Rewind........

Meet Adam Reid! Currently 2 months old!

Now let's rewind....

Adam Reid Siskey

August 29th 2014

6 lb 14 oz

19 inches 

What a blessing he is! Already sleeping through the night and spoiled rotten.

Anna is a good helper but doesn't kiss "boys"!

Ansley is the perfect mommy replacement. She helps even without being asked.

-"It's ok Reid. I'm here, Don't cry. You want your paci? Mommy! I think he as a tummy ache."

Gavin would sit and hold him all day if he could.

Adam ... oh Adam, he is the reason "The Reid" is so spoiled.

Life with 4 children is ...... well, let's just say I have not yet adjusted to the new routine. Oh, who am I kidding, I haven't even established a routine yet....2 months in. But I will admit it is getting a little better.

I do have this new thing going on where information or things that I have done simply fall out of my head. I seem to not have any recollection of certain actions or info. Hopefully that will resolve itself.

Inhale.....Exhale....Repeat

"When you feel so mad that you want to ROAR, take a deep breath and count to 4!" -Daniel Tiger

"Be kind!"
"Make good choices!"
"Stop that!"
"Time out!"

Yesterday was one of those days where you just want to try again.

As the kids were all finally in bed and the house was quiet for the first time in about 14 hours, all I could think was
"Whoa! Can I just rewind and try that again?"

I had not gotten more than 3 hours of sleep the night before, and I was REALLY looking forward to a much needed nap time. Now keep in mind the girls almost always have a really good nap [me too on occasion]. This day called for a really good nap.

Didn't happen. Didn't even kind of happen.
Ansley's nap was short and Anna's nap was nigh.

This led to a downward spiral of obedience as the day went on.
Since Adam is gone, several friends/family from The Mill have been so kind as to eat with us and spend time with us, which really helps the time pass.

No nap kids+sleepy mommy+company for dinner=PURE MADNESS

Gracious guest they were! I assured them that with Daddy comes order and my home was not always so crazy. [keyword=not always]

I just embraced the chaos and continued with our night.
However, once our friends had departed, it was time for the crack down.

Gavin-Clean the kitchen!
Anna- Stop climbing furniture!
Ansley- Can you even hear me talking?

Adam and I both knew that the longer he was away the more Ansley would breakdown. She is the a big time "daddy's girl" and I do believe she finally realizes "Oh, no daddy, no order, full speed ahead!"

Long story short, [too late] Ansley almost ended her night in a cold shower.
In the tub [clothed] she went. Before I could turn the water on, she began to break.
"I'm sorry Mommy." [insert tears and hugs]

After some much needed sleep, all around, and the start of a new day. Things are looking up!

Then this happens......

Middle School Social Problems 101:
Objective: take 2 liter soda to class for party
Gavin: "How am I suppose to take this Pepsi to school?"
Me: "When you get to homeroom ask your teacher if you can take it straight to Drama Class, so you won't have to carry it around all day."
Gavin: "No, how am I suppose to carry this Pepsi?"
Me: "With your hands."
Gavin: [large puff of air, rolling of the eyes]
Me: "In a bag"

5 minutes later [heading out the door]
Me: "Where is the Pepsi?"
Gavin: "In my gym bag."

Some battles are not even worth fighting! :)

**Rule of Thumb: Apparently, it is socially unacceptable for a middle school student to carry ANYTHING in a grocery bag for any amount of time. [Even a grocery item]

time to go...... I see a trail of paper plates from one end of the house to the other. And I don't think I am going to find a pot of gold at the other end!

In the words of Scarlett O'Hara  "Tomorrow is another day"

:)
Thanking God for new grace and mercy each day.

BIG NEWS!!!

Well, hello blog world. Long time no post.
I do have a lot of things to catch you up on!

Life with The Siskey's has been quiet eventful lately.

Where should I start?........

Oh yea......Coming Soon!

That's right! Our first Siskey boy is on his way. Due date: Sept. 4th

ADAM REID SISKEY

We are all very excited. Even Ansley, who at least once a week states that she "wants a girl baby"!

Only 16 more weeks to go!

 

What's next...

 

Our Anna Tait refuses to stop growing up. All in one week, she graduated Preschool and turned 5 years old. This moody mommy can't even deal with all this craziness! She is very artsy and creative [not sure who she gets that from] and she wears her heart on her sleeve.

And let's see.....

Our fully potty trained, cuddle bug Ansley is now 3 years old and tough as nails. She loves to give hugs and kisses and when she grows up, she wants to be a friend! [big time daddy's girl]

And Gavin......oh Gavin.
He is 13 going on 30 for sure. He knows everything there is to know about everything, and he assures you that you can take that to the bank. [insert a good HAHA]
He will be 14 in September, which to him means "I start driving next year"! [prayers appreciated]
Oh and I can't forget his hair. He has to brush his hair a minimum of 5 minutes before leaving the house. [life of a teenage boy]

 

 

Like I said, it has been very eventful since my last post.
Currently, Adam is on a mission trip to Madagascar. Which after much debate with Anna, does not have talking animals. He will be back in a week. This is his first oversees trip AND his first time to fly. Total travel time including layovers and drive time was approximately 39 hours [one way]. He is very ambitious :)
We can't wait for him to come home and fill us in on his adventure.
The kids are patiently waiting on their gifts!
Anna prays for him at every meal and before bed.
example: "God I just ask you to keep my daddy safe, and thank you for all the great things he is gonna do. Bring him back to us and hope he gets us really good presents. Take care of me and mommy and Gavin and Ansley since we are all by ourselves. Amen"

God has truly blessed our family. Our first year at The Mill has come and gone and we are very blessed to serve alongside such a loving church family.

