Paddy Cake. Titty kickin' style.

This is it.

The highlight of my Youtube history, sure I love the video's of my kids. But this one.

This one video I have been searching for over a month for. It was saved onto an SD card. Once I figured out how to bring up video's via Youtube, through my SD reader I searched my SD's looking for it.

I grew sad, not finding it. Until I was going through a basket of papers to file (from last year) at the bottom of the basket was 3 SD cards!! And the missing video.

This video is from the summer of 2006. Bagel was just a baby. Maybe a few months at the most.

We were over at my parents house, Queen and Carrots, and my Gramma Alice was visiting too. She LOVED to visit Bagel. The way her face would just light up when she could hold her or feed her a bottle.

Gramma SO wanted to hear Bagel talk, or feed her table food. Sadly my Gramma never got to do any of that. She passed away when Bagel was just 6 months old. She did live 90 long years, with many children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even 3 great, great grand children!

This is the only video of her and Bagel I ever took. I cherish it, and am glad to share it with you. Trust me. It's awesome.





I miss you Gramma. Everyday. I love you so much. I wish you could see Bagel grow up, and I wish you could have met Weaky. They know of you, I show them your picture and share your story. Thanks for this video.

(and yes people. She is saying "Titty")

Bagel and her memory

As I go to tuck Bagel into bed for the umpteenth time tonight. (she has a little cold and is extra dramatic and needy.) I lay down next to her and we have the one of many cute conversations about her day.

At the adorable age of 3 year and almost 4 months, Bagel is quite the talker. She remember stories, events and details SO clear now. She recalls things that happened weeks or months ago, and even old stories I have told her.

After a long discussion about her day at her tumbling class. Her new skill of the balance beam with out Miss Terry's hand this week, and how she loves the "jumpy thingy with the bar" or the mini trampoline that has these side bars to hold onto. (Perfect for little kid jumping.)

We then get into a discussion about Little Bagel. She says when she was a teeny tiny baby (holding up her finger and thumb to show me how little she once was) and I would tell her stories. She asked me to tell her about Great Gramma.

Well that narrows it down to 4 Great Gramma's, all in whom I have told her stories about. So I ask her, which Great Gramma. She said "You know, Papa's mommy"

(Bagel is 5 days old, here with her Great Gramma Alice who was 89 1/2 years old)

I smiled, and took a deep breath, (it will be 3 years this November that Great Gramma Alice has been gone) I said to her "The story about how excited Great Gramma would get when you would come to see her." I continued with "and how she would just hug and kiss you, she wanted to see you grow up." "She often would ask you to talk to her" even though at that young age Bagel wasn't even a babbler yet.

She then asked me "Where does Great Gramma Alice live?" tears ran down my face. As I quickly remembered how much I miss my Gramma. I then told her that "ALL you great Gramma's are watching over you from a place called Heaven. And when you go there you get to be an angel. They keep you safe, and are so proud of you and Weaky"

She then notices that I am crying, and asks if I am happy. I told her that I was just happy, but I just missed all her Great Gramma's since they live somewhere else now.

Then she did the secret family sign for I Love You, then before completely bawling my eyes out, I controlled myself, kissed her head, and said goodnight.

It amazes me how she is remembering stories, and facts. How she is learning to watch for others feelings too. I am sad that she won't remember any of her Great Grandmothers, but I am happy that two of them were able to see her for a short period of time.

But what I can do is tell her often stories of her family, show her pictures, and remind her and Weaky of her family past. To know how important it is to never let the memory fade. These are the reasons I blog, I scrapbook and I have a family tree.

Those people. They are a part of me. And a part of my history.

A wedding reception to remember (at least the first half)

Congrats to my second cousin Sabby & her new guy Owski. They got married yesterday. I missed the wedding for many reasons (It was raining, it was outside, I would have had to go by myself with the two kids, Spaghetti had to work) SO with that many reasons to NOT go, I saved all my energy and we all went to the reception.


Let me start off by telling you a bit about this family of mine. This would be my VERY loud Italian side of the family, this is my dad's sister's granddaughter getting married. AND they were all raised on farms. Nothin' against my farm family. But they are loud, Italian, NOT afraid to get dirty, pushy, wild, drunk, bare foot, yehaa lovin' people that I love and adore.


