January Happenings

 Jay and Nick have been playing basketball all month.  Jay's schedule is slowing down.  Nick's, not so much.  Nick seems to be enjoying basketball more this year.  Mike is his assistant coach for the 2nd year and both father and son really like that. 

 Right after Christmas break Olympia played Curtis' school.  It was so fun watching those two boys, who are more like brothers, play basketball against each other.  Who won?  I'll never tell.....ha.

I included this picture because it's just funny.  Mike had to take a picture of himself in a nice shirt and decided to have fun with it.  Aren't apps on smart phones fun?

Happy 14th Birthday, Jay

 Oh my, how can Jay be 14?  Ahhh, but he is.  Okay, this is a pre-warning, this momma is gonna brag so if you don't want to read it, you might as well know in advance so you can browse through the pictures and get off my blog.  Ha.  I am not a mother who brags on Facebook.  You know the kind.  I'm not one of those but this is my blog and I'm gonna brag.  Where do I start with Jay?  When I was pregnant with Jay he was in constant motion.  He was no cookie to deliver either.  But I digress.  During infancy and toddlerhood, he challenged me, constantly.  I would draw a line in the sand, he would cross it.  It was still tough in elementary school but every year, he would mature and seemed maybe a little less challenging, just a little.  He hit middle school and he's been a dream.  Sure, he still keeps me up at night but that's to be expected, right?  However, I doubt I'll ever forget his 8th grade year.  His 8th grade year was met with family challenges and Jay rose to the occasion.  What he's demonstrated to his dad and I is nothing short of the love of Jesus.  He's been articulate, unselfish and understanding and even shows us his dry sense of humor every now and then, when his dad and I need a good laugh.  In addition, he's made the honor roll twice this year (and it's only January).  About 8 weeks ago I saw him going through a box that holds all of the boys' old sport shoes.  Jay dragged out a nicely used pair of his basketball shoes he wore about 2 years ago.  When I asked him what he was doing he told me he was giving them to a kid on his basketball team who did not have a pair of practice shoes to wear at basketball.

 On Jay's actual birthday we had a family dinner and Reece came over.  Jay picked ribeye sandwiches as his meal.  We lit a fire and enjoyed the celebration. Love the picture below of my mom with Jay, Reece and Lauren.

 The birthday celebration continued the next night when the Ausili's came out.  Faith and Curt brought friends out.  The more the merrier.  I will someday miss the all the activity that our kids provide us with.  Those kiddos are a good bunch of kids!

And my final birthday picture.  How can you even take these boys seriously?  LOL.  Happy Birthday, Jay!!  Your dad and I continue to be amazed by you and extraordinarily blessed by being your parents.

New Years Celebration

 The best part of New years was giving Jay and C their pet badgers.  Yep, the badger phase is still alive and well with Jay and C.  Jay named his badger, badgerous and C. named his badgey.  I know those boys do such a good job thinking "outside the box." 

                                          Family photo with Badgey but minus Faith.

                                            Loves with my girls, Mary and Jenny. 

                                                        A hug with C. and badgey.

 Nana and Jay.  My mom and Mary's mom, Joyce came out.  Notice the picture below.  Joyce always falls asleep in the chair so I decided to have a little fun with her. 

                                    Nick and his man crush on John.  He loves him.  LOL           

Our New Years Eve was so nice.  Mary's family came out as did the Ausili's and my mom.  We had a crowd of about 14 people.  We had a lot of laughs and a lot of conversation.  Love this group of people. 

Happy New Year

It's 2016!!!  The Christmas tree is down, the presents are somewhat put away and it is officially time for the boys to go back to school!  Creativity is not one of my strong points but I did attempt to jazz up my blog.  It's a work in progress so stay tuned.  My goal and focus for my blog this year is centered around faith based stories.  It is my prayer stories will be shared with me which I will be able to share on my blog.  I have a few of my own faith based stories which I will also share.  The blog will still be filled with my crazy, never dull boy stories!  Please email me (a.siebert@frontiernet.net) with any thoughts you may have about my blog or any story you want shared.  It is my hope my blog will bring glory to God, be a source of inspiration to others and of course provide a lot of laughs along the way.  I renamed my blog, "Love, Laughter, Joy and Everything In Between."  I'm over 40 and to me this title sums up my life.  Life has given me love, laughter and joy but I've had experience with the in between which isn't always so great.  I read an article the other day that really hit home with me.  The article pointed out that life, in general, is hard.  During hard times I get frustrated, really frustrated and I often look up to God, wondering why I've been dealt the hand I've been given but through the hard times He opens my eyes to what He's trying to teach me and slowly I get it or at least I try to.  The season of my life I'm living right now is challenging but through the challenge I've grown closer to God, my marriage has been strengthened, my boys are being transformed and I'm starting to learn what needs are over wants and turns out there is a difference.  Who knew?  I wish you a happy, laughter filled 2016.  There will be some "bumps" on the journey but those "bumps" are what grow and transform us. 

