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

Happy Birthday to the best father in law a gal could ask for. 82 years young today and you definitely don't look it. Glad that we got to have a little celebration on the dock yesterday with some family and friends. It was a good time and nice to all take a houseboat ride. This picture is from your 80th party on the beach. Hope you have a great day!

Had a great weekend at the houseboat. Although Friday night when we got there late (11:00 ish) after the football game we discovered that our breaker had been blown/shut off. So EVERYTHING in our freezer and fridge was rotten. We figure it had been off most of the week since the sausage packages I had in the freezer had blown out. We lost bacon wrapped filets, shrimp, deer sausage, and much more other stuff. I wanted to cry but what do you do? Nothing except clean it up and move on. Thank you big to Bruce for doing the majority of the cleaning and such as I tend to gag pretty easy at smelly old meat and such in the freezer or anywhere! He did a great job. And since we had to pitch everything we got to go have breakfast together Saturday morning. We don't do that very often. And then Sunday we celebrated Jr's 82nd birthday with a little brunch on the dock. All in all it was a great weekend. Not looking forward to another Monday but definitely think I will sleep good tonight. Ha

Last night Kyle and I kidnapped (well we told her Dad we were taking her!) Ava when we stopped and brought her home with us. She was a complete angel and loved watching football with Grandpa, Kyle, and Tyler. I had her laughing and talking quite a lot but of course every time I'd grab the camera she wouldn't cooperate. This is kind of a smile and the best I could do. We've decided that she gets held most of the time and as long as we do that she is good as gold. We will have to change that when at our house though because I usually have a ton of things to get done and cannot quite manage doing it all with her in my arms. We will work on that each time she is over. She now has a Bumbo chair at our house also so we will try that next time we watch her. And Bruce I think now realizes not to ask me how much something costs that I pick up for Ava. Some things are just better you don't know believe me! Everyone have a great weekend and all I can say today is.......Are you re

Some guys that rented a houseboat and were staying on our (like I owned it or something!) beach this past weekend were having a bachelor party and visited our fire. And no the picture of our Nuk N Futz was not their party boat. I just snapped it the same night I was taking their pictures. Gotta have new pics of the boat each season at night you know. Anyway they were nice guys and I think it looked like they had a great time all weekend together. Last year I got pictures of Bruce putting a bright green bush on his head (I'm sure no one forgot those photos!) and wearing it, so the guys gave the groom to be a similar one to put on his head. And of course he obliged the " old people" around the campfire! But I will say that they didn't last long around the fire as I'm sure they had much more fun things to do, and my Bruce headed to bed and couldn't believe it was only 9:15 when he went in. I guess the all day Saturday celebrating and helping put on a party on

Bruce caught this ugly big catfish off of the back of our houseboat on Saturday. It was 6 1/2 pounds. Luckily he had the fishing pole through the boat rails or it definitely would have taken it with him. And Ronnie was pawing at it and it was too funny. She didn't quite know what to think. They did end up cleaning it and giving it to people that will use/eat it. We did not keep any. Only Big Bob that used to run the marina can make catfish that tastes great as far as I'm concerned. At least they are fun to catch. Bruce pretty much enjoys any fish he reels in just for the sport and fun of it. And I have to admit I obviously whip out the camera every time so apparently I like it also. But I would much rather see him fill the fishing basket with perch, bluegill, and crappies.  Nothing better than fresh caught fish filets fried up for dinner!  Yum yum!

Yep we had great weather and a very nice shrimp boil on Saturday. Great food, fun, and friends. We even had enough leftovers to have a nice brunch this morning on the sandbar with all the stuff and some creative cooking. It was such a nice weekend and everyone enjoyed it to the max. We lucked out on the weather and only had a few sprinkles. I heard that one fellow boater had wished that our shrimp boil would be rainy and miserable. Guess he was praying to the wrong God or something as he didn't have a very nice trip back in with his boat on Sunday. He made it in but hit the dock really hard. We had a great day and we all got back in safe and sound when the weekend was over. Everyone have a great week!

Hoping to spend the weekend doing a lot of this with family and friends. Summer is coming to an end way too quickly and that makes me sad. Bruce did get our houseboat fixed and we are heading out to stay on the sandbar tonight. Shrimp boil tomorrow. Yum! This picture was taken a few weeks ago when it was so hot that we HAD to stay in the water to keep cool or die from the heat. Love it when the weather cooperates so we can have fun on the water. Everyone have a great weekend!

