The Vaneskahian Blog

Christmas 2011 with Marty

2011-12-04T14:38:00.004-06:00

Santa's message to Marty

Marty's response to Santa

Hey Guys!

2009-05-08T21:45:00.000-05:00

I didn't realize just how long it's been since I've blogged! Happy New Year!...Happy Valentines Day!...April Fools....Happy Easter...wow! It's almost Summertime! I've had a very busy Winter and Spring. Let me tell you all about it....

Tonight my school, The Reading Ranch, had a rodeo! What a blast that was! We had barrel racing with stick ponies, and you’ll see here that I was in the roping category with the assistance of our wonderful School Director, Miss Kim. We even had a real rodeo announcer!! Thanks Miss Kim!

I'm soooo excited to finally have my "big boy" room complete. You know, Mommy started the project last Fall, about the time she went back to work. Big Mistake!! Guess what took priority! You guessed it, it wasn't my room! I spent Thanksgiving and Christmas in an empty room with only a bed and half painted red walls and the other half still pale yellow from my nursery. Finally, Mommy brought in a professional to finish the paint job- "Gumball Red" is the paint color and my room is now a "nautical theme" complete with Cousin J.D.'s former boat bed that John Daddy and Uncle John had built for him, nautical flags on the walls and other cool stuff. Check out all of the photos in our album.

In February we headed back to Florida for a visit with the Vaneskahians and Llabonas. It was my Abuela and Abuelos 40th Wedding Anniversary and they had a big party. I met some new relatives and got to play with my cousins, including Paolo who came all the way from Uruguay. Of course, I danced all night with all of the women! Mommy and Daddy and I also went to DisneyWorld on what was the coldest day in Florida history I think- it was about 40 degrees with a wind chill in the 30s! But we had fun and Daddy was very happy because Mommy didn't make us stay till the parks close like she usually does. We went to the Animal Kingdom for the first time and even the animals were freezing!

I've been having a great time at my school. Last Fall they moved me from the 4 year old Preschool Class into Ms. Sarah's class, which is a Kindergarten Class and I'm learning a lot of math and reading! In fact, I'm reading at 30 words per minute now. Mommy and Daddy are very happy with my progress. Daddy and I work on my homework in the evenings- yes I do have homework in Kindergarten! We also have spelling tests on Friday!

Each week in my class a different student gets to be "Star Of the Week" which means you get to bring a different thing for show 'n tell each day of that week. I waited and waited until it was "my week." I had already planned what I was going to bring! On the last day students are invited to bring their pet to school. I was kinda sad since all of our pets had died in the last year, but Uncle Tommy cheered me up! He and NayNay (Renee) put Tony in the horse trailer and brought him up to Allen for all of the kids to see and have pony rides at school! I was soooo excited and was definitely a star that day! See all of the photos of that day here!

And, speaking of rides...I got to go for a ride on Mr. Lee's tractor out on his farm! Mr. Lee and Miss Brenda live next door. They are my favorite neighbors! Mr. Lee has a tractor that he takes to his farm and one day they invited me to come along and help work on the farm. You know, I'm really a big help! See my photo riding along with Mr. Lee! Later we had a long talk about tractors...and farms...and motors...and airplanes...you know, most all of my conversations end in airplanes! Well anyway, I had a great time! I love hanging out with Miss Brenda, and also with her daughter Brittany too. Brittany comes over to play with me sometimes too! She's been helping me with my basketball, and likes to play with my Legos.

While we are on the subject of Legos, I've been building lots of things on my Legos table that Santa brought. So many that Daddy started a photo album of all of our creations. Mommy is in on it too! She built a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired house with a big tree out front and a dog house in the back, and she helped me with an airplane and a race car. Daddy and I have been working on cars and a helicopter. I built a four-wheeler all by myself, along with lots of varied aircrafts. I'm really enjoying my Legos! Mommy and I went to the Lego Education Center in Southlake to sign me up for Summer Camp there. It was so cool that we decided to book my birthday party there too. She's very impressed with herself to have plans that far ahead!! So save the date- Marty's BIG 5 is scheduled for August 29th!

Not only am I already scheduled for Lego Camp in July, but I'm registered for Zoo School this summer at the Fort Worth Zoo. I'll be staying with Grandma and John Daddy that week! I'm also registered for a Swim Lessons Boot Camp in June. I'm not sure what "boot camp" means, but I think it's a little different style of learning then the lessons I was taking at the Natatorium last month. I've had a lot of fun taking swimming lessons and playing in the pool with the other kids. I like to splash and kick and I can float on my back and paddle around. But I don't like to jump in or go underwater. I've heard Mommy say she's ready for me to "really swim," whatever that means...I'll let you know how Boot Camp goes! I'm also signed up for camp in early June at the Handwriting Clinic! My handwriting could use some improvement and the Clinic is supposed to be a fun place to learn how to write. My Abuela is bring my cousins Perla and Isabelle to stay for a week in June and we're going to Orlando in August. Then we will spend a long weekend in Miami with family and go on a cruise so my summer is filling up. Hmmmm...I think I remember Mommy saying just last month as she was driving me from school to basketball practice to swimming lessons that when summer hit that we were going to slow down.....

