My 2 New Favorite Videos

I absolutely love this video of my niece and Uncle Bobo singing together!!!

Click here: Teagan and Jairus sing Roosevelt Franklin 

(If the link about doesn't work, just Google: "You-Tube Teagan and Jairus Sing Roosevelt Franklin")

I just absolutely love it!!!!! And I love how kicked back and casual they are--as casual as one can be while wearing a tiara while sitting in a hammock!

And then there was this awesome video from August 17--the day the movie Turbo came out. Let's backtrack a little. Towards the end of June, my nephew, Van and I were talking about movies and we also talking about getting together with my friend Vivian and her grandson and maybe seeing Turbo together when it came out.

Now mind you, when I said, "When it comes out..." it meant something totally different to me than to Van. To me it meant "sometime after the movie is released." To him it meant "the day it comes out."

So, it came out on the 17th....and I learn that Van thinks we are going to the movies that day and he was up early, hair done, and dressed up... Well, I couldn't leave him hangin' now could I so, I showered & got a little dressed up too, and, later, received this video.

How could you not love that??? We had a grand time at the movie and went out for a quick bite to eat after. It was really quite fun! 

I am one lucky Auntie!!!

Last Year On This Date

Last year on this date, I posted this letter to my nephew, Demetri, and later that day, my mom & I went to the honor him by scattering his rose petals in the river at a local park....

Look, Mom, No Hands!

  Gotta say these 2 are my favorite pictures!!!

I love his smile!!!

Talk about joy!!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Sweet Boy

So, I made a little  birthday video for a friend of mind. But it is too large to upload to a private msg on FB or to email, so now I am resorting to posting it here. Which is really nearly as private since no one really reads my blog (except maybe my mom) as far as I can tell, which is fine with me. It's more of a diary than anything else. :-)

Today is the day my friend (we've never actually met in real life, but only through Facebook & blogging) gave birth to her 3rd child, knowing since 20 weeks gestation that sweet little Joshua had a congenital heart defect and would face many difficulties and surgeries outside the womb and that he might not make it at all. Joshua was a valiant little warrior who fought for over 50 days and endured many medical interventions, but in the end he went home to be with Jesus.

So today, Jill & her family observed Joshua's 2nd birthday without him there to celebrate with them. I can't imagine how difficult that would be as a parent...I've glimpsed it through my brother and sister-in-law, and know the grief of an aunt who misses a nephew, but I do not and cannot begin to imagine how that must feel to a parent. 

But I do know that I want these special friends of mine, whom I've yet to meet in real life, (Jill, Kristine, Heather) to know that they are not alone, their precious children are not forgotten, and that I stand with them in their grief and in their journeys toward healing...through the thick and the thin. Because I love them!

So....

Dear Jill,

My mom is so sweet & knows me well & even went out & got cupcakes for today before I woke up knowing I would want to observe Joshua's birth today. She prays for your family too as I read your blog to her and the funny things Caleb & Hannah are always saying.  My 3 y.o. niece loved celebrating Joshua (& so did my mom and I). She had us put on special party clothes & jewelry...and she wore a crown.

It was not at all strange to her to celebrate my friend's baby's birthday, nor was it strange when I said he lived in heaven with God. According to her, she sees angels all the time. I believe her. :-) 

She also decided that since we were celebrating, that it would also be her new invisible friend's birthday (Wilbur apparently turned 3 today) so that is why she has 2 plates in front of her: 1 is Wilbur's and she did NOT touch his cupcake! I think she thought it odd that Joshua & I shared a plate!

Anyway, I wanted to share a little bit more of our birthday party for Joshua and tell you that I love you and have been thinking of you and Shane today and praying for you both as I know this is a bittersweet day. 

Your little love-bug is never far from my mind and will never be forgotten. 

❤  xoxo ❤ 

Mary

Wearing a CPAP is...Fun?!?

Heck yeah! Especially if you're 3 years old!