Now lets get ALL these people dressed up and attend the reception. It started out beautiful! Of coarse the open bar couldn't even open fast enough. And we did get a family portrait (myself with Bagel, Weaky and Spaghetti, also Francis, and the Queen and Carrots too) this was one of the Queen's wishes since forever! I hope they turn out good!


We all looked nice (I found a long black & white dress at Target for $7, it was an XS! In maternity!!) Bagel wore a pretty pink & white sun dress. While Weaky wore cord pants, and a red & tan plaid shirt (and his little converse shoes!) Spaghetti was in black pants white shirt, & tie. (no point in me telling you our attire, just wanted to paint the whole picture)


It was great seeing my family. My aunt & uncle live in Florida 1/2 the year, so when I do get to see them I enjoy it. And when they moved to Florida, my two cousins, Runner (Ultramarathon runner, all over the world) and Sabby's brother Speedy (busted a few times for speeding) live there. And cousin Movie Guy (works with stars on movies. He does costume and wardrobe) lives in cali. So seeing them, and each of the cousins has 2-3 kids each, so it's a BOAT LOAD of people, and always lots of fun.

So we are all over, the mother of the bride, and her sister, and the other brother, my dads Mini Me, they all live in the next town over from me. (so I do see them the most)


Alright to the reception...
The bridal party comes in, introduced as usual. Then the d.j. spins... Lady Gaga and the Disco Stick song... THAT is what the bride and groom came into...

???

...

!!!

...


Really? In front of family? Maybe I am just old, and being married over 8 years and all, but seriously there are some FUN songs out there to come in to, but the Disco Stick song? Eww.


The kids had a BLAST, this was our first family wedding, they loved the music, and the d.j. had a bubble machine so that was the highlight for most the kids. Runner and Movie Guys kids did some synchronized dance moves that entertained us all, (two boys about 8 yrs old, one in plaid shirt, tie and glasses, the other with a crew cut, turquoise tshirt, and black tie) they were great!


Queen and Carrots danced, as I danced with Weaky, and Spaghetti with Bagel, then Carrots danced with my sister Francis, and even caught my dad dancing with his sister. I even snuck in a few slow songs with Spaghetti. Seeing the love and the memories in that room were great. Even a fun "Cupid Shuffle" with everyone!


Then the d.j. had one to many (he once worked with Sabby) long islands. WHY he felt the need to drink while working was besides me. He was drunk, gawdy, and was one of those assholes that jump around on the dance floor like a complete tool. Not to mention he would forget to play music, and there were minutes of nothing being played at all. He played ONLY Lady Gaga for at least 20 minutes. And was always at the bar.


Never mind that I asked for Coldplay's Viva La Vida so Spaghetti and Bagel could dance, we were too busy being entertained by the freakshow who has lost his jacket, and is now ripping his sleeves off his dress shirt to Madonna's "Like a Virgin" all while karokee-ing it and attempting to dance on the dance floor.

We missed out on the d.j. doing back flips and the feeling up of the brides maids. I did get to see when he dry humped Sabby, the groom should have knocked him out right there. It was tacky and we left early because of it.

I did enjoy the earlier part, before the d.j. misunderstood that it was NOT his party, it was his job. The wait staff had there mouths on the floor, wondering where they picked this asshat up from.

(I will be checking Youtube.com for the video that some of the guests took, and promised to put online!)


Sp today is the anniversary party for my aunt & uncle (Happy 50 years!) and so I am hoping there will be NO d.j. and just family enjoying each other like we always do!

Congrats again Sabby & Owski, I hope you two rock your new life together! Sabby your twin girls are beautiful (born 3 months after Bagel) I hope they give you a run for your money, your mom would be happy with that!(ha ha!!)

November 19th 2006

It was a cold November day, a Sunday. My parents called and asked if I wanted to meet them over at my cousins house. To visit with Gramma. She had been sick with a cold, and I was apprehensive with Bagel, since she was so young, I didn't want her to get sick too.

