Graduating - Dr. Alba

I have now graduated as of June 4, 2011. For those of you who don't know, I have been going to pharmacy school for the last 3 years. I obtained a Doctor of Pharmacy.  So yes, I am Dr. Jessica Alba. Sounds kinda funny, right? My dad tells people his daughter, Jessica Alba, is a doctor who sells drugs (like I haven't heard that one) haha.

I am so grateful for all of the people in my life who supported me and helped me through those incredibly ROUGH years - school friends, my parents, professors, Joel, and my Father in Heaven. I am also grateful for those people who thought I couldn't do it and wouldn't make anything of my life - sometimes they were the ones that made it easier to get through the tough times knowing that if I did I could prove them wrong. So many people have been wonderful and generous with their congratulations, especially Joel's Guelita and Tia Edna.  I am so blessed to have so many incredible people in my life! Thanks for everything. Without all these people and many blessings from heaven, there is no way I could have made it through.

Picture Hiatus and an Olivia Overload!

For some strange reason, after Christmas...I didn't take pictures until EASTER! Well, it's probably because I was SO busy with my rotation at the tim - being 80 hours a week, that pictures went to a back burner.  Not to mention that Joel used one of my SD cards for something and cleared it without downloading what was on it. So, Christmas Day and New Years Eve/Day of 2010 are deleted into the abyss. It made me sick when I found out. I just cried. He didn't mean to; he was just in a hurry to get something done. Still love him to pieces though :)

Since everyone in the family is an adult (with new addition of Little Lucas) - Olivia got to find TONS of eggs all by herself! She loved it. She got a little excited and wanted to start eating the candy in them before she was done finding the eggs. My Suegros must have spent a while hiding the eggs. I couldn't believe how many of them there were. But, they love their Oli. I may be a little biased, but she is seriously one of the cutest little girls in the WHOLE WORLD! I love this girl so much :)

Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas Eve. My favorite day of the WHOLE year! So many traditions. We always have fondue! YUMMY! We also have gift exchange and get the Christmas Pajamas. Christmas Eve has such an amazing spirit. I love it when it comes around! This is last year's fun experience :)

Mom and Dad are so cute :)

Oh grandma!

My sweetie is the BEST!

Just back from Basic Training...we thought a WWF belt would be appropriate.

Got these for each of the siblings at Six Flags!

I LOVE THIS GUY!!!

Joel Raymundo Alba - 26 Years of Life

This man is the Love of My Life.  I can't believe he is 26 years old today. In honor of his 26th birthday, I have come up with 26 things that I LOVE about my sweetheart.  There are a million things I could list...I just love him so much, and I love that I get to keep him forever :)

1. I love Joel's sense of style. He is so indie in his shorts, hoodie, and Toms. So cute :)

2. I love how Joel loves to make people laugh. Even just a smile when he knows they’re

    down.

3. I love the funny noises he makes just before falling asleep. I remember the first time I heard
    them - he had no idea.

4. I love that he can watch all of the Ocean's movies sequentially more than once and not
    grow tired of them.

5. I love his skills as an incredible videographer. He truly has found a profession that shows
    off his talents and gifts. 

6. I love his gorgeous eyes! I could stare at those milk chocolates ALL DAY!

7. I love his charisma. EVERYONE LOVES JOEL.

8. I love that I can't get a picture of Joel where he is smiling. He always has to make a funny
    face. (see above and below)

9. I love the way he laughs when he is doing something mischievous.


10. I love the way he tells me I look beautiful when I look like death warmed over.

11. I love that he loves movies just as much as I do. We watch everything together.

12. I love how we hate doing anything without the other. Everything revolves being together.

13. I love that we both LOVE to play games! Gamers for life.

14. I love his nicknames for me. They are so endearing.

15. I love Joel’s amazing voice, and especially when he serenades me to sleep.

16. I love staying up until 3am playing civilization when we both have to be to work the next
      morning.

17. I love that he still makes me breakfast in the morning, even when it's just toaster strudels
      or toaster waffles :)

18. I love the way he is so concerned when I'm not feeling well. He totally babies me.

19. I love that he is the best snuggler in the WORLD! I fall into his arms and everything is
      okay.

20. I love that he is the sweetest man alive - he does the little things in life that make our
      relationship romantic.

