Farm weekend

 We had the best weekend.  As I write this blog it is 8:00 on Sunday night and it was a whirlwind weekend.  We left on Saturday morning with our neighbors and friends, the Walsh's and went to her parents farm which is about 2 hours away.  The boys LOVED every second of it.  They were in their element. 

 It's hard to tell by this picture but we helped herd cattle.  I learned so much, like, the calves have to be weaned from their momma's because the momma cows are pregnant again.  The calves bawled all night and I'm told they will bawl like that for the next week.  It made me sad for them but of course all the guys quickly dismissed my sadness and told me to remember I eat them which of course I do.  Working on a farm is really Jay's passion.  It was the first time Jay had ever herded cattle and our friend, who is also a vet, noticed that Jay was a natural at it.  I agreed.  He knew exactly what to do without taking any direction.  I'm thinking a career in agriculture for that boy of mine. 

 Our friends have 420 acres, in other words, lots of wide, open spaces.  The boys loved every second of it. 

 Jay and Nick loved driving the Kubota around.  Jami's parents were ridiculously nice and let the boys drive all their ATV's and their Kubota.  Driving the Kubota was one of Nick's favorite things to do.

                                                        Four wheeling with his good friend, N.

 Feeding horses and fishing.  Seriously, this was better than Disneyland for my kids. 

 Here are the poor, sad calves.  I can still hear them moooooing in my head - mooooing for their momma.  I was told that they have been known to break down the gate in order to get to their momma's and then everyone has to do the same job over again the next day and separate them again.  Luckily, that did not happen while we were there. 

 We joked that Jay's legs looked like toothpicks in these jeans.  He wore his crazy big cowboy boots and toothpick jeans.  That is one stylish looking 13 year old. 

Father and son.  Notice how they are almost the same height.  But in all seriously, even though I am so tired tonight (Jay and I drove 3.5 hours from where we were to his football game in Chillicothe today) my heart is full.  I thank God tonight for His beautiful earth, wide open spaces, the love of family and friends and our physically healthy bodies to enjoy it all.  God is good. 

Country-fied

Yesterday I had to travel for work.  I was running ahead of schedule so I thought I'd stop by Starbucks for a pumpkin spice latte.   Back when I was commuting to work daily I would stop at Starbucks once a week, maybe twice during the fall for my favorite pumpkin spice latte.  Back then I never put much thought into the ridiculously long lines for expensive coffee.  But yesterday as I got in the line, which was out the parking lot and into the street I thought to myself, "Is this what city people do, wait in a line that takes way too long for over-priced coffee?" I waited patiently since I knew it would be my only pumpkin spice latte for the season but when I paid over $5 for a cup of coffee, let's just say it was the straw that broke this country girl's back!  I berated myself immediately because I realized the thoughts going on in my head at that moment were Jay and Nick's and trust me when I tell you that Jay and Nick are like Phil Roberton's minions.  Recently our friends (from the city) asked if we recycled.  Nick didn't miss a beat with his response, nor was it quiet (does Nick even have a quiet voice?), "Recycling, who do you think we are, city folks, the Siebert's don't recycle!"  To all my friends who are offended by this, I apologize, I really didn't teach my boys that recycling was bad but it is true, most country folks don't recycle, we burn.  I'm just saying.  Then Faith A. had a Hoco date that didn't work out.  As soon as Jay found out, he text Faith and didn't mince his words.  He told her this boy was not a badger (more on the badger word in another blog) and he was just a yuppie city boy!  How dare a city boy dump Faith.  Had it been a country boy, Jay might have been a bit kinder (maybe).  I was a city girl for my entire life but I am raising bonafide redneck country boys and as Ree Drummond would say I'm an accidental country girl and I wouldn't change it for a minute. 

It's a Win, Win

 I love, love, love this picture.  Don't let it fool you though.  They may look like "angels" but it took some work and threats to get this cute picture. 

 On Saturday night we went to the high school football game.  The weather was perfect but we got beat.  Bo hoo! 

 Nick and Jay's team won their football games this past weekend.  I can't take credit for these pictures.  Kim took them.  We could never keep track of Nick.  Jay was a bit easier to find and get pictures of.  Ha.  He's # 27. 

 Yesterday Nick had to get teeth pulled in order to prepare for his braces.  Good times ahead for that, NOT!  Anyway, I took him for ice cream and his mouth was still numb.  He had some trouble eating the ice cream. 

An ending to a long day, cuddles with dad.  You're never too old to cuddle with dad. 