Soli Deo Gloria!

 

 



Gavin likes his "chicken fried" and RC cola!!!!

 

If you loved Gavin's Wagon Wheel Video...

You will REALLY enjoy his take on Chicken Fried!

 

Leave it to a "church kid" to make known that his drink is INDEED not alcoholic!!! Love the enthusiasm!!!!

The Siskey's....Not precious people

Our family is.....

well, we are a lot of things. LOUD being one of them. Let's just say that we are not "precious" people. We are a family full of BIG personalities.

I didn't grow up in your typical family environment, being raised by my dad and Nana [who was 70 when I was born]. She is pretty much my favorite person in the history of people. She is turning the BIG 9-5 this year and will still tell you if she thinks "your clothes are a little more snug than the last time I saw you".
As I look back over my childhood, all I remember is being a quiet, well mannered, best dressed Sunday School superstar! I'm sure I had my share of bad days, but for the most part I stuck by Nana's rules and manners.
With the influence of Nana, I pretty much grew up under a pew. I was raised in a small Southern Baptist Church where we had a jammin' children's choir. I remember one Christmas playing the HAND BELLS while dressed as Jesus' mother, Mary, with a baby doll on my hip in a manger scene. Oh yea, I said it.
Anyway.........I say all that to bring me to this....my family is not precious.
I find myself way too often being envious of those mom's with the pristine house and children that can stand still AND be quiet at the same time.

Anna:

age: 4
favorite activity: singing songs that she has written...which may or may not have real words in them, but always rhyme.
offense: rolling of the eyes



Ansley:
age: 2 1/2
favorite activity: reading books or having ANYONE read her books
offense: luring you in for love with those beautiful eyes so that when you catch her beating someone with a plastic camera toy you can't help but think that something must have provoked her to do it.....LIES


Gavin:
age: will be 13 in a week or so
favorite activity: see video below
offense: talking himself out of a corner with "Ohs" and "my bads" and "I didn't mean tos"

 

So, I have come to learn that some families are just bred to be precious and I love to be around those families. They are the sweetest. I, however, can not hold my family to that standard. We are a family EXTREMLY blessed, loved and healthy.

So I'm still learning to embrace the chaos, go with the flow, and enjoy it while I'm in it.

Bring on the crazy.

Bring on the silly.

Bring on the laughs.

And well, if you want to invite us to dinner....have dinner at our house, not yours because..........well, you know. 

We're loud!

 

 

First Week of School recap!!!

Well, the first week of school was a success. The girls love it!
Here is a little first week recap.
starting top left...Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday!!! [Gavin said the first day picture was enough for him though]
Didn't take one today....I don't want to be THAT mom!
OAN: I think I was a little more sad today than the first day last week, but I will prevail.

Do you hear that?
Listen very closely.......
Of course you don't, because my house is empty and.... wait for it.....quiet!

I am alone in my home for the first time in 4 years. What a bittersweet morning. Gavin started 7th Grade today at his new school here in South Carolina and my babies started preschool.
Seriously, time has actually flown.

flown  past participle of fly (Verb)

Verb (of a bird or other winged creature) Move through the air under control: "close the door or the moths will fly in". (of an aircraft or its occupants) Travel through the air: "I fly back to New York this evening".

OK, maybe not the right word. It obviously didn't take flight, but it sure did go by fast.

Gavin will be 13 next month and has miraculously grown taller than me over the summer [maybe miraculously is stretching it]. Gavin.....a teenager. We covet your prayers ;)

Anna is 4 and bossy flossy. She was extremely excited about K-4 and loves her teacher Ms. Mandy when she left this morning. However, you can't measure the success of a "first day" until you see how willing they are on the "second day".
 
Ansley, my K-2 queen, was born ready for all things. She entered Ms. Tiffany's class with no more than, "Bye mommy, Bye daddy" [kiss]

On the way to take the girls to school I asked them a series of questions.
1. What do you want to be when you grow up?
-Anna: a sunday school teacher
-Ansley: BIG

2. What is your favorite color?
-Anna: purple
-Ansley: pink and red

3. What is your favorite food?
-Anna: Soda and Milk
-Ansley: cereal [which not so coincidentally is what she had for b'fast and I am convinced if she had eaten steak for b'fast, that would have been her answer]

4. What is your favorite tv show?
-Anna: Caillou
-Ansley: Dora and Diego

5. What is your favorite thing to do?
-Anna: clean the house and wear heels like you mommy
-Ansley: watch Dora and dance

...and so they all left for school, leaving me alone to sob in private. I'm only kidding. No tears from this momma this morning. I returned home to do what any mom does in private.......eat animal crakers and doritos on the couch.

So closes a chapter of my life. My babies are growing up, becoming independent little humans, and I am so thankful to God for blessing me with this family and pouring constant blessings onto our family.

Thank you to all who have had a part in our lives, shaping us and modeling Godly lives for us. God has used so many of you in ways you may not ever realize. If you are reading this, I'm most likely talking about you.

-Kristy