Parade of cars for Cats Birthday

Laura really did a great job getting everybody together and organizing a parade of cars for Catheine's Birthday.  She managed to keep it a secret too from Cat.  The start time was for four o'clck and we all were to meet at the Parker.  As luck would have it, the cold rain came down as the parade goers were meeting.  That wouldnt deter them though as they all lined up in order and left just about on time.  The video shows Catherine coming outside and asking Emily and Erin that was going on. It was so nice to look up and see so mamy cars and people had come out to help celebratr my little angels birthdya :)

T

Easter Sunday

Putting together cabinet with Cat

     Well, as if the painting wasn't enough excitement, Cat and I decided to torture ourselves with a do it yourself cabinet.  Six hours and about 400 pieces later we finally finished it.....I didnt even swear that much.  It was really needed and i'm glad we did it.  Jimmy was able to help us for a little bit but he went and braved the grocery store....and i think we bored  him.

     During our weekend of work we had a special guest who came and visited and didnt breath on us.  We always like to have the Umple stop by and say hello with or without the mask.

     We got alot of stuff to stash inside these cabinets....we could probably use a couple more.  We do have another one in the back yard room...Catherine really enjoys organizing and couldnt wait for us to finish so she could do just that.....I was more than happy to let her :)

     After breaking up all the boxes and cleaning up after us....i think i'm just going to pass out cold !!!

Painting during the weekend with some quaranteenagers....

          During the week Cat and Laura took the huge step of painting their bedroom.  When we went to Lowe's to pick up the paint she also wanted to pick out the color for the kitchen.  Those two girls really did a wonderful job of painting.....I was very impressed..       Today,  Cat make plans with Erin to come over and help with the kitchen painting.  The kitchen has always been a very active area in our house and the holes in the wall show just that.  I asked Erin if she had ever used spackling and of course she had.......ooooo, i told her she was the son i always wanted!!...Only kidding of course but we did call the paint store and they delivered the spacklel curbside.

     Wouldn't you just love to leave it like that.....Of course they have my name as Jeb!!

     It really came out great with a very limited amount of errors.  It was an all day affair for us but they really are great painters !!
At one point I was painting over the sink and there was a number of cut-ins that had to be done that were kind of tricky so I told both Cat and Erin that they didnt have to do that area and that I would take care of it.  I told them that it was an area that was hard to reach and that I had much longer arms and could reach that area so much easier.  I really didnt think too much about it and I just continued on painting and zoning out as usual as I do.  Well, fast forward a couple of hours later I noticed that I had been all alone painting for a while and figured that they had just got bored or something.  Jimmy happened to come through and I asked him if he had seen the girls.  He tells me that they were in the back room and they told him that I said that I didnt need their help because their arms were too short....Ooooooooh and Catherine kept saying that she cant paint because she's got dinosaur arms or something like that....i guess dinosaurs have those little arms.......oh those girls !!  But they went right back into it and they seemed to be rejuvenated by the break.  Cat and I ended up finishing it up and it did turn into an all day affair....but another fun one at that......

Tik Tok ....Just dance baby

     I was notified while i was on my way home from work that I was to bring home dinner....They do this by thanking me for cooking them dinner....it was Jimmy this time....oh what a sucker I am....Anyway, off to the grocery store and they have some really good hot dinners and cooked chicken there so Fried Chicken it was with some french fries...makes it so much better and easier.   After everyone ate, Laura asked me...actually told me that we were going out and playing catch with the football...Well, there were two more inside and we couldnt let that happen.  Jimmy came out and

played football with us and then Catherine joined us for a game of wiffle ball.  It was Laura and I against Jimmy and Catherine.  Well, the final score was disputed...We either lost 15 to 4 or like I said, we came back in the last inning to complete a walk off win...Its in dispute and we'll leave it at that ....

and then there was the tik tok's ......Catherine let us all know she wanted to do a tik tok...I suppose they pick out a song and everyone usually choreographs the dance moves....as if we all need that...maybe they need guidance but some of us are born with natural moves...yes, thats it isnt it ??

The Lockdown continures

The world has slowed with the corona virus circus...James has been sent home from school and we are still unsure but we think that the year was all over for school.  He has had to sit around the house and self quarantine.  Well, I don't think he's minded too much actually....Laura and Catherine have spent two of the weekends up at the lake with some friends...No, they havent been doing too much social distancing....They really like to take off and go driving somewhere, whether it be covered bridges or some areas of Lake Winnepesaukee.  Jack has spent alot of his quarantine over Ant Jo's house.  I call him every day and he's having an absolute blast...I get his texts and facetime videos updating me. 

Quarantine time at the lake

It was time for us to do some social distancing.  Oh and what about that bra....Two weeks ago was our wedding anniversary and is always the case, it was impossible to buy anything for Lyn.  So, I decided I would get her some workout clothes and other sweaters and such.  During the picking out of items I was FaceTiming Laura to get her opinion about colors and style etc....as I was walking through the ladies department Laura thought it would be a great idea to either get huge panty hose or a huge bra.  So, of course a size 38 DD was purchased....after Lyn turned it down Laura knew she had to give it to Alice.  Those two goofballs have been taking turns wearing it to different businesses....and then it was my turn

Ahhh, don’t you jut love a great fire.  It was s’mores time on Friday night inside the the side of the road chimney that I found .

