Kim's 40th Birthday

 As I finish up my last blog post for today it is Friday afternoon headed into Memorial Day weekend and I'm telling you May has kicked my arse!  Our plans this weekend are minimal and I'm so thankful.  The boys just got out of school this week and we celebrated Kim's 40th birthday and what a birthday it was!  I think she truly enjoyed her party from sweet tributes to really good food (and cocktails) and to all of her friends who came over to hug her and tell her happy birthday!  The picture above is so Kim.  There really aren't any words I could write other than to say it's Kim!  My mom bought her those glasses in TX and the minute we saw them we knew Kim had to have them.

 No kids were invited but Jay stopped by to give Mimi her birthday gift.  He towers over her now.

 I got these shirts for Kim and I in San Antonio.  We love them!  Again there really aren't words I could write here other than to say this picture is so Kim and I.

Happy Birthday, sister.  You bring a lot of laughter and even some eye rolling into my life.  My tribute I wrote you says it's all.  We are different, but no one understands my history better than you and through everything we have always stood shoulder to shoulder and respected each other.  Life just keeps getting better!

Women of Distinction

 I have to say I have some pretty awesome friends.  I've been blessed with my friendship with Laura for 13 years and I've been friends with Brandy for about four years.  It was an instant connection with both women.  This week they were honored with "Women of Distinction" awards.  Brandy won in the category of STEM and Laura won in the category of Social Service.  I was so proud of both of my friends!

 Our crew minus my mom.  Jami, Laura, me, Betsy, Brandy and Savanah.  It was a wonderful evening!

                                            My girls and their awards!  They rock!!

Faith's Graduation

 This day finally came.  I know it we all say this but where did time go?  I vividly remember Sieb and I going to visit Faith in the hospital.  I watched this girl literally grow up in front of my eyes.  She has been a joy to her parents and to our family.  She has also worked her butt off and has gotten a nice scholarship and will be headed to the University of Alabama!  Roll Tide Roll!  Last Sunday was truly bittersweet.  There are too many changes going on and they are just hard.  It's one thing to see Faith graduate and know that our time together is coming to end, but when it comes on the heels of her parents leaving too, it's about more than I can take.  It's another reminder to never take anything for granted.  All the laughs we shared over bon fires, outdoor movies, zombie tags (the four kids loved playing this growing up), food (and lots of it), four wheeling and cocktails (for Jenny and I) and target shooting in the back yard (Sieb and Ausili) were all something that will be a part of all eight of us, but especially our kids.  Like Mike Ausili and Sieb they grew up together as siblings.  Our time together will continue, that's what true friendship does, but it will look different from 8 hours away (Faith) and 15 hours away (Mike and Jenny).

 This might go down as one of my all time favorite pictures.  Two of my favorite kids all grown up.

 More of my favorites!  Curt is in for a major change too and I pray for him a lot.  He will be changing schools and will be adjusting to being "an only child."

                                                                   Mike and Jenny!

                                                    Jenny's niece, Taylor and I.

Faith, I pray for abundant blessings in your life.  I pray for your protection and I pray you always remember how much you are loved, not only by God but by your parents and us.  Be true to who you are and never settle.  The sky is the limit!  You go girl.

Good Enough

May is always a super month!  But this May is proving to be even more busy because Faith graduates today and Kim's 40th birthday is this week.  For weeks leading up to Faith's graduation and Kim's birthday I frantically searched pinterest for cute gift and party ideas, trying to come up with something that would show my creativity because in case you didn't know, I have none!  I pinned and saved for weeks but in the end it overwhelmed me and in reality my time is very limited these days.  Instead what I did was when mom and I were in TX we purchased Faith a beautiful set of jewelry.  We spent time looking over the pieces and picking out what we thought she would like (and she did!).  It was simple and thoughtful, just the way I like it.  Then I'm having a small get together for Kim's 40th.  I went to a party store yesterday to pick up cute "40" paper plates and napkins.  As I shopped I instantly felt overwhelmed by all the stuff and I started questioning myself, "Am I doing enough for this party, maybe I should get a pretty "40" centerpiece, maybe I should have party hats for everyone, Kim would love that, or maybe I should hang streamers or have balloons."  Then I heard a voice in my head say, "Enough."  I fought the urge to buy anything other than what I had come into the store to buy.  I've attended some parties where the set up and creativity has literally blown me away but that's not me.  It's not that I don't appreciate well thought out and creative parties or gifts, I do, but that is not how God wired me.  At 44 I'm finally accepting that.  Sometimes good enough is okay and after all it's who I am!

School year festivities wrap up

 This past Saturday Nick went to sectionals for track.  He did a great job, even though he was disappointed he did not qualify for state.  He tells me that he's going to work really hard so that he can qualify next year.  He ended up jumping 14.4 for his long jump which was the best jump he's had at a meet.  His relay team did awesome too but missed state by 5 seconds.

 Nick and his buddy, Nic (yep, same name just different spelling).  These boys were on the same 4x1 relay team.  Nic was the fourth runner and Nick was the second runner.

                                 Getting ready for the hand off!

