Awe

Happy, happy family.

Love, love, love you all.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Look out FIFA!

Jesse has made the JV Soccer team at Sam Barlow High School. I am so proud of him. If any of you can make it to a game, he would love to have your support (and you get to see how good he really is).

Thursday 9/7/06 Home Vs. Centennial HS 4:oopm
Tuesday 9/12/06 Home Vs. Central Catholic HS 4:00pm
Thurdsay 9/14/06 Away Vs. Hood River HS 4:00pm
Tuesday 9/19/06 Home Vs. Reynolds HS 4:00pm
Thursday 9/21/06 Home Vs. Sandy HS 4:00pm
Tuesday 9/26/06 Away Vs. David Douglas HS 4:15pm
Thursday 9/28/06 Home Vs. Gresham HS 4:00pm
Tuesday 10/3/06 Away Vs. Centenial HS 4:00pm
Thursday 10/5/06 Away Vs. Central Catholic HS: 4:00pm
Monday 10/9/06 Home Vs. Hood River HS 4:00pm
Wednesday10/11/06 Away Vs. Reynolds HS 4:00pm
Tuesday 10/17/06 Away Vs. Sandy HS 4:00pm
Thursday 10/19/06 Home Vs. David Douglas HS 4:00pm
Tuesday 10/24/06 Away Vs. Gresham HS 4:00pm

A little quality time

As the boys get older it seems we have less time to spend with each other. Don' t get me wrong, we always find time to attend family gatherings and sporting events, but rarely do we spend quality time.

Yesterday we hiked Multnomah Falls. All the way to the top. We grabbed Sammi, packed a lunch, and made out for our trek. There were more people than normal as they were having some sort of artist's fair, but we had a ball.
We ate our lunch at the top by stream and the boys took turns walking across it on a log. I didn't even attempt it.

The boys ran almost all the way down and we received our ice cream reward from cousin Kathy. Afterwards, we headed to the river for a much needed cool down swim.

We will try to do this more often. Maybe a trip to the mountain or a trip to the beach. Maybe we'll just get a movie and cuddle up on the couch.

And my heart swells

Over the years my sweet tooth has dwindled. Which is good for me, bad for candy makers everywhere. However, I have been unable to lick (ok, sorry for the pun) the tastiness that is chocolate. Currently my favorite are the small, bite-sized nuggets of joy that are made by Dove. You know the ones. The oh-so-dreamy, melt-in-your-mouth yummy goodness. On the inside of each wrapper are what Dove calls "Promise notes." I'm unsure of the significance of them, but they're fun none-the-less.
A few months ago I opened one that read, "Discover how much your heart can hold." I pinned it up on my wall at work and look at it often. I'm always amazed at how much room I have inside my heart to love my friends and family and especially my boys. On Monday, and each day since, I discoverd how much more my heart could really hold. I suspect Melissa and Peter are discovering this joy too. Love you.

I think I will call him Charlie

Charles Francis Chakmakian

Its not so much a look of pain and anguish as it is the use of his entire body to yawn.

Charlie's first offical high-five with cousin Casey.

I believe him to be the best thing. EVER!

I kinda love him.

Sweet, sweet baby boy.

3:03 pm

6lbs 4oz

18 inches long Healthy and Happy I think I'm in love.

And then there were three...

11 years ago, this month, she moved away from home. She moved far away from home. She took her bed, her books, her clothes. She took her dresser and her rollerskates. She even gathered her cats and took them too. The trailer and van were packed with precision, with a little help from her father. She set out for college and hopes and dreams.
She left behind her mom, stepdad and dad. She left behind her sister and her nephews. She left behind her friends and her barbies. She left behind all her doubts (if she had them I could never tell). But she also left behind a renewed relationship with me.
The summer she graduated from highschool was the summer I first became friends with her. I missed her terribly; even before she was gone. We talked on the phone often. I went to see her a few times and she came home to visit at Christmas and breaks. And then she met him.
I knew from the first time she spoke of him that he was the one. She loved him. She loved him more then she let on, but it was clear she would marry him one day.
When she finished college she moved home. Everyone was so glad she was finally home. I was ecstatic she was home. And she was miserable. She missed him with every fiber of her being. She was home less than a year when she decided to move back to be with him.
Again, I missed her terribly. But she was happy. Happy to be with him again. So I was happy for her.
When he finished college they both moved back home, but it wasn't his home. He missed his family as she had missed hers, and they missed him too. Then they announced they were moving closer to his family. That night, I cried. Would she ever be home to stay? I missed her even more.
She was gone for nearly 2 years when she announced she was coming home to start a business. What a brave girl. What a smart lady. What an amazing woman.
She brought back talent and wisdom. She brought back hope and strength. And she brought back him.
2 years later they were married. I cried that night too. They reminded me of storybook love. They defined companionship. They made everyone jealous with their openness and honesty to love each other out loud.
Today I cried again for her and her husband and the beautiful son they created. He is so perfect. When I first held him, she looked at me and told me he was "perfect in every single way." I concur. I am overwhelmed with the pride I feel and the honor I have of being her sister. Congratulations Melissa and Peter.

Welcome baby. I love you more than I did yesterday, and less than I will tomorrow.

Showers and Gardens and Knitting, Oh My!

Whew! What a weekend. I can't believe we crammed that much stuff into 4 short days. On Friday, Aunt Cindy, Cousin Malia, and Baby Cousin Juliana came to visit from Santa Cruz. Just a few more and we would have had a full fledged reunion. Maybe next year.

On Saturday we celebrated Mom's 60th birthday, Luau style! I was so busy running around, chatting and bartending (I know, I know) that I didn't have a chance to take any pictures. There were lots of camera's though, so I'm sure I'll get some up soon.

Sunday was Missy's baby shower. Just a bunch of girls sitting around oohing and aahing over some of the cutest baby stuff...Ever. Missy is the most beautiful pregnant woman I have ever seen. Of course I'm super biased. She is making my niece/nephew after all. I think I'll make something nice for her to say thanks. Maybe some socks.

The boys are already bonding with their cousin.


Monday all the girls, and "the boys," had lunch and then we went up to Aunt Sue's. Since Uncle Bill has retired and has the time to devote to it, their garden is phenomenal. I think Casey was inspired. The whole way home he told me all the things he wanted to plant in our garden next year. He even ate a carrot. I don't think he's done that since he was 6 months old and it was all mashed up. After we played in the garden we had some dinner and sat around telling stories and singing songs. Grandma even joined in on the chorus.

Tuesday night we all went down to Lint and waxed crafty. Cindy learned to knit, Sue learned to crochet and I reveled in the fact that soon I too would be an aunt. They assured me its the second best! I can hardly wait.

Every time the family gets together I'm reminded of how lucky we are to have each other and the priceless advice we give.

Heaps of love and remember...Don't stick any beans up your nose.

J