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

This is pure LOVE. No other way to describe the picture or her. You think when you have your own children that there is no other love stronger but I'm here to tell you that the love for a grandbaby comes as close as anything ever will to your own kids. Love you little baby Ava and hopefully get to spoil you again very soon! We miss you and do not get to see you near enough for living 3 blocks away! Now if I could just figure out how to keep Gizmo out of Ava's pack n' play we would be good. But I guess she is at least keeping it warm for whenever Ava shows back up at Gma and Gpa's house! We miss you! ****Yes I realize I just posted a picture of this canvas a few days ago.  Guess I should delete it and find another picture.  Any picture with Ava is love!  Here is a cute one I don't think I've posted.  But it came up sideways!  I give up.  Everyone have a great weekend!

I didn't post this to show up first thing today as you hadn't mentioned anything about it being our anniversary so I'm wondering if you perhaps did forget. I wasn't thinking last night when I had you get me those papers out of my purse and had your card sitting in it to put out this morning. Did you see it? Brilliant-NOT! But I'm sure Fred told you at work this morning if you did forget since it is also their 21st anniversary today! Anyway we have had a great life together and three wonderful boys (well most of the time), and here's hoping to many more years of fun, craziness, and of course happiness and love. You are my soul mate and best friend in the world. May we grow old together and not drive each other too crazy. But with your "selective" hearing and my lack of memory already I'm thinking it might be a little rough when we get into our 70's! I love you honey and happy anniversary! I don't have to cook tonight, right?????? Oh and you...

Yep here we have 20 and 16 deciding to wrestle around after dinner. But I was told "Mom don't yell at us". Hey I was just trying to protect the Jr. in HS kids knee (Ty's has been bothering him) since I know that the Jr. in college has 2 knees that are still shot after 3 surgeries! So yes people this goes on in householdss that are "normal dysfunctional" (as I call it) on a regular basis. And I love it. If they are still showing each other love and affection then life is good. Right? I do have to admit that I made (yeah right I asked) them to quit because we do not need Ty hurt for football. Our team definitely needs him and I frankly don't want to spend more money on doctors and surgeries. He needs to maintain HEALTHY!  Yep he told me long ago he thinks he is indestructible and I truly believe that might be true.  At least I'm hoping that is true. So my  animal son........little B, please know your limitations but give everything your all. You are ...

So my pictures didn't turn out very good but this is a paint on canvas that Sharon (SIL photographer-the BEST photographer ever) painted of Ava at 1 month and Bruce brought it home today. This is exceptional and I am proud to have it on our wall. Much better investment than all of the prints hanging! You are so talented Sharon and I feel so happy and grateful that we ended up with this. Sending a check in the mail tomorrow. This is just so precious. And look at her little biceps! She is unbelievable and I never would have believed that the love for grandchildren could be so out of this world! Thank you Sharon for all that you do. Ava will be watching over us this Thanksgiving in the dining room. I am up for Turkey Day, right? Thank you for doing this paint. It is certainly one of our most precious posessions and she is gorgeous! She makes a great addition to our decor! **Reading this now the sentence about Ava "watching over us" doesn't sound quite right.  I just m...

Today marks five years that Kyle and Taylor have been together. I'm not sure if that is figured from their first date or when they actually started "going together", but anyway Happy Together Anniversary you two! I tried to find a picture from the first Homecoming but couldn't. So here is a collage of some of my favorite snapshots of you guys. Of course a few are at the river and I'm sad that looking through this summers photos I don't have new ones. That means you didn't make it up to the houseboat near enough. Maybe next summer we can remedy that. Come to think of it all our kids didn't get there enough. So anyway you two "kids" (I know you are both 20 and not kids) are great people and I am very happy that our crazy family hasn't scared Taylor away yet! I think she's in for the long haul. I know that you two will continue to be happy together and will succeed in all your dreams. I am proud of you guys. You are both very special to ...

So this is a corner or I should say "MY CORNER" of my kitchen. Last night I was looking at my cute little post it note purse dispenser that our office supply gal sold me and I was thinking I ought to share that. We are note leaving people at my house and I make lists ALL THE TIME so when she showed me this satchel dispenser I was sold. So after I snapped a couple pictures of it to post about it and my mostly dead last flower that bloomed of the year (believe me I am crying over that fact-Hello Aldi's cheap bouquets that last FOREVER!) Gizmo was batting at the cabinet door that I ditch my purse and bag everyday in. So I let her in. Well she has gotten bigger so she doesn't even really fit in the cupboard very well with my stuff in there. We used to let her in and shut the door and she would come bursting out! Oh well I guess we all lose a little gusto as we age,  right? Cats must be the same. She was just content to take over my purse cupboard for a short while. We ha...

I was watching the hummingbirds on the feeder and coming up to my flower pots on Tuesday and grabbed my little camera out of my purse as my good one was in the living room. I just shot this through the glass storm door thinking I was getting the hummingbird in my flower, and when I snapped the picture Gizmo came out of nowhere and swiped at the bird. It hovered above for a little while and then decided I think that it was better off eating from the feeder. I really think she wanted to get it, but she always tries so hard and we really don't think she could hurt anything. Oh except bugs. She has no problem eating those! But hummingbirds I think you are safe when she is nearby and I hope you stick around for awhile!

