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

Had a very nice four day weekend even though it was also a lot of work. Made sure to enjoy it and do some of my "stuff". Wish I would have gotten my scrapbooking armoire cleaned out and straightened up but that just didn't happen. Here is a picture of Ava and Mommy on Thanksgiving. She got her first mashed potatoes with gravy and a taste of pumpkin pie. And she so loved sucking on the butter on Grandma's bun. This weekend made me reflect on how blessed we truly are to be surrounded with great family and friends. When we feel down about things going on in our lives, remember those that are so less fortunate. I am feeling blessed to have a nice home to lay our heads each night, plenty of food to eat, and heat to warm not only our home but also our shop that Bruce works in after work. When I think of what we do have throwing a dollar or more in that red kettle everytime I go into a store doesn't seem like enough. I guess we could probably all do more. And I worry ab...

Went with Bruce and Kyle to sight in their shotguns for deer hunting next weekend. It was a great day after Thanksgiving. Got to sleep in this morning, watch part of the Iowa game (switched to Lifetime when we were getting smoked), and made bean and ham soup with leftover ham from yesterday. And now sitting on the couch watching crap (Bruce is in charge of the controller at this point and picks stupid shows!), but having a GREAT long weekend. Going to my bro Bart and SIL Sharon's tomorrow morning to order some pictures of little Aviator and spend some time on the Ponderosa. Looking forward to it. I love that place. Also bringing Bart some leftover deviled eggs and pumpkin bars since I failed to send any of them with him when they left. Everyone enjoy the rest of your weekend. I need to now get online and try to score a cheap sewing machine at Wally World since Taylor didn't make it there today. Yep my mother in heaven is now clapping her hands wildly that I have decided that if...

Let me just say that this little girl has taken over our lives and we love it! We had her the night before we hosted Thanksgiving dinner for our family and all that I can say is she was an angel that doesn't like to sleep at Grandma and Grandpa's house! And you better look up the video I uploaded to U Tube (if it worked as it was taking forever) because this little girl is so fun to be around and enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving everyone and I hope you all enjoyed being with your family as much as we did. Looking forward to shooting shotguns with my hubby tomorrow. Yep I guess it is love when he isn't afraid that I will shoot him over the target. Wait.....maybe I should be worried???????

Wishing a very happy golden birthday to Taylor who turns 21 on the 21st. And since I know you won't be going out and partying for your celebration... here's wishing you a great birthday full of love, friends, and family. And presents of course. Presents are always good! We are so glad that you are and have been a part of our family for over five years. Thank you for being who you are and putting up with and loving us for who we are. You are a beautiful and special soul and I wish you the best that life has to offer. Have a great golden birthday sweet lady! Oh and little Ava loves you too and wishes you a happy day!

We had the football banquet tonight and we are pretty proud parents as always. Ty got several certificates as expected and had an exceptional year. My proudest one that he got is All District Academic Team. The other ones are awesome of course but to be a student athlete that also does well in school is so important. I can't believe we only have one more year to watch him play high school football but I know that he enjoyed it as much or more than we did every year and I cannot wait to watch him his senior year. Whatever he decides to do after high school we are very proud of him as we are all of our boys. Great job and season Tyler and I am so glad that Ms. Andrews and Coach Foster gave you a shout out for your cheering abilities that always get the crowd going. That is a very important part of each and every game you know!!!!

Baby Ava was baptized last Sunday and here is a picture of her with Grandpa & Grandma at the celebration party after. She was such a good girl for the ceremony. Grandpa Ross & Grandma Andi held the party at their house after and it was a great time. Always glad to get to know Ashley's family better since we hardly ever see each other. Uncle Kyle & Aunt Amanda are Ava's godparents that will watch over her all through her life. She is a lucky little girl to be in a family full of so much love all around. Everyone have a great weekend. I will be shopping and cleaning and getting ready for Thanksgiving since it is here this year. But I love hosting (or is it hostessing?) any family get togethers so it will all be worth it for sure. Happy Friday everyone!