That dang Easter Bunny, he did it again! I wasn't going to let him fool me again this year! Again this year we spent Easter Weekend at Uncle John's lakehouse on Possum Kingdom Lake. What a great time we had! Aunt Sandy had lots for us to do! We decorated Easter cookies and dyed Easter Eggs. Grandma also brought us a Gingerbread Bunny House to decorate.

We flew a kite and went fishing! Uncle Vic bought worms-eeewwww! They were wiggly! J.D. and Carley had their big fishing poles and Grace had a little kid's fishing pole. But, I didn't have one and I really wanted to fish with everyone else. So, J.D. made me a cane pole! He found a big stick and tied the line onto it. I was SO proud of my fishing pole! I threw my line into the water and waited and waited, then I waited some more. Grace was catching some cute little catfish. J.D. had some fish on his line. Me? I had nothing! But I didn't give up! I kept putting my line back into the water. Finally- I pulled my line up and said, "Hey J.D.- I don't think I have any fish food on my line!" Even though I didn't catch any fish, I still had a great weekend. We built a fire pit and roasted marshmallows to make smores.

Now, about that bunny! Last year, Uncle John took all of the kids out for a boat ride. While we were out on the lake the Easter Bunny came and left. When we got off the boat there were eggs all over the yard and Mommy said I had just missed him! Well, I wasn't going to let that happen again. This year I brought my binoculars and I was on the lookout! I sat on the back steps and scanned the lake and the shorelines. J.D., Carley, Grace and I waited all day on Saturday for the Easter Bunny to come and bring us eggs. I carefully watch the water, hour after hour in case he was to come by boat. Finally we all decided to walk around and look for him and wouldn't you know it- he had come and gone again!! This time he left the eggs in the front yard on the side of the house NOT facing the lake! That tricky rabbit! Well, he left several hundred eggs so we all had plenty of candy to eat the rest of the day and for breakfast the next morning. See all of the photos from our weekend here.

Mommy's still working 4 days a week and we both take Wednesdays off from work and school. But this summer she's going to a 3-day work week so we'll have more time together. I'll go to the Reading Ranch on the days that she works, but it's just down the street from her office so I'll be close by.

Daddy and I have been spending lots of Saturday mornings at Lowe's doing their kids' projects and having a great time! I love wearing the goggles and using the hammer. It still makes Daddy a little nervous when he has to hold the nails when I'm swinging the hammer!

Well, I promise to write more often and I hope you will too! See all of our photo albums online by clicking here. Please keep in touch over the summer! Remember to wash your hands often! And, Happy Mother's Day to all of my favorite Mommys!

Love ya,

Marty a.k.a. Jean-Martin Garabet Vaneskahian

Happy Holidays from Marty!

2008-12-23T21:31:00.004-06:00

Our Christmas Card...CLICK TO ENLARGE

Dear Family and Friends,

Tomorrow night is it! The final decision will be made...will I have made the cut? It will be close! I hope I made the list. Just to get in a final good word, I visited Santa again tonight. I wanted to make sure he remembers me. And, I'm not sure how many times Mommy has actually talked to him. If she has as many times as she says...well it's coal for me! My friend, Ethan's Mom actually has Santa's phone number on Speed Dial of her cell phone! Man is he in trouble!!

I first put in my bid for a Lego table back when Santa first arrived in Allen around Thanksgiving. He seemed to really take a liking to me and remember me from last year. I thought I had it in the bag...so to speak! Here I am with him last month...

Then things got a little rough at school. I was moved to the Kindergarten class. Seems as though I can do Kinder level work...when I apply myself- though I'm not sure what that means yet. I know I'm reading pretty well for a 4 year old. But I sure do like to play at school! And, that does get me into trouble! I get a grade every day at school. An "E" is best. That's what Mommy and Daddy like to see every day. It means "excellent." A "G" means "good" and an "NI" is really bad- it means "needs improvement." I've only gotten that once, and let me tell you- it was a bad day! Lately I've been getting more G's than E's. You'd think that "good" would be good, but it's really not! Am I making sense? It's all very confusing. I think we just need Santa's system at school- "Naughty" or "Nice!" But I'm afraid of which list I'd be on!!

Anyway, back to what I was saying about Santa.... so today Mommy and I met Grandma, J.D. and Carley at the Gaylord Texan Hotel to see Santa one last time. Here's the photo from tonight- me and Santa. I made sure he knew that I'd be at Grandma and John Daddy's House on Christmas Eve. And I reminded him of the Lego table that I'd like to have. He didn't say no, so I'm assuming I'm still on the list!!

