36 and Kicking

I turned the big

3 - 6

yesterday.   For the last seven years, I've started getting anxiety about a month before my birthday.   Thoughts run through my head like, "Holy cow, lady, you are old"! 

I managed to make it through the day without an anxiety pill...... or an paper bag to breathe into.  I didn't run to the drugstore for denture cream or a walking cane.  I didn't bite anyone's head off when they said, "happy birthday"!  So........kuddos to me!

The highlight of my day was when a track-hoe showed up to dig our pool at 6:45 a.m..  It would have been an even better moment if I weren't in the kitchen in a t-shirt and underwear.  (in order to put pants on, I had to cross the {glass} front door where the nice man was standing.)  There are always moments like this at the Smith home.  Crazy people running around in their underwear.  For heaven's sake!!!  

Rick bought me a cute little underwater camera for the pool.  Not that any of you care.......

but it's 12.1 megapixels and can be submerged up to 10 feet.  I sure wish that I had it when we went to Jamaica a few months back.  It would have been fun to show you all the underwater creatures that we snorkeled with.  I imagine it will also come in handy at water parks.   

I got to visit with my Grandma and Grandpa, which I love doing.

Then I ate with Rick, Gracie, Ian (Ryan was at football camp) and some of my favorite friends at El Nopal.

I had over 130 Facebook, text and emails wishing me happy birthday..... which swelled my head up so big it nearly popped!

Then I watched Ryan run all around field as the boys begin their 2011 football season.

I'm feeling pretty blessed........(and guilty).  

Blessed for all the family and friends I have.

Guilty for being stressed about the number of years I've sucked in oxygen.

So, two days ago, I was 35.  Today, I'm 36.  I guess that is ok.

Fon Getting Married

It's the month of weddings for us.  

My cousin Fon asked if I would take pictures for her and I gladly accepted.  

I'm so happy for her and I was so glad to see my extended family.  

Nature Walk

I took a nature walk last night.   I thought that I would show you some of my favorite captures.

Summer catch-up

Grace handed me a love note on a dry erase board.  My heart melted, skipped a beat, and then swelled.  I had to capture it on every camera I owned because as we all know, dry erase boards......erase.

We have nearly finished our baseball season.  Only one large tourney left.

It's bittersweet.

That's a lie, it's just bitter!  I could watch Ry play baseball every day of the week.  

Our garden is finally producing edibles.  Banana peppers, onions (red and white), bell peppers, cucumbers, and zucchini.  None of us like zucchini so I'm curious why it's in our garden.  

My flowers are chugging along, no thanks to this Missouri heat wave.  I'm pouring water in the pots twice a day.  Craziness!!!!

This plant managed to survive my "brown" thumb from last year.  It decided to give me another chance. I'm usually not worthy of a plant's forgiveness, but this gem seems to be a little more understanding.

We do manage to grow our fill of weeds.  Early this spring, we had some landscaping done.  Our landscaper is also the freshman basketball coach.....baseball coach......and science teacher.  That is how things work in a small town.  Anyway, we haven't planted anything because........

#1. It's too hot outside.

#2. We need the ground to settle.

#3. I've been particularly lazy as of late.

#4. I've also been a little indecisive..

#5. I'm not fond of the idea of watering anything else at the moment.

Ryan may disown me if he sees this photo.  

I made him help me pick green beans.  

He wasn't too keen on the idea.  

He was in a fowl mood because of it.

He IS a teen.....and I am often his enemy.

The Chicks are Ladies Now

The "chicks" are now "young ladies".  I cannot officially call them "women" until they start earning their keep.  Ya know what I mean (wink wink).

I thought you might like to see some pictures of them before...... and now.

  

 We have lovingly coined them "poopers"  I will spare you our reasoning.

Rick has nesting boxes on his honey-do list.  We are hoping to be in the egg business in a month or two.

Then I will be talking like Bubba in "Forest Gump".

".....hard-boiled egg, egg over easy, scrambled, poached, fried, egg benedict, omelet, hard-boiled, deviled eggs, ........and that's about it".

Insomniac

You ever wake up at 3 a.m. and it feels like you've slept till 9 a.m.?
Then you lie in bed and think about every thing in the world that makes you anxious?
The things that seemed like "no big deal" are suddenly two headed dragons?
Then you remember that you had two cups of coffee right before bed..........duh?
Then you think, "I'm going to go to the bathroom and get a drink".
Then you realize what your drinking is Coke Zero which also has caffeine.
Then you get on the computer because all hopes of sleep have been crushed.
Then you start a blog post about your lack of sleep.
It starts like this, "You ever wake up at 3 a.m. and it feels like you've slept till 9 a.m.?

Yup, it's 3 a.m., I'm on the computer, and the above paragraph is based on a true story.

Since I'm tired........yet not sleepy, I thought I would show you a few pictures from this week.  Random things that are happening with the Smith's.

I have two frogs whom I believe are husband/wife living inside my hose reel.  Every night they plaster themselves to my window and work over my surplus country bugs.  I'm fond of the little amphibians, they can stay.

This is Gracie's lunch spot.  I prefer her perching herself up to the table instead of there, and I have told her so.  That may explain the look on her face.  BUSTED!!!!

Ian was voted to be "The Slugger" scoreboard keeper.  He did a mighty fine job I must say.  He also earned a free Dr. Pepper for his effort from the ump.  

Ryan pitched Monday night and pulled off another win.  The Sluggers ended their regular season that night.  Now we only have Show-Me games in Columbia at the end of the month..........and we are done!!

His S.W.A.T. finished this weekend in Columbia with the State Tournament.  

Well off to bed friends and family.  Gonna try to get a wink or two in before the sun pops up.  Have a great weekend.

4th = happy face

I'm sitting at my computer, doing a little thinking.

That is usually a frightening thought, but today, it's just kinda nice!

I'm thinking about my family (that I adore)

I'm thinking about Ryan's ball game that I'm going to tonight.

I'm thinking about Rick and I's 18th wedding anniversary that we celebrated on the 3rd.

I'm thinking about the pool that we put a deposit on last Saturday.

I'm thinking that I picked my first ripe tomato out of my garden this morning.

Life is good, ya know?

We enjoyed tons of fireworks last weekend.  Some may not have been legal in 49 states, but who's keeping track?

We laughed, ate, ate, and ate some more!

We snuggled with the little people!

 

Then shot some paintballs at each other!

I found a lily pad on the pond while the family was fishing.  I thought it was appropriate that there was a happy face on one!