Last Update for a Few Days

Maybe it's all those years going to Washington, but I think it's beginning to look a little Presidential ... we have a new North Portico ....



and a back porch to rival Mt. Vernon ... but we DO need to get some brown paint on this sucker!

In this picture, you can see our new exposed beams. I am sure they will grow on me; it's a little busy for my taste, but the "experts" (that's the men in this equation, to you girls out there)said we must have beams and must have three ... I think one would have looked better, or space them wider or something, but who am I? But we have BEAMS !!! Any hurricane refugees will be safe with us!


We are off to the Tropics tomorrow...be back first of the week...with Delaney and Madelyn for three more days ... YEAH! We will have cell phones and check email, if anyone needs us. Carnival Holiday is our ship.

Every day ... a little progress

On Friday they finished the railing on the front and the ceilings on both porches. We are going to caulk the two porches tomorrow afternoon. The door locks go on on Monday. The AC people will be there this week to run ductwork. The electrician is finishing today.





Guys, ready to hang some sheetrock and trim some windows and doors?

We had our first breakfast on the lake porch this morning ... Raisin Bran and coffee... but it was there, looking at the water.

D'Daddy's Update

The columns are in. If we don't paint them the cedar color soon, we may have to hoist a rebel flag and change the name to D'Daddy's Plantation Home.





The columns are in across the back but have to be adjusted just a bit for the screening.




This was our project for last weekend. I supervised as Dean played monkey and caulked the windows and the peak of this wall. Couldn't do much else to help or to protect him. It really was a pretty scary setup. Just know that those scaffolds have wheels on the the legs and the wheels were sitting on those "engineered cinder block supports". Not the smartest setup I have ever seen. I did tell him he was too old to be doing that, but, of course, he didn't listen.




The brick layer finally made it to finish the retaining walls for the driveway up to the house. Maybe now they can finish my porch and we can have the asphalt poured.




There was a mess up with a window and it's holding things up a bit. I had to really work to be nice about that one.

Also, it became evident that there wasn't enough support on the outside den wall so we have had to order some additional support beams...we will have three exposed beams in the den now. Other than that, the electrician is supposed to finish on Saturday. The AC units have been ordered and we are waiting to hear when they plan to do the ductwork. The plumber is about finished. Harry is almost ready to move inside and start with dry wall and the den ceiling. It is moving along, but never fast enough.

Send comments!

Saturday, July 8, Tubing at the Lake

On Saturday, we went to the lake to meet Ms. Peggy, Evan and Mr. Bill at his camp. We swam, rode in the boat, caught fish, and went tubing in the big water! Everyone had a wonderful time and was thoroughly worn out by sundown! It was a fun, last day of our summer visit. We went home on Sunday to see Mom and Dad. More to look forward to in the years to come!






A tube threesome ....



Maddy caught it, but she doesn't want it!







Delaney caught a big rainbow colored one!













Thanks, Uncle Bill, for a really fun day!

Friday, July 7, at the Zoo with Aunt J and Hannah

We went to see Cars, such a cute movie. Maddy fell sound asleep about half way through, but she loved it anyway. Then we met Aunt J and Hannah at the Monroe Zoo. It was hot but we had fun.





















The peacock put on quite a show for us!

Thursday at Nana and D-Daddy's

Thursday was a big day. We went to Wal Mart and bought floaties for the big pool at Squire Creek, went swimming,














had Cheetos and Icees for snacks,


















and played at the new playground with Jackson Bleich and Ms. Pandy. Coolest playground equipment!






Aren't we too cute?








After we got home, D-Daddy called to say he had a meeting so we ate dinner at Johnny's Pizza. Didn't get home till 8:30 pm, but had a good time.

Wednesday at Nana and D-Daddy's

Off to see Over the Hedge and then to Lincoln Parish Park! Had a good time with Evan Fallin and Ms. Peggy.











We swam in the lake ... just enough to make Nana nervous. "Come back this way" ... "Don't go too far" ... We bought floaties the next morning ... first thing.

4th of July

This is what holidays are all about! Family being together. There is nothing that Dean and I enjoy more than when our kids come home. The world just seems to be tilted right when they are here.





The NO-T-SHIRT contest!










These are our precious granddaughters, Hannah, Maddy, Sophia and Delaney. And we found out that Hannah is to have a brother or sister soon...what blessings they are! The girls played in the water wherever they were to stay cool ... here it's in the alligator slide pool!



Don't you wish you had red hair and blue eyes? (Hannah)



I'M the birthday girl! (Madelyn)




Got MILK? (Sophia)













Some got COOL and some don't!
















Gosh, she looks so grown-up! (Delaney)
















Captain Dean in all his glory!



Frank and Anne came for the weekend, as well as Ray, Amanda and Elijah. We took an evening ride to watch the fireworks at the dam from Mr. Bill's dock. Maddy did not like the fireworks, even from Nana's lap.



Marcus and Ryan, enjoying the ride!




Dean, David and Ryan, solving the world's problems.




And, of course, everyone had to go swimming.




A perfect end to the day...Maddy and Delaney rode the tube!