Tyler went to the doctor Friday afternoon and found out he has strep throat after complaining of a sore throat for two weeks. Yep no mother of the year award here. He didn't have a fever though and I always thought that was part of strep. Anyway he is on antibiotics and hopefully on the mend. Had Ava's baptism Sunday and that went well and it was nice spending time with Ashley's side of the family. Her dad and stepmom had a great get together at their house afterwards. Finally got to meet my great niece Braelyn (not sure of spelling) and she is a sweet cabbage patch doll. I mean that with love! So I'm whipped and feel like my weekend went way too fast and need to switch out laundry so everyone have a great week. I get to pick Aviator up M, W, and Th this week so doubt I will get much done around here this week. Although if Grandpa isn't busy out in his shop he is a great babysitting partner and helper. And I've been better lately about not having EVERYTHING per...

I've got nothing but cuteness for this Friday's photo. Enjoy the pretty baby girl Ava enjoying "belly time" and playing with her chew toys. Yep that sounded bad. She is not a puppy. Just a little girl teething like CRAZY! And she has been with Gpa and Gma O. the last two days for 7 hours or so each day and can I just say she is more fun and happiness than I think we knew existed. How much fun to be grandparents to this delightful little girl. Anyway her baptism is this Sunday and Uncle Kyle and Aunt Amanda will be her godparents. I know that both of them will look out for her all of her life no matter what. It will be kind of fun to have Gpa Bruce and Gma Julie stand up for the baptism. Yep our family does nothing normal. But it works! Everyone have a great weekend. I will be sleeping in Saturday morning because I can and can't remember the last time I have done that. I'm thinking I am due and deserve it. Happy Friday.

Sunday Ashley fed Ava carrots for the first time. She loved them! She is getting so big and is so fun to be around. I love the weekends now that our houseboating season is done because we seem to get to spend most of it with Ava around at our house. She is precious. Anyone (all 5 or 10 of you that I know of) that visits my blog for the funny sleeping pictures or the home improvement pictures should just get used to the "Ava" pictures. Cuz she will be on here regular for a very long time. Like forever. Everyone have a great Thursday. And yep I will be picking up the little sweetie today from her awesome babysitter's. Lucky me!  She was a blast to have Wednesday and Grandpa and I spent a ton of time with her making her laugh.  We even took a small road trip a few blocks away.  She entertained everyone while we were there.  And I love her floor time and rolling over all the time.  Okay I'll quit.  I might attempt a Target trip and visit to Great Grandma ...

So you may have heard (well anyone with teenage boys that love Call of Duty) that MW 3 came out at midnight Monday.  Well Tyler and his friend Stoner were 2nd in line at the Waterloo Game Stop store.  Apparently they dropped back to 9th because of something (a competition in line maybe) but they were there plenty early to get their reserved games.  And they of course gamed all night after they got home.  Ty tells me that they didn't buy these shirts and  pants (his credit card statement will verify that I hope) but that a certain amount of the first people in line got them.  And they wore them to school today and a friend actually posted it to their FB so I had to steal it for a post.  I really have to laugh at this picture first because they actually wore them to school, and second because I am betting neither one of them had seen sleep since Sunday night.  And that is if they could sleep from the excitement of knowing MW3 was coming out the ne...

Or maybe not. Photo not showing up after I uploaded it. I've really got nothing. Seems every day and week gets busier than the last and still no time to accomplish all that I want to. Made up about 5 nights worth of dinner for Mom & Dad O. for when Joey gets to go home from the hospital. Simple meals that can be frozen and just heated up in the oven. I know they will truly appreciate it and that way Jr. won't feed Joey ice cream sandwiches for dinner! (inside joke-Jr. ate that for supper one night while Joey was in the hospital) Hopefully Joey will be back at home very soon. As always we have three million things to get done and only two days of the weekend to get them done. At least we gain an hour so maybe that will help. Or in my mind it is a really good reason to sleep in and cuddle since we get that extra hour. Never enough time in the day to get my list done. But I always am adding to that list so it is a never ending battle. Yes I have issues! Everyone have a great ...

Really no words needed. Grandbaby Ava's picture I stole from her Uncle Josh's FB profile. We are so blessed to be grandparents and have such a beautiful and sweet grandbaby. She is the best and her Momma (okay and Daddy) do a great job of making sure the WHOLE family gets to see her all the time. We might kidnap her in a couple days to visit Grandma Joey who just had knee replacement surgery and asked about Ava today when Bruce talked to her. She is such a sweetie. I'm sure she would help in Great Grandma's recovery! Have a great day everyone. And I am thankful my MIL Joey had a successful knee replacement surgery. May you recover quickly and feel good as new. You deserve it!