April 29, 2015

Wednesday

Ed made us banana French toast for breakfast. It rained and poured most of the day. Mom, dad, and I tried going to Salvation Army but there was no place to park, and it was raining so hard we just went home instead.

I made two banana cream pies and my mom made a crunchy pumpkin dessert. Then we left for Schooner Wharf. Angelica and the kids went too. I thought we might get rained out but it cleared up and we didn't get any rain. Charlie sat next to me and fought with Jake most of the time, so when the band took a break I was ready to go home. Mom and dad were ready to go home too. We were all tired. 

When we got home we ate some of the pumpkin dessert. It was great, but my pies were runny. Grrrrr!!!' I put them in the freezer  so tomorrow they will be frozen banana cream pies. :0)

April 28, 2015

Tuesday

We did a little school today. The big kids went to the studio to practice with Liza. Tom and my dad went to Kim and Doug's house to put up insulation in their roof. There is none and their house gets super hot and the air conditioners can't keep up. Doug dropped Stevie off at 10 AM. At 12:20 I drove the Sprinter to pick up Naomi, Ian, and Ariel from church. We went to field day for gym class in Marathon, me, Garrett, Tommy, Charlie, Naomi, Aaron, Ian, Ariel, Stevie, and Shannon. Stevie fell asleep just before we got there so I sat with him in the van and crocheted. The kids had a great time. 

Drove home. Cancelled Tai Chi. TJ and Ang dropped off the kids at 4, on their way to a gig in Islamorada. I made Pad Tai for supper. When Rita got off work she came over with pizza for Jake and Callie, and wings for the big people. Yum!! She and Joe took TJ's kids to his house, watched them there, and put them to bed because TJ and Ang wouldn't get home till midnight. 

April 27, 2015

Monday

Kim had her baby this morning. Reed Elliot, 7 lbs, 15 oz. That's what she weighed when she was born. She had a C-section. 

I made banana muffins (with chocolate chips) and then went to Walgreens for a few things. We did literature while Garrett washed dishes. Nina cleaned her room and got it ready for my parents' visit. It was a weird morning. Plans kept changing every second. I felt like we were spinning in circles. 

We left early for Sloppy's so we could visit Kim. I forgot her present. I left it on the kitchen table. :0( But we saw the baby, and Kim, then went to work. 

Things were crazy at Sloppy's. I'm looking forward to sleeping tonight.

April 26, 2015

Sunday

We went to church. Charlie went somewhere with a friend. Nina's band played at Sunset Pier. The rest of the kids went to a beach volleyball party at Sombrero Beach. Tom, Tommy, and I stayed home and watched the NASCAR race. I did embroidery. In the evening Tom and I went to church. When we got home the boys all watched hockey. I moved laundry, read to Charlie, and went to bed. 

April 25, 2015

Saturday

The last few days have been too busy and I have been too tired to write, but when I go to bed exhausted, I've had a hard time falling asleep. We did school on school days. Thursday evening I was able to do some embroidery but felt guilty that I should be doing bookkeeping instead. I went grocery shopping at 8:30. I think everyone had ice cream for supper. 

Friday the band played at a wedding at the Hyatt in Key West. I made a spinach and strawberry salad before they left. I stayed home with the younger boys. They went to the movie night at church. I did laundry and dishes and knit. 

Saturday -- I got up early and woke people up who needed to go play at Bahia Honda's Earth Day celebration. TJ and family drove separate. I took Garrett, Tommy , and Charlie, and Tom took Ed and Nina in the Sprinter with the trailer. It was super hot but fun. Tom, the boys, and I watched the grand kids while the bluegrass played from 10-11 AM. There were plenty of activities for the kids so they had fun. Did I mention it was hot hot? :0) After they were done playing, Tom left with the Sprinter to stop at the house and pick up the rest of the band for Sunset Pier. 

We tried to take the grand kids to the beach but it was just too hot and Angelica took them home. I stayed for a little while. Hannah was there also with her grandmother. It was nice to see them. But It wasn't very relaxing. Tommy was no fun. Charlie's friend Matthew was there so I left Charlie with Matthew and his mom and we went home. At home I took a quick shower, then escaped with Nina to Key West where Ed and Nina were playing at a wedding on the beach. I needed some vedge time, where no one would talk to me. A wedding where no one knows me. Perfect. :0)

I took a book with me, and finally got to relax. A few people at the wedding talked to me afterwards and they were so nice. Before we left we gave a girl a ride to the bathroom because it was a long walk. Then Ed and Nina took me to Origami for supper. 