But I went, it had been a few weeks since I had seen Gramma, and I knew how she lit up when I would bring Bagel to see her. I remember sitting on the couch in Kim's front room, with Gramma, everyone else bsing in the kitchen.

Gramma just didn't want to take her eyes off Bagel. She was just amazed at her. Now in 90 years, 15 grandkids, almost just as many great grand kids, and Bagel being one of them, and she even had 3 great great grandkids, well I just didn't get the excitement over one more.

I do know that I was lucky to have Gramma around. Frances and I were the daughters of Gramma's baby boy. My dad was born to my Gramma when she was 34! And back in that day, you started with kids way earlier. So yeah, I don't think my dad was planned. She had already had a set of twin boys, and two girls.

So when my parents had me and Frances, it was like starting all over again for Gramma. Most of my cousins were around when my parent got married, some where in the wedding! And I am closer to my cousin's kids age, then my actual cousins.

Gramma lived just a few miles up the road. My one aunt lived in Florida, the other in Arizona (hi Scuz!) one of the twin uncles passed away 3 months before I was born, and the other uncle, well he did his own thing.

My dad and mom were always, and still are extremely close with family, and so every Sunday we would go to church, then to eat, then visit with my Gramma (Grampa too) all day.

My mom is a Holiday fanatic! She always decorates, and hosts some kinda food. So every Easter, 4th of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Birthday (cept her own, then my Gramma would cook) Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas eve and Day. Gramma would be over.

It's true I didn't realize how lucky I was to always have Gramma around, until she was gone. It makes me happy that she was able to meet Bagel. She was staying with my aunt in Florida when she was born, but was home to see her just a few days after she was born.

Gramma loved to see Bagel, and my parents just moved to there new house in the woods. My Gramma loved to stay with my parents, and if Bagel was staying over even better! 6 months of Bagels life my Gramma loved and cooed over her.

I know that Gramma is happy now. She missed my Grampa John, and after 90 years, she was good to go. Being as young as I am it was hard for me to let her go. I know that I didn't have as many years as my cousins did, but the years I had were full of her.

Years that I hope I never forget. I will always talk to Bagel and Spike about there Great Gramma A. And there Great Gramma W., Grampa John, and Great Gramma Mc. It's important to talk and remind your kids about family.

I don't talk about Gramma with sobs and tears, and it has taken two years to really grasp that she is gone, and it's ok. Life goes on, and with some pretty kick ass angels watching over us, It's going to be all right.

Thanks for the memories Gramma. You living to 90, just shows me that 30... well 30 is just 1/3 of what you did in your life time. I can't wait for the other 60. You are loved and greatly missed, (damn it, I wasn't going to cry...) I love you.

Miss you.

J.

The last time I saw you

(My Gramma A. seeing Bagel for the first time. She was 7 days old. Gramma A was 89)

I was going through Bagels blog (yes her and Spike have there own) and I came across the blog on there, I didn't think I had posted to it but I did. It was mostly rambling and just what was going on at the time. It was November 20 2006 when I did the blog entry. I talked about what Bagel had done the few days prior, I must have had all intention of keeping up with the blog there. (3 months before I met Blogger)

I then realized that in my rambling I had mentioned that on Sunday the 19th of November, I had visited my Gramma A, over at my cousins house. (she had moved there the year prior) she was just 90.

It was amazing when I would bring Bagel to see her. Even though she lived with my cousin and her daughter just had twins. Gramma A always just lite up, and would gush and make the biggest deal out of Bagel. I did appreciate it, and I am lucky she was able to meet my daughter. I am sad that she never got to meet Spike.

That day, November 19th, was the last time I would ever see my Gramma A. she passed away the next week. Bagel will never personally know her Great Gramma A. but I show her pictures and talk about her. Just like I talk about my Gramma W. and Spaghetti's Gramma Mc.

Gramma A. got to spend 6 months with Bagel, and I am lucky for that. I miss you Gramma. I still go to ask if your coming over to make ravioli's, or what time your coming over for the holidays. I know it's been 2 years, but it seems like yesterday.

We miss you. Love you.