December wrap up

 How can December be over?  How can my 13 year old (almost 14) be this tall?  How can 2015 be over?  Am I ready to begin another year?  Actually, I am ready.  2015 brought joy but it also brought struggles, struggles that will continue into 2016 but I am proud of the choices we've made as a family in coping with those struggles and I'm most proud of Mike, who when faced with a blow made choices based on integrity, honesty and an open heart.  Anyway, Laura and I planned and delivered another "Socks for Seniors" event.  It is my gift to my dad every year.  Sadly, this year he didn't seem to enjoy it as much.  I chalk it up to him being another year older and more set in his ways.  He was bent out of shape because it was past his bedtime. 

This Socks for Seniors night was a hit.  The weather cooperated so we had a big group turn out for the event, which the residents of the nursing home always enjoy.  Every resident at the nursing home got a new pair of socks. 

Bless my mother.  She helped out this year.  She mostly kept dad calm and kept reminding him he couldn't go to bed until Socks for Seniors event was over. 

And here's our whole crew.  See what I mean when I say we had a huge crowd this year.  My dad is right smack in the middle.  He's looking around and I know he's thinking, "You've got to be kidding me, I'm staying awake for this!"  LOL. 

A momma and her boys.  Mike took this picture on Christmas Eve.  Can you believe how tall Jay is?  I can't. 

More Christmas Eve pictures.  We did things a little different this year and it worked so well.  Kim was kind enough to host Christmas Eve lunch this year.  We ate lunch, played cards, went to church and after church we concluded the evening at mom's with more food (imagine that?) and gifts.  It was truly a lovely day with family.  And for once, it wasn't a hot mess!!

Nana with all four of her grands and they all appear to be looking at the camera.  That in itself is a Christmas miracle.

                                       Luke with his new boots his nana got him from TN. 

My boys on Christmas morning.  I love this picture of them.  We had such a nice Christmas.  It was relaxing and calm and joyous.  We are truly blessed. 

And that is my December wrap up.  More to come in 2016.  I am anxious to blog as to what's been going on with us and I will.....in time.  I am looking forward to spending New Years with family and friends.  I welcome 2016 and all it may bring.  I see 2016 as an opportunity!  Happy New Year to all.

Happy Birthday, Mike

 Today is Mike's 43rd birthday and I'm convinced it will be his best year ever! The above picture is from a few weeks ago.  Mike is crazy about these thumb print cookies from Folsom's Bakery in Rock Falls, IL. 

 The boys, well mostly Nick, made Mike breakfast in bed for his birthday.  What a great way to start his day.

Mike continues to help coach Nick's basketball team and you guess it, they had a game today (sadly, they lost).  Happy Birthday, Mike! 

Joy

The Christmas season is in full swing.  Our tree and house are decorated for the season, although, we're hardly home to enjoy it.  Basketball season always seems to be the busiest during December.  Last night we were all home.  No practices, no games.  It was nice.   Our family is still going through changes and I have the feeling those changes will be on-going for quite some time into 2016.  But with those changes, there is great joy.  We are all learning to trust God more.  If I've learned anything during this season of my life, it's that I know nothing.  I'll have an idea in my head of how I think something should go and God will blow my "perfect" plan into oblivion & of course His plan is way better than mine.  So, although the road ahead is unknown, I trust that God has a much better plan and as our pastor said during the first Sunday that we happened to be back at church after an 8 week absence, "When the storm clouds come in and there is nothing you can do, you press pause and wait."  Oh, how Mike and I love that phrase around here.   And so my friends, even though this Christmas is a wee bit scary for me, I am filled with great joy.  Joy that my boys are happy and healthy, joy that my husband has a heart that is open, joy that we have family and friends that love us and I have joy in my heart over the gift of time.  Kind of ironic since I wrote I have a slight fear of the unknown and I don't know when we'll get the answers we're looking for but I'll explain everything one of these days and it will all make sense. 

This and that and Happy Thanksgiving

 Jay is playing basketball these days and is loving it.  This year he's team captain and he starts.  He's worked really hard the last several years to get to where he is today.  Mike and I have really enjoyed watching him.  On this particular day Aunt Mimi came to cheer him on.  It's official, Jay is taller than his aunt.

 This picture warms my heart.  This is how we've spent many, many evenings the last 2 weeks, cuddled up together as a family with our dogs.  Cole still hasn't figured out he's not a lap dog but with Nick and his dog, all things are possible. 

