Being cooped up in a houseboat brings out the worst in me

The houseboats have to be moved from the state dock where we stay for the summer to another dock in the winter. Brad & I went down Friday night to help move the boat the next day. Brian & Lora were coming down Saturday, however their kids were already there. So we were all cooped up together. In the houseboat. For the night. Unable to go anywhere. Because it was freezing outside.

So what do YOU think brothers do when they can't escape each other?! They fought for a few minutes. Then they decided on teamwork.Then Brady told Cole that he stunk.The adults had items to keep them occupied. Stanley surfed the 'net.

Brad & Derik watched Skylab cartoons.

Then we started playing with Brady & Derik's Ipod touches.

And of course, we had a happy helper to show us how to play the games.

Brad has an issue with burping. He says it's because of the medicine he takes for his acid reflux. I say it's to annoy me. So Brad was burping & I was rolling my eyes & Cole said, "Uncle Brad - I love you --- 'cuz you burp just like me." Ahh-what a role model!

And you may be asking yourself? Isn't there a 3rd nephew somewhere? Yes, there is. But he was perhaps the smartest of us all. He went to bed.
The next day the whole dock was getting ready for the big Halloween par-tay that was going to last all day. These people went.all.out. Haunted Houseboat, games (for kids AND adults), trick-or-treating, scavenger hunts, prizes for the best decorated boat.

Ann, Cole & Brady worked on the goodie bags for the kids...and dogs.

Cole showed me this box of candy because it had a black cat on it. And I have black cats. He was SO excited about showing me this black cat. Later in the day he had gotten a little goodie bag that had a cute little stuffed black cat in it. I said, "Oh, Cole! Can I have this black cat?!" Crickets... "C'mon, Cole. You KNOW I have black cats!" Crickets... "Please Cole, can I have that cat?!" He said, "Nah..." More on that story later...

Saturday was a little chilly outside, but Derik is a hard core fisherman.

Some of the decorated boats.

A boat that sits a spot over from Brian & Lora's at the state dock caught fire this past week. And nothing could be done (which I don't understand 'cuz it was sitting on more water than it could ever need), so the dock master untied it & pushed it out into the lake away from the other boats to let it burn.

After we got their boat moved, we ate supper & then it was time to get Cole ready for trick-or-treating. He was a cowboy/sheriff. And this is his pose when I said, "look mean."

Then Ann painted a mustache on him.

Then he said, "Listen here, little lady. Quit trying to steal my little black stuffed cat."

By far, the funniest costume - & I think it's so funny because it's an older couple wearing it! The ending to the little stuffed black cat story. So Cole & I fought about this darn thing all day. I kept wanting it & he would take it back. Now, if I had just kept my mouth shut - he would've laid it down & not ever thought another thing about it. So I told Lora when he got home with it & it went to the island of unused toys, I told her to take it & bring it to me. (In case you were wondering - no, I have no shame...) While we were eating dinner, Cole was outside so I took the cat & hid it from him so I could take it home. Brad said, "Stealing from our 7 year old nephew? You should be ashamed!" Uh - nope, I'm not! Before we left, I went to get my kitty that I stole fair & square from my nephew. It was gone. At first I blamed Brad & Brian & thought THEY stole the kitty I stole first to mess with me. Nope, it was gone. So I told Lora again when he brought it home & dropped it, to get it for me.

On the way home, Ann called me. She said, "I found the kitty. When Cole came in from trick-or-treating, we were taking off his costume & the kitty was in his pocket!" Curses!!! That stealthy cowboy/sheriff IS a worthy opponent!