BOO

BOOO...yes, I am back....ok so I missed the holidays and it is now spring. I thought today would be a good time to get started again since tomorrow is April 1 and I don't want to joke about doing this blog. I need some creative outlet and a way to stay in touch.

We are now in full swing of baseball...yes we transitioned from football last fall to basketball this winter right on into baseball for both boys and track for Justin. The boys keep us busy taking them to their activities but it is worth it...we are so blessed they are truly AWESOME boys.

I will get what is happening in our life caught up....starting with Justin...aka Jay or Boo.

Justin is 12 and geez I almost forgot the 1/2. I can't believe he goes to junior high in the fall and becomes a teenager in December. He is in 6th grade at Maple Grove Elementary. He loves learning if it fits into his way of thinking. He really enjoys the hands on process, doing research and projects. He loves to read but gets bored quickly if the topic he is learning is strictly out of the book. Jay struggles a bit due to a hearing loss caused by we guess scar tissue from ear infections from when he was 3-5 years old. As he continues to grow it may get better but it may get worse it is one of those wait and see things. He pushes through it but it gets him down sometimes. He is really excited about junior high but worries that he might miss something. We are exploring the possibility of hearing aids but he is a proud kid and it is difficult for him to think of getting teased not to mention the cost of those puppies.

He is an incredible person...kind, generous, funny, athletic, smart, good looking, extremely serious, intense and bordering on perfectionist but no ones perfect he is 12 and a boy need I say more. He loves doing anything outdoors, sports, camping, fishing, lives for hunting, snowboarding, movies, video games, travel and exploring, reading, animals, being with friends and us (still YAY). He has two dogs Buddy (3 yrs old) an independent Cocker Spaniel and Hailey (5 months old) his new addition a chocolate lab for hunting however she is not into fetching at the moment so hopefully she will realize she is a labrador retriever and that is what she is supposed to do. We had her retrieving beautifully but now she just watches us throw her ball or retrieving dummy and looks at us like ok go get it.

He is friends with everyone and hangs out with different groups at school depending on his mood. They all are good kids and junior high will change the dynamic quite a bit. I am proud to say Kyle is one of his best friends and his other brother/best friend is Dylan Eason. Dylan and Jay balance each other perfectly and will finally be at the same school together at West in the fall. Kyle and Dylan are there to remind Jay he is a kid.....relax, laugh, have fun and enjoy life.

He is one of the team captain's for his school's track team (he is very proud of this position) competing this year in the 400, either a boys or co-ed relay, and the softball toss which he is most excited about.

He is on the third and last year of Majors baseball in South Boise Little League on the Cardinals team and it is up in the air where he will be playing this year. The past couple of years he has been one of the youngest on a very estabished team and as he puts it "stuck in the outfield" but he has become a fanastic outfielder. He is tall and fast and not a afraid to do whatever is necessary to catch a ball. It is fun to watch him because at some point he is going to make on of those amazing catches that you see in the big league. This year he is one of the veterans and he of course wants a chance to play in the infield before moving up to Juniors, doesn't everyone. He has shown real skill at first, third, pitching and short stop so it will be interesting to see where he ends up. He loves the game and the challenge of hitting the ball. Last year he was pretty consistant on hitting the fence. He is taller and stronger this year so I feel an over the fence homerun in his future if not few this season.

Jay is also very active in Boy Scouts. He is very close to becoming 1st class and his goal is to achieve it by the end of April. If he is able to reach 1st class by May or the latest September, he will be on track to earn his Eagle by the time he is 15, another goal of his. He transitioned only a year ago from Cub Scouts, moved through 3 ranks and absolutely loves it. We are very proud of his work ethic and determination. We are amazed at what the boys learn and am really pleased I pushed for him to be involved in an organization like Scouting clear back in first grade.

Needless to say, Tom and I are extremely proud of our little Boo. He is 5'5 but he still shorter than me at 5'7 so I can still call him little. It is so amazing to watch him become a young man and I am blessed to be his mom.