 Nick's friend, C. has been coming to our house after school on basketball practice nights.  It's been fun for both the boys and I always enjoy having friends in. 

 We spent thanksgiving at my house this year and it was such a nice day.  The kids played, we ate and played games.  One game wasn't so successful (Apples to Apples) but we tried. 

                                My mom, Kim and Nick played cards.  Playing cards is always a hit. 

                                                         Jay towering over his nana.

 Ausili's came out late on thanksgiving night.  The picture below is the selfie Faith took of all 8 of us, not bad if I do say so myself.  This thanksgiving I felt especially blessed.  God is SO good, SO big and Mike and I have especially felt His love.  He has filled our hearts and mind with such peace and we are thankful for each other, our family and friends. 

A thankful heart

I've taken a break from my blog for awhile.  I haven't even looked at it and when I pulled it up this morning I noticed my last blog entry was from Nov. 10.  On Nov. 11 my life changed dramatically.  I will forever compare my life with how it was before Nov. 11 and how it is after Nov. 11 and trust me, in the storm that was brewing and the cyclone that came in, my story is one centered around great joy and peace for my family.  It's not something I'm going to share just yet in my blog but eventually I will.  It is a story that needs to be shared but it's also a story that isn't finished being written yet.  I can tell you God has his hands all over this one and I'm completely overwhelmed by His love, His grace and His mercy. 
We are busy preparing for Thanksgiving which I am hosting this year - turkey and all.  My dear mother bought the turkey and delivered it to my house so here's to hoping it all goes as planned.  This Thanksgiving I see things and people through a different (and more positive) set of lenses.  Nov. 11 changed me and this year especially I am so thankful for an abundance of blessings.  I am looking forward to spending the day with my own family and my mother and my sister, brother in law and my niece and nephew.  I am thankful for the laughs we will share, the food we will eat and the fire Mike will build (yeah, that too). 
I will post pictures in my next blog.  Life has been busy, as always.  Jay is playing and enjoying basketball, as is Nick.  Mike is assistant coach for Nick's team and I just trying to keep everyone fed.  Ha! 

Cooking 101

Nick is loving working in the kitchen these days.  He wakes up every morning and makes eggs for him and Jay.  He insists on helping me with dinner and he loves making spaghetti.  I am really trying to let him have free reign in the kitchen.  Sometimes it's hard because he makes a bigger mess than what needs to be made but I have to remind myself that it's okay, that's how one learns.  Recently I suggested that perhaps I could sign Nick up for a cooking class.  He was horrified.  He told me he would not take a cooking class.  I assume he thinks it would be too "girly girl" for him and Nick is 100% redneck.  He told me he'd rather learn from me or his nana. 

Honor Roll

Jay made the honor roll for the first time in middle school.  What an accomplishment for him.  He's been so close before but never quite made it but maybe 8th grade was the trick.  Ha.  Jay and I went to his honor roll breakfast this morning at school.  It was so well done.  During the breakfast I nudged Jay and told him that I had never made the honor roll in middle school so good for him!  I did get a grin out of him for that one.  Keep moving forward, Jay and as your nana and I always say, it's not how you start the race but how you finish the race that matters.  What will your finish line look like? 

The cluster weekend

 It was another packed weekend but very fun.  I entitled my blog The cluster weekend because it was filled with so much from get togethers with family to football to Halloween parties to wienie roasts and back to football again.  I'm exhausted just from writing all of it.  Ha.  The weekend started out with Kim and her family coming over.  The kids carved and painted pumpkins and we had an opportunity to catch up and enjoy each others company.  I love Lukie's smile in this picture.  He reminds me a lot of Nick, he talks all the time.  Love him.

 As you can see Nick was really into the bunny ears, hence the picture above and below.  Really Nick!?  Lauren loved painted the pumpkins.  I don't think Kim was so thrilled to take them home as they were still wet but she enjoyed it. 

Even Jay joined in, a little.  He didn't carve or paint pumpkin.  He's getting so old.  My mom said that every time she sees him now it looks like he's grown taller.  And Yes, mom, he has!  Crazy. 

                                                            Relaxing with Nana.

 Nick's last game was Saturday.  It was a miserable game.  Picture rain, lots and lots of rain.  Picture cold, bitter cold and mud!  Lots of mud.  So muddy you couldn't see the 50 yard line.  But the boys played hard and it paid off.  They won their game!  The picture below includes the 5 coaches. 

