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       #Post#: 6744--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Summer Daze - 2018
       By: David M. Katz Date: June 28, 2018, 4:34 pm
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       What?  No top hat and monocle?
       Sounds like a great day.
       #Post#: 6786--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Summer Daze - 2018
       By: Jack Date: June 30, 2018, 5:01 pm
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       [quote author=David M. Katz link=topic=625.msg6744#msg6744
       date=1530221679]
       What?  No top hat and monocle?
       [/quote]
       No, and I decided the puff tie was a bit too much.  I was going
       to go with a bowtie, but the one I had didn't quite match the
       vest, so I went with a normal tie, which still looked good.  And
       now that the wedding is over, I'm probably going to shave this
       goatee.  I'll admit it looks pretty good, but it doesn't half
       itch, especially in this heat.
       Anyway, we're back from camp.  Tonight is basically a family
       night, but we're including Dillon, Barrett, Drake, and Ed
       (because their house isn't set up yet), Ryan's bringing his
       kids, Jason and Sarah are bringing the grand nephews, and all my
       grandkids will be here.  Since this camp actually serves pretty
       good meals, we're going to do burgers and dawgs tonight.
       I have already talked with the boys about settling in.  We have
       a block party coming on Wednesday for Independence Day, and
       we're going on vacation the week after, so I feel like we're on
       some time constraints.  On the other hand, I know they're going
       to want to see their friends who didn't go to camp.  Since all
       the camp boys this year were at least 13 years old, I've told
       them that, by Monday night at 8pm (the regular deadline for
       chores to be done), they have to have their trunk emptied,
       clean, and ready to store, they have to have their laundry done,
       and everything has to be put away.  They all got their phones
       back when we left camp, so they had plenty of time to chat and
       catch up on social media and with all their friends.  However,
       I've told them they're old enough to handle their own schedules.
       Besides tonight being a quiet, family night, they can do their
       own thing the next couple of days.  However, anyone who isn't
       through with their unpacking - including laundry - by that
       deadline will be getting paddled.
       I might make some allowances on the actual laundry, though I
       made sure everyone here had theirs down yesterday or today, and
       I did recommend they share the laundry portions.  Other than
       that, there's really not that much to it, if they just get to
       it.  On the other hand, I'll remind them that Monday will be
       business as usual, so they might want to take care of the chores
       tomorrow and not risk cutting it too close.
       Other than that, and Van being gone, we'll be back to our
       regular schedule for the first couple of days of this week.
       #Post#: 6793--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Summer Daze - 2018
       By: Jack Date: July 1, 2018, 4:52 am
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       Last night went great.
       We did end up having some guests.  Chandler Hardy and Billy
       Kadlec's moms came over and the four of the stayed for dinner.
       I appreciate that, since I have close relationships with Billy
       and Chandler both, and their moms do both acknowledge that, so
       it was nice to have a little time with them.
       I did modify my instructions for both these boys. They're going
       to be hanging out with their mom's today, but they'll both be
       here Monday morning, so they need to get everything done today,
       and their mom's are going to call me when/if they're satisfied.
       I told both moms what I'm expecting from my kids, and they're
       both going to hold Billy and Chandler to similar standards.
       Besides them, Bridgette brought her three (the  Henderson boys)
       over last night, and Perry brought his little brothers.  I was
       actually okay with that, since these kids didn't get to go to
       camp, and haven't seen their friends in a couple of weeks.  I
       would have preferred them to wait until today.  On the other
       hand, all the ladies were gone by about 8pm, but the Henderson
       boys went home with PJ about 10pm, and we had a couple of hours
       of skinny dipping before we called it a night, so I won't
       complain about an extra few cute boys.
       Nothing unusual happened besides that, and things wound to a
       close pretty early.  Zeke, Greg, Bryce, Mike, and John had
       stayed home, and they took care of the few chores that had to be
       done (mostly animal care), so there was nothing to do last night
       except clean up after dinner.  It had been a long day for
       everyone, and at the end of a couple of long, full weeks, so
       everyone was ready to turn in early, and I had said good night
       and was asleep myself before 10:30pm.
       Today, we haven't invited anyone, but I haven't told the boys
       they can't invite anyone.  I'm expecting some drop ins and for
       the boys to either go see or have visits from their best
       friends, but I should actually have a fairly quiet day today.
       #Post#: 6805--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Summer Daze - 2018
       By: kalico Date: July 1, 2018, 12:45 pm
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       Sounds like everyone had a fun night and I home today is
       relaxing for y’all
       Hugs kal
       #Post#: 6838--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Summer Daze - 2018
       By: Leti Date: July 2, 2018, 10:07 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       It is always nice to have a quiet night, and to go to bed
       earlier that usual.
       I hope that all the campers finished with their chores on time!.
       Thanks for sharing Jack
       [emoji173]
       #Post#: 6857--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Summer Daze - 2018
       By: Jack Date: July 3, 2018, 4:18 am
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       [quote author=Leti link=topic=625.msg6838#msg6838
       date=1530587276]
       It is always nice to have a quiet night, and to go to bed
       earlier that usual.
