It's great to be 38!

I don't really get all excited about birthdays. Not just because this is my 38th and I'm getting older. I just never have been a big birthday person so a low key margarita by the pool with the Teacher of the Gifted was a great way to celebrate. 

Addie helped me get ready for brunch..

I got a few new charms for my bracelet...

I'd rather have gotten a new dishwasher but the girls were so proud of what they'd picked out, that I couldn't help but love it.

Addie and I ran by Nanny and Poppy's and picked them up for the monthly Vidette Community Dinner at the church. Small towns are such a blessing.. Fried chicken and deviled eggs are just a couple of the many reasons...

Then we came home and Addie Belle packed her bags to head to her cousin Emma's tomorrow. I'm going to help Jessica get some boxes unpacked and Addie is spending the night with Emma. 

The David Bennetts are about 30 miles from the Pete Bennetts. I have a feeling Jessica and I will be burning up the road between Vidette and Harlem over the next few years. 

Ali Grace and her daddy headed off to 4-H camp this morning. Whenever one of the kiddos is gone, I always miss them but it does give me some special time to spoil the other one rotten. I know Addie and I will find something to get into this week..

Aunt Jess, Emma and Sarah arrived safely Saturday night and Pete helped Jess get all the boxes unloaded. I kept Sarah and Emma along with my two yahoos and it's clear from the picture below why I don't have 4 children...

We've gotten a ridiculous amount of rain this week and the dirt road has gotten to the point that it's difficult to navigate. My only other choice is to take the farm driveway through Mama and Daddy's drive. Then you have to contend with the goats in the road...

Either way, this sign on my screened porch is still true...

Looking forward to a great week playing with the unreal amount of frogs that have descended upon us from the freaky amount of rain we've gotten...

Honing our surfing techniques in the pool...

and of course fitting in some cousin time...

Chill out Grill out School's OUT!!

Although the girls got out of school a week ago, I've been teaching a class so I haven't been able to start my summer fun until now. Tomorrow is the first official day of my summer break!! WOOHOOOO! I absolutely love summer break here at home. I always enjoy a vacation or a getaway weekend here and there but for the most part, I like staying up late watching the Braves and sleeping late in the morning.Of course I consider anything past 6am sleeping late since I get up at 530 during the school year. I can seriously go days and days without leaving The Ponderosa and not think a thing about it! 

Both the girls have worked hard with their 4H Market Goat projects. It's a time and money intensive project but the girls get a  hoot out of it so I guess it's worth it. Teaching a goat is kinda like teaching middle school....

You win some....

And ya lose some...

But you never, EVER give up!

We're looking forward to a few weeks of nothing but pool time...

and grilling out....

But mostly just chilling out...

The girls had basketball camp at EBA this week and had a blast!! I am so glad since they'd have been camped out on the sofa soaking up TV while I had class if they hadn't had camp. Kudos to the EBA Varsity Basketball team for hosting a camp that both girls loved!! Next week Ali Grace is off to 4H camp and Pete is going as a chaperon. He understands that this will probably be the last summer that Ali Grace wants anything to do with him for at least 10 years or so, so he's taking advantage of it. I suppose Addie Belle and I will find something to get into here on the farm next week.. Never can tell. I'm just so excited about spending some time with my family this summer I don't know what to do with myself!!  Doesn't this F. Scott quote from The Great Gatsby sum it up just perfectly?

 

Last but not least...Congratulations Bert and Erin on the birth of our newest Lyles cousin, Ryleigh Anne. I think she is just gorgeous.

and congrats to Robin, another Lyles cousin who's just graduated from high school! I'd rather not think too much about this since I toted her around on my hip when Pete and I first married and looking at her makes wrinkles form on my face instantly.

Here's to a bunch of new beginnings.. it's summer time y'all. Go out and enjoy it!!