No name blog

 Don't you just love my title today?  Ha!  This blog post is a random one.  The boys and I started cleaning up the paddle boat last night.  It's been "out of commission" for years - mostly because we didn't have a good way to transport it to the lake.  Now we have the four wheeler and we want to start using it again.  You can imagine how disgusting it was cleaning it after years of not being used.  Jay found a slug and threw it on me.....Oh the joys of boys!  I freaked out which Jay said was priceless.  We shared a few good laughs and I realized we really do know how to laugh at ourselves.  Nick joked several times we were the three bozo's cleaning a boat and we really were - tripping over each other, laughing, spraying each other with the hose.  But hey, we got the job done!

This week I had the pleasure of taking these four boys to basketball camp.  They made me laugh everyday and I so enjoyed them!  I pray these boys keep their ties as friends as they enter middle school.

I try

My mom and I often joke that on our headstones we want them to say........"I tried."  And boy did we!  Last night I was taking a walk with Nick when he started telling me about all the talents he, his dad and Jay all have.  When it became clear that he wasn't going to name one of my many talents (snicker, snicker) I asked Nick if I had any talents.  His response was, "Well sure mom you have talents."  I asked him what they were.  There was a long pause while Nick pondered my question.  Every second that went by I was wondering if it was really that hard for my 7 year old to think of a talent his mother had.  Finally Nick announced, "Mom, your talent is you are really good at trying!"  Truly this amounts a lot in my book.  When I have finished this long journey of parenting (is it really ever finished?) if my boys can say to each other that I gave it my all and I tried then I will be pleased with myself because really none of us are perfect.  In all honesty if they could say I loved Jesus, loved their father and loved them then by golly I will call this parenting journey a success!
On another note Jay asked me why I have "a whole bunch of parenting" books on my bookshelf - including books entitled, "Real Boys and Raising Boys."  Jay and his 11 year old self asked me, "Why do you have all these book about boys?"  Seriously Jay, really!  Then he proceeds to say to me (and I quote), "I don't know why you read all these mom books.  You are already a good mom and by reading all these books you are wasting about 10% of your time when you could be doing something else."  I just love the pre-teen years!  They are so "fun."  But gosh darnit I'll keeping trying.

Our busy day

 Today was one of those days that I went from sun up to sun down - literally.  I started my day at 4:30.  I worked for a good two hours then got Nick ready for basketball camp - hence the picture above.  Nick and Jay have basketball camp this week, just at different times which makes it a little more challenging but we got the job done.  Both boys really enjoyed the camp.  Nick spent the rest of his day with Aunt Mimi and Jay with his friend, Aaron.  Both boys are sun kissed tonight and sleepy - a good sign that the day was full and fun.

Mike was busy too (as usual).  He and the boys carried Jay's very heavy bed to his room and got it all set up.  Isn't it awesome?  I love it and so does Jay.  The only problem........Copper can't jump up on the bed without help.

Jay being Jay

 I hit publish on my last blog and forgot to include these pictures - Duh.  These pics made me laugh so I wanted to include them.

The official start of summer......for the Siebert boys anyway

 Today we went out on the boat with Mike's parents.  For my boys this is the official start of summer for them.  Next on their list - going RVing.  I feel like it rained the entire month of May.  Today was the first nice Saturday in weeks, kid you not.  We took full advantage of it and enjoyed the water and the boat.  I took the picture above of Jay and his grandma as he is almost her height now - crazy!

                                                              Jay driving the boat.

                                                               Nick and grandpa.

 Nick finally decided this was the summer he would tube.  Every summer he declines and says, "Maybe next summer," which is odd because Nick is fearless.  He'll try just about anything.  Nick tubed today and he loved it.  We couldn't get him out of the tube.  Go figure.

For Jay's 11th birthday in January Mike and I got him a water board.  Even this old momma tried it and it's hard.  I never had a chance to get out of the water on that thing but Jay tried it and he almost had it but not quite.  We both decided we would watch some you tube videos on how to water board.

Welcome home Jay

 Jay returned from church camp last night and boy did he have fun!  He talked and talked about it - so much so that Jenny commented it was the most she had ever heard Jay talk.  Ha.  Of course Mike and I joked that now he probably won't talk for a week.  Jay said he loved everything about it.  His only complaint was he wished activities and camp itself was longer.  He said the beds were uncomfortable too.  I would say if those were his only two complaints then church camp was officially a success!  I was so pleased because Jay met some boys and yes, even learned some things about the bible - Mission accomplished.  Of note, however, is when we picked Jay up last night he commented that I didn't pack his toothbrush or soap which of course I did.  Jay probably looked once (and not very well I might add) and thought they weren't there so yes friends the boy didn't brush his teeth for 3 days!  He showered but never used soap.  Oh boy!  Needless to say his teeth got a good brushing last night and his body got a good washing!

Jay, Curtis and one of their camp leaders.  I'm still beaming today knowing how much fun Jay had.  He met new friends, hung out with Curtis and started his journey with God.

Wedding and Graduation parties

 What a whirlwind weekend we had but I welcomed it after the very rainy and very long weekend we had last weekend.  Nothing changed this weekend in terms of the rain.........it has been raining here constantly.  My mom read somewhere that they think this will be the wettest spring on record - ever!  Anyway, we had Katie Meyer's wedding last night.  Don't we look like quite a crew?  Check out Jay's face above.

 I love this picture.  Aunt Mimi is trying to have a serious conversation with her nephew and Nick is just staring off the other way.  Poor Mimi.

                                                Now he's showing Aunt Mimi some love!

 We had two graduation parties this weekend - Maggie and Garrett's.  I've known Garrett since he was in elementary school - hard to believe he's graduated high school and is heading to college in the fall.  Nick made paintings for Maggie and Garrett.  He painted like VanGough on Memorial Day.  It rained buckets (surprise, surprise) that day so Nick painted!  It was sweet.

 Jay headed off to church camp today.  He was excited and so ready for a little independence.  I was elated he was going.  I was forced to go to church camp when I was about Jay's age and I was so angry with my mom but it was one of the (many) best things she ever did for me.  I loved church camp and church camp was where I truly started my walk with Jesus.  Of course I am praying Jay's experience mirrors mine.

 Another added bonus of Jay going to church camp........separation of brothers!  The boys fighting had reached a whole new level the last few days.  The separation for a few days will be good for both of them.

                                                         And here's Nick just being Nick.

 I know I sound like a broken record in my blog when I say we are so blessed to have the Ausili's as our dear friends.  Jay and Curtis were headed off to church camp together!  Aren't they the cutest?

                                                             Nick and his girl Jenny.

Nick and Miss Christy (she is Garrett's mom.  This was taken at Garrett's party).  As little as 5 years ago Christy was the be all and end all in Nick's world.  She was his day care provider until he was 3 and she was wonderful.  We miss her.