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

So I had this antique table that was my Mom's and we used here and there over the years. When we remodeled our bedroom two years ago Bruce made us matching bedside tables so this one was sent out to the shop. It got beat up and smashed apart basically, and when I remembered it and asked about it Bruce was not very happy with me. He thought it was forgotten. So I rode him pretty hard about putting my table back together and when he finally got to it he decided that 1)my Mother had three thousand layers of whatever on the top and 2)it made much more sense for him to just make a brand new top and bottom that matched the shape of the old. So here it is sitting in my kitchen. I have some big plans to get into painting and distressing things and this will be one of my first projects. The legs are original and I cannot wait to see how it turns out. My Mom "antique painted" a lot of her tables and such and I guess that is what was in way back then. I have another couch table (I

Picked myself up another bouquet Friday when I got groceries. The all rose bouquets were very tempting because they had some very pretty ones. And once again for $3.99 they are a bargain at Aldi's. And they last forever. I split them into just two vases this time (I always use the Waterford crystal one that Kyle got in London) and I used a smaller one also. Everyone have a great Monday and week. Our weekend was pretty laid back. Got my home desk cleared off and papers organized and such. Otherwise did my normal laundry, cleaning, and baking. I like the laid back no plan weekends. I only wish that Goodwill would have had some finds. When I get into my painting and such I would like to ruin some cheap stuff before I tackle my own things that I want to turn out awesome. But of course I know that everything I put my effort into will turn out great! Even though Bruce totally doubts my efforts and is dreading me stealing a small part of his shop to do my work. He'll get over it! Hap

So this week doesn't get an Ava picture for the friday foto. Although I do have plenty of cute ones from last weekend of her to put on here. But I have a love/hate relationship with our friendly (or not so much) squirrels. I enjoy watching them like crazy, but I tend to get really irked when they climb right up on the bird feeder and steel their seed out of the feeder. And of course they only take the sunflower seeds and good stuff. I had a special "christmas blend" that I bought at Norby's on clearance for the birds and they apparently LOVED that like crazy. It went really fast. I just have to say that we enjoy watching the squirrels and the birds out the window and they seem to all get along for the most part. Oh and I put our old stale bread out pretty regular throughout the whole year and this photo is the squirrel eating a piece that he grabbed off of the plate. I think I must have somewhat turned into my father because I sure enjoy watching the wildlife out of

By the way this blog is really called "The Ava Blog" according to my smart ass brother in law Louie. But that is okay. This is a picture of her last weekend at 8 months. Can you believe it? I can't. She will be walking before we know it. Grandpa better get the house Ava-ized! No big plans for the weekend. Hopefully getting more done around the house and have a baby shower for Baby Caley on Sunday afternoon. Hopefully will get to spend some time with the Miss Ava if she is feeling up to it this weekend. I'm sure her Momma could use a break since she has been sick for over a week. I hope to hear that she (Ava) is on the mend and feeling much better for the weekend. Everyone have a good one. Our basketball season ended tonight (thank God! just kidding sort of) so a couple of weeks off for Ty and then Track practice starts. Oh and by the way we could have won tonight if any of our free throws would have went in the first half (seriously) and possibly if th

Starting Friday night I baked two boxes of cupcakes (regular and mini combined), a double batch of Taylor's awesome sugar cookie dough cut out into heart shapes of course, and frosted all of said baked goods Saturday and Sunday. All were to celebrate the not real holiday the 14th and to give away to family, friends, and coworkers. Ashley did come over on Saturday and help so that was great. And she even let little Miss Ava have her first mini cupcake all to herself. Lets just say that she LOVED it! Yum yum. Even though she was sick with a cough she was a perfect little girl. Her Momma had to take her to urgent care on Sunday and found out she has RSV and an ear infection. Can I just repeat how good she was? My kids never acted like that when they were sick for sure. She has to have breathing treatments and antibiotics but is on her way to getting healthy. And to be happy for the most part while so sick is quite a testament to her whole personality. She is just a very good little ba