I hope that you are on the list too! From me, Mommy and Daddy- Have a wonderful Christmas or celebrated holiday of your choice! You can bet you'll be hearing from me in 2009!

Love ya lots,

Marty a.k.a. Jean-Martin Garabet Vaneskahian

Marty's Progress With Sight Words

2008-12-08T19:39:00.006-06:00

Marty is now 4 and a quarter years old. We have been working on his academic skills every single day. I am very happy with his progress and wanted to show off some of his skills with the sight words.

Watch the video below of Marty's sight words. We add to this list daily.

Happy Fall Y'ALL!

2008-11-16T15:51:00.033-06:00

Dear Friends and Family,

Whew, I'm getting this email out just in the "nick" of time! Pardon the pun....before Fall is over that is! Mommy knew we were missing the Fall deadline way back on Halloween Day when we rushed into Wal-Mart after school to buy some candy for the big night and the isle that before had tons of gummy body parts and chocolate pumpkins was now draped in red bows and was 200 feet of Christmas candy! And it wasn't even November 1st yet! I'm not allowed to repeat what she said as she raced around the store looking for the leftovers of candy for Halloween! Everyone would know she waited until the last minute if we handed out red and green Hershey's kisses that night.

And...what a night it was! It actually started long before that night. You know Mommy, we had to prepare for the perfect costume. I wanted to BE an airplane. A U.S. Navy Blue Angel F-18 to be specific. She convinced me to be a pilot! The costume would be easier she said...so she ordered me an "official" pilot's flight suit. Grandma and John Daddy actually gave it to me for my birthday. It has lots of cool patches with airplanes and helicopters and even one with my name as the pilot. Next stop was to the photo studio...ugh. I took my model F-16 Fighting Falcon airplane with me to get it's picture taken too. It's my coolest airplane- but it's NOT a toy! My favorite cousin, Charlie gave it to me. He's given me some great pictures of planes too. He works at Raytheon and they give them airplanes and pictures there! It must be a cool place to work!! I'm very careful with my model plane, I wouldn't even let the photographer touch it.

While we were at the photo studio Mommy took advantage of the shoot and had a few more pics taken while we were there. We had a picture taken of us for Daddy and my "4 year old" photos that I hadn't gotten taken back in September. That's something else she does every year is have professional photos taken on my birthday, but she's been really busy! Her part-time job has been very full-time lately!! You know, she organizes volunteers for the outreach programs to provide several hundred needy families with groceries of food for Thanksgiving, and more than 800 kids to be "adopted" at Christmas to make sure they all have lots of toys from Santa. It's a big job that takes hundreds of volunteer hours, so it takes lots of hours of planning in the beginning for her. She promises me that after Christmas we'll have more playdates together with friends, and she promises Daddy that she'll clean the house!!

In the mean time, I'm spending some extra days at school and getting a jump on my reading skills. I love going to the reading lab and Miss Kim says I'm very smart! And I also have some very good friends that I've made in my school. My teacher, Miss Maureen is very nice. I have gotten into some trouble lately for my behavior...sometimes I just want to do my "own thing." You know how it is for a 4 year old...but it lands me in Time-Out when I get home!

Each week we have Show-n-Tell on Fridays and we have to bring something that starts with the letter that we've been working on that week. I usually have an airplane that's named after that letter...well, except for the Letter P week when we couldn't find my "Predator" airplane and Letter G week when Mommy forgot about Show-n-Tell so she stopped and got granola snacks for everyone in the class on the way to school! She was a little stressed that morning!

So back to Halloween day... it started at school. My class had a fun party with big lunch, and games and even a pinata. Mommy came to school and helped with the party. She was even on the party planning committee! Then after Daddy got home from work in the evening we went trick or treating in our neighborhood. I didn't wear my new pilot suit however- the pants were a little long, so I wore last year's NASA Astronaut suit which was still REAL COOL! It was my first time to REALLY go door-to-door! What a secret everybody has been keeping from me! It was fabulous!! I stopped in to see my favorite neighbor first, Miss Brenda. She always has hugs for me! This time she had candy too! (Daddy was hoping she was handing out fudge so he came along! The pic below is of me and Miss Brenda.) You can see all of the Halloween Party and Trick or Treating Photos in our photo albums by clicking here!

Miss Brenda makes the best fudge! She has her own business now, Walden Farms Fudge. She's got lots of flavors- Mommy likes the peanut butter best, but me and Daddy like the Turtle Fudge! You can order all of her flavors on her website at http://www.waldenfarmsfudge.com/. Remember it for Christmas gifts, including gifts for me and Daddy!!

Earlier in October we spent the weekend out at Uncle John's lakehouse at Possum Kingdom Lake. It was BBQ Cookoff weekend at the lake and it's an annual event not to be missed! There was lots of good food, and some "grown-up" stuff going on all weekend. I had a good time playing with cousins J.D. and Carley. Aunt Sandy and Carley won first place for their cobbler AGAIN this year! (Above is a photo of J.D. and I hanging out at the BBQ.)

