At Grandpa Larry's Birthday...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA LARRY!!

Grandpa Larry (Justin's step dad) turned 60 today. Yesterday we had a big party, and finally, thanks to Auntie Phylis, we have a picture of his 3 grandkids - Xavier and Quinn with Paisley (Krysty's daughter - for those who don't know, Krysty is Justin's step sister - Larry's daughter) I'm glad we got this picture so I can now make Annette and Larry some special grandparent shirts.... but also, I love my little niece. It was a fun party, I got to play blocks with Pais and the boys played darts wit her (magnetic darts). Fun times!

Thank You Notes

Call me old fashioned, but I highly believe in Thank You notes. I have taught my children the same thing, that when you get a gift, you write a Thank You note. Sometimes we're a little late - it's mid January, and we are finally finishing up on the Christmas thank yous. Why is this so important? I think that we as a society have forgotten to be thankful. I often get told how "good" I am about doing these - it's probably because it's so ingrained in my brain - (Sometimes I think that my mother has forgotten that I do write these and she doesn't have to remind me to do them - I may not be as good at getting them in for the little things, but I do try for the big stuff). Anyways, why am I all of a sudden thinking of these? Because I hope that I'm teaching my boys to be thankful when writing their thank you notes. I guess though the other side is I could be teaching them to write thank you notes out of obligation... but I'll keep a positive take on what this writing of thank you notes means. :) Don't forget to be thankful for all that you have. I know I am!

Thoughts of my day

Because I know that you are reading this and care about my thoughts, I am writing them out. What good is a blog if you don't write out something about what you are thinking. I have had a lot of thoughts run through my head today, especially this AM when I was on my run...

I am so lucky to live amongst the redwoods. Such beautiful and amazing trees! I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my mother. Truly, I know we all say that, cause if it weren't for our mamas, we wouldn't ever be born, but seriously... it was my mother who introduced me to the idea of even coming up here to Humboldt County to go to college. Before that I was looking at going to school somewhere else, I remember CSU San Bernardino interesting me a lot. Of course I applied to Chico because of that being my parents' school, but it really didn't interest me much. Then my mom found a brochure for Humboldt, we came up here, took a look, and I was hooked. What really struck me was it's beauty. I liked the small atmosphere of the school, I liked what the music program had to offer, but what I LOVED was the landscape, the rain, the ocean and trees... It had it all. And now I have stayed here to raise my family, and as I was running today, looking at the backdrop of redwood forest, I realized how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place - a place that many people come for a vacation to get away from the city. I love it!!

Justice is also on my mind today. Today we remember the great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and all that he stood for. It is on days like today that I am thankful for growing up in the world today, and yet am still sickened by the fact that there is still injustice that happens in my world. It also reminds me that because I am white, I still have many privileges that I take for granted. I live in an area that isn't necessarily devoid of racial diversity, but is still predominantly white, and I hope every day that I am being the best role model in this are to my children. But not only when it comes to racial justice, but also other justice. To love everyone, regardless of religion, sexual orientation, race, beliefs, social status, etc. I can't say enough how we still have a long way to go as a nation, as a society, but I do see hope every day, and I know that each and every one of us has the ability to fight injustice in the world. I do my part with my family and the people I meet every day. And it is in my mind as I type.

Oh, there is more, but I will save it for another day. My ramblings can only go so far in one blog post.

FIRST GAME!

First basketball game of the season for the X-man! Really like his coach this year, a very positive experience so far! Xavier had 6 points this game, lots of assists, lots of great passing by then entire team. a few good steals from Xavier. It's hard to take pictures though, they move so fast! Xavier is Gold #5 in the white shorts!

Kings Game Pictures

More from our Kings game...

Our FABULOUS seats...

Happy Boys!!

 

Warm Up, mostly Dwight Howard and the Magic...

Xavier took a picture of us...

First Kings Game

Xavier and Quinn at the Kings v. Magic Game - January 8, 2012

First NBA game ever for all of us. This game was a family Christmas present from me. It was the most spectacular time! Xavier took some good pictures that I will upload later, this was just one picture, before the game started, that I took with my phone camera (not a bad picture, huh?) This is definitely something we want to experience more as a family! Next will be a couple of MLB games - probably Giants v. Padres.

In Memory Of...

It's hard to loose someone you love, especially when you feel like it was unfair. We all grieve in different ways, some of us more public then others. Some of us remember our loved ones more privately then others. I chose to get a tattoo.

Tomorrow, January 4th, would have been my cousin's 43rd birthday. She was taken from us far too early, and her passing is still a hole in my heart.

My mother jokes how her and her brother are 10 year shadows. My cousin Kerry was 10 years older then I was, yet we had children the same age (her youngest, and my oldest are only a few days apart). I have so many fond memories of Kerry... she always put up with her younger cousin! :)  Most of the memories I have though are when I'm older. I have one very vivid memory of Kerry driving us around Sacramento in her car (us meaning my brother and I) She had the radio on loud and we were all singing very loud "I wanna be rich" - Calloway. I remember going to a little fair once with Kerry and her sister, our other fabulous cousin, Kristin. Of course some of my favorite memories are of us riding the 3-wheeler through the orchards at my uncle's house.

When I was in Jr. High, I got into letter writing. I would write to Kerry, and she would write back. What I wouldn't give to have those letters now (it's a long story of how they accidentally got thrown away, retrieved, then thrown away again). As we got older, our letter writing became almost nil, and I am ashamed to say that I let so much time go by without seeing her. I am so happy we made the time to visit with Kerry and her family when she came out to CA in July of 2010. Before that, it had been 8 years since I had seen her. It was the last time I got to see my Kerry.

This past year, I have had Kerry on my mind a lot. This fall, I felt compelled to remember Kerry in my own way (hence the tattoo) and I have joined a Relay for Life team (something I've always wanted to do, but never felt the push until this past year, near the anniversary of Kerry's passing, I felt this extra push. I know it came from her).

So, I write this to remember my lovely cousin. This is the only picture i seem to find on my computer of her. She is with her mom, my Aunt Gail. Love and miss you Kerry!

New Years Day

Party at the Sousa House... we had a little get together with Hull family and friends.

Pigs

Well, I foresee this becoming very important once softball season comes along! Thanks to Great Uncle David in Washington for always picking out the most interesting, fun to boys but annoying to parents gifts.

Resolutions

Justin:
resolution #1: wake up in the morning

resolution #2: go to bed at a decent hour so I have a better shot at #1

resolution #3: be awesome in every way I can

resolution #4: at least half of the times I get the impulse to facebook, i will make musical arrangements instead!

resolution #5: ride the bike, eat healthier, be 165 lbs and ripped like a beast, finish this year's 100-mile Tour of the Unknown Coast in around 9 hours :)

April:

resolution #1: Limit facebook/computer time when children are awake

resolution #2: reed a book a week (minimum)

resolution #3: run in another 1/2 marathon, try to come in closer to 2 hours and 30 min, but I'll be happy to beat my time from last year, even if only by a min. :)

resolution #4: no complaining