Tuesday, August 28, 2012

2012 Gozzer Fun and unexpected event

You know we look forward to our week at Coeur d'Alene in Idaho...It is just a relaxing week, sitting by the pool, going to the lake, boating, golfing for some of the people...kids having fun...good times with the family.
This year Scott and I flew up to Spokane because Scott could only stay until Monday morning (he is coaching volleyball at Rex Putnam...so daily doubles take priority over vacation....for him!)  Now me, I have my ticket to come home on Friday...a whole week of enjoying the lake, touring the town and eating at my favorite lunch eatery:  The San Francisco Sourdough Eatery...oh my mouth just waters thinking about that yummy sandwich.

We rent a car and head out from the airport...we have volunteered to do all the food shopping for both households...we have two condos...Lacey's family, Scott and I are in one, Dina's family, her two 20 + year old babysitters and later in the week, her MIL and FIL along with another grandson, Jake are staying together in a separate condo.  So we buy food for everybody...made a stop at Costco and the grocery store...we loaded up so we can have breakfasts and lunches at home...or picnic lunches at the lake...for dinners we bought some lasagna and chicken alfredo with penne pasta...other nights we will just go out!

So Scott and I fly out early Thursday morning and are so anxious to take care of our errands so we can get to the condo and hit the golf course (now you all know, SCOTT hits the golf course, I hit the POOL!)  And luck would have it that the babysitters are taking the three Snook kids to the LAKE...so yes, I get a quiet relaxing sit by the pool, reading a book and even taking a snooze!  Soooo nice!

Friday morning, the three golfers (Jamie, Scott and Dina) head out early to get in a round of golf...it is the weekend for the club championship and even though Jamie golfs year round, Scott has only golfed twice in the year...so he is needing a little practice and warm up for the event.  Dina too has not played because of her piriformus syndrome...but she got a shot of cortizone in her back/spine area and it is finally taking hold and she doesn't have as much pain...so she is anxious to hit some balls too.  Now Ellie and I get up early with them and decide to go to the workout area by the pool...It was FREEZING that morning...and Scott showed up and said it was too cold to play but he would meet up with them at 9:30...so he and Ellie worked out with some volleyball conditioning.  I did 30 minutes on the elliptical and 40 minutes on a bike and did some stretching too.  I felt a little tightness and soreness in my lower right back, so when I was done working and stretching I went back to the condo and laid down...took a nap, read my book and by late afternoon was beginning to think that this was more like "kidney stone" pain...UGH!  Scott was hitting balls, but when he got home about 6:30 pm, I told him I thought I was passing a kidney stone...and of course his first reaction is to get me to the hospital.  Now you know we are on the other side of the lake, up high, so it takes about 20 - 30 minutes to get to the ER...This wouldn't be a big deal, except I seem to have a history of "kidney stone" issues...remember back in February I had some blasted out of my left kidney...one of the stones was measured at 3/4 inch!!  And since then I have had two xrays to keep an eye on the stones in the other kidney...But what really makes us nervous is the first kidney stone I had 12 years ago...I was hospitalized with it because it was obstructed...had a stent in the wee morning hours.   Later the next day I went into sepsis shock and pulmonary edema and I have had several kidney infections...so we try to err on the side of being cautious and having things checked out.  So on to my story.  Yes it is a kidney stone...no surprise there...I am sent back to the condo with four prescriptions...an antibiotic, pain pills, a pill to relax my urethra and an anti nausea pill...

Saturday was not a good day...couldn't keep down water or anything else...I was very lucky though in that we got the master suite with a big window overlooking the lake...such a beautiful view and so relaxing...so if I had to be in bed, that was at least a nice location!  Sunday is a little better...I made sure I took my anti nausea pill and was able to keep down some toast...I even tenderly went to the pool to lay down on a lounge chair...I figured if I had to lay around, that would at least let me be with the family and watch the kids enjoying themselves.  It just hurt to move...so I didn't do much moving at all!  Sunday night Scott asked if I wanted to come home with him Monday morning, and I thought about it and decided that would be the best place for me...so it was sad to leave the lake...I had planned to meet two cousins at the resort across the lake and bring them up to Gozzer and have lunch.  I was very sad about canceling that, but I look forward to doing it next year!

