THE LAKEHOUSE: 07/04/07

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

The day started with pancakes for breakfast. Then with getting beds put away. Chris and his kids and Tanner went to the Rigsby cabin for lunch. I took advantage of the quiet afternoon for some sunning on a float. Whitney got a jetski riding lesson. Tyler just got some extra sleep. Josh did some fishing. Later in the afternoon when the gang returned from the cabin there was time for more water fun. Rhonda and Olivia made a visit and it was nice to see them. Papa and Ina dropped in for a few minutes to give all the grandkids birthday presents of money. They all get thier birthday present from them at the same time so they all have money. Randy, Glenda and Dustin came by to visit, also. It was nice to see Dustin... we been missing him. Brooke seemed to be amazed with Dustins bald head, lol. Not sure why ..its not like she has never seen or felt one before lol. We grilled steaks in the late afternoon and I must say they were the best I have had in a very long time. The kids got Papaw Pat to take them for more fireworks and after shooting some we all took a ride out to the end of the slough and saw a great fireworks show around the bridge and marina... I think we had a perfect spot to view it all. See the photos for a peek of the day.

This is a happy lil boy and a happy lil puppy as well.

1ST WEEK OF JULY

There has been so much going on this week I figure I better make my post before we leave here and I can remember some of it. On Sunday Amy and Whitney(Pats daughter and granddaughter) came to visit. We had to play hard because they were leaving on Tuesday. Well Whitney fits in well with the kids here and she decided to stay until we go to Oklahoma for the Keesee Reunion. We started by taking them to what me and the kids call Rock Island ( Pat and the map calls it Sandbar Island) anyway we like this area and I took a few pictures here.

On Monday we planned to leave at 10:00 a.m. to go to the rock cliff.. which Chloe has lead us in naming Aumei Cliff, because when someone jumps off they yell aumei feet, aumei butt, etc. Not the way I would have spelled it but hey it works and we all know what it means. The morning started witha breakfast treat of chocolate and biscuits...which I guess Amy and Whit just could not get into... guess if they were around enough they would learn to appreciate them, lol. I was gonna do this on Sunday morning but Brooke was at Susans and I knew I had to wait until she was here. We were pleased to see that our names were still there just like we had left them and we added one for Whitney.

After we finished at the cliff we checked out a new spot on Sand Island which is across from the cliff and had several tents set up. Its a real nice sandbar , we spent a good amount of time there just playing in the water and sand. Pat got a chance to give Amy and Whit a jetski lesson. As you will see we have found some creative ways of taking pictures.

The man that was yelling about a fine last week when we were at the cliff... well he spotted us and he found opportunity to talk to Chris(who had nothing at all to do with the names on the rocks) and told Chris how bad it wasd that we did the grafiti on the rocks and he could report us and we could get a fine and how it was like looking out his door and someone had grafiti on his door... and how we should clean it off, etc...(a yankee) Well , I was proud of Chris he just said yes sir and nothing smart. I would have not been so kind... to begin with he can not see it from his house and heck it had names on it long before he ever built there I am sure. GOSH, there are names and paintings on rocks all over the lake and always will be... but you know I have never seen anything ugly drawn or written... just folks having a good time and saying I was here. So I still see nothing wrong with what we did... By the way I also found out the cliff belongs to Alabama Power.

When we got back Susan came and brought puppies for everyone. Mom came with Hannah and Josh. We finally had all the kids there for a picture we wanted to take. Well the picture includes a few extra but who is counting.

Tanner picked him out a puppy and managed to talk his Mom and Dad into letting him have it. Then he managed to talk Mamaw Sand(me) into letting him keep it here until time to leave. Puppy and Tanner seem to be quiet happy.

On Wednesday the 4th of July I have a special post, but on Wednesdfay night Chloe and Hannah spent the night with us. After breakfast we made time for some more lake fun... the kids just can't get enoughof the tube behind the jetski... ashame they been begging for 3 weeks to do that and 3 days before we leave they finally get to. Oh well next year they will make up for lost time. We packed and loaded and got out of there about 4:30, but we had to stop to get burgers at JACK"S one last time.... the kids were amazed..... we went thru the drive thru and had 4 special orders and the girl at the window repeated them back exactly and we coyuld even understand her.... and the order was RIGHT. It rained on us most of the way home and we did not get there until after 1030 then it was midnight getting in bed and guess what .. the power went off about 2 and came on at 430... I slept no more. I had to get up at 5 to go to wal mart to get Brooke and Blake some food, lol they will be here today until Chris and Kyle return from Bama. Well its 730 and we are out of here headed to OKLAHOMA for the KEESEE Reunion. Until Next time... TAKE CARE.

SATURDAY BEFORE THE 4TH OF JULY

THIS IS THE 3RD ANNUAL MYHAND REUNION.

We did not have as big a turnout as last year ....but I think those here had just as much fun. We had a little introduction session prior to lunch with spot testing during the swimming time. The younger bunch is actually beginning to get to know each other better. We had a total of 24 folks here. I will say that the spot check on .."Do you know how you are related to who?" went well. It would be really good if we do this again next time.