City Museum

 This summer we asked Jay if there was something fun he wanted to do with his friends.  He picked a trip to St. Louis, to the City Museum.  We've had this date on our calendar for what seems like ever.  I knew if I didn't put it on the calendar then it wouldn't get done.  We rented a car, piled these 5 boys into the car and headed to St. Louis.  There are a few things one should know about 15 year old boys.  First, in a group they really are brainless.  Second, it's best never to place a dare on a 15 year old boy especially when they are in the company of their friends, and thirdly they have smelly feet!  That's really all you need to know.  But here's the truth; I love this group of boys.  They are good friends to Jay.  They all can laugh together and poke fun at one another - in a good way, you know the way that only boys can.  I enjoyed getting to know each of them a little better, especially Ayden and Garrett.  They may act like bafoons when they are together, but while in the company of adults they are respectful and polite.  While we were at the museum a fire started.  Kid you not!  We had to cut our trip short by 1 hour but it didn't bother the boys.  In fact it provided a good story about their trip.  I should mention I saw this adventure as our last "hoorah" with Jay's friends - not that they won't come to the house to hang out, but it was probably my last time to organize a social gathering like this for Jay.  Three of the boys in this picture are on the cusp of turning 16.  Jay and Garrett are the last ones of the group to turn 16.  I'm already seeing the changes this brings and as with all things in life, it will continue to change.  But for this one day, I was thankful to spend the time with Jay and his friends. 

                             Mike enjoying some of the activities the museum has to offer. 

Worst selfie ever!  Mike and I enjoyed spending the day together.  We took our boys to this museum when they were 5 and 9.  I said I would never return until the boys were old enough to just "let them go," which is exactly what we did with Jay and his friends.  We walked into the museum, gave them their wrist bands and said to have to fun, and meet us back at the entrance in 4 hours.  The City Museum is cool, but who ever designed it had a screw lose.  It's kind of creepy and almost impossible for adults to get in and out of all the climbs, holes and passage ways. 

Flower boy Nick

 Nick kills me sometimes.  There is no in between with him.  You either want to hug him or strangle him.  Most of the time I want to hug him.  He's got a big personality.  He's sensitive, but he's also tough as nails.  He's funny, but can be serious.  He's articulate, but sometimes he makes no sense.  The other night we drove the back roads to a diner so we could buy pie.  As we drove Nick said he was watching for wild flowers to pick so that on the way home we could stop and he could pick them for me.  Sure enough, that's exactly what he did. 

 Many of these pictures are blurry.  My phone is old.  But you can see that Nick is almost doing a little dance as he picks the flowers.  He figured he might as well entertain me while he picked them. 

Nothing says picking flowers like kicking them.  Nick always makes things interesting!

Let the activities begin

 As I wrote my blog title I thought to myself, what a dumb title, "let the activities begin."  I mean really haven't our activities been going on for years?  It's as if they just got started.  Ha!  Anyway, the boys finished their first three days of 6th grade and 10th grade and all went well.  Jay was actually more chatty this week than Nick.  Yesterday was Nick's first XC meet and he ran with varsity.  I was so proud of him.  His first race time was 14:55.  The picture above is Nick and his friend, E.  The nice thing about XC is several of his friends are doing it! 

Nick is in the back, stretching, with the rest of the varsity runners. 

 Sweet Savanah came along with us to Nick's race.  She is truly one of my favorite people (just like her mother).  Van is passionate about running.  When Nick learned that he was running varsity, Van said she wanted to go and cheer him on.  The picture below is Nick and Van walking together after his race.  Van was offering him encouragement and advice.  We Siebert's sure do have some good friends.  I have good friends, and so do my boys!  We are so blessed! 

 I think this picture is really good.  My mom, Jay, Van and I went to Nick's first race (sadly, Mike was working).  All four of us positioned ourselves around the course so we could cheer Nick on!  My mom and I love XC for this very reason. 

 After Nick's race we raced (literally) back to Danvers so we could volunteer at the 4H lemonade shake up stand for Danvers Days.  I'm telling you I was really tired by this point, but not these kids.  Noah and Nick served their shift together, and we had plenty of help. 

 After serving for 4H, my sister and Luke came over.  Luke recently got an electric dirt bike.  He came out to ride his bike in the trails. 