 Today I went on Nick's 6th grade field trip.  We went to a nature center.  The kids did some community service work, took hikes and cooked smores.  It was a really nice day.  The weather cooperated so we didn't get rained on and it wasn't stupid hot.  The pic above is Nick and his friend, Calvin and the picture below is Nick and his friend, Zach.

 Nick and Kaitlyn.  I've been taking pictures (much to their dismay) since they were in preschool together.  I never miss an opportunity.  They were both pretty good humored about it - bless them!

Nick's 6th grade class.  Nick is on his knees, in a black shirt, in the left hand corner (with his head down go figure).  What a great day for a field trip!  Another school year is ending.  Let the summer begin!

Happy Mother's Day and so much more

This is really one of my all time favorite pictures of my mom and I.  First off, she looks incredible, and she and I both look really happy and we truly were in this picture.  We had no idea that my dad would be gone by March 15 when we took this pic.  I was never able to blog about her birthday because my dad got sick on March 5.  I was simply too consumed with my dad to blog so I'm happy to include this picture of my mom and I from her birthday.  My mom is awesome.  My mom gets me, like really gets me.  I've appreciated her real approach to life, her sense of humor and her love of God and family.  She has shown me time and time again that she is woman, hear her roar which inspires me! As thankful as I am today for my mother, my heart is also really heavy.  I've tried to keep busy today because I knew that if I sat down I would cry!  Today is Faith's 18th birthday.  I remember being in our first house in the bedroom Jenna Fish and I painted smurf blue, sleeping in on a Sunday (because I didn't have kids then), and it being mother's day.  Mike Ausili called and announced Faith was born and she was a girl no less!  A girl!!  I thought for sure Mike and Jenny were having a boy.  Faith has had my heart since day one.  Little did I know then that I would have two boys.  Faith and my niece, Lauren would be the only girls I would know during my child rearing years.  Today the Ausili's just got back from their house hunting trip in TX.  I am thrilled they found a house and I know there are so many good times to be had, but I am struggling with this move and the changes to come.  I knew I would see the day when Faith turned 18, I am just not ready for it, especially with the reality she is going to Alabama for college in August.  I mean really!!!  For the love can time just slow down?  One thing that I am and will forever be grateful for is our friendship and how we demonstrated friendship to our kids.  As all four of our children go through life it is my hope and prayer they remember our good times and that each of them get a Siebert or Ausili as a friend.  I've had a lot of mess ups in my life but God blessed Mike and I immeasurably with Mike, Jenny, Faith and Curt.  Happy Mother's Day, Happy 18th Birthday, Faith!

Jay's new endeavor

Last summer Mike came up with an idea for a summer job for Jay, but when he presented it to Jay he told him he had to see some personal growth his sophomore year.  We have seen the growth and we have helped launch Jay into his own business, J.S. Pressure Washing.  Mike graciously bought him a commercial pressure washer with attachments.  He helped him come up with a price list knowing he'd have to take into account his gas, the products he would need to purchase for his business and what he'd need to make in order to put a little something in his pocket.  We just went "live" two weeks ago and thus far he's had two jobs with a third scheduled next weekend.  It is our hope that Jay can get two - three jobs per week this summer.  We are hoping this builds a ton of confidence in Jay.  After all he's responsible for getting to the jobs in time and being prepared for the jobs.  He has to communicate with the home owner, do a good job, write up an invoice and then ensure he gets paid.  I'm doing the scheduling for Jay, mostly because that would be a lot for him to handle at 16, but also for safety reasons.  I want to know where I'm sending him.  Jay has an exciting summer ahead of him.  I hope he has enough work to keep him busy and keep me from losing my mind (I'm just sayin), and enough work to keep his gas tank filled. He can drive this summer which is a really big deal and a big relief for me.  We are headed to Myrtle Beach as a family in June and Jay will be taking his third CIY trip to Michigan this summer.  We will meet up with the Ausili's in TN over Labor Day weekend for our last hoorah of the summer!  I hope it's a summer where Jay learns more about who he is, what he enjoys, and what his strengths and weaknesses are.  Dream big, Jay, the sky is the limit!

Nick, track and the long jump

 Nick is running track and enjoying it, at least more than XC, but probably less than football.  Ha.  He's doing great though and most days has a really good attitude about it.  Most of his events are relays but there's been a few meets where he's run the 200 and just this last week his coaches let him compete in the long jump (more on that below).

 This track season has been stupid cold, however, the weather has turned into beautiful warm weather just this week.  It literally happened two days ago and it's been a much needed and deserved change.

 Nick has been longing (get it, ha) to participate in the long jump since track started.  I admit I was a bit perplexed why Nick wasn't participating, not mad, just confused.  Nick has some serious spider monkey capabilities so it was a bit baffling to anyone who knows him why he wasn't in that event.  In any case his coaches recognized his abilities and let him give it a shot this past Saturday.  My 6th grade boy beat out his other two team mates (7th graders) with a jump of 13.9.  I'm just sayin!  I was quite impressed.

Nick and his friend, Nic (just a different spelling) getting ready for their relay.  Nick, Nick and Brantson are signed up to go church camp this summer together.  I'm really glad Nick is loving track and we'll see where it takes him.