21. I love how insightful Joel is - he blows me away with the comments he makes.

22. I love how sweet Joel is with children. He is going to be an amazing dad.

23. I love how supportive Joel is. I never could have made it through grad school without him.

24. I love that Joel makes everything in my life better. 

25. I love that Joel is happy and we are immeasurably happy together.

26. I love how much Joel loves the gospel. Someone told me once that I should find a man
      that loves God because if he knows how to love God, he knows how to love me. I found
      that guy.

Happy Birthday Baby. I love you, forever.

Steve Jobs - Genius Extraordinaire

Steve Jobs
February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011

         As I was sitting at work yesterday, I received a phone call from my dear husband, Joel, informing me that one of the greatest minds of our time has passed on from this life.  Joel and I were so saddened to hear this distressing news. After a 7 year battle with pancreatic cancer, it finally overtook his body.  Pancreatic cancer has VERY small survival rate. As of 2009, the American Cancer Society stated that the 1-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is only 24%, and the overall 5-year survival is 5%. Steve bested the odds with 7.

         For those of you who don't know his name, I'm sure you know of his legacy. He has touched the lives of millions of individuals and families with his genius.  He is best known as the founder of Apple Inc.  He was also the co-founder of Pixar.  With Pixar alone, he brought to our homes Toy Story; A Bug's Life; Toy Story 2; Monsters, Inc.; Finding Nemo; The Incredibles; Cars; Ratatouille, WALL-E; Up; Toy Story 3; and Cars 2. So much joy was and is still brought into millions of lives because of this man. Films that shaped our generation.

         He is also the man that brought you, most famously, the iPod, iPhone, and iPad - among many others. These instruments have revolutionized the world. Everyone has been affected by this man's imagination.  Every corner of the entertainment industry has benefited from his inventions - music is readily accessible at the click of a button or touch of a screen, films are created and viewed, games played, pictures taken and edited, and phone calls and video chats made to loved ones. Think of how many thousands of people have had their dreams fulfilled because of the opportunities provided by this man. 

These are some of the things that have been said of him since his passing:

Walt Disney's CEO, Bob Iger -
"Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted adviser. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the businesses he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the lives he changed, and the culture he defined. Steve was such an "original," with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era. Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started. With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend."

Steven Spielberg - 

"Steve Jobs was the greatest inventor since Thomas Edison. He put the world at our fingertips."

Mark Zuckerberg - 

"Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world."

Apple Inc. -

"We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today. Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives.  The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family.  Our hearts go out to them and all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts."

       He was an inspiration to so many of us - making us feel as though our simple actions can better the world.  These are his words from a graduation commencement soon after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer:

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life...Don't let the noise of others opinions drown out your inner-voice. And, most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become."

So, let us live our dreams as he did. Life's too short to not love what we do and those around us. Steve lived his dreams in his short 56 years while battling a pain crippling cancer and a liver transplant. If Jobs can do it, so can I. He is the embodiment of the words, "Be the change you want to see in the world".

       I said to Joel last night, "Is it lame that I feel so sad about his passing? I didn't even know him." Joel confidently responded, "Yes you did. We all did. He put his heart and soul into his inventions." I think he is right. We all knew him because we know his products. His spirit will live on through all of us and through his inspired inventions.  Steve Jobs provided us with a better world, and has left his mark with all of us  - it happens to look like this:

 

We miss you already.

Page Family Christmas Party 2010

I LOVE this party! Maybe I'm just a party person because I find myself saying that a lot lately. I just love this family SO much! You'll notice the million pictures of Grandma Page below...SHE IS SO CUTE! She has so many faces - so dramatic. Thank heaven I got this posted before the Christmas Season came around this year...

Brecca and Nicc

Gma and Gpa Page's Children - Lauralee, Jennifer, Bonnie, Jim, Mike, Brent