Milestones

I'm learning quickly that milestone moments in your children's lives as they grow older can make your heart swell with pride and skip a beat as well as make your eyes leak! These moments are so different from their earlier milestones of rolling over, learning to walk and losing their first tooth. While those earlier milestones were just as joyous as these recent ones, somehow they were different.  They weren't quite as heart stopping.

In the span of the last two weeks, Ace and I have had a few of these heart stopping, eye leaking milestone moments with our boys.  The first was Carter living out every little boy's dream of hitting an over the fence homerun.  Holy Moly, what a moment!  I have always vowed not to be "that mom". You know, the one who jumps up and down and screams hysterically at sporting events.  Ummm...I may have failed miserably and become "that mom" jumping up and down screaming behind the fence at home plate as Carter made his way around the bases with his mile-wide grin.  I guess that's a mother's prerogative! Now Carter gets to have his homeroom on replay in his head anytime he wants. 

This past weekend was Austin's turn for milestone moments. On Friday, he spiffed himself up and drove to his final 8th grade dance. He's definitely counting down the days to the end of his middle school career.  Me, not so much. High school hardly seems possible. My leaky eyes caught me by surprise as I was driving home and thinking about the reality of the situation.  Time with your kids really does fly by.

On Sunday, Austin felt the love of 22 family members as he was confirmed at church. What a blessing to experience him taking that step in confirming his faith. Watching him take communion for the first time was just a little bit surreal. My mama heart sure is full these days.  If time would just slow down a bit, I might be able to handle it a bit better. 

Thankfully Ace and I are surrounded by some pretty amazing, if not crazy, family and friends as we move along in this parenting journey with our children!

A month to celebrate

I'm not celebrating the weather this month, that's for sure! It has wreaked havoc on many things, Carter's family birthday celebration that never was, being one of them. However, it is a month of family birthdays which makes for some special times in February.

My brother and Carter got to celebrate early in the month. Aaron and dad get to celebrate towards the end of the month. Nephew Braden gets to kick off March 1 celebrating his special day.  WOWZA...that's a lot of birthdays in a short amount of time!  

Aaron decided to pick out his own gift this year, which was just fine by me!  He decided we were all going to Blue Man Group on his actual birthday.  I must say, he picked out a great gift for himself.  We had a terrific time and each of us thought the show ended way too soon!

Thanks Ace for treating us all to a fun night of celebrating YOU!

Heart Palpitations

Ace and I just came home from a parent meeting for high school registration. H.I.G.H. S.C.H.O.O.L. Oh my heavens!  We were treated to a panel of nearly everyone they thought it necessary to hear from: counselors, reps from each academic department, plus reps from each elective area, and of course the principal.  However, one key group was missing.

The paramedics.

Yes.  The paramedics.  I was nearly in need of them tonight. I have walked into the high school plenty of times during the last couple of years as part of my job in the district. Silly me has always been focused on my job while I was there and it's never really hit me like it did tonight that all too soon my son will be in high school. Other people's children grow up...not mine.

My heart started beating quickly enough when the whole program started and it dawned on me that in a few short months, Ace and I will have a high school student. It was crazy enough trying to wrap my mind around the fact that this was actually happening and then one of the counselors had the nerve to talk about college requirements. Aye aye aye! If ever there was a need for a quick medical visit, that was it!

Yes, these people send children through the high school and off to college each and every year and it seems so natural to them. Well...it sure didn't seem natural to me to be thinking about that already with my son.  I'm still getting used to the idea that we no longer have children in elementary school.  They are both safely housed with me at the middle school and I like it that way.

Please don't let it change.  Please don't let my babies continue to grow up!

Happy Birthday Carter

Yes...it's been awhile since I've graced you with my presence on the blog.  I'm so sorry about that.  Life seems to be crazy busy, but this is a moment in time I just can't let pass without acknowledgment.

Today marks twelve years for Carter.  It's his golden birthday. How in the world it that possible?  I know people tell you to enjoy each day as time really does fly.  Sometimes in the midst of this parenting gig, you have no idea of the time whizzing right past.  It makes me want to go back and soak up some of those precious innocent days when he was two! TWO I say, NOT twelve!

Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying him at this age when the pre-teen disposition doesn't show up! But look at this face...

I just want to go back in time and snuggle up this little boy of mine! However, I simply have to accept the fact that he's growing up and choosing to hang with his friends at youth group tonight and mom will simply get to sneak in a little twelve year old Carter time when he gets home.

Happy 12th birthday Carter!

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!

Magic Wand

Miss Heidi must have a magic wand. I'm thrilled beyond belief at how she managed to make my crew look presentable in our family photos!  This lady is uber talented. More importantly I am so blessed to call her my friend.  

Now, it's not quite as hard to make these handsome boys of mine look good.  It was probably harder for me to get them showered and in something other than athletic shorts and a t-shirt.  

But Ace and I?  We hardly even look "mature"! Well, he's missing some hair, but I suppose that's to be expected having to put up with me. I think Heidi's even talented enough to fix his hair situation if he wanted.

I am wondering how in the world these boys of mine seem to be nearing the same height as me?  UGH!  Mama's still in charge though!  

You can check out some more of our pics here. Thanks a million Heidi for sharing your amazing talents! We couldn't be happier with the results.

