Update on the Cornhole game

It took 11 days in all but the games are finally finished. Todd put on many layers of poly to create a slick surface but felt that it lacked some slide. He then covered the top with carnauba wax. This created such a slick surface that the bags wouldn't stick at all but slide down and off the boards. Windex was applied and finally the perfect slickness was attained. Todd then drilled handles to the side for easy carrying and away we went to Oma's to try them out.

Even paired up against Mamu's official boards, Todd's rocked.

The lights are still a possibility of being added for nighttime use, but I can already tell these are going to get a lot of use at tailgating events and fun get togethers.

The White Knuckle treatment

Ok, we finally made it to get Nolan's learners permit. His b'day was back in May but it seemed like every time we wanted to go something prevented it. Well, on July the 13th....we finally made it and he passed. I drove most of the way home but around Buck Creek, I pulled over and let Nolan take over. I hear from the back seat "Ok, now I'm ready". This is what I see...

Such a sweet and supportive sister....Todd says all she is missing is a crash helmet and pads.

The Ocoee

Since Emma turned 12 in January, we were able to white water raft on the Ocoee this year. No more "dirty bird" (Pigeon Forge) for us!

Our sweet friend Delaney went a long with us. I had been warned by her mom that she was a screamer....but I had no idea. We picked Delaney up at 5:45 in the am at Cracker Barrel and began our journey.

Todd had rigged up the computer with movies to keep them occupied.

but teenage girls don't occupy easy. Emma's shoes became an easy target.

We were making such good time that we got to the Chick-fil-A too early to eat breakfast. Yes, Todd makes his driving route out by the CFA locations! So we stop at another Cracker Barrel, but to eat this time. Todd taught the kids the secret to the tic tac game, so beware if they bet you money that they can finish with one left.

Pancakes, eggs, and waffles adorned the table, so of course we had a mini syrup bar...

Still making good time with Lookout Mountain just down the road, away we went.

View from the top. Emma and Delaney feeling faint from such a height.

The view looking down the incline. We had driven the car to the top and after seeing this view the kids were glad.

The girls had to try these on from the gift shop.

Next, it was time to tackle the Ocoee. We donned our helmets, life preservers, and had paddles in hand as we marched to the bus. After a bit of fussing about who would sit where on the raft, we ended up with Delaney and myself in front, Nolan and Emma in the middle and Todd and Kimsey (our ocoee guide) in the back. As we pushed off we saw another boat from our group piloted by a rookie, slid between two rocks, dump all it's passengers, and promptly got stuck to the bottom. Kimsey said it would be there for a long while, it was going to take 8-10 guys to pull it from the bottom against the rapids. Kimsey was fantastic. He took us through the rapids and we hit every spot dead on but he didn't take risky chances so we all stayed in the boat. At one point he asked who wanted to ride the bull. Nolan and Delaney both wanted to do this so he said the other could ride hell's hole. I was impressed with Nolan as he sat on the front of the raft, held onto a rope at the tip and hit class 4 rapids head on.

Pictures taken by the Ocoee photographer showing Nolan riding the bull.

What a day. We had two pooped girls on the way home to prove it.

I went all the way to the Ocoee and all I got was this lousy sunburn....

The kids are already planning next years trip...good memories!

Game Night

Pizza and games with Ash and Paul.

Bananarama....ash dominated (although I question some of the words)

When it came to Apples to Apples.....

Nolan took the lead...replaced by Paul....

but in the end, Alie won out!

Paul (16) = 6'5" and Nolan (15) = normal

Cornhole

Don't know what you're thinking.....it's a game! My brother-in-law brought it to a family gathering a while back and now we are hooked! Todd and I decided we needed a set for the house so that the neighborhood kids could play and we could take it tailgating! Buy a set??? Are you crazy??? Why buy a set off the internet, already finished, customized if you so desire, and ready to go, when you can make one yourself??

ToddFred bought the lumber and started the assembly based on dimensions he saw on the internet. But instructions from the internet are not good enough for my hubby, he must improve! (See fb pictures of the beds he made for the kids). Anyhoo, rounded edges, Auburn colors and decals, and possible attached lights for night playing are now added to the list.

We are at the sanding stage before we can add the decals. We are headed to the Ocoee to raft on Saturday so more pictures to follow.

Todd measuring, cutting, and other tool type stuff.





Nolan getting in on the action



Basic boards with edges added, sanded, and rounded.



Board with hole and paint started.



of course you have to have the orange and blue bags to complete the game.



Can't wait to see these finished, have friends over, and play Cornhole.

more pics to come....

Nothing like a failing memory

It has been several years since i've posted to a blog. I found FB to be much easier to upload pics to but harder to write summaries on. In the end, I opted to go for easy picture upload. I've tried several times to start the blog back up again but had forgotten the password. I went through the steps to reset it, only to be told that my account didn't exist. After long emails with the help desk, i tried one more time....whaalllaaaa! i'm back and blogging again. Well, not really right now, nothing much is happening other than I actually logged on....more to come later.