We are the Champions!!!

On Friday, Casey wrestled in his first tournament. In a round-robin, we won 2 out of 3 matches to win second place!

He crashed on the couch as soon as we got home.

On Sunday, Jesse's soccer team, Southampton, beat LOSC Swoosh, 2-1 to win 1st place in the winter classics league.


Yeah, their heads actually did get bigger. (so did mine)

I think I need a PDA.

When I was in college, I had a Palm Pilot. I pretty much hated it. It was cumbersome and difficult and, in general, NOT very user friendly. So when it came time to start keeping track of the sporting events of the boys I turned to the trusty, albeit large, day planner. This worked fine for about a minute. Now I find myself keeping track of 4 kids games and practices and social activities, when the kids are home, when they are at camp, dentist, doctor, etc... you get the picture. As it turns out, my "day" planner has turned into a life planner and my life (or the other 5 peoples lives I keep track of) doesn't fit into the alloted 6 lines per day. I mean what if somebody has more than one appointment? On the SAME DAY? It could be catastrophic!

So I'm shopping for PDA's.

As for the fam...Casey lost his match on Tuesday, but in his defense he did wrestle a boy that was 20 pounds heavier. I think he did well. He came back on Thursday for the win. Atta boy!

Jesse's team beat out Corvallis and the team remains in 2nd place with one less game played than LOSC.

This week looks like this...(deep breath)

Tuesday, February 20 - Casey - match vs. Centennial MS @ GRMS 4:15
Thursday, February 22 - Casey - match vs. Reynolds MS @ Reynolds MS 4:15
Saturday, February 24 - Jesse game vs. RVSC Dynamo @ Medford 2:30

On top of all of this, between the 4 kids there are 5 practices and 3 more games this week.

Leo starts play in a few weeks...

Sharpening my pencil.

J

Highlights, updates, and general Mom bragging.

Oh my goodness, what a week. On Tuesday, Casey wrestled in his very first match. I don't think he's ever put so much energy into anything he's ever done. He went all 3 rounds with a 9-9 tie. At the last second (literally, at the very last second) his opponent got an escape for 1 point. But Casey came back on Thursday with a vengence. He pinned his opponent in round 2 and pinned a second opponent in an exhibition match. Yeah, I pretty much LOVE wrestling.

Jesse had a stellar weekend in soccer as well. Saturday his team beat one of the toughest teams in their bracket 3-0. A great win for these boys. Sunday they tied 2-2 to put them in 2 second place. Way to go Southampton!

In between all the games and meets and practices we still found some time to have dinner with Leo's family. His parents and niece are headed to Uruguay on Monday for an entire month for his cousin's wedding. I am so jealous. Not just that its South America, but its summer there right now. Lucky!

So...the schedule for this week:

Tuesday, February 13 - Casey - match vs. HB Lee @ GRMS 4:15 pm
Tuesday, February 13 - Jesse - friendly game vs. ESU Blackburn @ BHS 7:00 pm
Thursday, February 15 - Casey - match vs Alice Ott @ Alice Ott 4:30 pm
Saturday, February 16 - Jesse game vs. Corvallis FA Juventus @ Corvallis HS 3:00 pm

I hope you all have a fantastic week and a lovely valentine's day.

J

It's called a Singlet...

Hey everybody! Guess what? My little 75 pound hunk of blonde ambition made the varsity wrestling squad at his middle school. That's right! Varsity!

Yahoo! An indoor sport!

Over the weekend, I was informed that it was not, in fact, a unitard. It's called a singlet.

At some point this evening, I'm going to have to break the terrible news that one doesn't wear boxers underneath the singlet.

Tianna told me that "real wrestlers wear a man-thong."
Regarding the man thong...3 things. No, he's 11, and no. BVD's will have to do.

Soccer does not require any such apparatus. Jesse is thankful for this. As am I.

Southampton won game 2 this weekend, which ties them for 1st place. Ya. I'm kinda proud.

This weeks schedule looks like this:

Tuesday, February 6, 2007 – Casey match @ Gordon Russell (GRMS) 4:15
Thursday, February 8, 2007 – Casey match @ Walt Morey MS 4:15
Saturday, February 10, 2007 – Jesse game @ Barlow HS (BHS) 3:00
Sunday, February 11, 2007 – Jesse game @ BHS 1:00

Now, I know your saying to yourself. "Wow, that's alot in a week." And you would be correct, but also know that Casey practices everyday and Jesse practices 2 times a week. That's a lot of effort from these two and they're managing to keep up with school work (so far). So come show your support at one, some or all these events. It means the world to them.

In non-sports related news...Jesse got his braces on last Thursday and he looks just like a teenager. Who knew? He's donning gold and blue bands on his "grill" representin' his alma mater (and his mom and aunts).

Props to my peeps.

J

Let the games begin!

So the winter soccer season has begun and let me just say...Damn! It's cold out there! I don't know how these kids do it. I mean, the under armour, gloves, beanies and warm ups help, but still. It's nasty out there.
On Sunday Jesse played his first game and despite the 30 mph winds and less-than-comfy temperature, his team went on to win the game 2-0. Way to go Southampton! Of course, during the game it dawned on me that I hadn't posted the game schedule. So, without further adieu...