 This picture really doesn't do justice to how cold, muddy and rainy it actually was. 

Nick and Nic (No, it's not a spelling error, the "other" Nic spells his name without a K).  These are the two Nick's on the team.  I'm not sure the team even knows my Nick's name.  They called the other Nic, Nic but my Nick was always referred to as Siebert, never Nick.  So cute. 

 On Halloween night we went to Laura's.  She is such a great hostess.  Love her.  Cracks me up that I got this picture of Nick.....with all the ladies - not a boy in sight.  And yes, he was back to the bunny ears.  Ugh.

 I love this picture.  This is Jay's 8th grade team.  Next year, high school!  These boys had a rough season and they lost their game today but they played hard!  I took Nick to his football teams wienie roast so I missed it - bummer.  But I am so thankful for this picture that another mother got.  So, until next year, boys. 

And as a final wrap up, here's the hostess with the mostest!  I love Laura's spirit.  She makes every holiday fun!!  We did get to laughing because she's had this pumpkin costume since college.  Nick asked out loud (he has no filter) how it still fit her - kid you not! Happy Halloween!!!

5 question rule

I have a teenage boy in my house.  Most teenage boys don't like to chit chat with their mothers.  It's not like Jay did enjoy chit chatting - EVER - with anyone but most especially his mother but still, it's been an adjustment for me to see him growing into a man before my very eyes & watching the conversation between us slowly dwindle to nothing but nods and grunting.  I try (oh, how I try) to self reflect (often).  About a month ago it occurred to me that I had to change in order to change my relationship with Jay & continue to grow with him as he ages.  When I reflected on what I thought most annoyed him in an instant I was struck with my questions I ask him.  And to be fair, I suppose I asked insignificant questions.  When I would do this, it was my way of trying to feel him out, getting him engaged in some kind of conversation but really, with Jay, you just have to wait for it.  He'll tell you when he's ready and sometimes he's never ready and somehow I had to get "okay" with that.    I came up with a plan.  I decided I would only ask him 5 questions per day.  On the flip side I wanted him to respond back to me when, for example, I drop him off at school and tell him to have a good day.  Instead of a grunt, I made it clear I wanted him to at least say, "You too."  I realized that by limiting myself to 5 questions I really had to pick and choose what questions I would ask him.  No longer could I ask him if he had everything he needed for basketball practice.  I had to let go of some control and in all honesty I'm not a control type of gal but still, I'm a mom, it has been my job to ask my ADHD teenager if he had his bag packed correctly for the past 2 years of middle school.  But I came to the conclusion that was one question that had to go.  I guess if he forgot his stuff he would suffer the consequences of doing so.  Before I ask Jay one of my allotted questions, I ask myself, is this question significant and even before I speak I ponder, is what I'm about to say of any importance?  Let me tell you, it's been quite a challenge for me.  The results have been exactly what I was hoping for.  Jay and I are joking together more and the other morning when I asked him if he slept well (yes, I used a question on this but I was worried about his sleep, I'm still his mother), he responded with, "Yes, and You?"  I beamed.....why Yes, Jay, thanks for asking.  I use to "put Jay to bed" every night.  I'm not consistently walking him up to bed anymore.  Some nights I put myself to bed first.  On those nights before he goes to bed he comes into my room, hops into the bed with me and asks me what I'm reading.  I tell him and then wait for him to say more.  Some nights he does, some nights he doesn't and I'm good with that.  Last night the two of us studied for a test he has coming up and all the while he was texting back and forth.  I used one of my questions to ask him if he and his girl were "amped" up again - meaning back together.  He smiled and said No and we continued on with studying.  I so wanted to follow up that question with more questions but I restrained myself.  There are still questions that eat away at me.  I want to ask him how his basketball team looks this year.  Who does Coach have starting this year?  What are you guys working on in practice, etc....?  But I don't ask those questions, after all, they really are insignificant.  I will see Jay's basketball team play next week at which time I'll see with my own eyes how they look and how they play.  Somehow I get feeling that I'll just get this parenting thing down pat and then my boys will leave and then who will want all this great knowledge I've gained? 

