8th grade night

 Jay's final home game in middle school was just this past week and what a fun night it was.  The 8th graders were honored.  It was a bittersweet night.  Mike and I have so enjoyed watching Jay this season.  Although his team lost ( A LOT), it was a joy to watch Jay play the game he loves playing.  Jay is a good example of persevering.  He started playing ball in 4th grade.  It took him time to develop and really learn the game.  By 5th grade he was playing better and understood the game but he wasn't quite there.  He was and is fast which has always helped him.  His coach from 4th grade came to one of the 8th grade games and told us that he never would have imagined Jay would be the ball player he is now when he saw him playing in 4th grade. 

 For the first time ever, Jay started in every game this season.  What an honor.  He was also team captain.  Okay, I'm bragging a bit but it's my blog (ha) and I don't put this on Facebook.  LOL. 

Love this picture.  Thank you to my friend, CJ, for taking all these pictures.  I know when I reflect on Jay's 8th grade year, it will be with smiles.  Our family has faced a monumental challenge which started in Nov. 2015 and is on-going but Jay is facing this challenge with maturity, kindness and character.  I am so proud of him and although our situation continues to be challenging and yes, frustrating, I know God is at work and I wouldn't change what has happened.  It's glued us together as a family and right before this happened I wondered if Jay was ever going to "get it."  Guess what, he gets it.  Every concern I've had about Jay has diminished.  I know I still have many more years of parenting ahead of me with Jay (and Nick) but God has SO opened my eyes and I no longer have fear or even concern when it comes to Jay.  God is working in him and I'm just here to assist.  I'm just proud God choose me to be his mom. 

January Happenings

 Jay and Nick have been playing basketball all month.  Jay's schedule is slowing down.  Nick's, not so much.  Nick seems to be enjoying basketball more this year.  Mike is his assistant coach for the 2nd year and both father and son really like that. 

 Right after Christmas break Olympia played Curtis' school.  It was so fun watching those two boys, who are more like brothers, play basketball against each other.  Who won?  I'll never tell.....ha.

I included this picture because it's just funny.  Mike had to take a picture of himself in a nice shirt and decided to have fun with it.  Aren't apps on smart phones fun?

Happy 14th Birthday, Jay

 Oh my, how can Jay be 14?  Ahhh, but he is.  Okay, this is a pre-warning, this momma is gonna brag so if you don't want to read it, you might as well know in advance so you can browse through the pictures and get off my blog.  Ha.  I am not a mother who brags on Facebook.  You know the kind.  I'm not one of those but this is my blog and I'm gonna brag.  Where do I start with Jay?  When I was pregnant with Jay he was in constant motion.  He was no cookie to deliver either.  But I digress.  During infancy and toddlerhood, he challenged me, constantly.  I would draw a line in the sand, he would cross it.  It was still tough in elementary school but every year, he would mature and seemed maybe a little less challenging, just a little.  He hit middle school and he's been a dream.  Sure, he still keeps me up at night but that's to be expected, right?  However, I doubt I'll ever forget his 8th grade year.  His 8th grade year was met with family challenges and Jay rose to the occasion.  What he's demonstrated to his dad and I is nothing short of the love of Jesus.  He's been articulate, unselfish and understanding and even shows us his dry sense of humor every now and then, when his dad and I need a good laugh.  In addition, he's made the honor roll twice this year (and it's only January).  About 8 weeks ago I saw him going through a box that holds all of the boys' old sport shoes.  Jay dragged out a nicely used pair of his basketball shoes he wore about 2 years ago.  When I asked him what he was doing he told me he was giving them to a kid on his basketball team who did not have a pair of practice shoes to wear at basketball.

 On Jay's actual birthday we had a family dinner and Reece came over.  Jay picked ribeye sandwiches as his meal.  We lit a fire and enjoyed the celebration. Love the picture below of my mom with Jay, Reece and Lauren.

 The birthday celebration continued the next night when the Ausili's came out.  Faith and Curt brought friends out.  The more the merrier.  I will someday miss the all the activity that our kids provide us with.  Those kiddos are a good bunch of kids!

And my final birthday picture.  How can you even take these boys seriously?  LOL.  Happy Birthday, Jay!!  Your dad and I continue to be amazed by you and extraordinarily blessed by being your parents.

New Years Celebration

 The best part of New years was giving Jay and C their pet badgers.  Yep, the badger phase is still alive and well with Jay and C.  Jay named his badger, badgerous and C. named his badgey.  I know those boys do such a good job thinking "outside the box." 

                                          Family photo with Badgey but minus Faith.

                                            Loves with my girls, Mary and Jenny. 

                                                        A hug with C. and badgey.

 Nana and Jay.  My mom and Mary's mom, Joyce came out.  Notice the picture below.  Joyce always falls asleep in the chair so I decided to have a little fun with her. 

                                    Nick and his man crush on John.  He loves him.  LOL           

Our New Years Eve was so nice.  Mary's family came out as did the Ausili's and my mom.  We had a crowd of about 14 people.  We had a lot of laughs and a lot of conversation.  Love this group of people. 

Happy New Year

It's 2016!!!  The Christmas tree is down, the presents are somewhat put away and it is officially time for the boys to go back to school!  Creativity is not one of my strong points but I did attempt to jazz up my blog.  It's a work in progress so stay tuned.  My goal and focus for my blog this year is centered around faith based stories.  It is my prayer stories will be shared with me which I will be able to share on my blog.  I have a few of my own faith based stories which I will also share.  The blog will still be filled with my crazy, never dull boy stories!  Please email me (a.siebert@frontiernet.net) with any thoughts you may have about my blog or any story you want shared.  It is my hope my blog will bring glory to God, be a source of inspiration to others and of course provide a lot of laughs along the way.  I renamed my blog, "Love, Laughter, Joy and Everything In Between."  I'm over 40 and to me this title sums up my life.  Life has given me love, laughter and joy but I've had experience with the in between which isn't always so great.  I read an article the other day that really hit home with me.  The article pointed out that life, in general, is hard.  During hard times I get frustrated, really frustrated and I often look up to God, wondering why I've been dealt the hand I've been given but through the hard times He opens my eyes to what He's trying to teach me and slowly I get it or at least I try to.  The season of my life I'm living right now is challenging but through the challenge I've grown closer to God, my marriage has been strengthened, my boys are being transformed and I'm starting to learn what needs are over wants and turns out there is a difference.  Who knew?  I wish you a happy, laughter filled 2016.  There will be some "bumps" on the journey but those "bumps" are what grow and transform us.