Sunday, January 28 @ Barlow HS vs. SSC Quake (2-0)
Sunday, February 4 @ Barlow HS vs. RVSC FCSO United 15 - 11 AM
Saturday, February 10 @ Balow HS vs. Woodburn Galaxy - 1 PM
Sunday, February 11 @ Barlow HS vs. PCU Cosmos - 1 PM
Saturday, February 17 @ Corvallis HS vs. Corvallis FA Juventus - 2 PM
Saturday, February 24 @ Colver Field West (Medford) vs RVSC Dynamo - 2:30 PM
Saturday, March 3 @ Delta Park Strasser Field vs. PCU Chargers - 12 PM
Saturday, March 10 @ Barlow HS vs. ESU Newcastle 11 AM
Sunday, March 11 @ Barlow HS vs. FC Pdx Navy - 1 PM
Sunday, March 18 @ Lake Oswego HS vs. LOSC Swoosh - 10:30 AM

I know its cold and sometimes it rains, but its Oregon... I know you have a warm coat and an umbrella. Don't be afraid to grab a blanket and a thermos and come see some of Jesse's games. Those of you who have watched him play over the years will be most impressed with his "mad skillz."

Not to underrepresent Casey...He joined the wrestling team at the middle school and it currently hittin' the mat! I will post his meet schedule as soon as I have it.

Peace out, yo.

I was busy. No, really, I was.

In no particular order...

This is how Jesse spent New Year's Eve...Always the life of the party.

This is how the rest of us spent New Year's Eve.
Charlie enjoying one of his MANY gifts from Auntie Santa
Our snow day...January 11, 2006
Grandpa sharing a special moment with baby Charlie on Thanksgiving
The grandkids entertaining Abuela at Thanksgiving
Jesse receiving an award for Most Improved Player on the JV Team
Casey learning the joys of the morning paper and a cup of coffee (well hot cocoa)
The girls (Danka and Sammi)

A special request

Hi all!

I'm working on a recipe book and would love for each and every one of you to send me your favorite recipe. It can be for any meal, an appetizer, salad, soup, cheese and crackers...you get the idea. If its a family recipe, please let me know where it comes from. If you made it up let me know that too.

Please, please, please send them to me as soon as you can.

Loves to you all.

J

Where, exactly, is Southampton?

Southampton is right there, where the red star is. A small town in the UK. They have a soccer team; the Southampton FC Saints. Pele plays for them.

Here in Gresham, we too have a soccer team called Southampton. They play out of Eastside United FC. Jesse plays for them.

I'm working on the loan papers to pay for it as we speak...

One word...Perfect

Kinda cute, huh?

Making silly faces at Mommy

I'm not sure what you call this face, but it's damn cute.

This is my favorite. You can see the smile in his eyes.

Breathtaking...

Big Baby Blues

Charlie, I could hold you like this forever.

Like this, too.

He make such a cute little noodle.

In an effort to not suck

First off, let me apologize for my severe defeciency in posting. For those of you that care; I met someone and have been spending a great deal of time with him. For those of you that don't care; I'm just lazy.

So without further ado...

Aunt Sue and Uncle Bill's babies...Punkin and Sweet Pea

So sweet the baby love

You're funny, Daddy

Casey love

Grandpa love

Binkie love

Sleepy love

Auntie love

Beach love (hehe)...Everyone, meet Leo. Leo...everyone. He's pretty great.

NO! I do NOT suck!

Ok...I totally do. My status as Best. Blogger. EVER! is temporarily suspended.

It has come to my attention that I have been a complete and total slacker concerning the blog. For this please accept my sincerest apologies. I do have reasons (excuses), but I know none of them will be good enough for you. You're such a demanding bunch.

Just in case you were worried, no, I am not dead. I have not fallen off the face of the earth. I have simply been occupied with...er...stuff.

I have lots of new photos and many stories to tell you, so if you will be patient just a little while longer, I promise to post this evening and tomorrow (and this weekend and next week). That should catch me up.

Slowing returning to superstar status...

J

He is soooo getting a skate board for Christmas.

This morning Jesse and I went to the Gresham Farmer's Market, which we love, and while we were walking we passed this groovy little shop called Gromshop. Its a shop for kids that like to skateboard, snowboard, wakeboard, anything with a board...you get the idea. Jesse enjoys skateboarding and is starting to get into snowboarding so we wandered in and found this...

Not Charlie, of course, but the cool little tank top. The beanie I knit for him, and I must say that he is quite hip for a 19 day old. I swear this kid is the coolest!

Onto other news...

Jesse's soccer team won their first game against Centennial 2-1. Although he appears to be vertically challenged, that boy can run like the wind and the other boys on the team seem to really like him. His coach called him "tenacious" and said he had a positive attitude that others enjoyed. That's my boy.

The first day of school was both exciting and saddening. I don't think any of us slept very well that night and everyone hopped right out of bed when the alarms went off. I took the day off of work to see them off in the morning and be there when they got home.

Its not the same when they're in junior high and high school, though. They don't want you to take them to school (they do, but they would never admit it and lets face it; it's just not cool). You can't kiss them in front of their friends (I do anyway). And you definatley can not hang out with them. You can, however, pick them up from school, hug them at night, and hang back while they hang out with their friends at the football game.

I've always wondered at what point will they start the transition from boy to man. Is there a defining moment? Or does it happen gradually. It's not like they're going to come to me and say, "the wait is over; I'm a man now." Though that would take some of the guessing out of it.

On Friday, my neighbor and I took 6 boys to the football game at the high school. We sat in the bleachers and watched the game (and our boys) while the kids ran around and the parents caught up. The band began to play and the cheerleaders began to cheer, and then it happened. The moment. The moment. The one I'd been waiting for. The conversation went like this:

Jesse: "What's that?"

Me: "Cheerleader's."

Jesse: "Cheerleaders?!" (wide eyed and grinning)

Me: "Yeah, cheerleaders."

Jesse: "Sweet!"

The phone should start ringing any day now.

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.