Caleb and Tristan in the "cat" pool (it's really the kiddie pool, but Addie calls it the cat pool!)

do you believe Ellie is hard at work or hardly working?  she is working hard to be the best volleyball player EVER!

Addie and Jalen in the "kiddie pool"

Lily having a snack of apples
I only have a few pictures from my camera, but I will get started with them and add others later after the girls share their pictures with me...
left to right, top to bottom:  Nick (Caleb's friend) Caleb, Lily, Jalen, Ellie, Tristan, Addie, Lizi and Chloe (the sitters)

The Prueitt Family

The Snook Family

Sunset at the Red Barn

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

The Kiddie Car Wash

I am a little behind in my posting pictures...but a while ago I saw a "kiddie car wash" with directions and I thought it would be a fun thing to make for my three grand daughter's birthday...they are all within two weeks of each other...So Lacey and I went to Home Depot with the list and purchased the PVC pipe, and all the fittings that the directions called for...then we asked Scott to help us cut and assemble this car wash...The kids LOVE it!  We had it up for the birthday party, but I was so busy with visiting, I didn't get pictures that day of ALL the children running through the car wash...but two days ago...when the temperature was in the 90's, Addie, Tristan and Jalen were all together and I was watching them so we turned on the kiddie car wash and added three lengths of slip & slide and away they went...



As you can see, we drilled holes in the top and the sides and even across the bottom....just like a car wash, they get sprayed in all directions!  I added some fun duct tape around some of the pipes.  If you are interested in making one you can go HERE to get the directions for making one,      and here is another one from a little girls birthday party!  I didn't add a lot of the extra's...like the sponges or the strips of shower curtains, I know my little ones, they are kind of "rough" on things, and I figured those things wouldn't last long...so I just didn't bother with them!  I also purchased some buckets at the dollar store for the kids to have and they love filling them up with water and dumping them on each other or throwing them on the slip and slide!  This was the best present ever!!

Iacolucci Picnic

August 11, 2012  Another fabulous family reunion...smaller turnout this year, but nice to have more time to visit with everyone...we celebrated a cousins 80th birthday and soon her 60th wedding anniversary...my sweet aunt is 93 and it was so nice to see and talk to her.  This year my dad didn't go up with us...he just was not feeling like he could handle a 6 hour car drive (3 + hours each way).  I rode up with my brother Marty, his wife, Kim and  daughter Teale...so I was a back seat rider this time around and it was lovely to let someone else do the driving!!  My friend of 55 years, Linda came and joined us at cousin Tony Pinto's house.
Auntie Elvera, 93

Hank and daughter Melinda

Janet and Linda

Laurie, Sal, Auntie Elvera

My friend Linda, me, Carole, Bonnie and the star, Auntie Elvera

Rosie and Linda...who put the show on!  Wouldn't happen without them

Cousin Vin with the "dummy"  (his words!!)

      

























Emerald Cove Catering brought the food and it was absolutely FABULOUSLY DELISH!  Two kinds of ravioli, penne, sausage with veggies and of course the Meataballsa...!!  (that's Italian speak!), garlic bread and a salad...what could be better?  Is your mouth watering???  Oh Man, it was sooo good!  And my cousin is the head chef and owner of this catering company...well, it is my cousins, son to be specific, Fred Jr. Detore...Auntie Elvera's grandson!

Friday, August 3, 2012

The Barn

We have made great progress with "The Barn"...(and I say "we", but really I have very little to do with this barn!)
Getting the siding on the outside walls...first the insulation, then the siding
One side all done, moving onto the other side now
finishing up the roof
The lift is used to bring the roof pieces up on top
The flooring was purchased online from a church in Iowa...it was shipped and was being stored in the Snook's garage
Scott used the lift to bring it down to The Barn and using the arm extension, is able to place it on the floor
Jamie is directing traffic 



We are now waiting for the lights to be delivered, that will be the next installation, after the lights then the floor can be laid.  After the floor, some laminate will go on the lower half of the walls to protect the insulation from getting ripped my balls. Then we need to build some interior walls for the tractor storage and the exercise room.  Lots to do yet...I will keep you posted!