Happy New Year's Eve

Be warned, this is a long blog with lots of pictures.  As I'm writing it's after 10:00 on New Year's Eve.  My boys and our friends, Faith and Curtis are sprawled out across our living room watching a movie in front of the fire.  We spent the afternoon in the snow with the boys and Copper.  We had so much fun. The picture above is of the boys in their four wheeling sled with Copper.  Copper LOVED the snow festivities. 

 Nick trying out his new snowboard.  He had a hard time with it but with practice will get the hang of it.

High fives with dad. 

Just to prove that I do participate in these family gatherings, here I am with Jay headed down the hill in the sled. 

Me and my boy (one of them anyway)

 Copper would chase the boys down the hill every time.  She never got tired.

Our friends, the Ausili's, came over in the evening.  The kids four wheeled, played in the snow and of course, we ate. 

                                                                       The four ya-hoos

Headed out in the snow. 

 We compared the height difference of Jay and Faith.  Jay is a smidge taller and Faith is 2 years older.

                               My good friend, Jenny.  Not sure what I would do without this girl. As a side note I'm hoping for a better background next year.  Ha.

                                                                     Playing Monopoly

This boys cracks me up.  Curtis put on his UnderArmor cold gear and he is so darn skinny!  Jenny and I said he looked like a robber so this is his robber prance.

After Christmas blahs

So here I am 3 days after Christmas and I'm starting to get a bit of the crazies and my children are turning into video game zombies.  Seriously, I've never seen anything like it from my boys.  Jay is obsessed with his Kindle and has hardly come up for air.  Nick has been using Jay's Ipod touch and has played on it but he doesn't hold a candle to Jay and his Kindle.  I finally put the games away this morning and turned off the TV.  The boys read a book (what a concept), cleaned their rooms, got dressed in regular clothes and brushed their teeth.  Since I work from home I can manage my day quite well between the boys and work but I have to say and this is the only time you will ever see this in writing from me - EVER - I would welcome walking into an office for just today and today only.  An opportunity to be around other adults and get out of my house for just one day would be quite nice.  I should not complain because the boys have been really good.  The fighting has been minimal and they aren't begging to be outside every 10 minutes (which makes it difficult for me when I'm trying to work).  We've all just been really, really lazy and I suppose the way to look at it is we are lazy so few times that what does it hurt to be lazy slugs over break?  Part of being lazy with me anyway also equates to feeling really, really fat.  Ugh!  I've also been feeling a little under the weather so I have no motivation to do anything.  I am starting to feel like Jaba The Hut from Star Wars!

Christmas Day 2012

What a wonderful Christmas day we had!  The boys got up around 7:00.  We opened presents and I baked our usual Christmas breakfast - a cinnamon butter braid - yummy!  Santa left Copper a new electric/heated bed.  Jay was quick to point out that same bed was at Big R.  So the secret is out.  Jay officially told me today he knows who "Santa" is.  I told him to keep the secret for his brother.  Santa brought both boys air gun rifles - a big hit.  As far as mom and dad go, we got the boys chest waders (another big hit).  Jay got a Kindle and can I just say I want a Kindle!  Nick got a new V-tech laptop.  I have two happy, happy boys tonight.  

This was Nick first thing this morning.  He was full of it this Christmas.  Don't let his innocent morning look fool you.  You can tell by the look in his eyes he is plotting and scheming. 

Chest waders!

Mike lit a fire which has kept this house toasty warm all day - so nice.  He baked a delicious prime rib for lunch.  We enjoyed wine, prime rib, potatoes and wonderful dessert.  

Mike's parents came over as they do every year.  It was truly a lovely day - nice and relaxing.  My father in law summed it up perfectly, "A great day with great food and great company."  My in-laws, Mike and I played cards after lunch and then John, Mike and I played Sorry with Nick.  It was a rather painful game of Sorry but it made Nick happy. 

This picture sums up our relaxing afternoon except for one thing, notice Nick in the background.  The look on his face explains perfectly how wound he was this Christmas.  I love the boy but seriously he was more than I could take.  Ha.  My mother in law had been sick but was finally well for Christmas.  She was still a bit run down so after lunch she curled up in the chair with the dog and a glass of wine.  Nick had to make his presence known in the background.  

This really sums up how my boys spent their day.  Neither one of them got out of their jammies and come to think of it, they didn't brush their teeth.  Gross!  They just relaxed with their new toys all day.  Jay loves his Kindle and found an app where he can make forts.  He's spent the day building forts on his Kindle.  His buddy, Aaron, called him this afternoon and they both had to talk about their Kindles and fort building.  Mike and I both noticed this morning that this Christmas was different.  Both boys are just more capable.  For example, Jay got his Kindle out and got it all set up.  Nick got his Lego kit out and started it with very little assistance from Mike or I.  I remember Christmas pasts where Mike would be up to his eye balls putting toys together, putting batteries in and trying to break those toys lose from those pesky cardboard boxes.  In the Siebert house we have evolved and I welcome it!  

Nick finished his day in front of the fire playing with his new V-tech laptop.  No plotting or scheming here, just the sweet 6 year old boy we all know and love!  

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight

We had another wonderful Christmas eve at my mom's.  We've changed things up a bit through the years.  For example instead of having dinner together, we have lunch.  And this year we attended my sister's church vs. my mom's church.  It was a really nice service.  

