PLAAAYYYYY BALLLLL

baseball season has officially begun!!!

look at how happy this boy is....

he looks like a pro ball player if I do say so myself

I seriously cannot believe how cut throat sports are down here in the states compared to Alaska.

At the parent meeting the coach told the parents to behave themselves this year because last year the cops were called THREE times....are you serious??? I guess one parent was yelling at a child "go back to tball" really??? I turned to Frank and said "we did sign our child up for the rookies team right?" wow.....I wanted to tell some of those parents "You DO realize we are playing against the Longview rookies and not the New York Yankees?" I say that now but we ALL know how I turn into a screaming soccer mom at Jacob's sporting events....but I promise not to get the cops called on me~

I can't help it....this kid is amazing

twinkle twinkle
little boy
how you fill my heart
with joy



Jake the Tank's weekend

Jacob had his last basketball game

and a pizza party

he got a trophy that said "Jake the Tank"

He went to the school sock hop

and danced with Sydnie

and Kayla

He hung out with Jase

and fist pumped with Diesel

A little boy is the only thing that God can use to make a man

Rudy

20 years ago today my cousin Rudy was murdered. He was young, funny, intellegent, protective, sweet, kind, artistic, talented, but more than all these things he was loved. I cry for him today...for all the things he has missed out on...... for his daughter who will never know him....for his mother whose heart will always have a void...for his brother who will never be the same.  And selfishly I cry for me.....I miss him~ I should just be thankful for the time he lived with us in Alaska when we were teenagers. I should be grateful for the fact that he loved me like a sister, and smile as I remember all the times we spent together laughing but I don't...I cry....and I get mad and think about all the things I should have done, or should have said ...I wish the last time I saw him I said more....hugged him one more time...told him I loved him one more time..but sadly we cannot change the past. Thru the tears I start to remember our time together.....singing at the top of our lungs....him tormenting me as I played the piano. video taping everything we did, and years later after he was gone, watching it and realizing that he brushed his hair with my little sister's toothbrush ( I don't care who you are THAT is funny) It makes me giggle a little and I smile. As I get up from the computer desk I look outside and this is what I see

the most vibrant and colorful rainbow I have ever seen in my life.....a coincidence??? I think not

Rudy Granados

1970-1991

 His death leaves a heartache that no one can heal, but his love leaves a memory no one can steal

You are my Sunshine.....my only SUNSHINNEEEEE

Today as I was making Jacob breakfast I started singing at the TOP of my lungs..."You are my Sunshine....my only Sunshine....you make me happpyyyyyyy when skies are blue grey or any other way" This is a song I have sang to Jacob since I was pregnant with him. It's our song....I sing it to him almost on a daily basis. Lately he rolls his eyes when I sing it to him....but still it doesn't stop me ;0) and for some unkown reason I can't just sing part of the song...I HAVE to finish every line...call me crazy if you must...it still won't stop me. Anyways back to the story ....I get to the "you'll never know Deaaaaar how much I loooooove you" and he says "yes I do" very quietly, I stop singing and ask him "What Buddy?" he says "Yes! I do!!....know how much you love me!!" My heart melted.....I just might have this Mommy thing down....for today anyways....I kiss his face off.....and then go back to finishing my song....

We love playing games at our house....so when Frank bought us these GInormous playing cards, Jacob and I were so excited to play our favorite game "speed"~I have to admit~I got schooled by a 7 year old

We have been having the BEST time with Jacob in basketball.....he love love loves it! and I love that it teaches him about being a team player and never giving up.

I HAD to make a Jacobs Mom sweatshirt....I am so sad that this Saturday is our last game BUT baseball tryouts are this weekend so stay tuned....

We found this cute coffee shop called Lava Java that made THE cutes Lattes....and they tasted DElicous!!!

I started a new job as a Domestic Violence Advocate at the Emergency Support Shelter

http://esshelter.com/services/domestic-violence-services

I LOVE IT!!! I feel like other than being a Mommy THIS is what I was meant to do...it's very rewarding and I am sooo thankful for the opportunity to be a part of such a great organization. Jacob on the other hand has not been so thrilled to have to share his Mommy with anyone. The last three weeks I have been training and having kinda random hours, I think he will adjust better when we are on a regular schedule.

IT SNOWED....and ALL of southern Washington has CLOSED down. I am not joking.....everyone is freaking out~school is closed~they had an EMERGENCY BROADCAST~yes you read that right!!! an emergency broadcast for people to be careful and not drive on the roads....the news did a 20 min segment on the dangers of the snow! REALLY???? call me an Alaska girl but can you SEE the road behind Santos and Jacob in this pic...Rookies!!

I got a some peakaboo highlights! L-O-V-E them AND Celeste who did them!

My nephew Elijah is AMAZING!!!! He got first place in his wrestling match!! he has showed sooo much determination, endurance and integrity~I am so proud of you Elijah!!

My Niece Ivy made the National Honor Society!!!! She is sweet, thoughtful, loving, smart, and as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside!! Good Job IVY!!!

