Nick's lunch time jokes

When Jay was in second grade I filled his lunches with jokes.  I later found out that Jay's friends enjoyed the lunch time jokes more than Jay.  I think Jay thought it took too much work to read my jokes and by second grade Jay knew what the word lame meant and how to use it in a sentence which is the word he applied to my jokes.  Ouch!  Since Nick is in second grade I figured it was his time to endure my lunch time jokes.  I've been packing the jokes for about three weeks now and Nick has given me nothing but positive feedback - Nick isn't above lame jokes!  He tells me he likes my jokes and looks forward to reading them everyday (bless you my boy!).  So today I went and had lunch with Nick.  He opened his lunch box and his eyes brightened when he saw the "joke" paper.  He opened the joke, read it and laughed and I'm happy to report all the other boys at the table also giggled.  I mean after all, when one gives you a joke of, "How does a farmer count his cows - With a Cow-Culater," what else can you do but laugh?  About that time Jay's kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Stroud, came to the table to find out what joke I had written that day.  Apparently Mrs. Stroud also enjoys my jokes and it's quite the entertainment during second grade lunch.  Clearly I'm no joke teller and honestly I forget the punch line to many jokes, which is why I rely on a joke book for second graders but for now I'll just soak up the laughs I'm getting from my blue eyed second grader!

Just another Siebert Saturday

 It was just another typical September Saturday in the Siebert house.  Boy, that was a lot of S's!  We started the day at Jay's home cross country meet.  For some reason that Mike and I haven't been able to figure out the XC team ordered and agreed on pink V neck T-shirt for their team T-shirts. The picture above is too adorable.  This girl is in second grade with Nick and loves Nick.  This particular morning Nick would not hug her but she persuaded Jay for a big one.  Jay was happy to oblige.  Love it!

 Mike and his boy before the race.  This was not Jay's best race.  In fact it was his worst time but we all have those days.  Hopefully his next race will be better.  Mike and I joked with him that it was probably the pink shirt that gave him bad luck.

 Just a few of the boys.  Don't all three of them have a painful look on their faces?  Is it really that painful to have mom take a picture of them?

 Nick and I!  And Nick being Nick.  He's a good sport.  He sits through all of Jay's sporting events.  Jay did get to Nick's flag football game today which was nice.

After XC and flag football we went to visit Mary and I finally got to meet her dog, Willie. Her dog is a hoot.  He's still a puppy but he's HUGE!  Copper took one look at him and refused to go in the house.  We persuaded (or rather forced) her to go in and she warmed to Willie quickly.  They played for a good hour together.  It was great entertainment.

Our week

 I'm trying to play catch up with my blog!  We've had a whirlwind 2 weeks.  I've started my work day at 4 a.m. almost every morning.  I feel like I blink and my work day is over and I'm waiting at the bus stop for Nick and then I'm preparing meals and we're off to our evening activities.  One day after school this week I took Nick and a friend to a pumpkin farm.  As you can see from the picture above they loved it.  Nick is really doing well these days.  He seems to love second grade and Mrs. Loyer.  He is playing flag football and is quite the player.  He's made touchdowns and even had an interception his last game.  Way to go, Nick!

So tonight Jay went to his first middle school dance.  Doesn't he look handsome?  I'm really proud of Jay.  He is doing well in school and I've written before the transition to sixth grade is the easiest one for him thus far.  He's keeping up with his school work.  His grades are all A's and B's (so far) and he's working hard at cross country.  Plus he's in a small group at church.  He's a busy middle schooler and is handling it well.  I just can't believe this kid is old enough for a jr. high dance.  Seriously, where has the time gone?  Where is that boy who would play in the sandbox for hours - growing up, I guess.  Bo hoo!  I do have a nice sense of calmness tonight.  Our neighbor across the street is Jay's middle school principal (who is at the dance), my friend and Jay's math teacher is always present at school and is his ride home tonight .  Then I found out that Mrs. Ledford (who helps make sure Jay is organized at school) is not only his teacher's aide but also his new girlfriends mom!!!  I am cracking up!  Jay tries to be sneaky but he usually fails miserably and with everybody and their brother knowing him and his mom doesn't help him any.  Hee, Hee.

