Blogging With the Mac's

It's Open!! Sunday afternoon was the grand opening for the Oaks Manor. My grandfather Max had a marvelous idea that Oakland just needed one of these facilities after viewing some in Missouri, I believe it was. Grandpa....GREAT idea!! I am sure this place will get filled up fast and it will be very nice place to live for life-long residents of Oakland in Oakland. Congrats to everybody involved with grandpa on this adventure and also to Linda for helping us get grandma (GG) moved in and settled and working around our schedules and putting up with the kids in and out, etc., etc. Judy who also works there....let me just say...go eat a meal there and that is all I have to say about that!! We would love for Judy to come on vacation to our house and cook some meals...what an awesome cook!! Again, congrats to all involved in making Oakland a better place to live and for making a dream come true!!!!! THANKS!!!!

Ribbon cutting ceremony with Grandma Bobbie, GG, Grandpa Max, and other resident Anita and her husband.

Bradyn crashed out with all the excitement!

Great Aunt Joyce Miller, myself, and my Dad.

To Bloomington yesterday and down to Benton today!! Busy, busy!! I promised the girls that after Ryan and Tricia got home from the hospital with baby Briggs that we would go down to Benton to see everybody. We took off today after Tyra was done with school and had Nana and GG ride with us. We had a great time and everybody was glad to get to hold poor little Baby Briggs who I am sure doesn't get to sleep sound too often because he is so darn tiny, cute, and cuddly that it is hard to put him down!!! The girls loved him....Bradyn I think was "in love" with him and probably would have loved to bring him home!!! We offered a switch of kids for Briggs, but of course got declined...LOL!!! What a handsome little addition to the family. Congrats to all of you!! He has 4 wonderful sisters that I am sure will show him the ropes later! Congrats again to all of you!! Welcome to your new home Baby Briggs!!! I will post more pixs from our trip to Benton after I get some off mom's camera. I used her camera more than mine!

Jimissy and Baby Briggs

GG and Baby Briggs

Joey & I

Phillip's daughters (and Jim): Joey, me, Becky, Jim, Michelle, and Sally

Jim and friend Michelle

As most may know, Oakland is almost ready to open the doors to its first senior living facility, Oakland Oaks Manor. Many, many hands, brains, time, etc., etc., has went in to this project and how beautiful it is and how excited we are for the newest and finest addition to Oakland!! My grandmother Nickey is moved in and will start living there on Monday when the doors are officially open. Here are a few pixs of the inside. There will be an open house coming soon also for the community to enjoy and check out. GREAT WORK EVERYBODY!!!!

Part of my grandma's room

Kitchen

Doc, Briggs, and Dad (my brother Ryan)

Baby Briggs who weighed in at 8 pounds and 20 inches long

Saturday morning, I decided a fun place to go would be Rockhome Gardens. I have not been there since a little kid, probably 12 or so, and the others have never been there. We had a wonderful time. The girls first thing wanted to do a horse and buggy ride, which was probably their favorite or the HUGE tree house, probably a toss-up. It was not too hot, not too cool, great day to go. Parking lot was packed, but everybody must have been scattered out there as there was no wait. As I am writing this, it makes me laugh when we took the girls through the haunted cavern...I should have took video footage. Talk about hysterical...Tyra made it almost all the way through when she took off out an emergency exit and called it quits. I was holding Bradyn and had Jimissy's hand while Jim had to fold up the stroller and take it through. All fared pretty good, but neither of them wanted to go back through it!! We definitely aren't ready for haunted houses any time soon that is for sure. I can see the future coming with the girls that they are going to love Halloween as much as I do..........NOT!!! After our fun-filled time at Rockhome Gardens, we went to Oakland to the all you can eat fish fry. The girls passed that offer up and played on the playground while Jim and I ate and visited. Next on the pit stop was the Oakland Pool for some after dinner ice cream and dinner and ice cream for the kids. Next stop...HOME!! We had a great Saturday afternoon with lots and lots of quality swim time!!! Happy 4th of July!!! God Bless Our Troops!!!!

Notice all the rock designs in the background....

We loved these 2 horses!

Another Air Fest that Jim made it through with a group of kids!! Somehow for 2 years in a row I have managed to skip out on this, but I had to work both times and he got suckered into taking the kids. At least this year it was FREE and only 5 minutes away if he had to bring the kids back. Jimissy had a friend stay all night, Savannah, so she went to enjoy the show as well. The kids enjoyed it, but 2-1/2 hours was their fill and had enough and left at intermission. They all claim to have gotten hot while there as I had them wear pants, as it was a bit cold when they left! All ended well, Jim was alive, and they came back with Bradyn asleep, so the show was a success!

Jimissy & Savannah

Savannah, Bradyn, and Jimissy