Three times. That's the average number of times I have to try to type in the little "prove you're not a robot" code on Cher's blog to respond. I can't make out the letters, ever, and I swear I am not a robot. 

Anyway.

Life is rolling along. This school thing is really getting in the way of my fun. Kind of cramping my style. After school there is homework until football and then after football there is dinner and then after dinner there are showers and reading and bed. Sigh. I do miss you already, sweet summer. And here's the kicker. It's 103 today. The swimming pool is closed and there's not a boat on the water. 

We are going to a nephew's wedding this weekend in Iowa. We are so unprepared for this that all of us are wearing re-run wedding clothes except for Big J who no longer fits in the ones he just wore in July. Serious. The kid is out-of-control. We are thinking 9.5 feet tall. I saw  there is a mall next to our hotel in Iowa so I am going to just buy him some giant pants and a giant shirt while I am there. If I can't find any, he will wear swim trunks. Those still fit. Barely.

Last night Little J was whining hard about having to go to Faith Formation, which just started up again for the year. He claims it is boring, stupid and a waste of his very valuable time. Big J set him straight by telling him that Jesus is no waste of time and that Little J is hurting His feelings. Little J said his attitude had nothing to do with Jesus, but everything to do with the 80-year-old nun who teaches his class. I secretly have to agree with Little J. I don't think learning about Jesus should ever be boring. I wish he could learn about Jesus from someone brimming over with excitement about our Lord. It bums me out. Big J did come home with the lyrics to a Casting Crowns song, so maybe there is hope in the Catholic religious education system after all. 

Wow. I think I just walked a controversial line there, didn' t I? 

And now for a little less controversy. 

Today the husband and I celebrate 15 years of marriage. I have known the man of my dreams for 20 years. I can honestly say that I love him more now than I did back then. He's a good guy, the best, and I know that this marriage is a forever marriage. That's a good thing to know. So happy anniversary to us. The boys are excited because I am buying an ice cream cake to commemorate the occasion after football practice. How's that for romantic?

So I need to get to work. Have a great day. 

Ok, about the helicopter. I need some flying lessons. 

Like, when a kid forgets to pack all his homework in his bag but remembers on the way home, do I fly back to school to save his butt? 

When the same kid does his really hard math homework and makes stupid mistakes due to bad handwriting and not paying attention, do I fly in with the helicopter to save the day or do I let the teacher deal and hope he learns a lesson?

When I notice the trombone sitting by the door on band day and ask several times "sure you have everything today?" and the boy says "yes mom" several times, what do I do with that helicopter...because you KNOW it's gassed up and ready for take-off.

I know. I know. Stop shaking your heads. 

I love my shiny red helicopter. Swooping in to save the day, organize lives and keep butts out of trouble is my JOB. 

Even though I know it's not. 

You know?

Damn helicopter.

In honor of Bobbi's birthday, I am putting up a post. In honor of Karen, I am going to capitalize some of the letters. In honor of my mom, I am posting a picture of the dudes. There. I think all my readers are going to be happy today. 

I am most likely the last person on the planet to post kids going back to school,  but there they are. A little fuzzy. Pretty sure we were running late. Big J went off to the scary middle school and little J is rocking third grade--he has been waiting a whole year to get into the 3/4 multi-age class with all his older friends. It is his golden year where he can BE the 4th grader he is meant to be. According to him, the rest of his life will be quite the downer. 

Despite all my fears and frets, big J seems to be loving middle school. He isn't getting lost, hasn't forgotten his locker combination, loves his advanced math class and seems to be navigating multiple classes quiet well so far. In fact, his mood is so up, I am wondering if aliens are involved. In the past few days, he has uttered these words:
"I have recently decided to be nice to Josh."
"I love you Josh."
"Good luck in your games this weekend, buddy. I'll miss you."

What? Who? I am a little nervous. Until the aliens bring back my boy, I guess I will enjoy this one. 

Other new developments: baby grass. It's growing like a chia pet on the final level of our back yard. From far away, we finally look like we didn't just move in. Baby grass is a muddy, messy beautiful thing and I now know the pride farmers must feel when they survey a field of fresh sprouting crops. 
I will take pictures but I won't post them until after my mom leaves...I want her to be surprised. 

Every day I think of funny things to blog but I'm so far behind we'll just have to do a general sweep. Both boys are in football now so we are changing seasons until hockey starts up again in October. The pets are all fine, Sid might even make it through another hunting season--thought she'll be watching from the truck this year. Husband is coaching football and happy to be almost done working on the yard. I am staying busy with work and trying to keep everyone wrangled, growing baby grass and training Crosby to be super hound. 

This weekend little J is up in the Cities playing in a really big tournament. His first game is 11:30 this morning so big J and I stayed home since it's a school day. I will report on goals and penalties later. There are 150 teams at this tourney so I'm sure he's having a blast. 

Big J is at a sleep-over tonite, so it's just me celebrating a big birthday with one of my all-time favorite people and my talented, amazing business partner. Bobbi is as much a part of my life as the J Boys and I love her like a sister. Happy birthday. God sure knew what He was doing when He blessed me with a friend like you, Bob. 

ok, if fixed my blog and the next two posts read kind of awkwardly...one of the ones that wouldn't post showed up out of order. sorry about that. 

looks like i am back. still in a stupidly small font, but i'm back.  

thanks google chrome!

well july is cruising right along. we celebrated the fourth of july for a couple of days, then took our  shiny new Yukon!! to duluth, minnesota for a nephew's wedding. lots of family, tons of kids, not a lot of sleep...typical good time with the husband's giant crew of brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews. the boys had a blast with their cousins. in typical fashion, i have no good pictures and actually forgot my camera. these were taken with my crappy phone. no bride or groom, but here's what i got...

 the husband was on parking duty and loved his "costume." quite sure this will not be the last time he pulls the security guard gear out. he's posing with his two younger brothers and his mom. 

 grandma greta and about half of her grandsons...the rest of them were running around somewhere.

 mother of the groom (husband's sister) posing with just a fraction of my nieces. 

a bad shadowy shot of my family posing on the dock. 

trying again for any of you who are wondering if i'm dead. my blog has been broken for half the summer and won't let me post. 

so this will be short.

just want to see if getting google chrome will help the cause.

we are alive and well and having a great summer...wakeboard conquered, new vehicle purchased, back yard making good progress, kids growing like weeds. 

ok, i was going to keep this short because i don't even know if it will post. i hope so. i have missed you all (three).