well. alrighty then...

almost a month later.
and the computer is
still
broken
...
grrrr.

colin is in the process of "fixing" it.
shouldn't be much longer now...
cough.
cough.
cough.

so I'm online sporadically.
missing my blog reading.
and facebooking.
and blogging.

i figured while jared was at soccer,
and colin and jack at the ballfield,
i'd just stop in and say hi.

we got back from our 10 day whirlwind tour of the midwest on sunday.
munster (indiana) for a wedding.
then to the lake for a few days.
and to racine for the race and to see my folks/gabby/mike/evan.

(a few) highlights:
seeing our family(s) and uncle mikes (who we like to pretend is ours as well)
evansen's superstar blonde curls (he has the BEST hair ever)
watching jack banana fish. he loved it. such the fisherman.
my husband driving the boat. oh. so. sexy.
watching the boys tube.
jared water skiing and driving the waverunner sans an adult.
the harley museum (like i didn't want one before. can a harley be a need?!)
the milwaukee art museum (banana wanted to see a "real" art museum)
meeting becky (small shout out)
kringle.
cheese curds at the yardarm (yUm)
while i'm on a food kick Racine pizza. seriously. good. and really un-gluten free...
watching my boys run the race (minus jack he helped w/ the video-ing)
listening to ev say "Dack"(jack)...unfortunately not so much AuntE.
drawing together in the car. (draw and the pass to the next person to add to...very fun. try it)
the fart machine. funny.
holding tiny babies at the wedding reception (ummm...Colin....hint...hint)
my dads breakfast burritos. i'd like another now. please. (darn it. i'm back on food)
chicago radio stations. getting to hear the gufs. on the radio.

lowlights
the car ride home. how can 3 boys be fantastic the entire trip and then make me want to jump from a moving vehicle during the trip home. so. naughty.
the mosquitoes. blood sucking bastards. hate them. (don't worry. we have them here too.)
not getting to see some friends.
feeling like we didn't have enough time any one place.
my husband crashing roxy. aka the truck. (we won't dwell on this one. k?)

i took SOooo many photos.
which of course i can't show you until someone...i won't mention any names...fixes the computer.
it will be fabulous to relive my vacay later...in photos.
but for now.
pretend you can see us boating. running. and obviously eating.
i'm the fat one with the ridiculously long hair...

and a story.
without a photo.

i might have slammed jack's foot in the truck door the other day.
yes.
it hurt.
i felt horrible.
i apologized.
he said. still crying a little...
"it's ok. i forgive you."
then
a few seconds later.
"you know how when you break a mirror, and you have seven years of bad luck? well. there should be something like that for people that slam their child's foot in the door."
ha.
excellent.

ok.
hopefully it won't be a month before i'm back.
but.
you
never
know.
xxxx

still broken.
i am so over not having a computer.
so.
over.
it.

i'm also so over 3+hour baseball practices in the 9000000degree heat.
but i digress...

things here,
aside from the computer issue
are good.
we are gearing up for daddy's day sunday, and colin's birthday monday.
after his work week he needs some loving.
so we're planning some fun.

currently in like with:
guacamole and corn chips
ice tea
tori and dean home sweet hollywood
reading in the sun
sun

currently not fond of:
computers
humidity
boys that hit each other

ok.
i love my blog friends.
and miss you all.
i'm hoping someday i'll have a new post with photos.
(hoping someday i'll have my photos)
now jared says it's his turn with colin's work computer...
sooooo.
bye for now.

our home computer is very much broken.
colin's work computer is allowing me some internet time at the moment....
otherwise we are currently internetless. aka unplugged.
be back soon.
i hope.
xxxe

Bedazzle this...

It's summer and my poor blog is being neglected.
In my defense, it's mainly due to my teenager being home and the fact I have to vie for computer time now.
also.
it's summer... did I mention that?
which means I can write
slept in,
watched the boys play soccer and ride bikes,
can't believe they drank a whole pitcher of kool-aid AGAIN,
man they eat a lot...
it's hot out,
we have a baseball game tonight....
repeat.
repeat.
repeat.
or. I can not blog as much.
so far the later is winning the debate.
but here is a little update.... Jack had a baseball tournament about 30 minutes away this weekend. Colten had a soccer tournament in Little Rock. So we had to divide and conquer.
I stayed here with the big J and the little one, the two Cs went to the city.
(Which was very sad for me, because I really wanted PF Changs, but I digress)
Jack's team did great and won the first two games, but lost the third.
He actually cried when he struck out in the last game....
which led to a conversation over dinner about how there is "no crying in baseball"...
when I asked later if he could tell me what we needed to remember about baseball
Jack replied "hit the ball every time".
ha.
well.
I guess that will solve the crying rule won't it.
no crying...or no reason to cry. which ever works.
he's so cute and sensitive. it kills me.
but.
there is no crying in baseball.
Oh,
and they looked SO darn cute in their new all-star uniforms...
I know, I know...I talk too much about the incredible cuteness of baseball boys...
but goodness. it's almost too much. the new uniform, and the darn fence that protects me from the hard balls, but makes for crappy photo opts.
(Colten got 2nd in his tournament by the way. They lost their last game to the Bluebirds...which I think is sort of a sissy name for a team, I think I might have asked if they also played the Butterflies...but apparently they're really good...which goes to show you...you can't judge a soccer team by it's name, errr...or something like that.)