And finally, this might be my most favorite picture from this blog.  While Nick and I were a sugary mess from serving lemonade, Jay was having his own kind of fun with his friends and none other than Elvis himself.  Ha!  These boys and this picture just make me laugh.  Getting serious though, we went to church this morning and let me tell you it was probably a small miracle that we made it.  Everyone woke up tired and grouchy.  I found myself in church wondering if there was a better way to handle the craziness of life.  I try my best to keep things balanced but like many other people, I fall short.  We were challenged at church to get involved with a small group, but I've decided not to do that until perhaps the boys are grown.  My mom, once again, said it perfectly when she said my primary mission right now is to get my boys raised.  I'm managing a full time job, a husband who is going into his second year of running his own business which has required him to work 6, and sometimes 7 days a week, and more often than not, those days are 10- 12 hours long.  It's my job to see the boys get to where they need to be, and still keep food in the house.  Trust me any mother of boys knows getting and keeping food in the house is a full time job.  I don't write all this as a pity party.  I write this so I don't forget it.  One day I'll be reading this blog, and wondering where the time went, but thankful that I experienced all the craziness this thing called life provided me with!  I'll enjoy it while it lasts! 

First day of school

 It's that time of year again.  Usually this is one of my favorite days of the entire year, but not this year.  I am sad to see the summer end.  Our family has faced challenges over the last 20 months but our roller coaster leveled out this summer and it was a smooth and enjoyable ride.  My Jay is 15.  He's a sophomore today!  I tried to take a walk down memory lane with him this morning but he was having none of it.  Kids but especially boys don't care about how their mother feels on the first day of school.  Our hearts are full, our brains are going so fast we can't think straight but our arms keep trying to do the impossible task of holding on to our kids just a little bit longer.  If we were really honest there is a bit of unreasonable panic that sets in.  My panic starts the first day of school but eventually subsides as our daily routine and structure takes shape.  Every year the boys get older, wiser and it's been a joy to witness them come into their own.  All this is normal.  I long to see the boys as adults.  Who will they be?  Who will they marry?  How many kids will they have?  The boys were indifferent about starting school.  They weren't excited.  With them it's more of a "this is a part of life so we have to do it" attitude.  Plus I always joke I don't want them living in my basement as adults so they have to get an education.   

 Nick starts 6th grade/middle school today.  He was ready to make this big change.  Last night while I was in a meeting at the middle school the boys roamed the halls at the high school so Jay could find his classes.  It made me happy knowing the boys were back in the same building again.  Our middle school and high school are separate buildings but under the same roof, if that makes any sense.  They may not see each other often, but it still warms my heart knowing they are in the same vicinity.  It's a mom thing. 

 By the time I took this picture Jay had had it.  He was over humoring me, and it's written all over his face. 

 These boys!  They have had their picture taken together on the first day of school starting when Nick was going into 3rd grade and Noah was going into 1st grade and here they are today, Nick is going into 6th and Noah into 4th.  These friends will be in different schools until they reunite in 8th and 6th grade, another 2 years. 

These sweet littles!  Lilly is going into 2nd grade!  I'm thankful we live in the district we do.  I love our school and our community.  Here's to another great year! 

My 4th August Meeting

 Every other odd year I head to Cincinnati for my company meetings.  I have a love and frustrated relationship with it.  Love because once I get there, I truly enjoy it.  Frustrated because the weeks leading up to the meetings stress me out.  It's a big deal for Mike and I leave the boys for a few days.  Not to mention the work that has to be done before we leave, both personally and work wise.  This short time away was really nice for Mike and I.  I'm proud I work for a company that values their employees, and their families. 

 My trip was made even more perfect on Friday night when I ran into Vanessa!  Vanessa was my co-worker for five years and I consider her a very close friend.  She left our unit but not the company.  Here I am with Vanessa and my co-worker, Denise. 

 A few of my other co-workers: Lori, Me, Lynn (who retired this year) and Stefani.  Stefani and Lynn are mother and daughter so Lynn came along as Stefani's guest this year. 

                                     Here's most of my unit (a few of us are missing). 

                                                       But here's how we really act.

 This guy was quite a sport.  We dressed him up and he did a funny video with my boss.  Truly hysterical.  It was nice for Mike to relax.  He has worked every day this summer.  He took some calls and did some planning during our trip but he was able to relax, and it was good for my soul, and his too. 

And here's my unit minus Nancy.  This August meetings was hands down the best time, and trust me they are always fun, but this time I came into the meetings after a very long and difficult 18 months.  I am home now, refreshed, and it was sure nice to relax, laugh and enjoy the time with my husband and co-workers. 

My Boys......

 I'll be working backwards this week with my blogging.  We are wrapping up summer and this summer it is an oh so sad feeling.  My boys were great this summer and they wrapped up summer in a perfect way.  One way went to camp and the other boy followed directions and was responsible.  First about Nick.  My mom's dear friend, Leslie, had suggested an "outpost" camp for Nick at a Christian camp about 40 miles from where we live.  I signed Nick up, knowing he wouldn't know a soul.  This was one of those times where you just have to know your kid.  I was a wee bit nervous but Nick sure wasn't.  Nick can make friends with anyone and what I've learned is as long as he's outdoors, he's just fine.  My mom picked Nick up at the conclusion of camp (thank you, mom) because Mike and I were in Cincinnati (more on that later).  Nick had a great time.  I was so proud of him.  There aren't many kids that would willingly and happily to go a camp where they knew no one.  His group leader said Nick was his right hand man, that he was a leader in his group.  Truly I think Nick has found his niche, his passion, so to speak.  Next year he wants to attend the fishing camp offered to 7th graders at the camp, and one day he might just make a great counselor!

