Summary of September

September is almost over.   In three days it will be October and I love October.  September is always a rough month for the Siebert's.  The transition back into school is always challenging and I found it especially challenging this year with Jay.  Boy has 5th grade rocked his world and mine.  As the month went on I found myself getting very frustrated with myself that I hadn't had Jay tutored this summer so I made a mental note to myself (or rather I just told my mom to remind me, ha) that next summer I must have Jay tutored in some way, shape or form.  It's like he forgot everything.  He seems to have turned a corner in the last week and things are getting better as I knew they would but it has been a rough couple of weeks.  As for Nick he transitions better and his adjustment into first grade has been smoother except for the fact that as of a week ago his teacher went on bed rest and we don't expect her back until mid-March so basically the entire school year.  First grade is a pivotal year and I'm hopeful Nick's sub for the year will do a great job.  I am just so nervous about missing something with Nick - learning or behavior wise.  Right before Nick's teacher went on bed rest she told me she had some concerns but didn't elaborate.  I was on my way to a conference for Jay, therefore we didn't have a chance to talk together for any length of time and then boom the next day she was gone.  Thankfully I have my sister and my mom who guide me through this maze of public school education.  It can all get a little overwhelming!

Can you say Pre-teen?

Jay was headed out the door this morning for school just like this - hat tilted to the side, ear buds in his ear and back pack on board!  I chuckled to myself as I remember the very same mentality when I was in 5th grade.  He did smile and let me take this cute picture of him and he is listening to Toby Mac - a christian artist on his I-pod........Again, just me being a glass if half full kind of girl.  It takes work but I try.  ha.

What we did this weekend........

Friday night started out with the Doberman, Berwyn, coming over.  She comes over frequently to play with Copper and when she does we know about it because Nick yells......"Berwyn Attack!"  She really doesn't attack, she just plays with Copper.  As you can see she is much bigger but Copper can out run her.  Ha.

After it rained on Friday night a beautiful rainbow appeared.  Nick and I had plans to go to a pumpkin farm with my sister but the rain prevented that. 

And here is the scene in our house on Saturday mornings.  Mike putting the pads on the boys.  Apparently I can't do it right so Mike is left with the responsibility. 

But after all the pads are in their place everyone is all smiles.

Jay had a good football game this week.  They got beat (bad) but it was the first game (thus far) where Jay started and ended with a good attitude.  I don't know what it is with football this year but Jay is really sour about it.  Mike and I have told him he committed to it so he must finish it and it would be nice if he finished it with the right attitude. 

And here's a first glimpse of Nick's zebra costume made by his Grandma.  He loves it. 

The Ausili's came out on Saturday.  We had a good time.  Faith was with a friend but she called the house to talk to Nick.  Her and Nick are tight.  ha.

Nick and Curtis.

Nick had to model his costume for Jenny (of course).  So I used the opportunity to snap a picture.  Ha. 

Nothing good comes out of a crock pot

I have discovered Pinterest.  For those people who have already become addicted or excuse me discovered Pinterest you know what I'm talking about.  I wanted to start experimenting with new recipes.  My intentions were nothing but well intended.  I wanted to make wonderful meals for my family before their evening activities of  football and soccer.  Well it has sort of turned around and bitten me in the hienie.  Most of the recipes have not been very good.  I won't blame Pinterest.  I believe it's more of a user error problem.  I made a few recipes from a crock pot which is never a good idea for my family.  Once again I had grand ideas of how wonderful my crock pot meals would be.  In reality, they have been crusty, dry and somewhat tasteless but mostly DRY!  Plus my husband has never liked crock pot meals..........the title of my blog comes directly from his mouth.  Last night I made another crock pot meal that consisted of chicken so dry you thought you were eating cotton balls.  After dinner Mike took Nick to soccer practice.  During the practice Nick's coach asked the kids to form a circle and compared it to a crock pot (in other words form a circle that looks like a crock pot)....odd comparison I know but whateveh.    Nick blurts out, loudly I might add, "Nothing good comes out of a crock pot!!!!"  Mike said the coaches and parents were in gales of laughter!  Now since I'm more of a glass is half full kind of girl I can see the humor in this and I'm glad my crock pot meals have provided some good entertainment and laughter to not only my family but Nick's entire soccer team. 

Dad's Sidekick

Sometimes it's tough being the younger sibling.  I didn't realize this until I had two children of my own.  Many times Nick has that look that surely all younger siblings must display at certain times.  When I see this look I am reminded of all the times I was not nice to my sister.  I have apologized to her several times and we have shared some good laughs over it.  Jay is all about his friends these days.  He's with them A LOT!  When Jay and his friends are here things go fairly well.  I do have to remind Jay that when he has friends over he can't treat Nick like he doesn't belong in his own yard or home and on the flip side I've had to remind Nick that if he wants to hang with the big boys he needs to act like one.  When Jay is gone at a friends house it leaves Nick alone with nothing to do......break out the violins.  So Nick has been become Mike's shadow.  He helped him lay and groute the tile around the fire place and he helped him trim trees today.  As long as he's doing something "manly" he's a happy boy........who misses time with his brother but overall a happy boy. 

