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And like that, it’s almost over

February 12, 2023

Dear Jakey, Watching you play basketball has been one of the greatest joys of my life.  Seriously, it has.  I am your biggest fan! Through primary basketball, AAU, DAGS, and Varsity.  Late nights coming back from practices and weekend-long tournaments, it has been so much fun, and I wouldn’t trade that time with you for anything. Your feisty defense and serious offense—you never let up, always working hard…

Family

Jacob is looking for colleges

November 6, 2022

It’s hard to believe, but this little cutie pie is going to college next year!  And we are out touring college campuses this week. Purdue?  Michigan State?  We are on the hunt for a great Agri-Business or Farm Business Management curriculum that fits Jacob. Aunt E is going to introduce us to her alma mater, Michigan State.  And of course, Purdue has the one and only, Tyler Ziehm.…

Family Lifestyle

Happy Halloween!

October 30, 2022

The kids don’t trick-or-treat anymore, and the costumes are hidden away in the attic. But we will carve a pumpkin tomorrow afternoon and light it tomorrow night because… …it’s still Halloween!  And for any sweet tooth candy hound like myself, it’s an excuse to eat candy like it’s your business! So that’s what I will be doing today, Monday, October 31.  Preparing for my trick-or-treaters–who this year will…

Family

4th of July Boat parade

July 10, 2022

Happy Sunday! Summer is now officially in full swing, the 4th of July came in with a bang! Like always, we spent our holiday weekend up at the lake in NH with family and friends. We were missing someone though. Tyler missed his first 4th of July at the lake ever. For good reason, he was in Michigan cultivating cucumbers. We missed him, but we are very happy that he…

Family

My Dad keeps us afloat

June 19, 2022

My Dad keeps us afloat. It’s a very difficult job, but somebody has to do it! Always the caregiver, Dad, constantly goes about making sure that everything gets done for us.  Property management is his forte.  🙂  When things get tough, he is apt to hand us a $20 bill, or start doing some task to help, under mom’s direction, anything to restore our happiness. If we are…

Family

Happy Memorial Day 2022!

May 30, 2022

Happy Memorial Day! We celebrated in true “Cilley” style, a trip up to Back Lake, in Pittsburgh, New Hampshire.  It’s a family tradition. It was a bit different this year.  It was just Sam and me, no Tyler or Jacob.  Tyler is interning in Michigan this summer at a very large cucumber farm.  Jacob’s high school lacrosse team was in a big sectionals game.    So, off we went…

Family

Taking my mother with me

May 8, 2022

In my household, I have a saying, “Know what you want to take with you, know what you want to leave behind.” If I could bring my mother with me, I would. For this Mother’s Day, I wanted to make a list of all the characteristics that I strive to take with me, from my mother.  I attribute so much of how well my kids are doing today,…

Family Perspective

A Boy Mom’s “Prom”

April 10, 2022

On this morning after prom, I am here to say that I think it’s much easier to be the mother of a boy during these occasions. Not nearly as stressful as what it is on the girl side. Mothers of boys spend their “day of” cleaning vehicles, reminding their boys to wash behind their ears, and then attach the boutonnière to their lapel.  We give them a quick once…

Family

Here are my 3 Valentines

February 13, 2022

Here are my 3 Valentine’s! Tyler, Jacob, and Sam. To be honest, Valentine’s Day is a day that I am challenged with.  Not because I don’t believe in telling people that you love them, but because I know, for just as many people who are feeling the love today, many more are feeling just the opposite, very unloved.  It makes me sad. Maybe today, you should consider showing…

Family Lifestyle

Basketball on a cold winter’s night

February 6, 2022

I love watching my kids play basketball. Every year, it gets more fun as they grow, change, and all of the kids get better and better at working together as a team. It’s a culture also, an institution of going to games every Friday night in the dark winter months.  Truly, it helps me get through the bitter cold. The games are about sitting in the same spot…