Black Gordon is still cool

One good thing about this pandemic is that the college boy gets to come home...under strict orders to stay home, we went to the earl for breakfast and as long as I had them in my wallet, I am going to visit our favorite train and tender!!!  

After we got home there were two others that needed attention so off we went 

Where did they go??

Okay, not a good way to start the year with skimping on the blog....yes, i know.  Life gets a little busy and my firewall at work doesnt allow me to edit the blog so i'm kind of stuck on pause.  Anyway, whats been going on in this household the last three months??  Well, Jimmy is at college and now he's home avoiding the corona virus.......The best thing is that he and Jackie have been hanging out, especially yesterday when they both went to play basketball and I guess Jackie was starring with his three point shots after being given some shooting pointers from Jimmy and Charlie...Word is their three on three team went 5-0.  They were both home today and after complaining about being sore, they helped me with some yard work....Oh, there was some major complaining but they helped dear old dad....i needed the help!!!
So Laura has just has been out of this world with her swimming.  She went to a meet in Florida with swimmers from all over the country that go to qualify for the Olympic qualifiers.  so she was swimming with Olympians....not only swimming with them, she was competing.  I had gone to a funeral for Big Bill's mom and after the funeral we went for a meal gathering.  While i was sitting down eating, i recieved word on my cell phone that Laura had made the finals.  Needless to say this somber event was interrupted by my yelling "ARE YOU KIDDING ME".....Of course everyone was concerned as to what was wrong and i was just stunned, in a happy way.  Just to be there is an  honor but to make the finals in such a meet is quite the accomplishment......So while she was there she jumped into a warm up lane with Ryan Lochte and Caleb Dressel...of course she did!! She also got a picture with Dressel.  She was quite star struck......sooo, thats all well and good, but a couple of weeks later Laura and I were at the New England Age group championships and the little stinker continued on her winning ways and she qualified for the Futures meet in Columbus Ohio in August.  This Futures meet is apparently her biggest meet attained up to now. 
My little Catherine has been healing with her back injury and she is looking forward so much to the track season.  She says that she cant stand not being involved with a sport because she gets bored.  She's always been so busy with gymnastics and swimming so it's good to see that the track season is around the corner.  Jackie boy has been involved with his soccer team on Sundays and two nights a week he's been practicing for the baseball season.  They have an indoor practice where the kids practice pitching, hitting and fielding.  He's really committed to it and likes to play baseball.   I will tray, i swear to keep up with this blog....i swear!!

New Years at the lake 2020

     Just look at these trouble makers !!   Actually, they are all great kids.  What a great time had by all this New Years with these kids.  Jackie had Jack Ring and Cat had Tori come up with her.  The big excitement was being able to go flying down the sledding hill.  Cat didnt do it because her back is still mending but the Jack's had a great time. 
We went to Fun Spot one day and got to do some bowling and some golfing too.  Cat got on a roll and bowled four strikes in a row..  She was on fire!!!

I

An After Christmas trip up the lake

The day after Christmas Jackie and his friends Gavin (Big Boy) and Zach joined Mommy, Catherine and I up North.  The crazy thing was that we had more snow at home than up the mountains.  So Jackie was excited to show them the sledding hill.  Well, the sledding hill was half grass when we went to look.  The bottom of the hill was snow so they got in about four or five runs in the half grass, half snow hill.  The kids start at the top of the hill (obviously) and then I go down a couple of streets and pick them up at the bottom of the hill.  There was another group that was making the run so it must have been fun.  The ground was cold and there was enough ice to make them go somewhat fast.  

     I really like that these kids always like to spend times outside instead of just looking for video games to play.  They not only did this sledding but they spent some time playing football in the yard too.

Of  course there was the obligatory trip to the Old Country store for some penny candy.  Its a fun time for the kids to walking through the store. 

The second day we went to Fun Spot, the largest arcade in the world, or so they say.  inside they have a full bowling alley and a mini golf course.  The bowling was full so we went and did 18 holes of golf.  ..jack was bragging about getting the most holes in one, but that only means that he was beaten badly. 

 During the night the kids went to go see Jumangi...I went with the girls to see the newest Star Wars.  I'm not much of a Star Wars guy but it was pretty good, or at least i didnt fall asleep....which i usually do.  

      Those boys seemed to have a real good time.  Of course there is no real bed time at the lake so they could, and did, stay up as late as they want and be as goofy as can be.  In the morning they were dragging a little bit, but as 13 year olds do, they snapped right back.

Christmas week

Annual McKenna family Christmas party

Christmas Eve over Kara's house

We all went over to the Blatt house for Christmas Eve.  It used to be a huge party but lately its just the Blatham's for Christmas Eve. 

My New Bracelet

and Don't I love it so....The last couple of years Laura has made me a summer hippie bracelet and I've made it last almost all year long  but inevitably it would break from swimming or showering or just plain life in general.  I had just broken my June bracelet when I was given this by accident.  Mommy had  bought it for my Birthday in December and for some reason she had me open a box in November.  I was thrilled with the gift.  Lets hope that it sticks around for a while.

On a cold Novemer day,guess where we went

These photos were over a couple of visits to the Old Black Gordon.  It was especially fun when Jimmy joined us back at his old friend BG....I had to bring a football and he knew there would be some fun involved.  That old train just kills me.....