Saturday, May 31st

Today was very quiet here. However there was still no sleeping late. Randy called to see if Kyle wanted to work today...which I knew he would want to. So Kyle was up and ready to go and of course I had to see him off... make sure he had food and water, etc. Pat mowed the yard once he got awake and I mopped and vacumned and did some general cleanup. Blake had a leisure day...doing the things he does best... watching TV and shopping. In the afternoon I wanted to check out the new driveway close to the road so Blake and I went shopping .. with no real intentions other than bread and milk...just kinda looking and browsing...checking out various stores that I enjoy browsing in. We did not find anything major we could not live without. I did remember to buy measuring cups and looked for the electric knife but did not find one... but we did not go to walmart, lol. We did locate a futon that might just be the ticket for my sewing room or possibly the playstation/xbox room.

Kyle did not get home until 530 ...so was a long day for him. He seemed to have enjoyed his working. He took a shower and ate thenI figured he would crash...but he took the paddle boat and went fishing for 2 hours. I don't think I mentioned that Kyle's report card did not meet his Dad's expectations so I had to take his keys and cell phone a few days ago....until Chris gets here. He has taken it like a man and just found other things to do.

I did not take any pictures today...shame on me. I called Brooke tonight and she seems ready for school to be out. I did mention to her the fact that she will have to wear uniforms going to school in Mississippi next year. She seem to know that and was cool with it. I am looking forward to seeing her in about 9 days. I have thuroughly enjoyed a leisure day with no plans and no commitments, lol.

Friday May 30th

Today was a busy day. I spent the morning getting the internet working again while watching the concrete being poured on the patio and front porch.. We had some concrete left on the truck, so we had them spread it on the driveway entrance at the road. This is a very good thing as we have a bad spot to get out of and the loose gravel makes it more difficult at times. I think everyone is looking forward to this.

We got the boat fixed by noonish so we went to check it out for a couple hours. Worked just fine and we all enjoyed some lake time.

There are advantages to having grandsons around. Kyle drove and pulled Blake on the tube while Pat and I relaxed and checked out various things on houses. I will say Kyle follows driving directions very well, lol.

Blake has gottten where he can make the tube go and do just what he wants.

Lakeside view of the house.

Roadside view of the house.

We all went out to town tonight to do some looking and shopping. We ran into cousin Slade at Wal Mart. It was nice to see him...I had not seen him since last years Myhand Family Reunion and its almost that time again. I think the boys needed to get out of the house a bit and I did too. Of course we went to Home Depot to look at stuff. I will be purchasing various things this next week and needed to do some browsing.

Thursday, May 29th

Today was overcast all morning but it never did rain. I did not cook a big breakfast this morning, I thought the lil kids would like cereal for a change.... but I was wrong ... NO ONE wanted cereal. I cooked a big pan of 21 biscuits and they had biscuits and butter or jelly.

The kids did swim a bit before time to go home. After lunch Tracy and Terri and the Gardner boys all loaded up to go to Mississippi. The Rigsby boys helped me get the house back in order. Kyle swears that Tracy always brings the rain with her and of course after she left the sun did come out and was a nice afternoon. Pat and the boys took the bass boat out tubing for a bit. I enjoyed the quiet of my lakehouse and some moments all alone.

I spent some time working on computer glitches that have been bugging me. Seems I can actually fix a few things and not just break things. I worked on some baby blankets I needed to finish as well.

The house progress is noticeable this week. Today they got the garage trusses up and partially covered. They also got the patio/pavilion ready to pour the concrete tomorrow. The house is taking shape nicely. One more gable for the front entrance will really make it look nice. I think that by this time next week that will happen.

This evening my friend Macia came by to visit while she was waiting on her grandson to do his football summer program stuff. Was nice to visit as always and dream of our retirement, lol.

You know how sometimes you just connect thoughts with someone...Well all afternoon I was thinking I needed to call my friend Rhonda , who lives somewhere around B'ham now and ask her some advice on a few things about my house, because she has built so many homes on the lake. I would be in B'ham on Monday or Tuesday and thought I might try to meet up with her. Just before dark someone knocks on the door and YES it was Rhonda.. she had passed by earlier going to a graduation and saw our house had grew, lol. Being as I have not heard from her this year she had no clue I had started the addition. I gave her a quick tour before it was too dark and we visited as quickly as we could cause she had to drive to B'ham still and be at work in the morning. It seems she will be off on Monday and Tuesday so we plan to get together and let her help me find a few things in B'ham. I am looking forward to this. Should be a fun day. I hope to focus on siding and rock and entry doors. But then I also need to pick out faucets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, door knobs and floors. Oh and yes the marble for the shower...... So many decisons to make, lol.

Wednesday May 28th

Water level on the pier continues to rise. The day started with breakfast for the crew. 2 lbs of bacon 3 dozen eggs and 20 biscuits. There has been rain showers here all day and a storm or 2. We played between showers, watched a movie or 2 and made chocolate chip cookies, too.

We finally got a boat to run.... wooo hoooo. Blake got his remote control boat out to play with and it worked.

THREE Gardner boys all on a tube. Tanner, Dusty and Cody. They rode the tube abd even got a ride on one jetski before it died again.

Blake just looking cool and even riding the tube.

Tyler went for a cruise....ummm we were all on pins and needles but the poor kid wanted to and I caught his Mom in the house and let him, lol.