I have to think that there just is something wrong with this. Ashley took this picture at our house today when she was over with Ava doing laundry (their washer was on the fritz) and I uploaded it off my camera tonight. Gizmo weighs more than baby Ava and is NOT supposed to jump up in the pack n play or crawl in the car seat. But in Gizmo's defense I have all of these in the living room and she has total access to them whenever she wants. Especially when we are gone during the day. Bruce kicked her out of it when he got home from work. I always shake the towel Gizmo is laying on in the changing table and wash it regular but I have to ask. Is this really that bad? Gizmo sits close by whenever Ava is over like she is protecting her so I almost think she just feels she is keeping it warm for her or something. Ava will very soon outgrow the cradle and have to use the pack n play so I guess we will see then what happens. You have to admit though this is an adorable picture of our favori

And yes they are legal herbs geez! My SIL Helen (who is the master gardener) told me not to put them in my regular garden unless I wanted them to take it over. So I got this cute little herb grower planter thingy at our family Christmas and  bought seeds. They looked like they were doing pretty good until we got a ton of rain and I think they drowned. So I replanted the pots and snipped this pic the other night. I had to call SIL Helen to bring some fresh basil this weekend (since obviously mine isn't ready yet) to the river for some fresh bruschetta I am making but otherwise I think they are looking good. I think next year I will have Bruce make me a raised bed to grow just herbs because I don't think these are going to do what I had in mind before summer is gone! Have a safe and fun weekend all!

Yep she is the light of our lives. She was grumpy last night here somewhat, and tired and staring at all of my "crap" on top of the cabinets. Boy does she love being held! Anyway she is precious and I can't imagine life before her. Okay that is a lie. It was peaceful and uneventful always at our house. Oh yeah unless your Dad was visiting Ava . He ALWAYS makes an entrance! So this is how Ava was Wednesday night in my kitchen and tonight my kitchen was football watching, chicken taco eating, bonding family us. Looking forward to the weekend since I haven't seen the houseboat for two weeks. That doesn't usually happen unless there is a wedding we have to attend but it did and my house thanks me greatly. My heart feels good tonight and back where it needed to be. Long story but as usual great ending. Everyone have a great weekend and looking forward to getting some fun pictures this weekend to share. Haven't done much of that this year on the sandbar. With any l

So I stayed home from the houseboat for the weekend to get some much needed deep cleaning and stuff done around home that lets face it just doesn't get done by Kyle and Ty on the weekends. Also took them shopping Saturday to get ready for the college and HS new year. Oh and got the joy of getting to watch little Ava for a few hours Saturday night while Cole and Ashley went out to dinner and did a little shopping. Lets just say that I had her during her regular fussy evening time. We did get a stroller ride in before that but I felt so bad that I could only make her happy for a little while and she fussed most of the time. I felt a little better when they got back and I told Ashley how bad I felt but she said it was normal and Ava didn't quit the fussing when Mom & Dad showed up. I felt okay then about it. Cole bought her a new vibrating swing that is easier to transport to our house (or whoever might babysit) than the regular normal size swing we bought her when she was bor

Kyle got a brand new 2012 Nissan Sentra Saturday on his own and he loves it. Yes he is living at home this year for college but was making about the same car payment for his old one(2009-and yes I know that isn't old!) when he was paying rent. He is very happy with his new responsibility, and I guess when you can get things like this it keeps your incentive there to stay on the Dean's list and make that paycheck every week. I am happy for you Kyle and your new car that you love, and it will save you quite a bit of money in gas money I think. You continue to do good kid and I am very proud of everything you do in life! And I know that isn't news to you at all. You know I am a proud Mom. Keep it up! Have a great Monday and week.

Since I haven't posted any pictures from the marina garage sale last weekend I thought I'd share one today of some of the cookies that we decorated to sell. Let's just say that we gave more away and ate far more than we sold. And it was so hot that they were literally melting on the plates even though they were in the shade. I get to watch Ava sometime this weekend and really looking forward to it. And to getting a ton of stuff done around home. When I am gone EVERY weekend my house suffers and needs a deep cleaning! Everyone have a great weekend. Sounds like our temperatures are finally getting back to where we can breathe!

Happy 2 nd Anniversary Ashley and Cole. I at least wanted to put a shout out to them on their actual day (night) since the "bad" Mom and MIL didn't think of it until Cole and Ava visited tonight and Ash called Cole. Yep I'm usually up on all of that. Oh well. They will have plenty more. I'm just happy that I could provide them a somewhat gourmet (okay just one of my regular suppers-grilled thin boneless marinated pork chops, garlic red skinned mashed potatoes, rotini salad with peppers from my garden and tomatoes, fresh green beans (also from the garden sauteed with deer bacon and onions), and garlic bread. Oh and fresh sliced Kiwi. Yep I think they did okay and Ava was an angel while they ate. Grandma even got to put her down and grab a plate. Anyway Happy Anniversary to our son Cole and his wife Ashley. May you have a hundred more. And if you put up with him for that long Ash you are a saint for sure. Love you guys! Can't wait to have Ava some this weeken