When we got home everyone was watching hockey. I read to tommy and Charlie and went to bed, but felt like it took hours for me to fall asleep.

April 22, 2015

Wednesday

I slept horrible last night. Woke up before 4 AM and could fall asleep again. I finally got up. I lagged most of the morning, went back to bed and finally slept at 2. 

The band went to  Schooner Wharf, I stayed with the with 2 littles at home. I made soup  and we went to church. Went home again and read to Charlie, then read some more of "A Thomas Jefferson Education." I like it!

April 21, 2015

Tuesday

The band got home in the middle of the night, except for Tom. Tom was dropped off in Fort Pierce, to get our Sprinter van that was left to get some work done. The van wasn't done till noon, so Tom came home later and met us at Sloppy Joes. 

I got up early to go to the dentist. I ate and woke Ben up. He had an appointment too. I called and texted everyone at home, to find someone to take Charlie to his fiddle lesson, but no one woke up till it was too late. :0(

After we got home, we did a little schoolwork, then got ready to go to Sloppy Joes. I made food to take with me. I rode with Rita and Joe, and we picked up TJ and Jake. Some of the kids went in the GMC and Kurt drove his car too.

Tom arrived in time for the 2nd set. The crowd was attentative all night. It was fun. 

Charlie's iPad screen broke more.

April 20, 2015

Monday

Angelica was sick this morning, so I picked up the kids and watched them at our house. I was trying to think of something fun to do, so I pulled out the paints and we painted. I'll have to buy some play-dough and sometime we can play with it outside. :0)

I was able to clean out three kitchen cupboards, and Violet took a nice nap later in the afternoon. I made supper and Angelica came over and ate with us. Then we hung out for a while. I cleaned off the island in the kitchen. Clutter always piles up there, and I did the dishes. I did laundry, read to Charlie, and went to bed. 

April 19, 2015

ISunday

Went to church. Hung out at home for about 2 hours knitting, then went to Marathon with Rita in her truck. We got pedi's (which are hard for me, my feet are so sensitive, weird) and then went to the AT&T store that was next to the nail place. Went home for a little bit, then the two of us went to Boondocks. We were hoping the NASCAR race would be on but it was delayed because of rain. Went back home. Then the race started up again, so we took Charlie over to Springer's to watch the race. We couldn't really see the tv too well. Went home and worked on embroidery. Read to Charlie and went to bed.

April 18, 2015

Saturday

I woke up to my alarm, uhhh, horrible, at 7 AM. I had to get up. I had a headache, so I took Excedrine and held a frozen bag of carrots on my forehead and the back of my neck. I drank water, made coffee, and got ready for our 8 mile bike ride and then bridge jumping. I packed lunches, made oatmeal, and woke up Tommy, Charlie, and David. 

Garrett took the hockey stuff out of the van and put the bikes in. Then we left for Lower Sugarloaf. We stopped by Hannah's house ( it was on the way) and she brought me out a sweet elling flower, Gardinia I think, then continued driving to the end of the road, where we met the rest of the group. Meanwhile, Garrett was picked up by friends and went to his friend Jaden's birthday party. Looks like they went out on the water.

The ride was fun. Sometimes we were in the sun but there was plenty of shade too in tunnels of mangroves. The road was Old 4A, which was the main road down here until US 1 was built. Now it is a crumbling bike path. At one point we stopped and watched fish in the water next to the road. We saw two horseshoe crabs and lots of blue parrotfish.

When we were done with that we went to the jumping bridge. That was fun too. Then we went to to TJ's house and picked up Jake and Callie. I took them to Byron and Ida's house to go swimming. It was soooo nice. Went back to TJ's, dropped off the kids, went home, showered, and then Charlie and I went to Kim's studio. My project is almost done, 2 more hours at the most of weaving and I can cut it off the loom.

We stopped at Winn Dixie on our way home. Ate supper. I knit for a little, read to Charlie, and called it a day.

The rest of the band  ( and family) was in Bristol, TN today for NASCAR races. They hung out with their buddies Dale and JR.