High Flying

Our gift to Austin for his 14^th birthday was to spread his wings and fly high amongst the clouds on a vintage Red Baron plane with Brian Aukes from Half Fast Flying Adventures.  Well…today was the day he got to do just that and fly high amongst the clouds.  

 He almost looks like he could be a fly boy!  

Brian's wife Rachel, who is both a pilot and author, got him all strapped up in his parachute...which made this mama's heart skip a beat or two as she was calmly giving instructions on how to get out of the plane and pull the strap in case of an emergency!  Who's idea was this?!?  

Ahhh...he looks WAY too old right here with his flight helmet on and ready for take off!  It was so cool as he was able to talk to Brian, who was in the seat behind him the entire time, and hear all the radio traffic happening.  

 There goes my boy... This is really going to happen!  

I would have given anything at this point in time to have had a window into his thoughts during this time.  

Here they are coming in for their landing. He got to fly over Huxley and see his hometown of Ames from a bird's eye view.  He loved flying over Jack Trice Stadium, the middle school and our house.  

 Little did I know until he landed that some airplane acrobatics were involved on this flight!  Oh mamacita!  It's a good thing my mama heart didn't know that before take off!  

He got to experience three different acrobatics: a hammerhead, a barrel roll and a loop.  Holy Moly!!!  A hammerhead is where Brian flies the plane straight up as high as it can go and then flies straight down towards the ground. Oh my!  Who does that?  

The barrel roll is a sideways roll in which the plane rolls all the way around and the loop is where you fly down and then head into a backwards, upside down loopie spin thingy! This mamacita would've died of fright!!!  I have a hard enough time looking at the ground from up high the right way, let alone doing it upside down strapped into an open air cockpit!  

Check out that smile!  

We can't thank Brian enough for this experience of a lifetime for Austin. 

...and somehow my lucky "Maverick" got a quick spin around in the air before we headed out!  I have no doubts he said, "Talk to me Goose!" to Brian while they were in the air.

What sweet memories for both of them.  Of course, Carter mentioned that he'll be 14 in 2 1/2 years.  I think that was a big hint that I'm supposed to remember! 

Under one roof

My pampered prince is home again after spending a week at Riverside Bible Camp.  I absolutely LOVE the experience that Carter has while he's at camp.  This was his 4th year of attending Riverside and he loves E.V.E.R.Y. minute of it.  I love that he gets the Holy Spirit digging deeper in his heart and has the opportunity to see the young men and women who are counselors praising God and setting great examples for the kids. But oh how wonderful it feels to have everyone under the same roof again.  My mama heart is quite content!  And...despite an older brother insisting that he didn’t miss his little brother and enjoyed being an only child all week, it’s funny how inseparable they’ve been since he's come home! 

My Pampered Prince

Someone around this household, who shall remain nameless, must think he’s a prince.  Yes I’m the queen, but I didn’t realize I had another royal one living in my house.

I was working away in the kitchen this morning when my cell phone rang.  Noticing the call was from our home phone, I was a bit puzzled. However, here’s what I heard when I answered:

“Good morning mom.  Come and see me!  Oh yeah…I need a drink of water too.”

Hmmm…when did that blonde one gain a crown?

Ready or not

Here we come RAGBRAI.  There are three people in this house ready and one who’s not.  I’ll let you solve that mystery!

Golf ~ Iowa Games Style

This summer the boys said no to baseball and yes to golf.  They both have been enjoying it immensely and gave it a whirl playing in the Iowa Games today. 

Carter thankfully had an early tee time to help beat the heat.  

I was able to watch him play the first hole and tee off on number 2 before I had to head home to get Austin for his later tee time.  

Carter told me afterwards I was like a stalker in the tree line with my camera. I prefer to call myself mamarazzi! One of my boys tolerates it rather well; the other one...not so much!  

Austin hit a bucket of balls to warm up and spent some time chipping and putting before his group teed off.  I'm just hoping he survives the heat during his 18 holes as he gets the pleasure of playing right smack in the middle of the day.  

To top it off, I get to hang with these cuties today and tomorrow.  I think they were wishing they had their clubs and could go tear up the course with my guys! 

Midnight Madness

Aaron had decided a couple of months ago that he was going to run the 5K for Midnight Madness.  I kept waiting for the nights that he would come home from work and go out and get a few training runs in.  He decided to wait until the night before the race to test out his lungs and legs with that training run!  Yep, that's how he rolls!  

BEFORE

When he went to pick up his race packet on Saturday, the boys were with him and he tried to convince them to join him in the madness.  Apparently Carter was easily convinced and the two were ready to run that night.

Carter made Aaron promise to stay with him during the run, which cracked me up as Carter decided to put the pedal to the metal and blow past him for the homestretch.

 Ace said he was giving it all the gas he had, which wasn't much at the end!

I was so proud of both of them. Austin and I had a fun time cheering them on and of course socializing with everyone we saw.  We stayed and enjoyed the festivities for a bit afterwards until the runners decided it was time to head home.  

AFTER

If you're in the neighborhood, be on the lookout for my new runners!

Happy 4th of July

The 3^rd annual Norris Street Pancake feed was a success!  

I love our neighborhood!