Happy Birthday Jaelen!

Our baby is growing up... Jaelen is now 4 years-old going on 14 -- wants to do everything on his own and wanting to help do everything from yard work to dishes. We've cut the fro-hawk off now and he has a big boy haircut like daddy's.

SHOGATSU!

Happy New Year to all my friends and family! 2008 is off to a busy start. Trae and Jaelen are both wrestling. Yes - Jaelen, too! They had their first tournament last weekend where Trae took first place in his weight class, 70 lbs. Jaelen wrestled in his first-ever tournament and did really well considering he wrestled boys 2 years older. Before he started, I had butterflies like I was the one playing. I said if he didn't quit or cry during the match I'd consider it a success. And he did better than that - smiling while he was wrestling, having the time of his life.

After a brief stint with commuting to Oakland for Trae to play with a travel basketball team, we decided to stay local and play with Modesto Slam-n-Jam and the YMCA. The competition is not nearly as tough but he is still improving his game.

my little drummer boy...

I should've known that Jaelen and Jahki's preschool Christmas program was going to be quite a production when they gave Jakhi a poem to memorize in September. "Happy I am, and happy I'll stay, 'cause I know Jesus loves me today" is what I've heard everyday for the last 3 1/2 months and will be burned in my brain for at least that many years.

Jakhi knew his poem down packed and could be heard clear as day. And Jaelen was the best drummer in his class (so I'm biased). Jaelen also sang his little heart out too and nearly jingle belled the little girl next to him in the face.

road trip!

99 South took us to SoCal to do what we do best -- watch sports! We followed our local Central Catholic HS down to Carson where the Raiders played in the state championship and lost to St. Bonaventure 35-21. One of the highligts -- besides Louis Bland running over & through their DB's -- for me was all the free giveaways! I got a football-shaped cooler bag, Clinique lip balm, and key chains. I left feeling like a winner even if our team was the loser!

Since we were down in SoCal we also got to watch O.J. (see below blog) play in a tournament championship game vs. Campbell Hall starring UCLA-bound guard Jrue Holliday. OJ D'ed him up and stole the show with 20 points and went home with the hardware including All-Tournament honors. (I think I hear the recruiters calling right now! ) Needless to say, Trae thinks he's the coolest. It was wonderful to watch OJ play and see some quality hoops for a change (we don't get that in the Central Valley).

Happy Birthday Dena!

I remember thinking she was so cool back in junior high school when I saw her doing the Reebok and the Cabbage Patch at the school dance. Now I think she is way cooler for much cooler things... like how she is great mother and role model for her three little girls, how she has a great sense of humor and how she is a woman of God. I'm blessed to be able to call her my friend. Happy Birthday Dena!

and he didn't want to play football...

This weekend the Nichols Fam (only after twisting my hubby's arm) went to the season-ending banquet for football for Trae's team, the Central Saints. We would've skipped it but "mo-ma" put her foot down and I dragged the men there. But as always, I was right -- we were glad we went. Not because it was exciting or so much fun but we would've missed out on a special recognition. As Trae was standing on the stage with the rest of his teammates getting their team trophies, the coach started talking about a particular player..."this is a player who really stepped up this year and played different positions from running back to quarterback..." Doobie and I were barely paying attention, having our own conversation just assuming Trae wasn't getting an individual award but just as we made eye contact with Trae we realized he's talking about our kid (Trae realized this too by the look on his face and his cheesy grin!). Much to our surprise, Trae earned the Offensive Player of the Year Award. This is coming from the kid that didn't even want to play football in the beginning of the year!

waiting game

Basketball season is here! And there is nothing more we like to do on the cold winter nights than going to GOOD basketball games. The Nichols Fam will be travelling near and far especially to watch cousin, Oscar (affectionately called O.J.) play for Westchester HS in SoCal for his senior year. We wish him the best as this is an important season for him as he plays a waiting game for his dream scholarship.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/highschool/11/20/bellfield1126/index.html

1st Annual Nichols Holiday Bowl

We started a new tradition this year.... Rather than sitting around after eating and letting tryptophan kick in we decided to do what we Nichols do best -- play sports! After a delicious meal by my mother-in-law, we headed to the bowling alley and competed in pairs. Needless, to say Doobie and I took home the trophy as we narrowly escaped (if let Tee and Dominque tell it) with a win by 10 points.

But the real show was put on by Aunty Dorothy whodidn't know that if you step over the line you cross into an oil slick. She found out the hard way and it was "Man down! Man down!" If we had it on camera it would of been a big hit on YouTube. Note to self: must start bringing video camera places!

It was a great Thanksgiving -- especially hanging out with Big Bo, my brother-in-law from the ATL (now) and listeing to Ma'dea's crazy stories -- we now know how the Nichols craziness originates....

Frohawk turned chichen-hawk

So our newest events revolve around the barber shop. Last week I asked Trae if he'd like to get a Mohawk in which he ecstasticly replied with a big yes but then looked skeptically at his dad. Doobie was thinking it was going to look like the old school Mr. T cut but the cut is not as severe. It's what they call a frohawk now -- which Diddy made famous -- not cut completely bald on the sides.

The frohawk has given Trae a new found confidence and appreciation for grooming. He woke up the next morning and brushed his hair with long careful strokes gazing in the mirror at every angle checking that every hair was in it's proper place and even asking me to help him "get the back for me." Our normal routine usually starts with a plea to brush his hair and then it's one stroke of the brush and he's out. This morning brought tears to our eyes -- our little man is growing up.

So now Jaelen of course wants one. "Daddy, I want to go to the barbie shop! I want a bearhawk too!" Translation: Take me to the barber shop NOW and get me a frohawk NOW. If you know Jaelen, you know he runs the show and needless to say we took him too. Only thing is that with the curls he has, it just didn't turn out the same. He just reminds me of Henery the Hawk -- Foghorn Leghorn's little sidekick. "I'm a chicken hawk and I eat chicken!"