Each October is also the annual Alliance Airshow in Fort Worth. Mommy and Daddy and I went, of course!! This year the Air Force's Thunderbirds Aerobatic Airplanes were the main event of the show, but we had fun seeing everything all day.

I even got to sit in an F-16 airplane with the pilot!!! And Mommy said the pilot was "hot" though he didn't look sweaty to me. He was very nice. We also saw the new F-35 Joint Strikefighter that I have a model of- I had never seen the real one yet! That was exciting!

My pal, Rebecca just had her 4th birthday and celebrated with a great day at Celebration Park in Allen. Our friend, Brynna was there with lots of other friends and family. We had so much fun. But then we always do when we get together! Photos from her party are in our photo album too.

I can't let this blog go out without commenting on the recent presidential election. I stayed very involved throughout the process of both candidate's campaigns. I knew both men by name and sight, and though I didn't always recognize Senator Biden when he was flashed on the news, I did recognize Governor Palin on TV and Tina Fey when portraying her on Saturday Night Live. It's no secret that I was born into a divided household of Democrat and Republican. However, while this year Mommy tried to lay low as a Republican, Daddy went all out putting bumper stickers on his car proclaiming him one of the 3 lone "Collin County Democrats" and a sticker for Obama '08. Mommy says no matter what it says, "bumper stickers are tacky!" And while our front yard is divided half Republican, half Democrat, Daddy put a sign in his half of the yard. Mommy refrained this time around, since in 2004 she had a BUSH sign on her half. The neighbors had a McCain sign next to her side of the yard anyway. What was funny was when Daddy's Obama sign was stolen one night, his co-workers tried to convince him that Mommy did it! (He had another in the yard in 24 hours!) Anyway, congrats to the Democrats and may we have world peace and candy everyday with Obama in office! As a side note: Mommy didn't reveal who she voted for!

We just returned from a big trip to Florida! Here I am above in the pic with my Abuela. We went to visit my Vaneskahian grandparents and my Tia Lusan and Tio Nelson Llabona and cousins Perla and Isabelle. We had a GREAT TIME! Mommy and Daddy took me to the Magic Kingdom at DisneyWorld! It was a really good day, except for a frightening experience in "Stitch's Alien Experience." Let me tell you though, if you are ever scared at Disney, if you scream like you are being killed by a huge monster, a nice woman in a uniform with a flashlight will come running. She will unlatch the bar securing you in your seat, as well as releasing the latch of the seats of your embarrassed parents, and after climbing over about 30 people in the ride who are still strapped in, she will escort you to an exit!

NOTE: The Tiki Room Show is also creepy so you might want to avoid it- I made my parents leave it too. The good news is that I warned them before it started, and though we had to feel our way out of the room in the dark, we weren't locked into seats so were free to leave on our own!

Daddy and I rode Aladdin's Magic Carpets, Mommy and I flew in Dumbo, we rode the Airplane roller coaster- yep, I screamed on that one but it was outside and too late to get off! We drove the race cars, rode the carousel, and overall had a fun day. Most of all, Mommy had fun. As Daddy says, "Disney is really all about Mommy!" It's her favorite place! She could stay there forever...Anybody that knows her knows that she wishes she was secretly one of the princesses and lived at the castle!

The part of the trip I talked about most was the Blue Angels Air Show that we were going to at the Kennedy Space Center while in Florida. My Abuelo was taking us all there for the day. I'm still a little shy to the loud noises of the jets, but with my earphones muffling the sound I'm ok. And, I like to sit in Mommy's lap when the really loud jets fly low and jiggle my tummy. It's scary for a 4 year old!

Anyway, we were all excited about the big day. We made the drive out to Cape Canaveral early Saturday morning so we'd get good seats. Once we made it through the line to get tickets, then the line to get on the bus to ride out to the causeway to see the show, Mommy and me and the girls (Perla and Isabelle) scoped out the grassy area and found a good spot to spread our blankets and get settled in for the 2 hour wait for the show to begin. Daddy and Abu went to walk around and find some lunch for us. They'd been gone awhile when Mommy's cell phone rang, then after she hung up from talking to Daddy she yanked up the blankets and yelled for us all to follow her! Seems as though Daddy and Abu had found their way into the VIP Hospitality Area, where there were bleachers, concessions with no lines, and a perfect viewing area! What a find!!!

So the parachute jumpers began the show by jumping in with the American flag as the national anthem played. I had already asked Mommy for my headphones, but she said it was early and she'd get them out before the airplanes started flying. So there we all stood on the aluminum bleachers, hands over our hearts watching the flag wave in the wind as it floated to the ground with the parachuters. Then, from out of nowhere, behind the bleachers came the huge grey F-18 fighter jet right on top of my head, and as soon as he was on top of us he turned and went straight up- the exhaust of his turbines blasting opening my eardrums! It knocked me off of my feet as it shook those cheap metal bleachers. I think it even singed the hair on Daddy's arms...there's no hair on his head anyway! I screamed! Daddy scooped me up as Mommy dove for the backpack where my earphones were....but it was too late. I had already lost my composure. It was a good 30 minutes before I quit crying!

