Papa's Day

Around here we now call Father's Day - Papa's day.
Mike raised his kids.
He was a great Dad (though he was not happy about being a Father part-time) and an awesome Step Dad. I know about the step Dad part because I got to witness it first hand.
He loves his kids and they all love him - No doubt.

But man there is something about Grandkids and being a Papa. Direct Quote!

First picnic at the Flory's on Saturday.
Bubbles in the backyard. Yay! For the time being, Owen just enjoys sitting and watching.

I suggested to the boys that could catch more bubbles with their hats. And they listened.

Bryan and Mike had help with the corn shucking.
Luke sat on his daddy's lap to help.

 So it didn't take long for Roger to ask to sit on papa's.

 

Bryan cooked us delicious pork steaks and grilled vege's to go with the corn. Yummy!

 

On Wednesday when I was in to sit with Owen (he had Thrush and couldn't be in daycare) Roger found the snowman kit in the closet. Him and Luke started playing with trying to stick the pieces into things. I had the great idea to bring in some melons to make melon heads with the parts.

So after showers - yes, they take showers now in Mommy and Daddy's bathroom - I think it's the rain shower head that they like, we made melon heads.

 

It was a little difficult to stick the pieces into the skin so Bryan started the holes for Luke with a knife and I helped Roger.

 

 Roger ended up sitting on the table, because his Daddy took his chair. His hat didn't fit the melon head so he wore it instead.

 

Mike read them their bedtime stories and I got to sing them to sleep.

Nice start to Papa's Day.









 

Every Father's Day I put a ham on the grill. I almost said I cook it, but Mike does the grilling around here so I prep a ham for him to cook on the grill.

On Sunday I invite his kids for a picnic.
And a pleasant surprise the grandkids come too.
He went from bubbles to bags.

Logan and Dylan beating Mike and Kaylyn.
Yeah, he is having a great Papa weekend.
Just check out his smile in these pictures. He loves being a papa and they love him too.

Owen is blessed

Owen was christened on Sunday.

The service was long and Owen had decided to make good use of his diaper, so he was cranky and crying. He did not mind the water part though.

I whispered to Roger that Owen was going to get water poured on his head so he got close to see.

Luke was not going to be left out of the ceremony.



This was about the best picture I got of Owen with his Parents and God parents. He just wanted his diaper changed and to be fed. Enough with the pictures already.



 

Alfresco Dining

It didn't take me long - I found a perfect table for our deck.

Dylan, like most teenagers, was looking to earn some money, so I suggest he could power wash and stain the "hot tub" hole on our deck.



Before Dylan got to power washing.

While we had the power washer out and since he is so tall I had him go around the roof of the house and wash the eaves. Last year when I attempt it I got soak by the water splashing down. No surprise, Dylan stayed try.
Just watching him bend over gave me a back ache.

Painting in the cracks

 .

adding stain

He could reach everything painting in one direction. My grandson is one tall dude.
Check out his "sock" tan. I made him put on old shoes and take his socks off in case they got wet (from power washing) or he got stain on them.  He has been spending the majority of his off time (between football strength training and basketball camp) on the basketball courts at Chamberlain park in Genoa honing his skills.

I decided to put our new table and chairs on the lower level.
No need for an umbrella - Mother Nature provides us with one.

The upper level now has the sitting area.

 Needs color though - I'm thinking bright area rug!

The biggest thrill for Dylan -

Driving Papa's pickup truck home. He admitted to being a little nervous. It was his first time driving a pickup truck.

He did really good - Better beginner driver than I was, for sure.

All Gone

It came into our lives because Mike played softball 2 night a week and on weekends AND he had bad knees.
It grew on me and I used it more than I thought I would - and I enjoyed it in all seasons.
Bryan moved back home after college because of it. Ok , maybe because he had to save some money too.
Point is we got our moneys worth out of it.

And now 17 years later it's gone.
The motor was finally giving out on the old bugger and I just couldn't see putting money into it. We (meaning Mike) emptied it last fall and we got through a winter without it, which wasn't easy I might add.
 I wanted the space on the deck for a eating table and chairs.
Mike called around and they wanted $350 to come and take it away. Yeah, that wasn't happening so Mike and I  (mostly Mike) dismantled it and threw it on the curb.
GoodBye old friend.



Mike using his handy saws all

Cut up pretty fast



Half way there



easier than we thought

Mike dismantled the fiberglass tub, While I burned the framing. All the extra tubes and foam went into black garbage bags.
It came apart pretty quick. After calling our waste disposal company they told us just to stick some stickers on it and if one person can lift it they would take it. $22 later it gone!
A little clean up and some deck protector stain in the bare spot and we have a nice big spot for a table and chairs.

Time for me to go shopping!