Tattoo! Military style

Bill, John & I had the pleasure of attending the Military Tattoo last night. It was really fun, great music, great planes, good company. Here are some of the highlights:

John & Bill in their Saber kitty gear.

Here are the only pictures of the jets that I have. The others were too fast!

This one was taken for our friend Patrick who at one time flew the C-5. Don't think he misses it!

The Cousins!

The Smith family is big... lots and lots of Cousins. Here are a sampling of 'almost' all of the first cousins. I still consider myself to be 'new' to the family (just met one cousin for the first time last weekend!), but I am going to try my hand at naming them all:
Back L-R: Abby, Steve, Susan, Jill, Nathan (really big smile), Jim, Matt, John, and Dave.
Front L-R: Sarah, Courtney, Tracy, Kate, and Joe.

Breakfast with Lamby

Lamby now has to have breakfast with Maggie. One bite for Maggie, one bite for Lamby. It is really cute.

Major Maggie

Grandma Trudie

Earlier this week, our dear Grandma Trudie passed away peacefully after 87 wonderful years. She was the lady in charge of the entire Smith family and all of the grandkids. We loved her dearly and she will be missed.

Here she is as a baby:

And a few years ago at Cousin Nathan & Ange's wedding: Busy at work:

Gertrude Smith (April 20, 1922 - June 17, 2009) Gertrude (nee: Shurts) Smith, 87, of Lebanon, OH died Wednesday June 17, 2009. Born on April 20, 1922 in Warren County, OH to Algernon and Grace (nee: Toney) Shurts, she was a lifetime resident of Columbia Road, retired Secretary to the Lebanon City Manager after 22 years, and member of the Kings Mills Baptist Church. Preceded in death by her parents, husband, Glenn Smith, and son, Alan Smith, survivors include sons, Jim Smith (Cindy) of Hillsboro, OH, Bill Smith (Stephanie) of Lebanon, OH, and Tom Smith (Kay) of Aurora, OH, daughters, Nancy Toole of Burlington, KY and Marjorie Mizer (Garry) of Lebanon, OH, brother-in-law, Gil Smith Jr. (Sally) of Marianna, FL, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Visitation is Saturday June 20, 2009 from 10am-12pm with service immediately following, all at the Oswald-Hoskins Funeral Home, Lebanon, OH. Pastor Manuel Guzman is officiating. Interment is in Fellowship Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heritage Hill Foundation. You can find the donate now button on the right side of the blog. The Foundation website is http://heritagehill.org

Heritage Hill Foundation

3759 Jackson Pike

Grove City, OH 43123

Oswald-Hoskins Funeral Home

329 East Mulberry Street

Lebanon, Ohio 45036

Phone: (513) 932-7070

Welcome New Babies!

We woke up this morning to two great announcements!

Blitz & Pinky had darling baby boy Abel on Friday weighing in at 6 pounds, 2 ounces. They are heading cross country with him in a few weeks and we are hoping for a stop in Ohio!

Dori & Tim had beautiful baby girl Charlotte at the same hospital where Maggie was born. We were thrilled to hear of her arrival, but are keeping her in our thoughts as she spends some days in the NICU.

http://www.spauldings.blogspot.com/

Butterfly Show... maybe next year

I thought that the butterfly show would be really beautiful. And it was. But, the location was hot, humid, and very crowded...And Maggie was a little freaked out by the butterflies landing on her. Her expression tells it all.

What did she like? Well, she loved the Butterfly chair...

And most of all... she loved the big picture of the butterfly out in front of the building. Really. She danced and danced and ran around pointing at the butterfly and reaching for it. At the end of the day we could have just stayed outside.

"Quick Dada... Hold Lamby! I'm getting in that jet!"

Punishment at our house:

Jail. Maggie looks thrilled to be locked up. Elizabeth is already looking for a way out.

Plane spotting, toddler style

A perfect place to watch the planes take off.

Because every squadron needs a drum set...

Mama do it!!!

Maggie can be a bit directive at times. While playing at Dada's work, Maggie was ordering us around like a little general. While holding the helmet: 'Dada put on.' So, John had to put it on. Then she said: 'Mama do it', so I had to put it on...

Then, 'Maggie do it.'

She looked the cutest in the gear! Look at that little face!

Thank you Aunti Moko!! Coco!! Hiroko!!

Auntie Hiroko sent Maggie this adorable Hello Kitty shirt! She was so cute wearing it. As you know, John plays the drums and she was quick to identify them to anyone walking by. 'Drums, drums, drums'.

Running away from mommy. She has the cutest run: All arms and hips.

Helping mama water out front

Congratulations to Kirsty!!!

I was so chuffed and excited to learn that our darling friend Kirsty is the first woman selected as part of the Royal Air Force demonstration team: The Red Arrows (their version of the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels)!! Not only is she fun, beautiful, and clever, she is also a really great pilot.

We might have to start a fan club right here on the blog! As soon as we find out what number she is... I will start be-dazzling the number on t-shirts for all of you. We can't wait for a North American tour! Congratulations Kirsty!
Here is the article from a few weeks ago:

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=3503BD2F-1143-EC82-2E1BB573F1C8F84A

Uncle Johnny came for a visit!

Back to the beach house...

Auntie Gianna took Maggie for a spin around the yard... Ready, set,

GOOOOOOO!!!!!

On Vacation!!

ahhhh... laying on the beach for a week. Does it get any better?We thought that we would try an activity... so that we could say that we actually 'did something' while we were on vacation. Here is Gianna on the boat ride out to pet sting rays...

Here I am. Happy and excited to feed the sting rays on the sand bar.

And then one goosed me, whipped up at me and nearly knocked me off my feet. I was all done!!! We ran back to our beach chairs and settled in for the remainder of the trip!

Where to begin??

We went on vacation! Out to California and then to the Cayman Islands. Quite a whirlwind trip.

To catch you up:

First Maggie went to work with Nikki & Diane at Pebble Beach. She was quick to find Diane's candy drawer!! Smart girl :)

Then we headed over to Baba's house and Maggie stayed with them for a week while Mommy went on vacation with Gianna!

She had such a fun week playing with Baba and Grandpa. Here she is after her art lesson with Baba! Her hands are completely covered with pen!! Thank goodness this did not happen at our house!

The Bride!

Jill & Cousin Sarah Maggie & Katherine on the horse outside. I know that it looks like they are about to fall off and Katherine's face is a little terrified, but don't worry, John was holding on to them. Cousin Libby & Katherine