Doesn't she make sleep apnea look fun? She made it look so fun my nine year old niece, Kenyan, and seven year old nephew, Van, were soon up there trying it out. Van even strapped the whole thing on! But did I manage to have the camera with me? No! Like I fool I left laying on the table downstairs! Sometimes I could just kick myself!

A Very Happy Birthday...

A Very Happy First Birthday to my sweet darling nephew Dante!!! I love you sooooo much! You bring so much joy and love to our lives...it's indescribable! You are definitely the treasure at the end of a rainbow! Mwah!!!

Cousin Teagan, Gramma, & I made this video for you 1st thing this morning!

Look of this whole year of joy you've brought to your mommy and daddy!

And you have brought joy and love to all who have met you too! Can't wait to celebrate with you tomorrow!
Love,
Your Auntie M

A Look at Christmas...

So...as usual, I took waaaaaaaaay too many pictures at Christmas. And since I figured those who did actually look at my blog wouldn't want to scroll through a jillion pictures that might mean a lot to me, but little to them, I cleverly spent forever making them into a very simplistic video. Really simplistic. But I did add music, so be a little impressed, k?

If you are clever, you will notice the posting date on this says January 9th. That was the day I started to make the video and was going to add the music and then got distracted, so here we are 10 days later with me actually posting the video as I remembered to add the music and do so. Seeing as I've been snowed in for a week, you think I would have done so sooner. But it was only because I wanted to share some of my snow pictures that I ever realized that I had never actually put this posting up. Scatter-brain!

Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

Notice that baby Jesus has moved into a castle...no stinkin' stable for him!

Someone who is only 10 months old is saying, in addition to "Mama" and "Dadda/Dad": "What is That?" and "What is It?" and "Pretty!" (for all the Christmas decor) and "Horsie" (notice the rocking horse on the tree!). So smart!

Polar Express and Hot Chocolate

Ice Cream on a Cold Day? Why Not???

 Fibromyalgia Friends Holiday Luncheon

(aka my Pain-in-the-Ass-Group...at least that's what I like to call it!)



The holiday lights on Whidbey Island as viewed from the ferry....



Hope Your Holidays Are Merry and Bright!!!

Last Year on This Day

My thoughts on: November 13, 2010

I Miss Dante

I miss Dante!!!! It's been too long since we've seen him!!! Now he is fully crawling and pulling himself up on things.  As you can see here or here or here. Is he adorable or what?!?!

Adorable!!!!!!!

Can't wait till Sunday...It's Ava's birthday party and Team DJD will be in attendance!!! Yay!!!!!!! As will Teams TMT... And TSV.

In other words, Dante, Teagan, and Van will be here, along with their parents. And Lori!!!! (Ava's Mimi from CA.) Can't wait !!!

In the meantime, I have to content myself with reading about Dante on his mommy's blog... Dang, he's cute!!!


(Thanks, Danielle, for letting me steal pix and videos from your blog!)

Local Entertainment

How to keep an (almost) 6 month old...and (almost) 65 year old entertained?

Bring in Ava Celeste, the music video producer and choreographer!

This went on for more than an hour. Dante was fascinated (and, I think, slightly confused!). I had a hard time not laughing hysterically the entire time!

Independance Day

The fourth of July was absolutely beautiful here in WA (finally)!!! And we all headed out to Whidbey Island to celebrate the holiday at James and Danielle's with a traditional American dinner: BBQ hamburgers and hot dogs and apple pie. It was a glorious day!

We also had incredible entertainment...

Dante practiced rolling over:

Brianna and Teagan sang us duets:

Teagan and Ava blew bubbles:

And then Dante bounced and danced for us~it is truly amazing how fast he can go!!!!

The whole day was lovely...even "The Mountain" came out to celebrate the day. And the sunset was gorgeous...the setting sun turning the snow peaked mountains a  lovely pink.

Mt Rainer aka "The Mountain"

The day ended with spectacular fireworks~all around us: down in the valley, up in the hills...and right over our house! Our new neighborhood goes all out with fireworks! This was shot off  by a neighbor and blossomed right outside my bedroom window!