Story # 11

 This isn't so much a story as a memory or reflection.  Jay's friendship with Faith and Curtis which ties into his friendships in general.  Jay's choice of friends and who he chooses to surround himself with speaks to his character and it's one of the reasons I am proud of him.  Jay is fairly introverted but he's picked a lot of extroverted friends - go figure.  Jay and Curtis have been friends since birth.  They are 4 months apart, to the day. 

                                       In this picture I believe Faith is 6 and the boys are four.

 TN!  I couldn't write a blog about Jay without including TN.  Jay and Nick LOVE TN and they love going with Faith and Curtis.  It wouldn't be the same without them. 

This picture was taken the summer of 2014 so the kids were 14, 12 and Nick was 8.  Although I didn't include pictures of Jay's other friends, I did want to write that I truly enjoy all his friends.  He's made really good choices in that regards and I pray he continues to do so.

Story # 12

This picture was taken in June 2008.  It's one of my all time favorite pictures.  Jay was 6 and had just started losing teeth.  When he lost his first tooth I had a conversation about the tooth fairy with him that went like this:
Jay: "Mom, how do I know you and dad didn't leave the money under my pillow?"
Me: "The tooth fairy is just magic, Jay." (That's me, short and simple and good enough)
Jay: "But how does the tooth fairy know I lost a tooth?"
Me: "The tooth fairy has 'helpers' who watch kids around your age very closely and then they report back to the tooth fairy so she knows which kids have lost teeth so she can give them money."
Jay: "Oh yeah I've seen those helpers, they wear camouflage!"

Jay was (and is) 6 years beautiful!  Adorable and his grin was even sweeter.

13 stories/memories of Jay

 As I approach Jay's 13th birthday I thought it would be fun to reflect on my memories of him.  His birthday is less than 13 days away so some days I'll have to post more than one story.  My first story isn't so much a story but a reflection of feet.  The picture above was taken of Jay in the hospital, all 5 lbs of him but look at those feet.  When I was pregnant with Jay, I often times could see his feet move across my belly.  It should have been my first clue how big his feet would become.  Even at birth, they looked unusually large. 

Today, Jay wears a mens size 12.  His cowboy boots that he got for his birthday (an early birthday present) demonstrate how big his feet actually are.  His feet are growing at a speed faster than light itself.  He was wearing a size 11 for basketball and those shoes were purchased only 8 weeks ago.  It remains to be seen how big his feet actually will be.  My wallet feels every growth spurt.  Ha. 

Just another day in paradise

Warning: Before reading this, one must be advised that my usual Susie sunshine attitude will not be reflected in this blog.  Read with caution.
It is snow day #2.  My children have no concept of below zero weather.  Yesterday they would have spent most of the day outside, if their mother would have let them.  They four wheeled in the snow, rode bikes in the snow (kid you not), shoveled and built forts.  It's all in a days work for the Siebert boys.  I would make them come in every 20-30 minutes, much to their dismay.  At one point during the day I offered to gear up and take the boys on a four wheeling/sled ride.  Jay scrunched up his face and replied, "No offense, mom, but we don't like to go with you, you're not that much fun, you and all your rules."  I wanted to tell him where to shove it.  I didn't relish the idea of going out in sub below zero temperatures anyway.  After a long day of juggling work and two very energy driven boys and dogs I thought I would curl up in our new family bean bag chair, with a book in front of the fire.  My first mistake was thinking there would be any peace in doing that.  The minute I got comfortable and warm, Mike cuddles up to me and starts passing gas.  Suddenly my warm bean bag smelled extremely foul.  The boys got their remote controlled helicopters that they began zipping around my face.  One even "clipped" me on the ear.  The dogs were up in my face and the entire situation was really getting on my nerves.  I was suddenly regretting my decision to not drink any alcohol this week (trying to give that up in order to lose some holiday weight).  Needless to say I am praying the boys go back to school tomorrow! 

