Happy Love Day from the Sigua Family

Sigua Family 2013, Whitney Lee Photography

 

Kayla says….

First off, Happy Valentines Day! My mom said we didn’t get to do our regular New Year newsletter because we were busy with winter projects, like painting my and my sister’s rooms. So instead we’re doing a Love Day newsletter. I got the “super” job to write for all my brothers and sister. Yay me.

So, my sister and I started middle school last year. We’re pretty busy doing our own things but whenever we have free time we like to hang out and gossip together, like all 12 year old girls. I’ve noticed the older Taylor and I get, the girlier we get.

Rodney and AJ are doing great. Rodney is into bike riding right now and he still plays lacrosse for school. AJ has been working A LOT. They just made him a Supervisor at Sheraton. Taylor likes being artsy and started taking weekly art classes in September. She wants to try out for volleyball in the 7th grade. Mom works a lot, too, and she starts law school in August. Dad is still cooking fantastically and running the business, Taylor’s Seafood, in Texas. The dogs are, well, being dogs. They like to eat, sleep, play, but mostly bark at people who visit us. As for me, I still love to dance and am trying out for the middle school cheer squad next week. Wish me luck!

Mom says…

With each year that passes I’m amazed at the collection of memories we made that year, good and bad. I waffle back and forth between which I think is more difficult – marriage or parenting. Each requires a magnitude of patience and tolerance you never believe you have left to give, but somehow always find. Not to mention the numerous times you find yourself questioning the validity of your sanity, just moments before you accuse your children or spouse of losing theirs.

One would think after twenty years of parenting Rod and I would have this job down pat, but we sure don’t. We’ve definitely been blessed to raise four bright, funny, strong minded kids. Of course, the problems with raising strong minded kids are they’re also opinionated and armed with sarcastic senses of humor, just like their parents.

Just as Kayla illustrated, the older the girls get the “girlier” they become. Kayla wakes up earlier than any of us to style her hair and pick out her clothes. Taylor is less concerned with her hair but recently she did trade in her glasses for contacts. Neither of them are allowed to wear make-up, but they sure have one heck of a lip gloss and nail polish collection.

 

Rodney is  a junior in high school and quite eager to move onto college next year. Truthfully, I’m not sure if  it’s because he’s that excited to study architecture or if he’s just anxious to try out life without his nutty mother constantly hovering over him, or so I’ve overheard him tell his sisters when he thinks I’m out of earshot.

I’m hoping AJ will soon come to realize that somewhere under all that young adult uncertainty I know he sometimes feels, there is a leader in him just waiting to be discovered. It’s evident in the manner with which he looks out for his brother and sisters and the initiative he shows when he’s working, whether it be with the Sheraton or for our family business. Until then, I’m still one proud mama that he’s headed in the right direction and paving a road for himself, doing it his way…even if not mine.

A few Sundays ago the entire family spent the morning cleaning the house. The kids were upstairs sorting their laundry and wiping down bathroom counters while listening to some guy named Hoodie Allen belt out lyrics on someone’s computer. Rodney and I were taking care of the rooms downstairs grooving to some old school Mary J. Blige. The music was blaring on both floors, the sounds of the kids laughing and yelling echoed loudly against the tile, and all four dogs were barking angrily at the vacuum.

Now some people might find that scene chaotic, but not me. Believe it or not, that “chaos” is my peace. Those are the moments I’m keenly aware that this family is the most incredible thing I’m ever going to be a part of. The kids, my husband- this family- are tangible, rock solid proof that I’ve done something right, no wait – something great with my life.

Enjoy Love Day, folks – today, tomorrow, and everyday. Love, The Sigua Family

Sigua Family 2013 Downtown Austin, Whitney Lee Photography

 

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