our version of the nature channel. :)

if you would have been looking in my windows from outside last night, you would have wondered what the heck was going on at the jboy house.

you would have seen me walking all over the kitchen counters, swinging my arms at the ceiling. you would have seen the husband standing on couches and chairs, leaping at the walls. you would have seen the little jboy running around with a blanket over his head, pointing all over the place. you would notice the big jboy in a dark room, reading with a flash light.

somehow the front door was left WIIIIIDEEE open for about an hour last night while we were outside. it was prime mosquito time. after 9 inches of rain the beasts are swarming and big enough to carry my children away.

we came into the house and they were gathered in large gangs around all the lights.
we spent the next hour in a head-to-head battle, and i am going to have to spend some more time cleaning little carcasses off my ceilings and walls.

bzzzzzz. smack. bzzzzz. smack.

ah, the sounds of summer. seriously, with all these stupid bugs around, i am almost missing winter.

Note: no rocks were stolen or abused in the creation of this pond/waterfall. all of the materials used were purchased at a local hardware store and the rocks were the property of the pond/waterfall builder (that would be me). any additional rocks added to this project will be obtained in a legal fashion and will be used only to enhance the area and will not exploit the rocks in any way.

he he

this is the reason i've been hauling rocks in a wheelbarrow for the past few days. it actually looks better than this is real life. come on over and see!

you know how you don't really pay attention to cars unless you are in the market for one?

i am feeling that way about rocks.

i am attempting to build a pondless waterfall and i'm collecting rocks. big, flat rocks if i can find 'em. everywhere i go, i am scoping for cool rocks. and for the most part, rocks are cool when you really stop and look at them.

which i am doing today. as soon as i get a chance, the boys and i are going to start piling rocks into the back of my truck. hopefully big flat ones. i wish i was in the black hills right now...the rocks there truly, well...rock.

so. as you are going about your day, stop and look at the rocks. it's not all about the flowers you know. :)

we've had quite the weather over here. i think the grand total is 7.3 inches since friday. we are watching some neighbors across the water haul carpet out of their basement right now (i did offer the husband up for help but they have it under control). a house on the lake had its back yard slide right into the water when their big retaining walls caved in. it's pretty crazy. we have had no problems. kind of a relief to know the new house doesn't leak :)

it did clear up enough yesterday afternoon for our big extended family (cousins, uncles and nieces) to play about 3 hours of tennis. that sure is a fun sport. he he. it's too bad i waited until now to start learning all these new things. i think i mentioned i joined the women's tennis league. they promised to teach me how to play through the month of june before i have to start playing matches in july. i think they were just looking for someone to boost their morale. i've seen the good ladies play. i really don't plan on ever winning, though i did hold my own with the husband's older brother. he needs a hip replacement and can't really walk or run, but still.

on a final note, little j is going to take up piano...he's been asking for months now and his aunt deb said he could use her piano for practicing. his motivation is going from piano to drums. if you decide to stop by for a visit, please bring ear plugs. and an extra pair for me.

going to go for a swim out my front door now...time to get the mail...

the blue dragon (aka our boat) is ready.

the lake is glass.

ladies and gentleman, we are about to officially start our summer.

ok, it's my turn to do one of these crazy lists. so exciting! here was my yesterday:

5:45 am (a very stupid new habit) bike ride before husband leaves for work at 7:15.

7 am take out trash realize the garage looks like a bomb went off. clean garage, decide we need to have a yard sale. start to organize yard sale, which sends me to the basement. basement needs cleaning...ah, crud. who needs a yard sale?

8 am revise a radio spot, slam down some lucky charms, proof a brochure, try to prevent a bad client decision

9 am bad client decision prevented, take shower, throw in some laundry, get boys ready (did you brush your teeth? did you brush your teeth? where are your shoes? any idea where you left your baseball mitt? did you brush your teeth? hey...who didn't eat their waffle? dude, that shirt does not match)

10 am talk to art director about bad client decision, take big j to baseball practice (with wet hair), take little j to a friend's house, run back home and revise radio spot again...client didn't like the 8 am version...too sappy?! hair is now air-dried and poofy (sigh).

11 am pick big j up from baseball practice, pick up one of his friends, bring both boys home to bounce, bounce bounce on the trampoline, revise radio spot one more time (sheesh!) and incorporate revised version into other materials

12 pm write some ad concepts, send them to art director, talk to art director about squirrels, little kids and the ad, make lunch for two boys, clean up, write more ad concepts

2 pm phone conference with a client, but keep working on other project while i'm "listening" to the boring meeting on the other line. do these people realize they are paying me by the hour...?

3 pm take big j friend home, take big j to golf lessons, run errands, email clients

4:30 meet big j after golf, golf 5 holes with him and attempt to get payment as caddy. attempt failed.

5:30 run home to make dinner, pick up little j from friend's house, eat dinner

6:30 take little j to baseball, clean up kitchen

7:30 husband home, hug and feed husband, begin project due tomorrow, block out family wrestling in the living room

11 pm project finished, day is done.

1 am wake up remembering i forgot something on the project.

2 am project finished again. but instead of falling asleep, my brain begins to organize a yard sale...

bobbi has often said she'd rather read my words than look at anything i attempt to take a picture of. he he. well, this time she will be sad i forgot my camera. our memorial weekend was busy, fun, fulfilling and back-breaking all in one.

let's start with the fun stuff:

deann and her beautiful family drove up on saturday night for dinner. we had burgers and beers and it was GOOD. her kids are even better in person, people. i had such a great time being with them. thank you for coming to see us, deann! the boys admitted that your girls are awfully cute, but of course they both thought brody was the coolest. i just love you guys.

the big pool opened on saturday and it was over 90 degrees. little j reached the magic 48 inch mark and was in heaven. he went down all three slides and off the boards and across the ropes...ahhh. to be 48 inches after 6 long years of waiting.

we saw shrek 4 on sunday night. this one is a serious must-see. very very clever. rumplestiltskin as the villain is just awesome.

on the way home from shrek i saw a BABY FOX on the road near our house. i watched him for about 5 minutes before he darted into the woods. tell me you wouldn't like to see a picture of that--even a fuzzy, out-of-focus crooked one! anyway, we are on the look-out for him. i hope i get to see him again, but the husband says not to hold my breath.

now for the back-breaking part:

the husband and i (mostly the husband) built a big ol' double tiered retaining wall out front and got the top tier all planted and mulched and looking good, finishing up around 7 pm last night (we thought we'd get it all done on saturday, ha ha ha). the rock we got looks like mountain rock. i say again, if i can't live in colorado i will make it feel like colorado :)

we also ordered more stone for three walls in back and the deck wood will be delivered this weekend. so, more back-breaking to come.

oh, i can hear my friend begging for pictures from here...