Brought her out tooo.

Kyle with Rigsby running over, whats a Grandma to do?

We did get one jetski to run a bit, but we could not trust it since it quit on us last week and we had no other boats to go check on folks if they did not show up after a few. But today we did ride with the bassboat pulling the tube. Problems again after a ride or two. Pat and Kyle got this jetski loaded up and carried to the shop so maybe we will get it back before the end of vacation.

May 27th

We woke to the sound of hammers this morning, WELLL I should say,"I woke" the rest of this gang can sleep thru anything. I looked out to see where the water level was since we had rain in the night. YES!!!!! it was over the pier.



I cooked a big box of pancakes for breakfast. The smell of breakfast cooking usually wakes folks up pretty good here. Tracy and Terri ran an errand and picked up movies for a rainy day we suspected to have. The boys were out swimming about 1030.



Tyler joined us on the pier for some fresh air and sun. There really was not a lot of sun today but we did manage to get a lil between clouds and showers.

The boat repairman was here at 10:00 but he did not have the part needed. He will be back tomorrow and hopefully get us going.

Pat did get the bass boat in today between showers, but we did not get to play because of a big rain storm.
Tonight I made homemade pizza and taco dip. They both went over real well. I think its gonna be a movie watching night for most. Tracy and Terri got prepared with snacks included. I think I will retire early to the quiet of my room, lol.

Memorial Day

Today the weather was nice but not as sunny as yesterday. I baked 2 pound cakes last night in preparation for today. Tracy would be arriving about noon with Tanner, Terri, Cody and Dusty. We did not have a big Family gathering planned for today just kinda pot luck if you wanted to come. Mom, Dad, Josh and Hannah came for lunch. Chloe showed up later for some fun in the sun.

Tanner, Cody and Dusty hit the lake soon as they got here, even before they ate. We still have no watercraft that runs, but just swimmimg and chilling is nice.

The kids seem to settle in for putr and game time after lunch. Mom and Dad were settling in for nap time and the 2 just would not go well together. I made all the kids go out and get some lake time, partially so Mom and Dad could get some nap time and partially because they are beginning to want to come to use putrs instead of the lake.

The water was nice to day, but did seem a lil cooler, probably because the sun was not as bright as yesterday.

We had 7 boys here today and they took off in the paddle boats and went to the culvert. I thought they would be fine, but they were gone longer than I thought they would be. Then all the sudden we saw Josh coming on the big deck and he was bloody from head to toe. He was walking and seemed coherent but blood all over his face down his chest and arms, I had no idea where the wound was or the rest of the boys. He got hit in the head with a brick. He had a big gash on his forehead. He wanted me to take a picture of the cut so he could see it. We hid him from Mom to clean him up a bit and see how bad the cut was. It was obvious he needed stitches so I had to wake Mom and Dad from their nap and find out what I should do. They took it well, and I called Josh's Dad to get an insurance card or for Eddy to take him to the clinic for stitches. He got 8 stitches. As the story unravelled we find out that all the boys were throwing rocks at each other.... How many times have I yelled " Don't throw rocks when folks are swimming and Don't throw rocks at each other. I guess out of sight they just forgot all my words of wisdom, lol. One would think that the older boys would have been more responsible than that. I guess I will just have to make sure they stay in sight if I can't trust them out of sight.







Tonight it is raining so they are all getting computer time and xbox time as well. I think we now have 5 laptops and 2 desk tops and the xbox all in use. I sure hope we have good luck with the boat repair tomorrow. I know Tanner, Cody and Dusty are gonna be dissapointed if they don't get to go tubing before they leave on Thursday.

Stay tuned as our week continues and see what breaks next, lol. I do hope we don't have any more kids break.

Sunday May 25th

The day started out very slow here, all the boys were up early eating breakfast but then went back to bed. I was tireder than I should have been too. Blake spent some time getting caught up on his TV watching and Kyle and Tyler got caught up on sleep. Pat got caught up on his computer time,lol. I baked a cake and brownies for afternoon visit with friends and family. OH and Susan brought me a boston butt that Rando had smoked, Thanks Rando. Ummm Thank you too Susan. I am sure we will enjoy it.

In the afternoon we had visits from several. We were glad to meet Jacy's sister and brother in law, Page and Reagan and Kyle her brother. Randy and Glenda came for a visit as well. Mom, Dad, Josh and Hannah came too. Tom and Tootse dropped by to check things out while they were in the area. It was a great day, the sunniest day yet and I was so glad that Dustin and friends came to swim, cause I sure had been wanting to take my 1st dip in the lake and this was a perfect day for it.

We had no watercraft running today, so some decided to check out the paddle boats. I think everyone enjoyed the water, but sure would have been nice to be able to show our lake to Jacy's family.

I am hoping that by Tuesday we have the pontoon running again. Pat has called the boat repairman who has the part that they think we need and Pat will pick it up EARLY Tuesday morning. I am thinking he will take one jetski in as he goes to get the part. I have teased Pat that if he can't get the pontoon fixed on Tuesday, I will have a new one sitting there on Wednesday, lol. I am almost serious, tooo. If I was not doing the addition I would not hesitate.... but my better judgement tells me to be patient...it will be hard making payments all winter for a boat that is sitting 300 miles away.