me.
I have been gluten free for almost three weeks now. (actually 3 weeks tomorrow)
An experiment of sorts. Which unfortunately (or is it fortunately?!) is going well...
I should be happy it's going well. not bitter about the lack of french bread, pizza, and pasta...RIGHT?!?
I am happy and I feel really really good...and I would like a slice of garlic bread...wait...no...what? Without providing TMI it's not for weight loss... just so no one thinks I'm on a crazy wackadoodle diet.

and...
My hair is out. of. control. long. I don't even know what to do with it anymore...
I think I need Stacy and Clinton.
a little what not to wear, and what the hell should I do with my hair...
yes please.
either that or I'm getting some long jean skirts, and a buggy.
really. those are the options friends.

also why is it that everyone and their dog can take cUte pictures in the mirror of themselves?!? but when I try I either cut my head out of the photo, or I'm making some dumb expression in the ones that actually do include my face. I think I was in the middle of saying something in that second one... probably "What was that noise?"...or "Turn that music down!"...or "Answer the phone!". those are all popular lately... I am pretty sure I wasn't intentionally making what appears to be a kissy face though...
((ETA: Colin just got home and looked at that second photo and said, and I quote "You make that face all the time and you don't even realize you're doing it!" Awesome. So apparently, if you ever meet me, I make a dumb kissy face subconsciously. sweeeet.... ))

overheard today.
me from the other room "STOP boys!"
Coley "You don't even know what we're doing"
me "I can hear wrestling and you need to stop"
Coley "Ooooh... she's good"

I'm getting up early for soccer camp this week,
so I just might be updating more regularly.
might.
you know about really riveting things like my hair.
or maybe I'll have my new bedazzled "baseball mom" shirt to show you.
one of the moms on Jack's team makes them. they're pretty fabulous.
please try to contain your excitement.
(see the above sentence about needing wardrobe help, you can not dwell on my dorkiness)
it's summer.
that's about as good as it's going to get.

School's Out

our end-of-the-year teacher's gifts are the same every year.
a big ol' beach towel, sunscreen, and a magazine...
all tied up w/ a pretty bow, and a handmade tag.
I got the idea from Heidi Swapp's blog awhile back...and loved it instantly,
because it's so what I'd want to do after teaching 20+ kids all year...
lay in the sun, and look at magazines.

Jack went with me to Target to get everything, and the whole time he insisted that they wouldn't have beach towels in Arkansas because there "are no beaches here" ...

And...
my middle had his awards today.
Scored a few... A-B merit roll ALL year, an award for being selected to safety team, AND a special award for library.
(that one came with a book...which for the super reader was by far the best award possible)Way to go Coley!
Now...it's officially SUMMER!

allow me to brag on my boys...

When Jared was born the nurse brought him to me in the night and exclaimed
"He's so alert and serious, looking around investigating the world. I believe that he just might be doing algebra in his head"
I am sure he was...

Jared told me it wasn't a big deal if we missed his awards ceremony...
his Dad was gone that week, and it was in the evening
we had other places to be...and it "wasn't a big deal" according to J.
Well, what we didn't know was that Jared won the award for the highest grade in geometry.
(we found out shortly after, when half of the 8th grade class texted him)
He was the only 8th grader in the 9th grade class.
and he had the highest grade.
It was a big deal. A very big deal....
and we missed it.
Just one of many goofs that will occur when parenting multiple children.
so just for the record...
Jared is extremely gifted, and I'm so very very proud of him.
(even if I did miss the darn awards ceremony...)

Also,
hello?!?
it would be lovely if the school sent home a little note when your child is getting an award other than honor roll.
Not that honor roll isn't reason enough to attend...but a heads up would have been helpful....

This morning Jack Banana got the citizenship award for his class.
His adorable teacher Mrs. Cindy said that
"All the students in the class will tell you that they adore Jack" that's pretty cool.
I have to agree with the class.

I love seeing my boys shine with their own strengths and accomplishments.

and no,
I didn't leave Coley out,
he has his awards on Monday.

happy weekend!

There is some serious balloon art on my kitchen table...