Badger

My neighbor, Jami, is a vet.  About a month ago she was describing an animal she had to exam.  As she described this animal her face scrunched up in disgust.  She said he had a rounded body with long claws.  For some reason she couldn't remember the name of the distasteful animal.  I knew what animal she was describing instantly, a badger.  Why would I know about a badger or why would I care, you ask?  Jay has become obsessed with them.  In late August Jay and Curtis were cruising the internet looking for four wheelers ("shocker).  When they found one they liked, they came up with the word, Badger, as in cool.  At first it was funny but as is always the case with my children, they kill it because they say or do something constantly, to the point where it gets down right annoying.  They take something that was funny initially and then make me want to shove an ice pick in my forehead because I've heard or seen they say or do something so often.  Curtis was and is just as obsessed with the word as Jay.  He recently formed a "Badger Nation" at his school and got reprimanded because if he was going to form a group, badger or no badgers, he needed to include everyone.  The first word and last word out of Jay's mouth nearly everyday is badger.  Our drives to school usually consists of conversations between the boys as to who is considered badgers and who is not. We've clearly established I am not a badger.  Jenny is just as sick of it as I am.  We surmise that between the boys, they must say the word 500 times a day.  I did tell Jay that if he was going to say the word badger 500 times a day, he had to know how to spell it! While there are worse words they could be using, let's just say the word badger is one word I won't soon forget or miss (when they finally stop saying it!). 

Near and dear friendships

 I am careful of how I approach pictures with Jay in them these days, mostly because they annoy him.  Jay is easily annoyed anyway but then you put his teenage hormones into the mix and let's just say I have to mix up my approach.  Ha.  I have loved watching Jay and his friends through the years.  I imagine that once they are grown, having boys in and out of the house is something I will greatly miss.  I've watched Jay and his friend, Aaron grow up right before my eyes.  They have been friends since second grade.  Love them both.  The above picture was taken just last week.  Aaron is 14 and Jay will be 14 in January. 

 One of my all time favorite pictures.  I think the boys were at the tail end of their 5th grade year in this picture.  Two adorable skinny boys!!  Ha. 

 Jay, Reece and Aaron have been friends since 2nd grade in Miss Snowden's class.  The boys have spent countless hours together with sleep overs, playing sports together and of course, air soft wars. Little brother got to join in on this one.  The majority of Jay's friends are older siblings and I've never had an issue with them including Nick.  The issue is usually with big brother himself. 

                                                                  Halloween - 2012

I'm fairly certain this was taken in second grade.  It's bad that I can't remember but I can say with certainty it was second or third grade.  It's another one of my favorites!  Three innocent smiles! 

And I can't do friend blog post for Jay and not include Curtis.  The boys were 8 years old in this picture.  They are 3 months apart to the day.  In the early years I always felt they were so different but they got along and enjoyed each other.  As they have aged they have discovered they have a lot in common & of all the boys, Curtis has spent the most nights at my house.  He's like my 3rd son!   These two yahoos came up with the genius "Badger" phrase (I've alluded to this ridiculous phrase several times, I promise, more on "Badger" in another blog). 

Weekend Bliss

 We had another whirlwind weekend but that's par for the course.  This weekend was beautiful, weather wise and we really enjoyed hanging out as a family.  We pile into my "clown" car (this is what the boys affectionately refer to my car as) and travel to football games.  Let's just say it's close quarters.  I love the picture of the boys (above).  Work is being done at froggie island.  At first the boys were kind of excited about it but as the work progresses it's hard to say what froggie island will look like once it's all said and done. 

 Jay and Nick recently found a hill (imagine that).  This is one steep hill and my boys run up it like it's nothing.  Nick convinced his friend J. not only to climb it but then to slide down it.  The picture above really doesn't do the hill justice in terms of how big and steep it actually is.  Thankfully no injuries were incurred from the slides.  Ha.

 On Friday night we went to our neighbors and Nick helped carve pumpkins with the kids.  I love our neighbors.  We have lived in our house for 11 years and for 9 of those years we never had awesome neighbors.  I am so thankful we do now! 

 On Saturday my grandpa and Uncle Mike traveled to Nick's game (see what I mean about weekend bliss and spending time with family).  It was a COLD morning but I love those kind of mornings in October.  Nick's team lost but it was still a good game. 

 Sunday was Ausili's 18th wedding anniversary.  They came out for Jay's game and then dinner.  Jay's team got stomped on (again).  Faith was providing Jay with a little moral support after the game.  ha.