Luckily, I calmed down. It helped that Abu promised to buy me a toy airplane if I'd stop crying. By the time my beloved Blue Angels were soaring just a few hundred feet above us I was flying my toy Blue Angel from the stands right along with them. It was certainly the coolest show we'd ever seen because the planes were flying so low and close to us, just above the water and right next to the NASA launch pads. But until I quit crying over the noises, it may be my last show that Mommy and Daddy take me to for a while..... Anybody up for the next airshow??? I may need a ride!

The rest of our trip to Florida was just about family! I spent a lot of time with my cousins. I had my FIRST SLEEPOVER! Tia Lusan invited me to spend one night with the girls, but was concerned since I had only spent the night away from my parents with Grandma and John Daddy. She asked me if I'd like to come and I said YES! I never gave a thought about missing the folks! In fact, the next morning she asked me if I needed to call them and I told her no, I'd just see them later.

We all went to the park one afternoon and played Frisbee, tried to fly a kite with no wind, and hung out at the playground. And, the weather was great... until we tried to get home. We boarded the plane in Orlando at 5pm on Monday and after a detour to Houston (nope, they wouldn't let us off of the plane, but we did sit on tarmac for 3 hours there waiting for the bad weather to leave DFW) we finally got off of the plane at 1am on Tuesday. I have to admit, I was a much better traveler on that ride home than either of my parents. We hadn't eaten, and all they had on the plane were 2 big cookies and some left over gum in Mommy's bag. I took a 2 hour nap and watch movies on Daddy's IPOD. They were kinda grumpy!

You can bet I'll be on my best behavior for the next 6 weeks or so. You know who's watching....and I want him to bring me a Legos table for my game room and some new Legos...and a Leapster 2 and some games...and some new games for my Smart Cycle...and some new airplanes and helicopters! I also like Little Einstein toys and Handy Manny...so if you see Santa put in a good word for me. I'll do the same for you!!!

I love ya,

MARTY, a.k.a. Jean-Martin Garabet Vaneskahian

WEBSITE: http://www.vaneskahian.com/

PHOTO ALBUM: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaneskahian/sets/

My Birthday and Stuff!

2008-09-27T22:22:00.008-05:00

Hi Everybody! I'm 4! Yes, finally I'm 4! I've waited all year and it's finally here. Though, now that I'm 4 there are a few things that I'm not so happy about....

No one told me the pitfalls of turning 4... The excuse of "I don't know" doesn't work as well at 4 as it did at 3! Neither does "it was an accident." Speaking of accidents, it's big boy pants all of the time now! No more Pull-Ups now that I'm 4. That means I can't be a little lazy when I'm busy and not get to the bathroom in time, if ya know what I mean! I don't get away with crying to get my way either...I just go straight to the time-out chair! Ugh! (Mommy and I are pictured above just before we went to see a magic show!)

And, did you know that 4 year olds get homework??? Yes, I have homework each night to work on! (Here I am pictured above on my first day of school in Pre-K!) Actually I enjoy homework time with Daddy, well most of the time. He's a little impatient. But I love, love, love my school and my teachers. And, I'm learning to read! I even had math homework last week. And the kids in my class are really cool and we have so much fun together. Mommy and Daddy are very happy that they chose The Reading Ranch. I even stay later a few afternoons a week, sometimes staying for the reading tutoring. And, they are flexible if Mommy needs to bring me to school an extra day during the week because of her job.

Now back to being 4....let me tell you about my great week of celebrations! First, Mommy got cupcakes for my class and put airplanes on all of them for me to take to school to share with my friends. She also sent my picture in to The Sunny Side Up Show on Sprout PBS and I was on National TV on the day of my birthday! See the video clip below where Daddy recorded it!

Abuela flew in on my real birthday on Thursday, September 4th and stayed through the weekend to be here for my party on Saturday. First Mommy bought a cake for my real birthday and we went out to dinner with Abuela. I got my very own digital camera and a Big Wheel!

We had the big party at Uncle Tommy and Naynay's house in Southlake, where Tony the Pony lives. (Here I am, above, with Grandma and Abuela at my birthday party.) All of my friends came over to ride my pony and to play in this huge bounce house and water slide that Mommy rented for us to play in! I heard Mommy and Naynay (Renee) giggling that they tried out the slide after it was delivered the night before- yikes! Visions of two old mommies in the dark playing in the water and sliding are not what a kid wants to think about! Thanks to everyone that came to my party and all of the wonderful presents that you gave me! You just have to see all of the cool pics! Click here to see the photo album.