Not feeling the blogging love this week so haven't really sat down to do any posts or slideshows of our awesome float weekend. Maybe over the weekend I will get that done. What can I say? I'm a busy gal. This photo is from last Friday night at the WV Homecoming football game and this would be my brother Rick with Sharon's camera. Yes he is standing right next to our "official" school photographer (to the left) and a news guy on the right. Only he would be bold enough to walk up and stand on the sideline and snap pictures! But I am so glad that Bart, Sharon, Rick, and Pam all got to come to the game and see Ty play at least for a while. Wish they could have stayed longer but the game itself was not pretty. Our boys should have had a much better score than 13-0. But a win is a win and we will take it! Thanks for the pictures Sharon and "RCC Photography". Rick don't quit your day job. I deleted a LOT of pictures off of Sharon's camera before I sent...

More of this tonight. Everyone have a great weekend. We have our annual houseboat float on Saturday and OMG do we have plenty of food planned! Going to watch WV kick some Clayton Ridge booty for homecoming before heading to the river to get ready and enjoy our awesome food on the float. We had the pep rally and jersey auction tonight and I have to say that I loved that we were in and out in an hour and only had to write a small check compared to some years. And of course I don't get to wear the jersey but that is okay! Someone (hey Autumn) will have fun wearing it at school tomorrow. Hats off to the WV school admin that decided to try the silent auction. I think a lot of people felt good about it! Good luck WV on your homecoming and kick some Eagle (we hope that is right since the cheerleaders called them that) butt! Everyone have a great weekend. I know that we will!

These are pictures from the game last Friday night at Bellevue (WV 41 Bellevue 14). Yes it seemed like a long trip but next Friday we will leave around 3:30 to head to NE Gooselake which is almost 3 hours away. Yippee! Already planning on packing a picnic like supper so we don't have to stop and just eat sandwiches and stuff on the way. The good thing is we are staying home that weekend instead of heading to the houseboat after the game. The bad news is that still means another 3 hour trip back to our house afterwards! Anyway this Friday night is WV's Homecoming and tonight is the pep rally and jersey auction. It is always an annual event that raises funds for the booster club. This year rumor has it that it is a silent auction which I personally believe is a good thing. Too many years I see people bidding stupid amounts that really no one should or want to have to pay just to donate to the booster club. So if the rumor is true I am one to believe this is a great change. When t...

I have so many pictures on my camera from Saturday/Saturday night that I want to share but I thought I'd just pick a few of my favorites as I uploaded them to share until I find the time to do a slide show. Wish I had more of all the cookers together but I have many fun pics that Jr snapped on my camera Saturday night while WAGG the band was playing, so I will definitely put all of them in the slide show. It was a really fun weekend and we had a great time. Maybe too good of a time for some. Right honey? Anyway I was the official (so I called myself and Ray told me) "Dish Bitch" and "Sous Chef". He claims he made a sign that added my name to the Smoke On The Water sign but I think he was just making me feel better. So I have another very busy week with homecoming this Friday and our annual houseboat float on Saturday so may not post much at all. Just hoping to get the stuff done that I need to before heading back to the river. Looking forward to the weekend afte...

So it is the weekend and of course we are at our usual place. Here is a photo of Bruce last weekend "planking" on the pub table in our houseboat. It is the annual BBQ Cook off weekend so maybe I will get some more pictures of this tonight? Lets hope not as we need to head home as early as possible Sunday morning. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! (Maybe I can get him to "plank" on the bands speaker or something! Just kidding!)

What can I say about not posting for a week? It has been a crazy short one. We took an extra day (Tuesday) off and didn't get home from the houseboat until evening and it has just been crazy busy since. But we babysat Ava one afternoon and evening and I even picked her up from my friend Missy's house (her new babysitter-way excited it is her!) the last two days. Oh and we had our night for the football team dinner Thursday night so I spent Wednesday night making a roaster of cheesy hash brown potatoes and a pan of bars. Yep no wonder I told Bruce tonight that we should stay home this weekend and catch up and get stuff done. We really thought about it but we are having our annual float next weekend and need to get a count of people so I can get all the food needed next week. Oh and it is the annual BBQ at the marina Saturday with a band and lots of good food. And I am also the official "dish bitch" for the BBQ'ing crew of Helen & Louie and Ray & Tracy. I ha...

This kid? Yep he lives for football. And we love his dedication and skill at the sport. I hate to see fall show up because my favorite time of the year is definitely summer, but how can you not love to watch your "baby" play his heart and soul out on the field? Tomorrow night is a big rivalry game. Even though they aren't in our class I'm hoping and praying that our boys are victorious big time. Play your hearts out and you will succeed. Good luck Ty and the Warriors and beat them Cyclones up! Everyone have a great Labor Day weekend. I'm looking forward to a "quiet" weekend with just Bruce and I on the houseboat. Cooking for only two on a holiday weekend will be a treat in itself. Think anyone will deliver on the sandbar???????? Glad we will have family and friends to help eat all of the dips and snacks that I made to bring. I certainly cannot eat them by myself!