A new year---2010

My new year's resolution...THINK. As in think before I act. I'm hoping this will free me up for what is important to me, such as my grandkids!
Yes, I have a life, and it's intertwined with my daughter and her children and husband. My own family of origin have branched off to include their grandchildren and each family is doing the same thing we are; taking care of each others needs, supporting their dreams, helping them with day to day activities such as basketball, soccer, school projects, goals for higher education. I am a part of the wide scheme of things, but most importantly I am in the mainstream of their lives. I like it that way, I love being accountable and part of their present and future. The music to my ears is "I love you, MaMa." My cup is full.

Christmas 2009

It's two days before Christmas and all through the house all the creatures were stirring, including the mouse. Three kittens were chasing it! Now that my boys each have their own kitten, the Janowicz brood has more going on than ever. With school out for Winter break, my daughter is definitely feeling like the mother in the shoe! She takes it very well, I might add, keeping the boys outside when the sun is out and doing projects inside when the rain comes.
Jayden started basketball and even scored on his second game! He is #2, and their team is the famous Oceano Packing Company, aka the White Team.
Along with that debut, Ella made hers as cheerleader. Jaxson and Addison move around so much, I have difficulty getting a picture of them, but they are in the peanut section and up and down the bleachers throughout the game, occasionally yelling, "go Jayden!"
With our

My 4 grandkids

I am in love! My grandkids are the best, cutest, talented, intelligent and humble grand children in the world!
Jayden started basketball and his first game was Sat. I took 2 cameras and a camcorder to record the event. He looked so grown up in his black shorts and white shirt with the #2 on the back. He really ran his little buns off and said he had fun, even tho they lost the game.
Jaxson isn't into sports, but he has "you better watch out," etc down pat and sings it with gusto! He gave me quite a performance at his house and had no problem doing a solo acapella!
Addison loves "bay-ball" and has a great arm for throwing and awesome batting skills for a 3 year old. He loves to run the bases (around the tree in the front yard) and giggles when I run after him. Anything that has to do with throwing and kicking a ball gets him excited.
Ella is learning to communicate. She has her daddy wrapped and if he doesn't pick her up when he passes by she lets him know it.
I am looking forward to this Christmas with all of them. That's what its all about !

Halloween fun!

I went Trick or Treating with the kids in the neighborhood of their great grandma Esther. Once we filled our tummies with pizza, we set out to go door to door. The moon was full, skies clear, not a lot of people out, but that was ok with us. As usual, I just had to dress up. I love to play dress-up, don't you? My boys were in high spirits (pardon the pun) and knocked on doors and rang doorbells and filled up their bags with all kinds of sugar that their Mom would have to say no to in the coming weeks. But, it is still fun to receive something for absolutely nothing! Tell the parents that after paying for costumes etc. Every year seems to be more fun than the last. The children make it so. There was Jayden as a Phantom, Addison as Spiderman, and Jaxson as Ben Ten. And don't forget Ella Amberley, the baby leopard with her Mommy leopard, and Daddy type cast as the devil. MaMa brought up the rear as the oldest living Punk Rocker!

Grandchildren rock!!

I am so blessed to have my grandkids. I talk and talk about them, to my lucky friends! Fortunately, most of them also have these little joys in their lives. Jayden finally lost both of his front teeth. It's official. Now he has something to ask for this Christmas.

Addison and Ella are buddies. He's only in pre-school at Happy Times 2 half days a week. The rest of the time he gets to play with his baby sister. They really communicate. Sometimes he cries, then she cries, much to Mommy's dismay. And Jaxson is enjoying the role of big brother as well. He loves to tickle her under her chin. There is no jealousy amongst them and Ella. Only the boys fight, and that includes Daddy. The Janowicz house is a lively one, for sure!!

Beach Day with Addison

I picked up my Addison from Happy Times preschool and we were called to the beach by some gravitational pull. Even though I live only 7 blocks from the Pacific ocean, I rarely get down to enjoy it. That's just silly, isn't it? So, my little 3yr old grandson and I threw caution to the wind and just got down into the water and watched the waves for about an hour. The sights, sounds, smells, are so unique. I plan on making time to do this with him every time I pick him up. It's good for him, me, and the universe is calling us to enjoy its beauty. The days are sunny, warm to hot, getting slightly shorter, and the leaves are falling around us. There is a special feeling in the air of Fall. Even though we don't have extreme seasons here on the Central Coast, I still have the memories of chilly nights, frost on the pumpkin, and hay rides on the mesa in Albuquerque where I raised my own children.
I am sooooo blessed to have the honor of spending special time with my grandchildren and seeing the world through their innocence. Addison never stopped smiling the entire time we spent together that day at the beach. He marvelled at the constant waves one after the other, reaching down for a shell now and then, tasting the salt on his fingers, letting the water go up his pant legs. By the time we left, he looked like a little sugar donut!

School is in session

First day of school and we now have two boys, Jayden, 3rd grade, and Jaxson, kindergarten, at Branch Elementary. So far they both have made new friends and Jayden reconnected with some of his from last year. In fact, he has a few in his classroom. The public school system here in Cali. has seen better days. With the state itself in bankruptcy, the schools are taking a beating. Many have lost teachers, forced some into early retirement, and pink slips were plentiful at the end of last year. Our concern has been class sizes, but at Branch that is not a big problem since it is a small school to begin with. Bridgett will be volunteering for each of their teachers and I will help by watching Baby Ella and Addison one afternoon a week. I am proud to be of any help. Of course, my grandkids are the world to me, so it's all about loving them.

Addison will begin his pre-school experience 2 days a week beginning today, Sept 2nd. Hopefully all will go well, he is very ready to tackle a challenge. And, Mommy is ready, too!