Piano Lessons

Jaida came to visit again.

5-Star Scotty:
Jaida, today we're doing something not quite as exciting as Husky Honks, but exciting nevertheless.

5-Star Scotty:
Today I'm going to give you your first piano lesson. This song is called "Candle In the Wind".

Jaida:
I tell you what's windy, is that I'm not the one playing the piano.

(Doesn't she look like Raneeza here?)

5-Star Scotty:
But your arms are too short to reach the keys without you falling over. So we'll play with your feet instead. 

Jaida:
Uncle Scotty, I want to play the candle song on the piano...

5-Star Scotty:
You have to earn your piano time, Jaid. You must put in your share of pull-ups. So pull! Pull! Pull!

Jaida:
I like pull-ups better than tummy time. Same time next week, Uncle Scotty?

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The Making of a Husky

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5-Star Scotty and Jaida talkin' football while listening to the Dave "Softy" Mahler radio show.

 5-Star Scott:
College football is everything there is to know, Jaid. It takes a lot of know-how to be in the game and for the game. 

5-Star Scotty:
Some people will have you believe that it's all about touch-downs. But it isn't...

5-Star Scotty:
The defense is as every bit essential as the touch-down. Repeat after me, DEFENSE!

Jaida:
DEFENSE! AAAARG!

5-Star Scotty:
The UW Huskies is our team. We are purple and gold!

Jaida:
Uncle Scotty, is Sonya a husky?

5-Star Scotty:
[Sigh] No. She's a Doberman Pinscher. But if you want, we can dress her up as a Husky, in purple and gold.

Jaida:
Uncle Scotty, I want to be a Husky!

5-Star Scotty:
Then you have to put in your tummy time. It's not easy to be a Husky, you have to earn it.

Jaida:
[Oh boy, tummy time is no fun...]

Jaida:
Must... Do... Tum... Mee... Time! I want to be Husky...

Jaida:
[Two minutes later]
Waaaaaaaaaah! I don't wanna do tummy time!

Jaida:
Can't I just wear purple and gold to be a Husky?

And so, in true Auntie Netty fashion sense, Jaida puts on her PURPLE
 
[shhh, it's really lavender, but don't tell Jaida!]

pants, leopard

[whatever Uncle Scotty says, leopards are a gagillion degrees distant cousin to Cougars]

print onesie, and hot pink socks. Mayet will love this outfit! Well, the leopard print anyway.

Jaida:
Thanks so much for the Husky talk Uncle Scotty. Same time next week?

Woof!


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Fashion for Jaida

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Jaida Hope.

She spend the night with us.

This is the same smile she greeted us with in the morning.

And when she took a bath, she smiled the same. Oh, sweet, darling baby girl!

If she only knew my sense of fashion, she might not have the same smile. Her mama, Mayet, packed plenty of onesies for her. Oh, the choices.

Flowers...

Polk-a-dots...

And the all esseantial, Mayet style leopard print.

And because it's MY day with Jaida Hope, I'll choose the flowers... Of course, in true Auntie Netty fashion sense, she is wearing the green socks that clash with the flowers.

Jaida doesn't care about what she's wearing. So long as she's comfortable, she can wear whatever Auntie Netty dresses her in. Right, Uncle 5-Star?

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Sweet Jaida Hope

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She sleeps so soundly.

She eats with such gusto.

 

 If this is what angels' breath smells like, then I am in heaven right now.

 

And when she gazes at me with adoration, then I know I am the most blessed person on earth at this very moment.

This is Jaida Hope. Mayet's newest bundle of joy. My goddaughter.


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I Confess: Gimme a Break

I was just in the Philippines, from July to August. Every time I'm there I lose weight. My hips jiggle a little less, and my tummy actually gains some semblance of a flat landscape. I attribute to the heat, which lessens my appetite, for which I eat fish, fish, and more fish. On this trip I laid over in Korea for the first time, with not enough time to shop, at which time most of the shops were closed for that matter. It was in the wee hours of the night. So I didn't buy any "souvenirs", of which I prefer the edible kinds.

This morning I was cleaning out a cupboard. And much to my pleasant surprise, I found this. A remnant of my last trip through Japan.

And this is how the jiggles start to re-build. It always starts with an excuse. Oh, it's only a hundred calories per packet! I reason. I'll save the second packet for tomorrow. Right!

But then I can't seem to stop with only one packet. Next thing I know I've consumed the entire box of KitKat. 

And then I turn to Nutella to drown my depression for having consumed the last of the Green Tea KitKat. And then all that fish diet becomes a mere memory of hot and humid days spent on an island far, far away from fast food and ice cream.

I just can't get a break!

And now I'm going to eat another tablespoonful of Nutella to console myself.


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I Confess: A Love Affair

All my life I've passed you by, without a care in the world.

When you were mentioned in conversation, I changed the subject.

They ranted and raved about how good you are, and I scoffed.

Only because you sounded so... foreign?

Only because I couldn't imagine your dark complexion to be so desirable.

Only because you have a funny name.

Why did I ever keep you out of my life? I cannot quit this torrid affair I'm having with you!

I'll speak French for you...

I'll go bananas without you...

Oh Nutella...

Jamesie of the Pool

Tita V and Uncle E live up north, in a gated neighborhood that boasts a club house, tennis courts, and a very warm pool. For his birthday, we were all invited to enjoy his neighborhood amenities for the day. I think it's safe to bet  that Jamesie Cat had the most fun. He swam with his mommy, Cousin Ain.

He rode on Grandpa E's back.

And he even got to play with the big boys.

I didn't notice what Jamesie Cat was wearing until Cousin Christine's Oldest Son threw him out of the pool. My first impression was Sponge Bob Square Pants. 

Cousin Christine's Oldest Son just started college this year. If you don't remember, HERE was his high school graduation night.

Cousin Christine's Oldest Son can do the butterfly stroke.

Cousin Ain's Oldest Son prefers the American Crawl.

And here's Jamesie Cat not looking like Sponge Bob Square Pants anymore. A kid who skips is a happy kid. Because he just spent the whole day in the pool.