Yep she is just gorgeous and I don't think anyone can argue. Ava is a beautiful little soul and we love having her around. She is precious. Happy Sunday! I made a date with my hubby to got out for breakfast and to the casino to play a little. He might win big who knows!? My nickle machines usually keep me up at least. Yes I am cheap but if I hit it big on the nickles I might actually stick some quarters in a machine. One never knows. Looking forward to my date day with my hubby. Not even going to think about the fact that my house did not get cleaned like it should have this weekend. Have a great Sunday everyone. I am already thinking about my Sunday breakfast with my hubby and sipping a beer while pulling that handle. And if I won the lottery well then what the hell am I doing at the casino? Good question to be hopefully answered later!!!!!!!

I have to admit I did not take care of and refresh the water in this latest batch of flowers so I had to pluck quite a few dry ones out and pitch today (two weeks after purchasing), but they still look pretty decent. And for $3.99 a bouquet I do not think that you can go wrong buying these for yourself. They brighten my day every time that I walk into a room that has fresh flowers in the vase, and what girl doesn't enjoy fresh flowers? Go ahead and splurge for yourself once in a while. If I was leaving the house this weekend I would be grabbing some more to replace the vases I emptied, but since we are under one of our first deep freezes of the winter I am not leaving my house unless I absolutely have to! I guess I will run to Kwik Star tomorrow to purchase milk and lottery tickets but other than that I am staying in where it is warm and baking valentine treats for those I love. Everyone have a great weekend and stay warm!

Well for my SIL Helen I finally picked up my sewing machine tonight. Yes I know......we took the nasty other one back weeks ago. But I had to have Bruce with me to pay for the other one. I'm no dummy you know! So anyway we went tonight and I asked if he was still willing to buy me a sewing machine for my Christmas present. He said "of course I will" so I knew the one at Wally World was about forty dollars cheaper than the idiot one I returned. So for good measure I threw in a pair of fabric scissors since any good ones that I once had have been used as weapons and whatever at our house. So in the long run he got by only about $30 cheaper but I think I will be able to operate this one. If I have trouble this weekend you will be getting a phone call my dear SIL Hildegard. But this one looks like I can handle it. I might even have to whip you up an apron for our opening up weekend at the river. Look out! You know that I have a TON or so of material to choose

So Kyle called on his way home from CF tonight and we were getting ready to head to Wally World in Waverly to get my groceries since the forecast is not very nice for the next couple days. Well, he decided to hustle home and go with us to look at TV's . Needless to say that I did my grocerying ( sp ?-who cares) by myself while Bruce and Kyle found the TV Kyle wanted for his room. Yes at home in our house. I guess I can't give the kid crap. He does attend UNI full time and has been a dean's list student EVERY semester, and also works 30+ hours in order to be able to afford those fun things that he wants. Did I also mention that he is paying for his own college? Yep can't complain at all. I only wish I was half as good of a saver as him! I hope you enjoy your new TV and you know that Ty will definitely want to use the 32" until you do something else with it. Be nice okay? Love you and very proud of you as you know.

Last Sunday when Ava and her Momma were over I made scotcharoos and of course I had to let her have a little taste. So first I gave her a small taste of the rice krispies mixed with the peanut butter and stuff. After I gave it to her Ashley said "I hope she isn't allergic to peanuts". Yep I was glad that she wasn't. Well then when I melted the butterscotch and chocolate chips I just couldn't NOT let her try some. Yep my Ava girl loved her some chocolate!!! She is such a sweet and precious treat in our lives. We love it when she comes over anytime. And her Momma gets over it pretty quickly when Grandma lets her have some "stuff" she needs to experience. Everyone have a great Friday and weekend. We have basketball Friday night at NU and Saturday at Wapsie against Union. GO WAPSIE ! Otherwise I do plan on once again trying to get some scrapbooking going. I am SO FAR BEHIND!!! Doing my running tomorrow afternoon so I don't have to leave my house thi