First Day

Every year we take the front step photo. Jacob is starting junior high today. The gang from Lucas and a couple from Hoover stopped by on the way to walk together. I hope they do this a lot. Jacob looks older to me, not sure I'm ready, but I know he is. It's all he's talked about for days. Well, that and football.

Cousin Visit

Our niece Elise came to Iowa from Montana along with their four kids. Addy was sick and sleeping but Camron and Payne were in full war mode along with Jacob. Sheldon of course hung out with Mom. Ben flew in later to help drive back. He had to stay and help with the cattle I think. We saw them at Grandma and Grandpa Struve's along with some of the rest of the family. And what else do you do when you are at the grandparents and have to use your imagination? Play lift chair races and make guns out of the sock grabbers. Hey, you gotta use what you got....

The Next Generation

Jacob spent the last week and a half at football camp for Southeast Junior High. He's trying to play quarterback and said tonight at dinner it would help to be slightly taller. Blake corrected him and told him Stanzi passes over guys that are 6'7" to get to the shorter guys so there's no excuses or crying in football. It will be different with him gone to Wheaton in Illinois for school. Jacob will have to Skype him to get all the football advice he can from him. Maybe you too Smith boys...

We also went to Kids' day at Iowa for their football practice last weekend. Hot , hot! I haven't been sunburned like that for a long time. In the second picture, Riley Reiff and Clayborn are butting heads, the top guys in the country. It was lots of fun to watch...we probably won't sit on the 50 yard line again for a while. We stayed afterwards to get autographs, Jacob was a pro in working the crowd.