       [/quote]
       It's always nice for some of us.  For the kids, I think it makes
       a nice change of pace, and it helps them appreciate their busy
       times more.
       [quote author=Leti link=topic=625.msg6838#msg6838
       date=1530587276]
       I hope that all the campers finished with their chores on time!.
       [/quote]
       As I mentioned in his bio post, Liam didn't make it, but we
       managed to deal with that without too much fuss.  Everyone else
       finished it by yesterday morning, so it was no big deal.  The
       only other problem I heard of is that PJ gave Ryan Tucker a swat
       for playing around while he was supposed to be working, but they
       had to finish Sunday night, since they were going to be here all
       day Monday.
       [hr]
       In other news, we're getting ready for a full up block party
       tomorrow.  We're supposed to have the Port-a -Potties delivered
       today, and we're going to set up a couple of bounce houses, and
       obstacle course, and a water slide for the younger kids, which
       will leave the pool free for the older kids.  I decided to skimp
       on our normal service, and we're having BBQ catered, though
       we'll also have fried chicken and pizza, so it's not like anyone
       will go hungry.  Noah is talking about still grilling dawgs to
       go with, and it's not like my family ever has too much food.  I
       had planned on just buying desserts, but Ryan, Bryce, and Kenny
       have decided we're having cobblers.
       We've issued a rather large invitation to join us, besides
       pretty much the entire neighborhood.  I have heard from Ken
       Sanders (the new Associate Principal at BCA).  The work they
       were having done on the house finished on schedule last week,
       and they're moving in today.  They'll be happy to join us
       tomorrow, so they can meet the new neighbors, he informed me.
       #Post#: 6901--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Summer Daze - 2018
       By: Jack Date: July 5, 2018, 4:43 am
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       Yesterday went great.
       I ended up coming in the house a couple of times to catch my
       breath and cool off, but there was really too much going on -
       not that I ever felt overwhelmed, it was really fun.
       The worst problem was Van not being here.  This was the first
       time in years that we've done something like this without the
       Phantoms performing.  Ryan, Noah, and I made a playlist
       beforehand, so we had music most of the day, and there was some
       live music with my boys getting together with some of their
       friends to play a few songs.
       I did something different yesterday.  I mentioned elsewhere that
       we were catering and getting fast food instead of grilling -
       mostly, since the boys did do dawgs and grilled fruit for
       dessert.  Blue Bell was on sale at one of the stores, and we
       ordered that instead of trying to make our own.  It was
       hilarious, because I had talked directly to the Blue Bell guy to
       get our order right, and he ended up getting permission to just
       bring the ice cream here, and I signed a receipt for him to give
       to the store  He stayed and ate with us.
       We also got a delivery of ice.  They actually have these tiny
       trucks, about the size of a F350, I think, with a freezer on
       back.  They just broke the truck in the morning, gave me a
       number, and came back about 3pm to pick it up (and ate with us).
       
       I think I already mentioned we had bounce houses of various
       types for the younger kids, and we ended up with a volleyball
       net set up and a baseball game broke out.
       A lot of people came and went, but a lot of people were there
       for most of the day.  That kind of thing wears me out, and I was
       exhausted long before I got in bed last night (emotionally more
       than mentally), but it's still fun to do it from time to time.
       #Post#: 6905--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Summer Daze - 2018
       By: kalico Date: July 5, 2018, 8:34 am
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       Sounds like y’all had a great holiday and enjoyed ....
       Hugs kal
       #Post#: 6922--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Summer Daze - 2018
       By: Leti Date: July 5, 2018, 11:09 am
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       [emoji1258] Happy 4th of July!
       Sounds like you had a great day! Good that the ice truck and the
       Ice cream could be delivered at your house.
       And you had food for all the tastes, and everyone had something
       fun to do![emoji488]
       ;D thanks for sharing Jack
       #Post#: 7155--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Summer Daze - 2018
       By: Jack Date: July 10, 2018, 2:33 pm
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       We are at Jellystone and seem to be having a great time.
       Right now, I'm playing 'home base', since we have so many kids
       under 16.  The phone service seems to be okay here, but it's
       really working best for at least one adult to keep one of our
       cabins open.  I'm actually sitting out on the front porch, and
       there are a lot of families and half-naked kids running around
       out here.   All the kids have already made new friends.
       I still haven't decided if I'll be coming home Thursday or
       Friday.  There's a lot to do here, but most of the stuff that
       will interest the older kids costs extra.  The water park isn't
       real big, so I don't know how long it will hold their interest,
       but I don't think anyone will get bored for the first couple of
       days.
       I have a cousin who lives in this area - actually, we're related
       through my mom, so she's Andy's cousin as well.  She's about our
       age, but she had all girls, and of her 9 grandkids, none of them
       are older than 8, and only two are boys.  However, she and her
       youngest daughter joined us for lunch today, bringing fried
       chicken, barbecue (from stores) and a ton of her special,
       homemade, triple cheese and mac.  It's the same recipe I use
       (handed down from our Great grandmother, I think), but she made
       a batch with jalepenos in it, and Noah is now in love.
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