Kurt took this last picture.

April 17, 2015

Friday

Garrett was a punk last night. After he turned in his iPod I moved it and lo and behold, it was just the empty case upside down. I asked him if he liked being deceitful. He still argued with me about keeping it but I won. :0)

Even Tommy and Charlie were being dumb. When the band finally left (close to 12:30 AM) Tommy and Charlie tried watching cartoons in the living room instead of going to bed. How dumb can they be?

It's weird falling asleep when so many people are gone, but I finally fell asleep.

This morning I cleaned, mostly the living room. I moved the furniture and swept. There's always a lot of stuff under our couches. Ang dropped off Jake and Violet and then took Callie to see "Cinderella" in Marathon. 

I worked on embroidery. I have a baby dress that needs to be done the beginning of May. There was a movie at church tonight so we went to that, came home, ordered 2 pizzas, went to Winn Dixie and bought food for tomorrow morning's bike ride, picked up the pizzas, and went home. Then I sat in my "Queen Cheryl" chair and knitted on Jake's sweater and listened to a book on my phone. 

Tommy's friend, David, is sleeping over again. He's going on the bike ride with us in the morning. Speaking of the bike ride, Charlie's bike has a flat tire, so I asked the big kids' friend, Minolis, if we could borrow his younger brother's bike and his stepdad said yes, so Minolis brought it over for me. Thanks Minolis! I moved the van into the driveway to load the bikes and guess what? It was filled with hockey equipment. (No, it does not smell good in there). So I had Garrett empty it and he has the bikes all lined up for loading in the morning.

April 16, 2015

Thursday 

I slept late today, then we did school. At 3:30 I had a student come for a piano lesson. That was fun! The kids all went to church for youth group. I went over to church too and gave another piano lesson in the kids studio. Afterwards, I came home and started the embroidery on the latest baby dress. 

TJ dropped off the kids and took Angelica to the church so she could see laser tag in action. She played and someone ran into her, their gun going in her eye. They ended up calling 911. She didn't go to the hospital.

After everyone came home, they finished packing for their trip to Bristol, TN. They are leaving tonight at midnight. They are going to a NASCAR race.

April 14, 2015

Tuesday

I went walking this morning, then started school. Bobby dropped Shannon off on his way to work, so she could go with us to "field day" at gym class. The kids were all excited because there was going to be a water slide. Tom took Charlie to his fiddle lesson, and when he came back, Charlie said "field day" was cancelled. Nina was going to take the kids for me, and Ian and Ariel were here too. Everyone was getting ready to go. I went online, and sure enough, a few days before they postponed it till next week. :0/ TJ and Angelica had already left. So, they all ended up going to gym class. 

I stayed home and did bookkeeping, from 1 till 6. Ughhhh!!!! Bobby came in and asked me about his taxes, so we went online and did his taxes. That actually went well. He's getting money back.

I made a grocery list, went to Winn Dixie, and stuffed my cart. I came home and Tommy carried everything up the stairs for me. I made supper while putting groceries away. I made black beans, brown rice, a salad, and cut up 2 watermelons.

I had no energy to clean up, asked Ben to wash dishes and Joe to put leftovers away. Someone was in my bathroom so  I fell asleep without changing into my nightgown. 

April 13, 2015

Monday

I woke up early, had time to read, and went walking. I woke up the schoolboys and started school. We did school till 3 pm. I was able to doodle an embroidery design for the front of the newest dress.  Then we got ready to leave for Sloppy Joes. 

It was a busy night and went by quickly. I got a lot of knitting done. The boys were excited because at the end of their show they met Bill Clement, a hockey announcer. 

April 12, 2014

Sunday

We went to church. TJ, Ang, Nina, and Ed went to play at Sunset Pier, so I took the grand kids to my house after church. They were really good and I was able to clean a little. The walkway at the door was filled with cardboard boxes from amazon orders and scattered shoes. I also cleaned off the island and did dishes. Then I cut out a baby dress and got it ready for embroidery. 