Fridgid

Well go figure, the boys just got back to school and today the darlings are enjoying their first "snow" day of the school year.  Although the snow isn't the problem, it's the temperature.  It's well below zero this morning and I believe the high is only supposed to be -3.  Brrrr!  The point of my blog isn't to complain about the cold or even the boys being home from school, after a two week break, it's to express my thankfulness for my job.  As I write this morning I'm still in my jammies.  I've had my coffee.  I've prayed and I'm watching the news.  I am not stressing over what the boys are doing today.  I have a lot of work ahead of me today but because I work from home, I can get it completed at my own pace and I'm so thankful for that.  I'm often asked if I wish I was given my work from home opportunity when the boys were babies and my answer is always, No.  I had to experience what it was like to wake my babies up in the dead of winter, snuggly in their beds, rosy cheeks and all and take them out in the cold to daycare.  I had to know what it was like to want to stay home with them when they were sick (and many, many times I did) but because I had an important meeting that day I had to take them to Nana or grandma's house (to get all the love and care they deserved).  I had to experience the stress of a 60 minute commute, juggling my family affairs and my full time job in order to truly appreciate the opportunity I was presented with in 2011.  God's hand was involved in all of it.  I was at such peace with the decision then as I am now.  I doubt my boys will ever truly appreciate the gift they were given (I'm just saying, they are boys) but I'm truly thankful for quieter mornings, staying in on bitter cold days and being a constant presence for the boys here at home.  Let's just say it will be challenging for the boys to get into too much trouble (at home) as they age.  Momma eyes are always watching. 

Signs it was time to go back to school

The boys went back to school today after two very long but very enjoyable and relaxing two weeks off.  Overall the break went smoothly and I was thankful we had a busy weekend this past weekend but I did do a happy dance when I dropped the boys at school this morning.  I knew things were dicey when I heard and witnessed:
*Jay trying to smother Nick with a bean bag chair
*Jay telling Nick that when he picks up Cole's poop in the yard, he mistakes it for ice cream and eats it - which just enrages Nick.
*Nick saying to me, "Mom."  Me playing along, "What." Nick's response, "Chicken Butt," while laughing hysterically
*Bickering over who is or isn't using the Xbox.
*Last night Mike had to tell the boys that they had to stay at least 5 feet away from each other at all times - or at least until they got their hinnies back in school. 
*The many conversations I've had with the boys over break to BRUSH THEIR TEETH.  Never did I think I would be so consumed with teeth.

And so it goes.  The break was very relaxing which this family really needed but all good things must come to an end and for that I'm grateful to have the boys back to school! 

Happy New Year

 Welcome 2015!  I hosted a party at my house last night and it was so fun.  My mom came (hence the picture above) and for the record, sorry for the pic, mom.  Even though your eyes are shut it's rare I get a picture of you and your oldest grandchild so I posted.  We had food galore, some delicious cocktails (I have perfected the cosmopolitan) and most importantly, some really good laughs. 

 Mike and Jenny came out with Curtis.  These two are like brothers.  They do a ton together and have been friends since childhood. 

                                            Some of us didn't quite make it until midnight. 

 Mary and John came out and Mary's mom, two brothers and sister in law joined us.  I had 15 people including the kids and I loved it.  The pic above is of John, Nick and Cole.  Cole's face is blurry but I thought the picture was still cute enough to post with those smiles from John and Nick.  I swear Nick has a man crush on John. 

 Cole made a new friend last night.  Mary and John brought their dog, Willie.  It was really entertaining to watch our three dogs run through the house.  After awhile Copper snubbed them and parked herself on the tile, right in front of the fire. 

 Da boys - minus Nick.  Curtis, Tommy and Jay.  The boys played Xbox, air soft and zombie tag.  It was crazy cold on NYE which never seems to bother these crazy boys. 

 Our crew.  As you can see we got photo bombed by Cole.  I just love this group of friends. 

Happy 2015!