Welcome 2014

The Clayberg family wishes you all the best in 2014.  Fresh, new beginnings are always great.  It's a time to reflect and a time to plan for improvements in body, mind and soul.  It's a time to re-prioritize, which is exactly what I intend to do while spending a quiet, lazy day at home with all of my guys!

Cheers to you!

Back in the saddle again

Oh boy was it good to watch Carter in action on the basketball court today!  It's been since September 22 that he's been able to participate in sports. During the first half of his first football game of the season he went in for a tackle and took a helmet to his shin and ankle. He ended up with a bruised shin bone and a nasty sprained ankle with some torn ligaments thrown in for good measure.  An entire missed season of football, crutches, a boot, many hours of physical therapy, and a now a snazzy little brace has him back in action.  See that little grin?  He's definitely happy to be back at it!

And boy oh boy was he ready for some action!  It's a tough pill for him to swallow to sit on the sidelines and simply watch his teammates in action.  Today was the first tourney of the basketball season and his team ended with a 3rd place finish and had a decent showing.  More importantly, the brace held up well and the ankle was feeling pretty good after three games in one day!

So, tis the season for some bleacher butt!

Who's child is he anyway?

I always used to joke that when Austin came to the middle school I might need to go back to using my maiden name.  Well, I might have been a bit premature in my thinking. I believe now with Carter’s arrival to the middle school it might be the more appropriate time to make the switch!  Who knew?

It’s only taken the first 10 weeks of school, but apparently Carter is letting his true personality shine through.  In the brief email exchange with one of his teachers, these things have been relayed to me over the past week:

Lisa, please tell Carter thank you for entertaining us with his opera singing in study hall.  (Ummm...excuse me?  Opera singing? Apparently it was Tiny Tim and Tip Toe Through the Tulips! ...and to think he didn’t even sign up for chorus this year!)

Just yesterday…

When a teacher asked Carter if he knew he was a clown, his response was, “Have you met my mom?”  (WHAT!  This child is killing me!  He totally takes after his father, and I’m the one getting thrown under the bus!)

Thank goodness he has amazing teachers who each have a great sense of humor...and mad teaching skills to boot!

Long time, no see

Who are the adorable “strangers” in these pictures with my handsome guys?   

They must be the long lost cousins that we love and adore but simply haven’t seen in W.A.Y. too long!  

It absolutely crazy that we only live 2 hours apart and it's been since July since we've seen them.  That's too long for this aunt to go without seeing her niece and nephew. 

And it's definitely too long for the cousins to go without hanging out together. They were definitely happy to see each other.  

Come to think about it, we kind of like hanging out with their mom and dad too!  Too bad it was only Nate who could come and hang out at the UNI Dome with us.   

 Next time Kelly, next time.  We definitely missed you!

Majority Rules!

 

 It looks like 75% of this family has the correct loyalties!  Go Panthers!

Attitude

Someone was NOT happy with me this morning when I refused to let him outside as I was leaving for work.  This was apparently my payback as he stared me down the entire time climbing up the piano and plopping down right in the middle of my plant, which he's never done before.

I was simply trying to avoid having a “baked Oreo” when I got home.  

I think Mr. Spider plant preferred that I let him go outside.

We're all middle schoolers!

 I’m pretty sure I’m FAR more excited than the boys that all three of us will be at the middle school this year. I am concerned I'll need to take back my maiden name though as I'm not sure the building is ready for three Claybergs.  

Carter’s looking forward to starting his first year at the middle school as it’s a whole new experience and much different from elementary. I do believe there are a few nerves flowing through him right about now too. 

Austin is getting ready to start his final year at AMS. I think he's looking forward to seeing his friends, but not being in the same hallway with his mother! He nearly had a heart attack when he realized he has three classes RIGHT NEXT TO or ACROSS THE HALL from my classroom.  Ha! I have a feeling my candy dish will empty much more quickly this year!

Me...I'm starting my 19th year of middle school.  Jeesh...you'd think one of these days I'd be smart enough to get out of there!