Tamale Season...I mean Christmas Season is Here!

Twas the month before Christmas and all through the house was the smell of tamales watering my mouth. Ok, I know the real reason for the season is the birth of our Savior but I also know that along with Christmas comes tamales. Isella and the girls have been hard at work making tamales and I have been hard at work eating them. This is going to be our 3rd Christmas in our house and I'm excited that I am going to be able to take some time off this year. The suite is going through some remodeling so I don't think it is going to be a relaxing vacation but well worth it. We were the first in our neighborhood to put up our Christmas decorations this year but I think I am going to add some more because the neighbors are upping their game so I got to get into Clark Griswold mode and step up our game. We have so many blessings to be thankful for this year and can't wait to spend time with family and friends.

One of our decorations :)

 

oh the life of a princess...

Halloween in the Suite

I've never been much for Halloween but since we became home owners I've really enjoyed decorating the house for the Holidays. Here are some pictures of the Halloween decorations.

Insta-Graham

Actually I think this is a snapchat picture but I couldn't think of a clever title to go with snapchat. Mia loves to take these pictures but I don't get the big deal with this app. Other than the flowers on my head it looks exactly like me.

IT'S ON DR. KWON!!!

I left my last doctors appointment with every intent on finding a new doctor that wouldn't call me morbidly obese and tell me that I would be on medication the rest of my life but after a calming drive home I decided that I would keep him just to prove him wrong. Maybe it was his attitude or that he didn't remember me from 2 weeks prior but either way I will use his negativity as motivation to lose weight, lower my cholesterol and lose the diabetes. So mark my words Dr. Kwon, I don't accept your diagnosis and I got your "Morbidly Obese" right here (I'm grabbing my junk BTW).

I was athlete of the year so you can suck it Dr. Kwon

Sad Day in the Suite

Saturday was a rough day in the suite with the passing of Michelle's boyfriend Dominic. Dom had been bravely battling cancer on and off for the past 7 years and I won't say that cancer won but I like to think that the Lord didn't want him to be in pain anymore so He brought him home. In the year or so that Michelle and Dominic had been dating I never heard him once complain or let it affect his positive attitude. He was always extremely polite and made sure that he greeted Isella and I and shook my hand every time he came over. Being an old school dad I've made every effort to be as intimidating as I could be to any boy who comes calling for my baby but Dom made it really hard for me to keep up my act since he was such a good kid. The kid had guts too. I caught him trying to "round the bases" once and even though he knew I was pissed he had the stones to look me in the eye, shake my hand and say good night before he left. Any other kid would have hightailed it out of there and that's when I really started to respect him. I'm sure there will be a lot more boys knocking at my door for all of my girls but I don't think any of them will measure up to Dominic.


I'm really grateful for the time Michelle got to spend with him and I know that she will forever cherish her relationship with Dominic. I pray that my baby will always honor his memory by continuing to be a loving, brave, responsible and caring girl who loves God and loves people. I also pray for all of Dom's family and friends who are grieving and pray that our Lord comforts them by knowing Dominic is with the Lord, free of pain and watching over us until we see him again.


"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds"  Psalm 147:3


Here are a couple pictures of Michelle and Dominic from prom.

Graham Cracker Mosh Pit

Thanks to Nino, Daddy got to see Metallica live at the Rose Bowl. I liked our seats at the side of the stage but didn't really use it once they went on. It was a great show and I had a blast tailgating with my boys before the concert. I wanted to go in the mosh pit but I figured I am too old for that kind of stuff now so I just did some crowd surfing. 😁 I didn't take as many pictures as I should have but here are a couple, one from our seats and one of me, Nino, Eddie and his 13 year old son. Eddie and I wrestled together in high school. His son looks miserable, probably because Nino was hammered and talking his ear off but hopefully he had fun at the concert.



I love it when she calls me Big Papa

Sarah, Bella and Eric came over last weekend to celebrate Sarah's birthday and they gave me a belated Father's day gift that was the best ever! It's a coffee mug with a little message from Bella. In case you can't read it, it says "Dear Papa, thanks for being my Papa. If I had a different Papa, I would punch him in the face and go find you" Now that is poetry Graham Girl style. Love you too Bell.