Nick's big filibuster

My computer has been "sick" for about 9 days.  I finally had to take it to a "Nerds On Call."  After paying $190 I'm still not convinced it's cured.  Going 9 days without my computer didn't really bother me but I did get "out of the loop."  I found emails from Jay's cross country coach and Nick's football coach that were important - oops!  Anyway, we've been crazy busy but in a good way.  I wanted to share a cute story about Nick this week.  We were watching Fox News and they were reporting on Senator Cruz talking for 16 hours.  Nick heard this and declared........"I could so do that!"  Jay and I laughed out loud.  I have always said Nick would be a great politician.  I could just hear Nick talking guns, politics, and everything else that comes into his head during a 16 hour filibuster!

Jay is off and running

Jay is in full swing with cross country.  Going to cross country meets is so different from the football games we were use to with Jay and honestly the cross country meets are more fun.  I really enjoy them.  Jay is doing great with his 2 mile runs.  He's had three meets.  His first meet he ran in 18 minutes.  His second meet he ran in 16.35 and yesterdays meet he ran in 15.55.  Wow!  I'm proud of Jay.  He's really handled the transition into middle school, cross country and all the things that come with balancing a sport and school really well.  Keep it up, Jay!

Time with Kim - we are goofs

 Last night my sister came out with the kids for a visit.  Usually when she comes out it's a hot mess.  Hey, we just keep it real in our family.  There is no sense in sugar coating it and writing that we have a fabulous time when she comes out.  The issue is my dog.  Her kids are petrified of Copper which is crazy because Copper would never bite them - ever.  But she is a spaz and she's right at Lauren and Luke's level.  So last night Kim talked a lot to Lauren before them came.  Lauren is 5 and old enough to start "pulling it together" as far as Copper is concerned.  Luke is only 2 so we'll work on him later.  Ha.  When they arrived I had Copper on the leash so she wouldn't jump.  We gave her a good 10 minutes and wa-la she was fine and so was Lauren. In fact by the end of the evening Copper was walking around Lauren and I think she even petted her.  Luke is another hurdle.  He freaked out a lot but he's only 2.  He'll get there.  Kim and I agreed it was the nicest time we've had together at my house is a long time.  The kids played inside, ate pizza and then moved outside and played in the sand box.

Nick was taking these pictures of us!  He just kept snapping which is why we got these goofy pictures.  ha.

Ice cream makes everything better

The other morning Nick got out of bed complaining that his tummy hurt.  He proceeded to wolf down his breakfast and when I asked him if he felt like he was going to throw up he said No.  He did not have a fever and honestly I just didn't think his "tummy ache" was bad enough to warrant missing an entire day of school.  I also didn't think he was faking it either.  Perhaps it was nerves, who knows. Nick wasn't thrilled that he was going to school with his tummy ache when suddenly I had a brilliant idea - ice cream.  I asked Nick if a bowl of ice cream might help soothe his tummy.  His eyes lit up and he jubilantly said Yes!  I scooped him some of that sweet vanilla with chocolate syrup of course and he happily ate it on our drive to school.  I could hear the spoon clinking against the bowl the entire drive.  Perhaps this wasn't one of my best mothering moments but by the time we got to school Nick had forgotten all about his tummy ache.  He jumped out of the car  with a wave goodbye and started chatting with his friends.........probably telling them his mother gave him ice cream for breakfast which isn't really true.  When I shared this story with my mom her response was, "Wouldn't it be great if ice cream could always make everything better for our kids?"  Yes it would.  Ice cream may not solve all the problems we face but it sure makes things a little better, right?