A few weeks after Abuela left, Abuelo (Garabet Vaneskahian) came for a visit. They don't like to travel together- they don't like to share me! I'll have to talk to them about sharing....you know, I have to go to the time out chair when I don't share! Anyway, "Abu" hit town and it was a none-stop party! He's loads of fun! He and Daddy brought pizza and cookies for my class and had lunch with us one day. You can see the photos in our photo album. Click here.

Then we went to the Plano Balloon Festival and watched the balloons launch. As we were leaving we saw some of the balloons landing. Abu jumped out of the car and ran over to help the crew wrestle the big balloon to the ground. It was great! He sure looked like he knew what he was doing! And, just when Mommy thought she'd had all of the fun she could stand for one day, we spent another two hours at Chuck E. Cheese's playing games! Woohoo! What a day!

The rest of the weekend was just as busy and went by too fast! I really miss my Vaneskahian family and my Llabona cousins. There's great news though, Mommy and Daddy just booked airline tickets for the first week of November for us to make a week-long visit to Orlando to see everyone and even spend a day at DisneyWorld! I can't wait, and I'll be asking them EVERYDAY, "how much longer until we leave???"

While Abu was here, Grandma and John Daddy delivered my "big boy" bed. Daddy and Abu moved all of my baby furniture out of my room. Mommy posted it on Craigslist Saturday morning about 10am, and at 1:30pm the same day a buyer came and bought it all! She loves Craigslist! John Daddy spiffied up the boat bed that he and Uncle John built for my cousin, J.D. It looks like a vintage Chris Craft boat. It's pretty cool. Now I have it in my room! I love having J.D.'s old bed too, because I love J.D.! Now Mommy is going to paint my room and hang up new curtains and nautical "stuff." And she took the curtains and things from my nursery and used them to redecorate the guest room. I'll show you new pictures when she gets it all finished.

Well folks, that's all for now! I've got homework to finish, a Big Wheel to ride and some airplanes to fly before the end of my weekend! I hope you've had a good weekend to and have a great week ahead. I love ya!

~Marty a.k.a. Jean-Martin Garabet Vaneskahian

To see all of our latest photos, including my birthday party, go to http://flickr.com/photos/vaneskahian/sets/

Almost 4.......

2008-08-17T18:31:00.019-05:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Whew...the summer has flown by in a flash! Faster than some of my F-18 Super Hornet airplanes fly! When I last wrote I was just easing into summer and swimming lessons.

Since then our 4th of July celebration lasted a week, seeing the fireworks in Allen the weekend before -after going to a really cool party with lots of kids and their parents at my friend Kathy Gipson's Sunday School class party. They have a big party every year with tons of food and lots of fun. It ended the evening with a great view of the fireworks from Celebration Park. I got a little spooked by the noise of the explosions soooo close, so we left at the beginning of the fireworks show and watched them from Daddy's car. Needless to say Mommy and Daddy were a little frustrated with my fear of noises...finding it hard to rationalize with me.

The following weekend we met the Clendinnings for dinner at a restaurant outdoors and the Addison Boomtown Show of fireworks, though I wasn't told just how close we would be viewing them that evening. It was CLOSE! Mommy came prepared with industrial strength earphones! However, I was having so much fun playing with Ella and Logan that the sound hardly bothered me after the show started. That frustrated my parents even more! They can't understand my hang-up with loud noises.

Then the next night I sat with my next door neighbors Mr. Lee and Miss Brenda on their front steps and watched the Mckinney fireworks from the ballpark. It was such fun with them!! We had a great view and the sound wasn't even an issue. Go figure a 3 year old...I mean almost 4!

Yep, that's right! I'm almost 4!! Yes, I know I've been saying that for the past 6 months, but now I really mean it! It's just days away from my 4th birthday- on September 4! My Abuela is flying in for the big day from Orlando! Then on Saturday, September 6th, Mommy has planned quite a soiree for my friends to come and celebrate with me. We're going to have the party at Uncle Tommy and Renee's (Naynay's) house again this year so everyone can ride my pony, Tony. That's where he lives! (Mommy says it's a good thing he lives there- he'd run away from home if he lived with us 'cause she's secretly afraid of horses and doesn't like to get too close to them! Especially to feed them!) Mommy also rented a big bounce house and water slide for us all to play on in the backyard with Tony! It will be fun! I hope you are all planning to come! We're going to have a birthday breakfast party at 10 a.m. and play before it gets too hot for the old folks...like Daddy!

Daddy is old! We just celebrated his birthday this past weekend! He's 34 now. My Tia Lusan (Daddy's sister) and Tio Nelson Llabona and cousins Perla and Isabelle came to Texas for Daddy's birthday! Well, that's what they told him! (Lusan and Nelson are Dave Matthews Band fans and they came to Dallas for a concert this weekend, but Daddy thinks it was all about him!) We had a GREAT time while they were here, and we had a pre-celebration of my own birthday as well. They even took me shopping and let me pick out my present! You'll have to come over and play with my new Mega Rig Space Shuttle and Launch Pad, with Aliens and Space Ship! It's so cool!