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful

25 things you don't know about me

inspired by Us magazine I decided to post 25 things you don't know about me

1. Although I lived in Alaska my whole life (until last year) I have only been skiing once~WORST experience ever
2. As a child I was obsessed with Miss Piggy~a chubby chic who dresses fabulous and is protective of her man~how could you NOT love her
3. I am a hypochondriac~ok maybe you know this about me already~I actually got up in the middle of the night to google meningitis(last night) because I heard someone in our town just passed away from it
4. This is a part II to number 3~After my Son was born I used to call the nurse help line soooo much that they knew me by name
5. Even though I grew up in Southeast Alaska~I don't like seafood of any kind.....
6. My husband and I actually went to the same high school and were at some places at the same time but never knew each other
7. I am a closet bookworm~as a child I loved anything Beverly Cleary and Junie B. Jones
8. It bothers me when my chonies and bra don't match
9. I have three Dads~ Robert made me~ John raised me~ and for reasons that only God knows Tom chose me (really he chose my Mom but this is all about me)
10. Everything taste better in this cup~My Stepdad Tom bought it for me when they came to visit~I am not sure if it's the cup or the fact that Tom bought it for me because he knew I wanted one ~but either way it's true
11. My dream jobs are a dj on the radio or a private investigator~judge if you must
12. I wish I could speak Spanish
13. My favorite childhood memories are at the docks in Ketchikan playing in the water with my sister while my Dad worked on our boat the "Smurfette" yeah my parents let us name it~ I know! what else do you expect from an 6 and a 9 year old~Smurfette rocked
14. I never eat the last bite of a sandwich~but I don't know why
15. I have a weird fascination of sharks~so does my sister~we used to go to the video store and rent national geographic's series on sharks
16. I had chicken pox twice once as a child and once as an adult
17. my favorite flower is a tulip
18. I can't stand anything cherry flavored it reminds me of cough syrup
19. I love the smell of grapefruits it reminds me of my Nana's backyard~she had a grapefruit tree
20. I make potato soup whenever I miss my Mom
21. my first car was a yellow fiat~I paid for half of it myself
22. my first job was answering phones at the church
23. my second job was at Little Caeser's Pizza~it was how I paid for the fiat
24. I am obsessed with board games
25. I talk to my Sister on the phone at least every other day

10 things I LOVE

Vanilla Lattes

Anything PINK

This Boy

My Husband

Sunshine

US Magazine

The Beach

taking pictures

Disneyland

Music

Future NBA star

Jacob started Basketball season, and loving every minute of it.  We had to make a decision if we were going to put him in wrestling or basketball since it is all at the same time. I really think we made the right choice because he LOVES it. I never hear "I don't want to go!" Last year in wrestling I heard that all the time!! We are really lucky because Santos' Dad is the Coach and asked for Jacob to be on his team. Even though Jacob is a 2nd grader they made an exception and let him. He is on a team with all 3rd graders and having the best time!!

Jacob's team was invited to go to the Kelso High School Basketball game to meet the Coach and Varsity team.......Jacob was so excited to see Sophia was one of the Cheerleaders.  He thought he was the big man on campus because they made such a big deal about him!!

Introducing the BEACON HILL BULLDOGS!!!!

Jacob, Santos, Xavier, Colton and Marco

Jacob's first basketball game ever!!!

I seriously don't know what in the world happens to me at Jacob's sporting events but I turn in to this crazy screaming soccer mom......

Frank told me I was going to be kicked out of the gym~not only do I scream like a mad woman, when the other team scores I couldn't help but cheer for them too!! One boy made a three point shot that looked really hard so I cheered for him! I guess cheering for the other team is not allowed.....shesh did I get some crazy looks from other parents....but in my defense....it looked like a reallllllly hard basket to make and I was happy for him!!

Jacob, Marco, Santos, Buddy and Xavier

You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes

Christmas and New Year

Things have been so crazy with the holidays, I haven't been able to take the time to sit and update my blog....I have been taking so many pictures it was really hard to pick just a few to sum up the holidays.

Santa brought Jacob the Paper Jams that he has been wanting....

and Nana and Grandpa bought him a psp and some rocking pj's.....

Tom Elijah Zion and Jacob all had these matching pjs......I literally had to peel them off of him...he wants to wear them EVERY NIGHT.....

the psp was his favorite present....of course because Nana and Grandpa bought it for him

Christmas Day we went up to Chris' house and Anna and I played games with the girls and Christopher

Sophia, Lindsey and Ashley.....I have known these girls since they were little....

aren't they just gorgeous? and they are as pretty on the inside as the outside

Brandon and Jacob......Jacob thinks Brandon is THE coolest guy ever...and Brandon is sooo sweet and patient with him

The Mayeda Kids

Sophia, Lindsey,Ashley, and Christopher

Linds and Rusty

New Years Eve we went down to Long Beach......it was clam digging season...wait??? is THERE a clam digging season? I think I made that up.......it was really just an excuse for me to buy cute rain boots that I didn't get wet.....and to wear a cute hat

I loooove this lighthouse...

and this chapel

I can't wait to come back here in the summer and take some summer shots

Jacob

Caleb

I know every mother thinks her child is the cutest most handsome kid ever........

but mine really is....

everytime we go to Jake's parents property the boys play on this tree......

I love this picture....and this boy

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~