Bobby, Shannon, and Ailsa came over and Tommy's friend David was over too. After TJ picked up the kids Tom and I went to church. After church I read to Charlie and went to bed early. :0)

April 11 2015

Saturday

Poor me. I slept horrible last night. My alarm was set for 7, but I got up at 6:30 and got ready to go kayaking. I packed three small coolers for Tommy, his friend David, and me. We drove over to Kayak Bob's and the boys helped Bob load the kayaks. Then we drove down to 5 mile creek. 

We paddled through lots of mangrove tunnels. I saw a shark and Tommy saw a stingray. Coming back was hard against the wind and waves. Tommy and I went home afterwards, but Bob and David went to the jumping bridge to jump and swim. 

I showered, did dishes, and did some laundry. Kim and Stevie stopped in for a visit. Then Charlie and I left for Schooner Wharf. The band played earlier at Sunset Pier, then went over to Schooner. I felt really good at first, but after a while I was just plain tired. I just wanted to sleep. Gale and Kelly came with relatives. It was good to see them. Kurt and Aaron made some new friends. 

I left with TJ at 11. 

April 10, 2015

Friday

Charlie and I were out the door at 9 AM on our way to the beach. We stopped at Walgreens first for sand toys, sunglasses (my old ones broke), pretzels, and crackers. (Charlie threw up during the night).

The water was wavy today. I like it when it's smooth, but Charlie doesn't care. He had a blast. We read more of "Pinocchio" and I saw a bird catch a crab and eat it. We stayed only 2 1/2 hours. I wanted to get some schoolwork done too. 

When we got home I watered my plants, and had Joe make new chore cards for the hat. The kids picked cards, but Tommy and Charlie were the only ones to do their chores. Tommy got wash dishes and Charlie got the nothing card. 

I want a house with in-law quarters. I want my own apartment!

We did school till we had too many extra people that there was no way for anyone to concentrate. Shannon came over and everyone kept talking. 

TJ brought the kids over when he came over to ride with the band to Schooner Wharf. Angelica was sick so I watched them for a while so she could get some rest. The band left. The kids played. Callie and I made cupcakes, and before I knew it, it was time to go to movie night at church.

The movie was fun. The kids were good. Afterwards I ordered subs, picked them up, dropped off the grand kids, and went back home. We ate, relaxed a little, I read to Charlie, and went to bed, early, 11:10 PM (I have to get up at 7 AM to go kayaking).

April 9, 2015

Thursday

I went walking this morning, then woke up the school boys and we got to work. Somehow, we didn't start till almost 1 o'clock. Where does the time go?

The band was at church all day, setting up and probably practicing. Tommy had a guitar lesson, then later, Tommy and Garrett went to youth group. Charlie and I spent a lot of time reading on the porch. He's enjoying the Kindle I got him. We each have one, so we take turns reading and he can follow along while I read.

Shannon came over because she needed help with an algebra problem. I bet it took us an hour to do two problems, but when she turned it in we got them right! It was hard. Then I left to pick up Hannah from youth group and gave her a ride home. I came home, got some money, and went to Winn Dixie. Did my shopping and put it away (9 PM) while making supper. I made a salad and sloppy joes with textured vegetable protein. I thought it was ok, but Tom said he really liked it. I did half a math lesson while Tom and Rob watched hockey, then I put leftovers away and cleared dishes. I'm saving them for someone else though. Anyone want to come and do my dishes? Or how about plan the menu and cook? I would love a cook and a zookeeper, I mean bookkeeper. Did I say zookeeper? Hmmm. And I guess you could throw in a cleaning lady too.

I showered and went to bed.

April 7, 2015

Tuesday

This morning I cleaned off the kitchen table and most of the island. Most of the kids went to Bahia Honda to hang with the Redhead Express. I did laundry, swept the kitchen, made Joe fold laundry, and ran to Winn Dixie. I made and packed lunch and supper for myself.

Tom took Garrett to gym class in Marathon. Then our friend, Kayak Bob, picked up Tommy and I. Tommy's friend's dad died and the three of us went to the memorial service. We were early and took a walk on the pier by Higgs Beach, then went to the service. 

Bob dropped us off at Sloppy Joes. Tom and the band was already there. It was super busy and a fun night. 

April 6, 2015

Monday 

I spent some time reading this morning, then went walking. Tom got up before me and took Emma and Jewel to the Lauderdale airport. Kurt and Aaron cleaned up the carport. There is just too much stuff down there. 

