Lake House-Closed for the Winter

The house has a big open floorplan with three bedrooms and three baths downstairs. The upstairs right window is the "dorm" where the overflow crowd bunks together.

The boathouse and covered porch. In the summer we have two hammocks, tables and chairs and a kids playhouse. There's always a great breeze and a good view of lake from the top.

The outside kitchen, bath and boathouse.

This lake house has been in my husband's family for about eight years. We have certainly enjoyed it over the years. The closing up of the house for the winter is always kind of sad. Aren't the sunset pictures beautiful for the last boat ride of the season. Hurry up spring!!

Fall at the Lake-Adults at the Pumpkin Patch

Granny T and Papa Buddy

Papa and Mimi
Wait a minute, that's not your husband!!

Papa and Gigi

Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of how beautiful the pumpkin patch we visited was. There were pumpkins scattered around with other gourds and corn stalks along with a couple of gift shops and a hay wagon ride. Add to all that a beautiful, sunny fall day and some of our best friends.

Fall at the Lake- Visit to the Pumpkin Patch

Papa was quick to figure out how to keep up with the grandkids.

Eventually Marine Papa took over the pulling job.

Really!!! You've got to be kidding!

The kids really loved cruising around in the wagon.

The pumpkins were almost as big as the kids.

Tadpole and Dabby Do enjoying a secret.

Mino Twin 2 got a little overwhelmed for a minute and wanted her Papa to hold her.

She finally decided to see what we were all laughing about!! Papa saved the day......and dried up her tears.

Tadpole with the pumpkin he picked out. Look Daddy!!

Tadpole riding a rooster. The rooster didn't stand a chance!!

What beautiful sunny fall afternoon would be complete without a visit to the local pumpkin patch? After a quick math review, we shifted kids and carseats and managed to get the 9 of us into two vehicles. I think between us we spent 4 bucks on little pumpkins. To the kids the wagon ride was as wonderful as a hay wagon. It was a fun, easy afternoon. A ride home, lunch and the kids all took long naps.....so did some of the adults!!

Fall at the Lake-part 2

We were able to easily keep up with the kids by keeping them behind bars. Tadpole, Mino Twin 2 and Dabby Do enjoying the afternoon!!

Isn't it wonderful when they're young enough that anything you do is amazing to them!!

Papa Buddy is still having trouble tying his left shoe, so Dabby Do worked hard to tie it for him.

Mino Twin 2 loved the sandtable too.

Tadpole was very serious about the sand play.

We use to go to the lake with our friends and have a wonderful time together playing cards and sitting around talking, eating good food and just being together. We haven't been to the lake together for a while and this time we each had one grandchild with us. I don't know who had more fun.....the kids or us enjoying our grandkids. A thank you to our grown children who allowed us to make these memories with our precious grandchildren. We didn't play one game of cards and we got to bed early (after all, little ones don't sleep too late) but we did laugh a lot!

Fall at the Lake House

Playing on the porch. The sand table is always fun.

Poppy with Tadpole waiting for something to eat.

Mino Twin 2

The crew is ready for bed and all piled in together. Don't worry, we weren't crazy to leave them there. Dabby Do and Tadpole enjoyed the long time lake tradition of sleeping in a pack n play in the closet.

Mino Twin 2 had a mattress bed on the floor w/ her grandparents.

This is the time of year that our lake place needs to be closed up for the winter. Not so much the house itself but the outside has to be made ready for freezing weather. There's the outside kitchen and bathroom where all the water lines have to be cut off, drained and antifreeze added where needed. Back at Labor Day we put up all the toys, floats and chairs. This weekend we have friends who came with us to help Buddy get everything done. Although he's recovering well from his surgery, he doesn't need to be doing the bending and stooping necessary to reach all the fittings. So, we've combined a little work trip with a fun time together with friends.

And you will probably think we're crazy, but we each brought one of our grandkids.

Enjoy the pictures of our weekend and grandkids Dabby Do, Tadpole and Mino Twin 2

Buddy's Life

I just wanted to give everyone an update on Buddy's recovery from surgery.

He had hip replacement surgery 4 weeks ago today.

I just made this picture of him a couple of minutes ago. Notice that he and his companions are all asleep! Patches, our angel cat, seems to know he doesn't feel well. And his faithful husky, Tug, is guarding him. Of course, when the camera flashed, none of them moved.

Buddy is actually doing well. He is walking most of the time without even a cane. He no longer has to wear his stylist thigh high support hose.... what a relief. They're a pain to get on him.

He's driving occasionally and we've moved back upstairs to our bedroom. He still has some incision pain but is consistant doing his physical therapy to work through that. As you can see, he still needs an occasional nap.

Thanks for all the prayers.

It's a Girl!!

I wore this to work today to let everyone know the exciting news. This "It's a Girl!" button has gotten a lot of use over the years. We got the call yesterday from our #1 Son that their new baby is going to be a girl. Since we already have 6 granddaughters, I guess it didn't come as any real surprise. Imagine!!! Seven granddaughters. Could it be a world record?? No, of course not! We're really happy for our son and his wife. Since they already have two sons, a precious little girl will be a new adventure. Won't she be lucky to have two big brothers to watch out for her!
Congratulations!! We can't wait to welcome her to our family.

Here is our last picture of the granddaughters and grandsons together. If you count carefully, you will see that we're missing one . Little Dragonfly was born 4 months later. This picture was made on Memorial Day weekend, 2007.

New Granddaughter, look at all the fun you're going to have with 6 big girl cousins to play with.
They were spending the night with me and Papa Buddy and were all snuggled into the bed that I slept in when I was a little girl.

We had so much fun that night.

There were 6 in the bed and the little one said,

"Hurry up, we can't wait to play!!"

Family Gathering

Relaxing outside. J'Re was trying out her new camera.

Looks like we're doing up a batch of witch's brew but it actually was gallons of brunswick stew.

Nana relaxing with Goldilocks.

Hey Daddy, We're ready for a ride.

Riding in the trailer or sitting with Daddy on the riding mower is something the girls love to do.
Crazy MoRo.

Dabby Do wasn't too sure at first but she soon got the hang of riding with Daddy.

Their little cousin, Goldilocks decided she didn't want to ride..

Supper time on the porch with MoRo, Dabby Do and Goldilocks. There was brunswick stew, barbeque pork, potato salad, baked beans, pickles, mac and cheese and good old sweet tea. We also had banana pudding for dessert.
Here is Goldilocks with her Mom.

We're ready to go home and you can see that Buddy is using a cane now. He's also having trouble keeping his thigh high hose up. :)

Here are some pictures from our adventure on Saturday. We had fun with our son, daughter in law, her parents, her brother and his family. It was great to get out of the house and being with family and friends made for a terrific day.