This picture stinks but you get the jist of it.  Nick is always helpful and happy to tag along with Mike and help him with yard work. 

Siebert afternoon follies

There is a new trend in our house after school........kids congregate at our house and I love it.  Jay and his good buddy, I'll call him A. for the blog meet up on their four wheelers and end up at our house where M. and another A. come over so 4 kids all together.  M. is the only girl and the other A. is missing from the picture.  As you can see from the picture above, Jay and A. weren't thrilled with the picture taking but M. tolerated it.  Bless that girl........she hangs with all those crazy boys everyday. 

No notes Nick

Nick is my chatty child.  He is enjoying first grade but as to be expected......he's having some issues with talking and working independently.  If a note comes home at the end of the day then Nick's day wasn't so great.  So how many notes has Nick brought home since school started you ask.  Only 2 but he feels so bad about it when he brings them home.  The notes aren't anything to be alarmed about.  It's more to inform and my experience with Nick (and his teachers confirm the same) is he doesn't have a behavior problem but rather a chatty problem.  Part of Nick's allowance is based on whether or not he brings "the notes" home from the teacher so it's a fairly good motivator.  He brought a note home yesterday (which doesn't bode well for the rest of the week since yesterday was only Monday!).  He woke up this morning determined not to bring a note home today and he was successful - no Tuesday note.  Way to go Nick.  I'm sure the extra prayers he said with Nana on Sunday night helped too. 

And as a side note.....I included these pictures because it speaks to his personality.  It might give you a picture as to what kind of a student Mrs. B. is dealing with!  Ha.  Nick broke out his baby hat and had to show it off to me the other night.  In looking at these pictures I can sure see a lot of Jay at that age.  Crazy how time flies.

A trying week

This week has been rough for a variety of reasons.  I find there are many balls I have to keep in the air this time of year.  I juggle a full time job (and thank god I do it from home), two active boys transitioning into school and who play sports, trying to keep my house clean and organized and trying to find balance between my schedule and Mike's work schedule.  It's also been difficult because Jay is transitioning back into school.  Since the day Jay was born he has thrived on structure and routine and transitions have always been challenging for him but whoa........5th grade has really bit all of us in the heine.  I'm trying to take a step back and let Jay advocate for himself.  He's had a few missed homework assignments and I think he's just trying to adjust to all the balls he has to keep in the air for 5th grade but such is life.  Fifth grade is only preparing him for what is to come in middle school.  And on top of everything it feels like 4th grade never even happened.  I learned an important lesson this week for next summer....TUTORING!  I am telling myself daily to remain patient......October will be here soon.  Plus Jay is fighting tooth and nail every day for more independence.  We've had some break downs in communication this week, tears over homework and lots and lots of attitude.  Thank heavens for my mother.  All of this "drama" with Jay is nothing she didn't experience with me and I know we'll get through this school stuff but the fact is school is never going to be remotely easy for Jay.  But as most of us know if you don't struggle or even fail (and I'm not saying Jay is going to fail at school b/c he isn't) at something then you can never really succeed in life.  I spend a lot of time on my knees praying for both my boys but this week many of my prayers have been focused on Jay and his struggles along with mine as his mother.  I am ready to conquer next week and it can only get better, right?

Labor day....the official end of summer

The mid-west got some of the effects from Hurricane Isaac over the weekend.  It was gloomy and wet all day on Saturday and most of the day on Sunday but by Monday, it was HOT & HUMID - a perfect excuse to get out and go to the Labor Day Parade.  The picture above is of my mom and Luke.

My sister and Lauren were in the parade.  Here she is talking to Nick.

 Nick and Lauren.  Jay didn't join us this year.  He had a sleep over and was still at his friends house.

 The last of my flowers!  Bo-hoo.  I sure enjoy my snap dragons.  My mom got me turned on to them. 

And lastly this was my husband's weekend project.  Mike was home all weekend which was heaven.  He's worked way more Saturdays this past year than I care to count.  And he loves getting involved in a project and again his work schedule this past year hasn't allowed him to get involved in any home projects.  But this weekend he started on our hearth (I really hope I'm spelling that right).  It was nice having him home and seeing him engaged with a home project.

A dog lover......I think so

I really did not want my blog to become an all about Copper blog.  My goal all along has been to document my thoughts and events we have as a family and Copper is just part of those events.  We love this dog - even my husband.  Let me be clear and please don't think less of me but before Copper I was not a dog lover and maybe that is still the case except when it comes to my own dog.  She brings so much joy to our family.  I love hearing my 10 year old boy (who is going on 14 - see previous blog, LOL) talk to Copper in baby talk and first thing on weekday mornings Jay's first question is always, "Where's Copper?"  Nick spends a lot of time bugging Copper, although you wouldn't know it from the picture above.  But just the same, Copper still loves on him and never leaves his side when they are outside.  She was an easy dog to train and quite honestly I can't imagine not having her around. 

Okay this is not the greatest picture of me.  Nick took it after I was in my jammies one night. 

Copper joining Jay at breakfast.  We don't really let her up at the breakfast bar with us - except for this once.