December wrap up

 How can December be over?  How can my 13 year old (almost 14) be this tall?  How can 2015 be over?  Am I ready to begin another year?  Actually, I am ready.  2015 brought joy but it also brought struggles, struggles that will continue into 2016 but I am proud of the choices we've made as a family in coping with those struggles and I'm most proud of Mike, who when faced with a blow made choices based on integrity, honesty and an open heart.  Anyway, Laura and I planned and delivered another "Socks for Seniors" event.  It is my gift to my dad every year.  Sadly, this year he didn't seem to enjoy it as much.  I chalk it up to him being another year older and more set in his ways.  He was bent out of shape because it was past his bedtime. 

This Socks for Seniors night was a hit.  The weather cooperated so we had a big group turn out for the event, which the residents of the nursing home always enjoy.  Every resident at the nursing home got a new pair of socks. 

Bless my mother.  She helped out this year.  She mostly kept dad calm and kept reminding him he couldn't go to bed until Socks for Seniors event was over. 

And here's our whole crew.  See what I mean when I say we had a huge crowd this year.  My dad is right smack in the middle.  He's looking around and I know he's thinking, "You've got to be kidding me, I'm staying awake for this!"  LOL. 

A momma and her boys.  Mike took this picture on Christmas Eve.  Can you believe how tall Jay is?  I can't. 

More Christmas Eve pictures.  We did things a little different this year and it worked so well.  Kim was kind enough to host Christmas Eve lunch this year.  We ate lunch, played cards, went to church and after church we concluded the evening at mom's with more food (imagine that?) and gifts.  It was truly a lovely day with family.  And for once, it wasn't a hot mess!!

Nana with all four of her grands and they all appear to be looking at the camera.  That in itself is a Christmas miracle.

                                       Luke with his new boots his nana got him from TN. 

My boys on Christmas morning.  I love this picture of them.  We had such a nice Christmas.  It was relaxing and calm and joyous.  We are truly blessed. 

And that is my December wrap up.  More to come in 2016.  I am anxious to blog as to what's been going on with us and I will.....in time.  I am looking forward to spending New Years with family and friends.  I welcome 2016 and all it may bring.  I see 2016 as an opportunity!  Happy New Year to all.

Happy Birthday, Mike

 Today is Mike's 43rd birthday and I'm convinced it will be his best year ever! The above picture is from a few weeks ago.  Mike is crazy about these thumb print cookies from Folsom's Bakery in Rock Falls, IL. 

 The boys, well mostly Nick, made Mike breakfast in bed for his birthday.  What a great way to start his day.

Mike continues to help coach Nick's basketball team and you guess it, they had a game today (sadly, they lost).  Happy Birthday, Mike! 

Joy

The Christmas season is in full swing.  Our tree and house are decorated for the season, although, we're hardly home to enjoy it.  Basketball season always seems to be the busiest during December.  Last night we were all home.  No practices, no games.  It was nice.   Our family is still going through changes and I have the feeling those changes will be on-going for quite some time into 2016.  But with those changes, there is great joy.  We are all learning to trust God more.  If I've learned anything during this season of my life, it's that I know nothing.  I'll have an idea in my head of how I think something should go and God will blow my "perfect" plan into oblivion & of course His plan is way better than mine.  So, although the road ahead is unknown, I trust that God has a much better plan and as our pastor said during the first Sunday that we happened to be back at church after an 8 week absence, "When the storm clouds come in and there is nothing you can do, you press pause and wait."  Oh, how Mike and I love that phrase around here.   And so my friends, even though this Christmas is a wee bit scary for me, I am filled with great joy.  Joy that my boys are happy and healthy, joy that my husband has a heart that is open, joy that we have family and friends that love us and I have joy in my heart over the gift of time.  Kind of ironic since I wrote I have a slight fear of the unknown and I don't know when we'll get the answers we're looking for but I'll explain everything one of these days and it will all make sense.