My Ryan Christopher

I love you because.........

You only like vanilla ice cream.

You can pitch from the stretch or the wind-up.

You are kind to everyone, even when it isn't popular.

You make omelets and Mexican bean dip.

You randomly hug me.

You drive me home from baseball practice.

You fill my tank at the gas station so I don't have to get out.

You were my first.

Memorizing tv commercials and movie lines is your hidden talent.

You and I listen to the same music.

You will pick up ANY creature.  Including mice, snakes, spiders, and lizards!  (You even picked up a snapping turtle once.  Momma didn't love that!)

You are good at anything that involves a ball.

You haven't had anything lower than an A- on your grade card in years!

You will always be my Rhino the Dino!  You will always be my baby (Even if you don't want me to shout that from the bleachers of your sporting events.)

Ridin' Dirty

My morning has barely begun and I've already had difficulties with a red-headed monkey, a pair of baseball pants, and a crazy pot of coffee.  I ask for your forgiveness in advance if my temper seems a little flared.  It's not you, I promise!!!

It's nasty outside today.  It's grey........ and cold....... and raining....... and I'm ticked about it!  Is a little sunshine and warm gentle breezes too much to ask for?  Bleh!  Pooey!  Bah Hum-bug! Then a deep sigh!  I want spring!  I feel betrayed by mother nature, as she gave me a taste of it, then took it away.

I better get to some pictures before I say something that I cannot take back!

The highlight to Gus' very "interesting" life is getting to go "buh-bye".  If anyone looks in his general directions and says "buh-bye", then you better prepare to pay up.  Because he will wag his non-existant tail, give you a low growl and RUN for the garage door.

Buh-bye is the utter purpose for his existance.  His reason for breathin'!  

He stares out the windows and watches the world as we pass by.

He gets scratches behind his ears while his momma drives.  Then gets treats when we go through the drive-thru.  

When the weather is nice, (which it ISN'T today), he gets to ride gangsta style out the window.  Which means to you non-gangsta's, he puts one paw out the window, nods his head to the beat of the radio, and looks at all the passerbys.  

Gus is one cool pooch!!!!!!!

My Emma Grace

I love you because..........

You can get dirty and dolled up all in the same day.

You love animals as much as I do.

I get AT LEAST one hug from you a day.  Usually it's three or four though.

You sleep in my bed when daddy is on call.  I'm sure that you will do this till you leave for college.

You would do just about anything for a pair of high-heeled shoes.

You draw me pictures.

We do girl stuff together, like shopping, getting pedicures, and watching Disney princess movies.

It annoys you when I sing, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".

It also annoys you when Grandpa Bob sings "You Are My Sunshine".

You have wanted a horse since you were able to tell us so.

You want to be a song writer for Taylor Swift when you grow up.

Your best friends are Magy, Grandpa Bob and Grandma Charlotte, and her immediate family, of course.

You want to be a fruit-a-tarian (instead of vegetarian).

You will talk to anyone.

Pecan Pie Bars

Because I love you, I will share a delish recipe with you!

You won't want to make this if you are....

#1. On a diet (I'm guessing it has 1,234,958 calories per serving)

#2. Have not one ounce of will-power

#3. or..... you do not like pecan pie.  (it's very similar in taste)

Pecan Pie Bars

Crust:

3 cups flour

1/4 C plus 2 tbsp. sugar

3/4 C. softened butter or margarine

3/4 tsp. salt

Filling:

4 eggs, slightly beaten

1 1/2 C. sugar

1 1/2 C. Corn Syrup

3 tbsp. melted butter or margarine

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 C. chopped pecans

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 15 1/2 X 10 inch pan.

Beat four, sugar, butter or margarine and salt into a large bowl.

Press into greased pan and bake for 20 minutes.

Mix all of the filling ingredients except pecans until well blended.  Stir in pecans.

Pour over baked layer & spread evenly.  Bake for 25 minutes or until filling is set.

Let cool and cut into 1 1/2 inch squares.  This is a super duper sweet dessert.  So, less is probably best.

Emergency!!!!!

This is the result of warmer temperatures and open windows.

Windows that are two stories high (might I add).

Emergency!!!!!

Emergency!!!!!

Emergency!!!!!

CALL A FIREMAN, 

DIAL 911,

THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!!!!!

Calm down Congo.  Mommy is right here.  I have the camera, so I will have photos for the blog. 

Don't move!

Smile and say cheese!

Ahhh..... I got a great shot!  OK, it's time to get you inside.  Unless you feel like posing some more.  

Congo: I'm afraid

Me: Not to worry, I didn't use a flash.  You're eyes will not be red.

Congo: I'm afraid of heights!

Me: That's fine, I will zoom in and it won't appear so high up.

(I may have an illness.  I'm certain that I do.  It's rare and often incurable.  It's called NERD-ness!  My husband, children and pets will attest.  Not to worry, I've lived with it my entire life and I'm ok with it.)

Spring Blossoms

Ryan walked outside this morning and said, "It sounds like turkey season".  

When I asked him if he heard the turkey gobbling, he said, "No, I hear the birds chirping".

 Just when I thought that I would never happen, spring has come.  The trees are budding and the bulbs are poking up through the ground. 

The thermometer on my SUV said 70 degrees at 10:00 this morning.  Ahhh!  As I'm writing this, a spring storm is blowing in.  The sky has darkened and the wind has picked up.  I better scoot out of my computer chair and shut my windows.  

Ta Ta for now.

Sweet Kisses From Cookie

We spoiled Cookie yesterday.

We held her (although whether she is a she is still questionable?  You would think after a year, we would know.  Doesn't matter, even if she was a he, Gracie would still call him a her.  Whew, you may have to read that a couple times to get it!)