I did school with Charlie, and Garrett and Tommy did literature and math. I did half an algebra lesson and then made a salad for my lunch, to take with me to Sloppy's. We left at 3:30. We had to stop at church and pick up equipment left from yesterday. Tom met us at the gig and so did TJ. 

On the way home we stopped at Winn Dixie for pull-ups. 

April 5, 2015

Easter Sunday

I got up at 7 to make sure the band was up and getting ready for church. They played at 3 services today. I went to the 8 o'clock one to help Kim with Stevie. I held him while Kim sang and played her fiddle. I came home after that service and woke up Tom, Charlie , Aaron, Tommy, Ian, and Ariel. Aaron went to the 9:30 service but everyone else had an hour to get ready for the 11 o'clock service. 

Ariel got dressed herself and I did her hair for the first time. Nina always does it. We headed over to church with Emma, but just before we left, Tommy wandered into my room. I thought he went to the second service! He never got up when I woke him. Grrrr!!! They stay up too late. 

Anyways, church was great!! Loved it! Came home. Angelica came over with the kids. Nina and Ed filled plastic eggs with candy and put the Easter bags together, 15 of them. Then we hid the eggs in the kitchen and living room. After the 5 little kids found them Ed took some pictures. I wanted some of the little girls in the dresses I made. 

TJ and Ang went home. I was going to sit and knit or read on the porch, but Tom wanted me to look at an RV with him, so I went. (When we left we had to turn the car around. A deer was laying down in the back yard. We pulled in about four feet from it and it just lay there-Key Deer.) Turned  out the RV was in a locked, fenced-in area so we couldn't see it. Then he stopped to visit someone a few minutes. Came home again and I finally sat on the porch knitting.

The older kids all went to Key West to the movies, except for Kurt and Jewel. They went fishing with JC on his boat. They all met up in KW at Origami for supper. Tom and I babysat at TJ's house so they could go to Origami too. The kids were really good. I knit and did the dishes. Tom and I were planning on going to Boondocks when they got back, but just went home instead. It was going on 10 o'clock. At 11 PM the big kids went to church either to hang out or to play laser tag. I let Charlie go so we won't read tonight. I thought I might go in the hot tub but I am just going to bed. I could use a whole day off, a real day off, not a catch up day.

April 4, 2015

Saturday 

This morning the three youngest boys and I went to Bahia Honda for the beach baptism. Ailsa and Shannon slept over last night so they went too. We got there about 9:30 AM and stayed till 2. It was a wonderful relaxing morning. 

Tommy helped Kim with Stevie and then Kim dropped him off at he when she left. Garrett went home with a friend. Charlie had a great time playing in the sand and I read. 

When we got home I did a few chores and then got to work to finish the girls' Easter dresses. I had to finish the armhole facings in two of the dresses and make the buttonholes and sew on buttons. The band played at Sunset Pier and then played in the worship band at church for the first of four services. 

When they got home I had Ed order Chinese for the mob. There were 10 Doerfels, 4 Newtons, Emma and Jewel, Shannon and Ailsa, and Jonathan. 

 When Callie's and Violet's dresses were done I took them over to TJ's house. Then came home and finished Ariel's. I think I finished around 11 PM. I put stuff away and told kids to get ready for bed. I did dishes, and moved laundry. I tried going to sleep but Tom, who had napped, felt gabby, so I didn't get to sleep till after 2 again. 

April 3, 2015

Friday

We did schoolwork and I cut out Callie's Easter dress. Tom and Charlie left to drive 3 1/2 hours to the mainland to look at an RV. The big kids went to Key West with their girlfriends to eat. 

I sewed all day until 6 PM when the big kids got home. Randy and Mikki took us out on their boat. We saw the sun go down and the moon come up. We saw a stingray jump up out of the water and the little glow-in-the-dark things in the water. I still don't know what they are, jellyfish or something. 

Got home about 9:30 and then I went grocery shopping. Came home. Threw pizzas in the oven, put groceries away, and kept sewing.

Tom and Charlie got home at 11:45 PM. Then the big kids got home. They were all at a friend's house. I cleaned up my sewing stuff on the kitchen table, got Garrett doing the dishes, moved laundry, and went to bed at 1:30 AM. Too late for me. It is so nice outside at night right now. I wish I had time to sit out there. Too tired.