We have had a good 1st week. It did start off a little rough, just getting the kids all use to things being different. I always try to keep all the kids on the same eating schedule for the summer. This helps to keep my kitchen cleaner. This is tougher than it may sound. I also try to not have an open kitchen, this helps keep them on the same eating schedule and this keeps the kitchen cleaner as well. It is always hard for me, you know grandma's are suppose to want to feed kids and you can tell none of us have been lacking in the eating department. With the additional space comes new rules that takes the kids and Pat a little getting use to. I know I sound bossy, but Over the years working such long hours and being gone from home so much I found some battles were just not worth the effort, so I picked my battles carefully and put up with many things that I did not want. Also with such limited space there was no way to keep things in there place when they had no place because of the lack of space. I lived with all kinds of things, every summer, in the den area because 75% of the house was den, lol. I am quick to let them know I did not spend all the money on this house to have to deal with bags, mattresses, blankets and pillows, not to mention laptops, phone chargers, ipods and other device kids have for entertainment in the middle of the den where people have to move to sit etc. Of course about the time I got everyone on board here comes Kyle who had to be orientated to the new ways, then here comes Chris and that just blew it all, just kidding. Another big change this summer is soft drinks. We no longer have open bar on soft drinks, lol. The patio storage is working great, I can keep soft drinks and water cold for boat trips and some meals and know we have them. The only real coke drinker we have here is Blake, everyone else prefers tea or water, so this has gone well. We still have a couple soft drinks a day but that is a big improvement. I think I may actually gain control of this house, if I stand strong, Pat has been use to doing things his way and that is ending, lol I have tried to bring on my ways again slowly starting with the new kitchen. It has been a battle, but I am determined this house is going to be run my way. Pat has quit smoking again this week, so this has been touchy, somehow it just don;t seem fair I have to keep dealing with hid quitting attitudes for him to "FALL OFF THE WAGON" over and over. I will say my retirement was based on our quitting for financial reasons and if we can't make it he will have to go back to work, lol. Enough of my fussing and bossy butt, however I truly feel I deserve to have things my way for a change and now I have time and energy to fight the battles.
FAMILY
We had Dustin and Jacy join us for the weekend, and really enjoyed the visit. I hope they come back next weekend when Tracy is here. Brandon and Christy need to come next weekend too or they are gonna miss Tracy and Chris this summer. Of Course we had chocolate and biscuits for breakfast on Saturday and then hit the lake early. We were able to take a long pontoon ride with Dustin and Jacy. We went to Rock creek to feed the fish and were disappointed that the fish were full and not but just a few there. I had never been there to find so few fish. I asked what was wrong with the fish and found out that about 85 kids had just been there to feed them and they were full. I really would like to take Brandon's children there sometime. Saturday evening Mom and Dad and Randy and Glenda joined us, we grilled burgers and hot dogs.
The xbox room has worked out quiet well. The computer in there is working out good too.HOUSE
We have had progress this week, I am so excited to have my garage doors installed. I have never had garage doors or garage door opener. So this is a treat. More battles to fight here but I think we will come to an understanding that the doors stay closed and you enter /exit thru the normal door unless the vehicle is going in or out or moving large objects in or out. If you run to the store you close the door until you return then open it. If you walk out you walk out thru the normal door because there is no way to close the garage door from the outside without a remote. This keeps bugs and varmints from entering besides keeping down the dust, cob webs etc.
The rock guys have started back on the rock and its looking so good. It would be so great to be complete by my birthday, lol.
The gutter's have not been installed this week as planned, due to various worker problems but hopefully we will get a date on that this coming week. It did rain this week one day and we made use of the fact that we had no gutters and the kids took showers under the valley.
Blake decided to try the patio out as a water slide, this was a short lived adventure, thank goodness. Brooke and Tanner had to try it too, but they all found it to be more pain than fun, lol.
The rest if the pictures are just various ones of the fun this week.
Kyle tanning while we swim at a spot close to the dam.
The easy way to float and play football.
Tanner seems to find a friend where ever he goes.