Mommy invited everyone secretly to i fratelli's for a big party for Daddy's birthday on Friday night. Grandma brought a birthday cake for Daddy! All the kids came- JD and Carley, Ella and Logan, Grace and her new baby sister Maddie, and of course Perla and Isabelle! See all of the photos in our albums by clicking here!

Then Saturday we all drove up to Lake Texoma to spend the day on Uncle Vic and Aunt Mary's big boat. We went out for a ride and I drove the boat! Then we came back in and had a cookout on the dock! Once we got home, Daddy took us to Chuck E Cheese's to finish his big birthday celebration! He said he had always wanted to spend his birthday there and now he finally got too! We left that night after 10 p.m. with some really great, cheap toys we got after a million dollars in tokens and 3 hours trying to win enough tickets!

My summer is almost over, but I've got to tell you about my fun time at camp! I spent 2 weeks at Spanish Camp that was held at my Spanish Schoolhouse. It was all about dinosaurs and was really fun! While I was at camp it gave Mommy a chance to work! Then I went to Grandma's house for a week and went to Zoo Camp every day at the Fort Worth Zoo. I had the best time, I can't wait to go again next summer! I learned all about animals, how they lived, what they ate, and even which ones are carnivores and herbivores! I may even grow up to be a zookeeper, if I'm not a pilot- of course!

I've also spent a lot of time the past 2 months with Grandma and John Daddy while Mommy went back to work. Mommy just thought she was starting a part-time job...but seems as though her part-time work has been the part of the time that she's not sleeping! In case you don't know, she's returned to Allen Community Outreach as the Director of Volunteer Services. Actually, she jumped into the middle of a project that provided school supplies for about 2400 underprivileged students going back to school. That took a lot of time to coordinate and to get volunteers organized. Thank goodness Grandma had a lot of free time to keep me entertained! Once I'm back in school, Mommy and I both will be on a more regular schedule!

And speaking of school....I'm about to have a life-changing experience! You know I have a flair for the dramatic! My Spanish School which I attended last year and loved has had to move their location this year due to renovations that weren't complete. They moved farther away by a few miles, but a big difference in minutes when driving thru traffic to get back and forth. Since Mommy is only working the days that I'm in school, this year 3 days a week, she felt that adding an extra hour's drive to her day and removing an hour from her work schedule was too much! So she and Daddy began a new school search and found The Reading Ranch in Allen. It's only a mile and a half from Mommy's office. And, while it's a bit more expensive (a lot if you ask Daddy, but I'm worth it when you ask Mommy!) they are excited about the curriculum that focuses on teaching to read, write and learn mathematics. They also have science and computer labs (though I'm an ace on the computer and in science!), and teach other things like music...but they really concentrate on early reading. Mommy thinks I'm ready for it since I'm constantly trying to sound out signs I see ( like the ones in the department stores when we are shopping- "lingerie" really stumped me!), the names on my airplanes, and books I read with Daddy when we go to the library each week. I'll let you know more about the school once I get going......

Well, I gotta go! The Llabonas are off to the airport and I'm off to Grandma and John Daddy's for a few more days! I hope you are enjoying the final days of summer and have relaxing plans for Labor Day weekend! Don't forget my birthday party on September 6th- I'd love to see ya! We'll have plenty of donuts and wear your swims suits! We'll be splashing!!!

Love ya,

MARTY a.k.a. Jean-Martin Garabet Vaneskahian

See all of our latest photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaneskahian/sets/

It's a hot one!

2008-06-21T16:39:00.027-05:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Whew...it's a hot summer already! But I'm sure trying to keep cool and I hope that you are too! I'm currently taking swimming lessons at the Cooper Aerobics Center and having a great time in their super-gigantic, double-Olympic-sized pool. I'm sure they'll ask me to become an instructor myself by the end of the summer. All of the coaches just love me, especially Coach Stephanie...they tell Mommy that I'm such a "cutie" and "such a little gentleman." They think it's cute that while most of the kids in the class cry because they don't want to be there or because they are scared to swim, I only cry when the class is over and I don't want to get out of the pool! See pics from my swim lessons and more in our PHOTO ALBUMS by clicking here.

I kept cool last weekend too down in the Texas Hill Country at the Baker Family Reunion. I think it was the 90th Reunion, but it was my first to attend. I had a blast! I met many cousins that I didn't know I had. We stayed up late. I mean really late, like until midnight! We played hide and seek in this really big, old house that was three-floors tall! We all stayed in this Bed & Breakfast Inn that was rented out just for our family. There were 40 of us! It had a swimming pool and was right on the Guadelupe River. I even went down to the river with my cousin Charlie and skipped rocks and collected pine cones and fished too. Once I got to know him I followed him everywhere! I think my cousin Charlie is my favorite! He's kinda tall, and he knows all about airplanes too! He's really cool for a grown-up.