Transitions

The school year is well under way and things are going very well, so well that I hesitate to even put it in writing and jinx myself.  Starting school this year has been the smoothest start we've ever had EVEH!  Why is that you ask?  I think it's a variety of things.  First with Jay I think he was more than ready to start middle school.  He likes being more independent and remember my love/hate relationship I use to have with sports?  Well I now officially LOVE sports.  Jay has cross country every night after school.  I was so nervous about him adjusting and handling school, practice and homework.  Sometimes the things I can get most worked up about turn out to be fine.  I think Jay is using his time at school wisely to get his homework done and I also think the tutoring he had this summer helped him (he won't admit that but as his mother I really think it helped).  Plus now that Jay is involved in cross country there is no time for any "playing" during the week.  I'm a huge advocate of play but honestly with a middle school boy, ya gotta keep him busy.  Jay's schedule during the week consists of school, practice, homework and now once a week small group at church.  His play time during the week consists of playing with his brother in the yard.  As for Nick his transition into second grade has also gone smoothly.  He loves his teacher and says "math is fun."  I also think it's been really nice for Nick to come home and get one on one attention from Mike and I with no distractions from his brother.  While it's true the boys don't see each other as often (neither of them really seem to care about that) I think it's been really good for Nick to have a little space and have things be all about him.  I remember last year 5th grade was all consuming for Jay and I.  The truth is Jay's homework took priority so everyday after school Jay and Mike or Jay and I would be engaged in heavy duty homework while Nick often had to wait his turn.  I am really enjoying meeting Nick at the bus stop everyday and giving him my full attention as he chatters on about his day.  There is no denying we are really busy right now but I welcome it.  I enjoy my summers but at the same time I am always ready to get back to school and start a routine.  I'm thankful we are off to a good start!

Nick's first flag football game

Nick had his first flag game on Saturday.  He really enjoyed it.  We baked in the sun for a good 2 hours waiting for the game to start and then watching the game.  I'll be glad once the weather gets cooler - whew!

Jay's first cross country run

 I am laughing out loud at myself.  My camera is not meant to take moving shots and I thought I was publishing a picture of Jay (above) but instead it's his friend, Aaron.  Oh well.  Aaron did awesome at the race too.  He should get some credit on my blog!  Anyway, Jay had his first meet on Thursday this past week.  He ran 2 miles in 18 minutes in the blistering HEAT.  It was crazy hot.  I was so proud of him.

Okay here is my boy, running by the corn!  This was an away meet and I was able to go.  Afterwards Jay and I hit a bar for some bar food.  I enjoyed spending the time with just him.

The official end of summer.....Labor Day

School is in full swing and my life revolves around making nutella sandwiches.  The picture above will cover the boys for about 3 days.  Kid you not.  They each have about 2 per day.  I spend a good 45 minutes every Sunday making nutella sandwiches.  Hungry boys!

Last weekend Jay had a sleep over.  He handles no sleep pretty well.  He doesn't get cranky but by Saturday night he was beat.  He cuddled up to dad and shut his eyes.  I don't think he actually fell asleep but to see Jay still for a few seconds.....I couldn't resist a photo.

We spent the final days of the summer at Laura's pool.  She is so dang hospitable.  We sure enjoyed our time in her pool as we do every summer.

My grandparents came down this weekend for Labor Day.  They attended the parade with my mom, sister and I.  They are 84 (right mom?) and do remarkably well.  It was so nice to spend some time with them.

My favorite (and only, ha) niece, Lauren.  My boys didn't go to the parade.  They went boating with their grandparents so I got to hang out with Lauren and Luke.

Lauren wanted one of these balloons so bad.  She finally got one.  She was one happy girl.  And now we are headed right into September.  I'm trying a new fitness challenge this month.  We'll see how it goes.  Laura and I are doing it together which really helps me and I need all the help I can get.  Jay will be in full swing with cross country which includes practices and many meets.  Nick has flag football practice twice a week and will start having games on Sept. 7.  Mike and I stay ridiculously busy at work......which is good job security.  I know one day I'll look back on these days and wonder how we did it but we do make it work and we seem to balance things fairly well.  I know before I know it these days will be long gone.