will take me forever to catch up and ...