Nick's new love

Sometimes in life I've been known to get in a rut.  I know, imagine that, right?  Last week we took Jay and Nick to listen to other kids who struggle with dyslexia.  Going to this forum was really stepping out of our box.  It was our only free night at home and Jay missed his first small group at church to go but I felt it was important they go.  So, we went and it was worth the sacrifice of our time.  First off, the boys were able to hear from other kids who have the same struggles as they do.  As a mom I learned a few things and they really sunk in with me.  The dyslexia "expert" said that dyslexic kids are forced to read books way below their intellect level because they simply can't decode in their reading abilities.  I wanted to stand up and clap.  It's frustrating to know Nick struggles with decoding low level books but can comprehend high level books.  This is the same kid who in 2nd grade researched how to make snow for his artic project and just recently searched you tube to find out how to make his four wheeler shine (turns out paint thinner mixed with some kind of oil does the trick).   This is also the same kid who hung on every word of "Chronicles of Narnia" when it was read out loud to him in third grade. During the meeting last week the speaker mentioned audio books and it was like my ah-ha moment.  I berated myself for not thinking of audio books earlier!  Mike downloaded the complete "Chronicles of Narnia" series on Nick's Kindle and he's been listening to it non stop.  We are traveling now for football and Nick can be found in the back seat with his head phones on listening to his book.  At night I find him snuggled under his blanket listening to "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe," all of it coming alive to him.  I love to read.  I love books.  Who knew that maybe, just maybe, despite Nick's obstacles in reading he might just appreciate and love reading through audio books.  

Hello Football

 Whew, it's been a busy weekend!  We'll have busy weekends from now till the end of October.  Both boys are playing football this season.  On Saturday we went to watch Savanah run her XC meet.  She ran 2 miles in 13 min., 19 seconds.  That girl is fast and I tell Laura all the time that her legs are going to take her to college.  Loved watching her run.  Last year Jay ran the very same meet.  He tells me he does not miss XC at all this season.  He seems to be enjoying football so far. 

 Nick had a game on Saturday.  I love this picture because it's of big brother trying to give advice to little brother and Nick is paying no attention.  Nick's team lost but only by 2 points and they played really well. 

                                                                       Nick, # 96.

 I loved this picture.  I snapped it on Sunday morning.  Cole was outside and Copper curdled up with Mike. Cole never would have allowed this to happen if he was around, hence why I snapped the picture. 

 Jay is #27.  Notice the tape around his legs.  He lost his game pants so he had to borrow the only pair of game pants his coach had, size adult large.  Needless to say they were way too big for him.  Nick called him Stripes during the game and we had no problem finding him on the field. 

Jay's game was really good.  The other team won but barely.  They only won in the last 11 seconds of the game.  It was a busy but super fun weekend.  One game weekend down, seven more to go.

Labor Day weekend and more

 Whew, what a week but it's been so fun!  The weather is HOT and we are busy!  We went to 5pm church last Sunday (Nick's favorite service) and after church we went to dinner with the Ausili's. 

 My neighbor, Jami, took this picture of Nick and her son, N.  The boys got off the bus and started running home together.  So sweet.  Nick has developed a run of loving.  Something tells me that when he gets into 6th grade he'll have a big decision to make, rather to run Cross Country or play Football. 

 Our Labor Day weekend was so enjoyable.  On Friday night the boys and I went to Laura's to swim.  On Saturday we went to the Douglas' for a shrimp boil.  I had never been to a shrimp boil before and it was so good!  On Sunday Jay's friends, Reece and Aaron, came over to ride the trails.  It seriously sounded like a nascar race!  All the muffler noise - yikes!  Bless our dear neighbors and their patience.

 On Sunday night Mary and John (and Willie too), my mom and the Ausili's came out for ribeye sandwiches (yum). 

 Faith is 15 now.  I can hardly stand it.  She brings her girlfriends out almost every time and her friends are just as sweet as she is.  Love having a house full of people and girls - something that never happens in my all male house.  Ha. 

We are quite the crew.  We made Mike Ausili stand up on a bench and take this picture from up high.  We think it helps disguise some of our unflattering flaws.  If you're not over 40, you don't get it.  Just wait.....

Nick has a man crush on John.  All the kids used him as monkey bars on a playground.  We were all laughing so hard!  John is such a good sport. 

Even the girls got in on the fun!  You know Jay is thinking......."Dang, look at those muscles."  Perhaps Nick isn't the only one with a man crush on John.  Ha.

As our Labor Day weekend comes to an end my heart is full.  Our weekend was filled with time with friends, family and food.  Does it get any better that that?