Gracie's best friend, Magy, gave "the carrot eater" some love also.

Cookie, 

You are sweet!

Ummm, and by the way, sorry about the trampoline.  I didn't know about it until afterwards.  The girls promised me that they didn't jump while you were on there.  They also assured me that they brought a few stuffed animals to join you (so you wouldn't be scared)!  

I also apologize for the dog collar and leash, and whatever else they may have done to you that I do not know about.

Love,

Gracie's mom

I Admit............

I will admit.................

#1. Every day I sign Gracie's "Weekly Calendar".  It's a way for Mrs. Bonderer (Gracie's teacher) to communicate with her student's parents.  She usually draws a happy face each day.  On this day, though, she wrote a little note.  

I will admit that I pretty much knew that!!!!

#2. These geese were the latest critters to visit our pond.  I'm beginning to feel like I'm running a Holiday Inn.  

I will admit that they were enjoying their stay until I started creeping forward with my camera.  I will also admit that I do not feel guilty for disturbing them because I got a nice photo of them.

#3. I've been noticing more and more robins in the past few weeks.

Robins mean Spring.  

Spring means I am not so grumpy. 

 When I'm less grumpy, the husband and children are pleasant.  

Pleasant husband and children mean I cook more desserts.  

More desserts mean more trips to Wal-mart.

Wal-mart makes me grumpy again.

I'm grumpy until I see the robin on the Wal-mart shopping cart.

Robins mean Spring.

Spring means I am not so grumpy.

Get the idea?

I will admit that I am at Wal-mart FAR too much! 

I'm Not Lucky, I'm Blessed

Because I believe in "blessings" and not "luck".

I thought Phillipians 4:19 would sum up the day.......

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

This is a 4-leaf clover that Ryan found with his Uncle Mike 7 years ago.  I have it in a frame look at it every day.

May the road

 rise to meet you,

May the wind

 be at your back,

May the sun 

shine warm upon your face,

May the rains 

fall softly upon your fields.

Irish blessing

...... and may you catch your leprechaun!!!

Paint Wars

I've never quite understood the whole "boy thing".  Guns, dinosaurs, war games, are what they crave.  That is completely foreign to me, because I loved unicorns, make-up and Patrick Swayze at their age.  

Rick assures me that the desire for fully automatic weapons that shoot marble sized paint-balls, is normal.  To me, I think it's crazy!!!  

Either way, Rick, Ryan and Ian all received paint ball guns for Christmas.  Last weekend, they headed to the woods to use them for the first time.

Ryan, put his scowl on, and readied himself for battle!

Ian, the teddy bear sort, pumps up for combat!

Brothers in arms

Working together for the same cause.  Justice!  Justice for the Smith's farm.  Justice for all the critters that roam our woods, our pond, and our yard!  

The world can sleep easy tonight.

Because.......... they have lots of refills!!!!

Bunny Make Over

I am slowly bringing out the Spring decor..  I don't want to overstep my seasonal bounds, but it IS March people.  It doesn't matter to me that it is grey, misting and chilly outside.  I shall overcome my "Winter annoyance" with pastels, glitter and bunnies.

I bought this bunny a couple weeks ago.  It wasn't exactly my style but I knew that I could "spruce" it up a bit.

I removed this ribbon around it's neck.

Sprayed this ribbon with a clear adhesive and poured glitter over the top.  You can never have enough glitter, right?

I put a bead of hot glue around it's neck and wrapped the ribbon over it.  

I applied another dot of hot glue on the ribbon and applied the pale yellow flower.

I glittered the eggs with tacky glue and a paintbrush.

Then sprinkled them with glitter.

I used the same process to add a glittered detail to the ears.

Here is the finished product.  

Wouldn't this make a sweet centerpiece on your Easter table?  

Happy Monday Peeps!

Big ole' birds

Halfway between Rocky Ridge Farm (a.k.a. "The Smith's House") and Chillicothe is an abundance of farm ground.  Normally, there is nothing interesting to look at.  Although, recently a flock of eagles have made temporary residence in an overflow lake.  We have seen up to 13 of them at once.  They are beautiful!  Beee-uuuuu-tiiiii-fulllllllllllll!  

Some of them are immature birds and still have brown heads.  At least 5 or 6 of them, however, have heads as white as snow.  Did I tell you how beautiful they are?

Some "old timers" have told me that they migrate with the geese.  I don't know, makes sense to me???

According to Wikipedia, this is also a bald eagle.  He just hasn't fully matured.  Per my BRIEF research, the bald eagle normally develops a white head after his fourth year.  However, they can turn white after their third year, albeit rare.  

I think that I scared this one out of the tree with my camera clicks.  

Have I told you that I think they are beautiful?

I captured two mature baldies and an immature baldie looking for lunch.  

You can see the small article about them in our local paper here.  

The Wikipedia page that I made reference to, may be found here.

HURRY, Miss. Spring!!!!!

I'm craving pastels and sweet smelling tulips.  

I'm craving warm black soil and seedling tomato plants

I'm craving short sleeve shirts, shorts and flip flops.

I've been noticing that when I'm creating lately, I've gravitated towards brighter colors.  I've also noticed that my buttons, glitter and paints have been here all Winter.  Yet, I've only recently noticed them.

This is a layout of Gracie and her Grandpa Larry.  

I love this picture.

I love the "why" in my journaling.

Since nature is not cooperating with my wishes, I purchased a $5 shamrock.  

It is providing my family room with much needed color.  

It is reminding me that Spring is around the corner.

It is helping me get out of this funk that I've been in lately.