Birthdays!!

Super G. had a birthday on Sunday. 9! I can hardly believe it.

There were some surprises in store. We took her and 2 friends, in blindfolds, to the "secret surprise place." It was Claire's, to get her ears pierced. It was awesome. Mostly because it was truly a surprise.
And a new camera. So the Awarded Photographer can snap away, endlessly to her heart's content.

Birthdays are special!! And this one was no exception...

She's a Natural!

Just look what silliness I have to deal with on a daily basis!

She walked around with these on all day--

Some teenagers came over to hang out, and before I knew it, two of them had these on too!! Made, of course, by Super G.

What a laugh...

Daisies

Here are a few photos of "T's Daisy Patch" in the walk-up garden. They are so full now, I will need to thin them out this fall, and definitely I will be spreading the wealth to different areas of the garden!

They are so bright and cheerful. Much as I'd like to be. As we look forward to another Monday morning in the life of an advertising math geek. :)

Milestone or Millstone?

Today was quiet. Very, very quiet. We sent The Little Kid off to summer camp for 6 days. Middle Kid "Shorty" was up at summer camp, and returned this evening. Daughter #1 is away for the weekend.

OK, so life is weird. Funny. Ironic.

The thing about kids is, you dream of having them. Perhaps you are blessed with children. You love them fully. Even when they are sooo tiring, time-consuming, ride-requiring, hand-hold-outing, incessantly-texting, etc. etc.

But the point is, you raise them, essentially, to leave your care, and your home. To be independent, live a good life, find love and happiness.

Alright, alright, this is getting deep. But I think of other rites of passage. A friend of ours is experiencing one now. His house is empty now too -- no one but him and the cat. No beautiful wife of 40 years, humming to music, dancing, laughing. She lives in a new home now, with others that have memory issues. She is in her 50's. It seems so wrong. Too soon.

Both milestones. Going to camp. One spouse alone in a house without the other. Mixed feelings. Some fear involved.

May God help us with these feelings that we have. Face the fears. Grant us faith (the opposite of fear). And give us hope in the future, whatever it may be. I'm just sayin'.

Stunning in the Shade

Here are a couple pics of my helleborus. I like this perennial in the backyard, especially since it is almost ALL shade back there, and I can't get much going there.

Or else we have rabbits who selectively eat pretty flowers that I try to get established, like black eyed susans.

It has rich, dark green-colored leaves, kind of shiny like rhododendron leaves. The blooms are very unique -- greenish white. So they blend in with the color of the plant overall. These pics were taken in shade, so they'd be even prettier in a sunny setting!

Softball!!

It's been a while since I posted last.

Last weekend the Little Kid had a softball tournament. First they played 2 games. Then, the next day, they were seeded and put into a bracket.

Her team split the first 2 games--winning the first and losing the second. The third game, they won, which meant, win or lose, they would play 2 more games! They ended up getting 4th place. It was so much fun to watch!!


They are 3-4th graders. So cute...

The coach was super nice, patient, and took everything in stride. Helped them get better at their skills and was very encouraging. As a parent, it was very nice to see this--something that I don't take for granted.

Ah, the joys of summer fun!!

Bright Eyed

This year I planted zinnias. My first thought was...my dad likes these, I think I will grow them. Then, after I planted them, I remembered how bright and colorful they are. Such vibrant colors, easy to take care of, they make a great contrast to the usual "regulars" of my flower gardens: columbine, purple salvia, daisies, achillea, etc. etc.

Today, I am reminded of how little I feel like these guys. I am tired, after having spent all day in the car driving back from Chicago. The weekend, full of catching up, birthday celebrating, hanging out, is over. Whew, I wish I had the energy that zinnias exude!