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!

Reflections of 2014

It's New Years Eve and another year has come and gone and what a year it's been.  2014 is probably one of those years I will reflect on fondly for years to come.  I am ending the year with my marriage still intact and happy too!  Not to sound sappy or overly dramatic but I am thankful on a daily basis for my faithful and devoted husband.  Watching my parents marriage implode and now seeing marriages of my friends destroyed, a good marriage is never something I take for granted.  My boys are healthy and although my daily job as being their zookeeper keeps me on my toes, I know the day will come when my home will not be filled with their daily laughter.  However, I doubt I will miss Jay jumping out from every corner to scare me (his new favorite hobby).  I am still loving (and I mean loving) my job.  What a blessing it has been to do a job I enjoy and be at home doing it.  My mother is well and is able to come to many of the boys' sporting events - again this is something that if the day ever comes I will miss her walking into the gym with her bleacher chair in tow, ready to watch her grandsons play some ball.  I've enjoyed witnessing Jay's faith grow.  As many parents can attest to, the middle school age can be tough and trust me, there are many days I have to restrain myself from strangling Jay but the good outweighs the bad.  It's been a blessing to see success and confidence back in Nick's eyes this year.  Mike Ausili likes to affectionately refer to Nick as our "future Navy Seal."  He's tough as nails and strong like an ox.  The sky is the limit for both of the boys.  My prayer for them is they get their identity rooted in Christ.  I look forward to 2015.  I don't make new years resolutions.  I have issues with consistency (ha) so I usually fail miserably with resolutions.  However, I do look forward to upcoming vacations, time with friends and family and maybe (just maybe) Mike can finish another project around the house and I can finally get new furniture.  One can always hope, right? 

Merry Christmas

 This Christmas the weather was great and no one was sick; at least not sick enough to prevent any festivities from happening.  However, that being said our Christmas eve was a bit challenging - mostly due to my children.  I won't dwell on it because as my mom, sister and I all agreed, it was an "off" year and we plan on tweeking things a bit for next year.  See the picture above and how cooperative my children are being - NOT.

 This picture is a good picture into how our evening went.  My mom has a blank stare on her face - like can we get this evening over with?  Jay and Luke are staring off into who knows where, Lauren has her eyes shut and Nick is just having his ADHD moment which was pretty much how he was all night long.  Sigh. 

 The boys in their new jammies before bed on Christmas eve.  Slowly but surely, Santa is becoming obsolete in our house.  Jay no longer believes and I really don't think Nick does either but he appears to still be playing along.  However, he refused to write a letter to Santa on Christmas eve which went right along with the mood he was in and no one asked to put out cookies for Santa.  On Christmas morning, Santa got all four of us Harlem Globetrotter tickets and Jay had to comment that Santa uses the same wrapping paper as mom does. Usually I try to be more discreet but again, I could tell that Santa is starting to die his own death in our house.  Does it make me sad?  Not really.  I'm usually ready to cross a  bridge and move onto the next season.

 Speaking of how things change....I remember many, many Christmases where Mike would spend the entire morning putting together toys but not this Christmas.  The boys put together all of their own things.  Nick got a new sled which Jay helped him put together.  The big hits this year: Nick got a R/C helicopter from nana (which he loves), a circuit electronic things (from Nana) and his sled.  Jay got a Galaxy Pad.  It was so relaxing this year.

 I remember past Christmases where it snowed (BAD) and Mike would spend an hour or so trying to put together toys (and never finishing in time before he had to move to the next job) then he'd have to plow the driveway so our family could get in, then he'd have to marinate the meat we were making.  Then one Christmas our basement flooded.  There have certainly been some stressful times but this year was not one of them. 

                                                 Nick reading directions for one of his toys.

 The Ausili's came over on Christmas day as did Mike's parents.  For some reason I got a ton of picture of our dogs.  They were in the thick of things (as usual) all day. 

 Our crazy Cole doesn't care how he gets petted, as long as someone is petting him.  Check him out in the picture below.  He cracks us up.

 Curtis with his favorite girl, Copper.  Copper loves to lay on the tile right in front of the fire. 

                                                     A boy and his dog.  Love.

It was a wonderful Christmas.  The ages of the kids are: Jay: 12, Curtis: 12, Faith: 14, Nick: 8, Lauren: 7, Luke: 3.  Although Christmas even didn't quite go as we had envisioned, we were all well, we were all together and really that's all that matters.  Merry Christmas to all.