Nick and I in his new vest from his Nana.  He loved it. 

How can you take Luke seriously in this wig?  

My mom tends to get the kids new jammies every year for Christmas and my boys love getting them.  Here they are in their new jammies (and T-shirt from Aunt Mimi).

Love this festive pose. 

My mom and her four grand kids. 

Nick was one happy camper.  He got his snow board. 

I really struck out with Lauren this year.  I did get her some nice clothes which made up for Bow Hunter, Ann.  I was trying to go with a cute, barbie like doll with a hunting thing going on.  She was not impressed, despite her smile in this picture. 

I am so blessed this year.  I so enjoy spending the day with my family, my sister's family and my mom.  My mom always has a ton of food.  We have noticed that we don't eat as much as we have in past years, which is a good thing.  Jay did not write his usual letter to Santa tonight and Nick didn't want to.  So sad!  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.  

A hodge podge blog

A few funny things have happened lately in our house.  About two weeks ago I told Nick that Santa called me so I could warn Nick that he was really close to being placed on the bad list - Yes, folks I did this!  It got Nick's attention and his behavior has improved.  Everyday since then he's askd me if Santa has called.  My response is always the same, No and no news is good news, Nick, it means you're stll on the good list.  Nick did stop asking about a day ago when his behavior got a little more silly for my liking.  I guess it's to be expected that a 6 year old boy would get a little wound three days before Christmas.  Then about a week ago Jay lost a tooth.  I suspect Jay knows the truth about the toothfairy and Santa but thankfully he keeps it to himself.  The night he lost his tooth it was late.  I told him to put the tooth out so the toothfairy could pick it up.  Well the toothfairy didn't set an alarm and overslept - leaving Jay's tooth in the same place wit no money the next morning.  Jay wasn't too disappointed.  I simply told Jay he had lost his tooth so late that the toothfairy didn't have enough notice to get to our house.  The next night he laid his tooth out again and this time the toothfairy delivered the mo-la but forgot to take the tooth.  I think the toothfairy feels she has enough of the Siebert boys teeth - does she really need another one?  In any case Jay was happy with the $1.  On Dec. 18 Copper spent the night at my mom's house.  Copper and Jay are night time buddies.  She sleeps with Jay every night.  As I was tucking Jay into bed that night (without Copper) he seemed really sad without his dog.  I reminded him his dog was with his nana and she would be home the following day.  Jay's response, "I know mom but you just never know what can happen in the city."  I cracked up. 
Moving onto to the illnesses in our family.  Our sickness is just the normal stuff and we aren't dealing with anything horrible which I am so thankful for.  Jay has managed to stay well.  I had horrible cold-flu symptoms in early December which got passed to Mike.  Nick had it also and has it again.  He missed the last day of school before Christmas break began.  Then to top it off my knees are cracking and my back is whacked.  It's so annoying.  I do need to focus on losing weight in the new year but I don't consider myself an obese cow - which is how my knees and back are making me feel.  Grrrrrr!  I've had a herniated disc in my back since 2006 and when it flares up, it's awful but thankfully it resolves itself within a few days.  I'll probably just be hobbling around on Christmas eve and day.  Back pain is for the birds!

An angel named Leslie

My mom has a dear friend, Leslie.  Leslie has been a family friend for at least 30 some years.  My sister and I grew up with her two boys.  Recently Leslie has started to tutor Nick and boy has it worked wonders.  His reading has really improved and most importantly he enjoys learning and spending time with Leslie.  On nights that he has tutoring and I tell him he's going to Leslie's his first response is always, "Yes!!! I get to go to Leslie's."  Coarse it helps that Leslie always has a special treat for Nick.  I am so thankful for her patience and her enthusiasm.  Nick really does have a hunger to learn and Leslie is the perfect teacher for him.

Christmas Musical Program

Today was the Christmas program at school and as usual it did not disappoint.  This year was a bit different, however.  As we entered the school a deputy was at the front of the school and as we entered the gymnasium a police officer was there to greet us.  What a changed world we now live in since Dec. 14. My heart ached for the people in Newtown, CT as I watched all the children sing today.  A Christmas program at school is a normal event that is simply not normal for their community at this time as their hearts are breaking.  This was Jay's last year at his elementary school.  I have enjoyed going to this program every year and I will miss seeing Jay next year but for this year I sure enjoyed both my boys.  Unfortunately we did not get any pictures of Jay because he was just too hard to see and too far away.  

Notice Nick's shirt.  It reads, "Dear Santa, I can explain."  Very appropriate for Nick!  

Lordy, Lordy, Mike is 40

My dear husband turned 40 today.  To Mike's it's just an age and even though he's older than me (by a we-bit) he claims he still looks younger than me.  What-eveh!  I had family over the night before Mike's birthday as it is also his mom's 60th birthday!  I got Mike to take his birthday off .  The two of us went to the boys' Christmas program at school and then took off to do some shopping.  We had lunch together and just enjoyed the day.  Happy 40th Birthday, Mike! 

Daddy and his monkey's.  

I thought this was the perfect cake for Mike.  

Happy Birthday to my mother in law, Linda.  

Love this picture.  Sweet Lauren with her Uncle Mike and Aunt May May.

Love this picture!