It was a joy to come home and listen to what Nick had learned from a biblical perspective.  I loved seeing his little handwriting in his bible of his favorite bible verses.  I prayed all week that God would plant seeds in Nick that would last his lifetime. 
Moving onto Jay.  Sadly, as usual, I don't have a cute picture of Jay.  He's 15, what more can I say?  Mike and I made the very bold decision to leave Jay at home while we traveled to Cinci.  However, I preface that by pointing out he would be spending nights at his friend, Reece's house.  Reece's mom, Erin, and I are very good friends and I knew she would keep a close eye on Jay.  Jay was responsible for taking care of our dogs and his ducks during the day.  At night his instructions were to report to Reece's by 7:30 for the night.  I admit, I was nervous before I left, but mostly because Jay was traveling back and forth to Reece's house on his 4 wheeler (and yes, Reece lives close but still).  Mike and I got home last night to uneventful news - just the way we like it.  Our dogs were taken care of, the ducks were still alive and quacking and our home was just as we had left it and most importantly Jay was in one piece!  There appeared to be no hiccups, which trust me is a small miracle for my family.  Last night was the first night in over 2 weeks that all 4 of us were together and it made this momma very, very happy!  So even though summer is nearly over, my heart is full and thankful for a summer that was filled with fun, family and friends. 

Jay's TN vaca without us

 We have gone to TN for our family vacation with the Ausili's for 6 years.  We didn't go in 2011 because I had started my new job, but other than that, we've gone every year.  You know, it was funny because last year (2016) I sensed we might not be able to make it back in 2017.  The verdict is still out for 2018.  We just couldn't make it work this summer.  It was disappointing, but with Mike's crazy work schedule and Jay's detasseling schedule and Nick and I going to Myrtle Beach, it made it almost impossible for us to schedule the time.  Plus, Curt had drivers ed in June and Faith is working.  Times change, as much as we don't like them to.  In the end, we just couldn't make it work.  Jenny emailed me about 3 days before they were going to leave and said her, Mike and Curt were going to go to TN, would Jay like to go?  Would he?  Ahhhh Yeah!  Ausili's are like family to us.  Once I released Jay to them last Sunday, I never worried about him.  I was so glad Jay got to experience TN, even though me, Mike and Nick couldn't.  Jay loves Mike, Jenny and Curt and had many entertaining TN stories when he got home. 

 I look at these pictures and I wonder how these two boys, who have known each other since birth, have grown to be this size.  They will each turn 16 in 2018.  I know it's part of life, but really, who would have thought?  I remember going to the Ozarks with the Ausili's when the boys were 18 mos. old and Jay was a real pain in the you know what.  He didn't sleep and cried a lot.  If I only could have envisioned these boys as who they are today. 

The guys and Jenny went to meet an Honor Flight.  They loved it, but sadly the flight was delayed by hours so they weren't able to welcome the veterans.  Regardless, it was a cool experience.  So, until next year TN!!  Hopefully I'll be blogging in 2018 about our vacation.  Who knows.  Next summer, Jay and Curt will probably be working, and Faith will have graduated.  I seriously can't believe I just wrote those words.  Where does time go?  Thank you God for the experience Jay had this summer in TN.  Thank you for our dear friends. 

Overtired, I think not

Today is one of those days that was just peaceful.  We were coming off a busy few weeks.  Jay has been in TN all week with the Ausili's.  Mike got up early for work today and the weather was chilly.  I worked and Nick slept, boy did he sleep.  In fact as I'm blogging this, it's 3:30 and the kid just got changed into actual clothes.  Last week he went to a 4 day gun camp that left him exhausted, however, the word tired and exhausted are dirty words in our house.  Every time I mentioned that perhaps Nick was overtired, he'd get enraged!  But the truth is, Nick finished his gun camp and then went right into XC practice which required him to be up and out of the house at 7:30.  Then he finished the week with Noah at the fair.  He spent 10 hours at the fair yesterday.  He loved everything the fair had to offer, even the nasty snakes (see picture).  I knew Nick was over tired this week when he slept walked twice.  Perhaps sleep walking isn't quite the correct diagnosis, but he does weird things that he's not aware he's doing.  It only lasts a few minutes and crying is usually involved but then he goes right back to sleep and has no memory of it in the morning.  Nick went to bed last night at 9:30 and slept until 11:45 this morning.  He then laid around in his robe until 3:00 this afternoon.  Of course he still denies he was the least bit tired.  These lazy days of summer is what I'll miss when school starts in two short weeks.  I wouldn't want them everyday but every so often they are sure a welcome gift.