Chalk up another milestone for me! I've now completed my first year of preschool at the Spanish Schoolhouse. In honor of the occasion my Abuela came from Orlando for a two-week visit! She began her visit on the day of my End of the School Year Program, where all of the classes in the school perform songs and dances of the Latin/Spanish culture. Abuela, Grandma and John Daddy all came to see the show! It was an exciting night to say the least.

My class sang and danced to La Bamba! A short video clip from the entire 90-minute program can be viewed below of my class performing. You'll see me on the back row, in the middle with the red bandana in my hand. I tried to stay low-key and not out-shine the less-talented kids in my class. If you would like to see the show in it's entirety, please let Mommy or Daddy know, they paid 20 bucks for a copy of the DVD of the whole show and would be more than happy to let you borrow it!

Daddy took off from work the two weeks that Abuela was here, and Mommy spent more time at her work during those two weeks! It gave Daddy and I some special time to go do things with Abuela and Mommy time to enjoy her work at Allen Community Outreach, where they help families in crisis. Daddy and I took Abuela to see real airplanes at the airport, and to see toy airplanes at the RC flying field, and even old airplanes at a museum! I think she saw more airplanes than she'd ever seen before! We also rode the train and ate out a lot! Abuela also brought me a Blue Angels Airplane kite that's really, really big and we took it out and flew it! It's so cool! I really miss Abuela and hope she comes back soon!

While we were having fun with Abuela, Mommy must have been having some fun too because she's decided to go back to work at Allen Community Outreach doing what she used to do before I was born! This past year while I was in preschool Mommy worked at ACO filling in wherever she was needed, but recently her former position opened up and they asked her to come back as the Director of Volunteer Services/Marketing. It's a full-time job and she's not ready to give up her time with me just yet, but I am going to school 3 days a week starting in the Fall, and with some time working from home she's going to try to get the job done on a part-time schedule. She's excited to get back to working with her volunteers again and Daddy's really excited about the extra income! Of course, Daddy says that anytime Mommy's at ACO he's saving money because that means she's not at the mall!

Last month was a busy month! In addition to wrapping up the school year, we had a bike parade at school! Mommy and I decorated my Diego bicycle and took it to school for me to ride in the parade with my class. (Actually Mommy decorated it, and Daddy finally told her to STOP- after the streamers, balloons and windsock- he thought she'd gone a little overboard!) In Mommy's defense, had I been a girl, my bike would have had fairy wings or princess crowns and wands like some of the girls' bikes in my class! There are more photos if you scroll down into the blog from last month to see more.

Aunt Mary and Uncle Vic had their big shindig at the lake last month and we celebrated Uncle Vic's retirement and christened their big boat! It was a fun weekend with the whole family, as well as many of their friends. We all stayed at the lodge at Lake Texoma and had Mother's Day brunch there on Sunday. Uncle John and I did a little fishing off of the dock...of course the "big one" got away!

One weekend last month we met the Clendinnings at the zoo. I was so excited to see my friends Ella and Logan and their parents, Ben and Jill. It had been a busy morning getting ready, and a long car ride to Fort Worth and I wasn't feeling so good. Mommy told me I'd feel all better once I got out to see the animals and to play with Ella! We walked through the exhibits, and the day was really warming up. I was wanting to sit down, but Mommy kept pushing me along. She was more excited than me to be at the zoo...you know how she just loves animals! Finally I got a little sympathy from Daddy and we sat down in the penguin exhibit while we waited for Ella and Jill to catch up and for Mommy to look at the penguins which she thought were so cute...they just looked like black birds to me. Well, off we went through the reptiles and towards the train and I was feeling a little queasy. I told them my tummy was hurting...but nobody was listening. Mommy said I just needed to eat.

Finally we got somewhere where I could sit down and cool off, and here she comes at me insisting that I eat a corn dog and drink some chocolate milk. So I did...but I kept telling everyone my tummy hurt. It wasn't long before the unthinkable happened...yep, the corn dog AND the chocolate milk came back up all over me AND Mommy! Ella was sitting across from me in horror with a grossed-out look on her face. I started crying and Mommy did her best to clean us both up. Daddy got up and announced that our day was over and apologized to the Clendinnings. Hmmm...you know, we haven't heard from them since! Daddy took my yucky clothes off and put them in a plastic bag and I rode home in my underwear. Mommy only wished she was riding home in hers!!

I also took soccer lessons last month at the Plano Sports Authority and what a great time that was, but it wore me out! I learned the basics of the game, like kicking and guarding the goal. I also learned that soccer is a lot of work with all of that running up and down...whew, it takes a lot of energy! Daddy practiced with me in the backyard, but he's not very good either! My Abuelo already calls me "Pelé", but I think I might take some more lessons when they start again in the Fall.

I've got a busy summer planned. In July I'm going to Spanish camp for 2 weeks. It's at my Spanish School, and they have lots of fun stuff planned for us to do and it's all in Spanish. It's just 3 days a week, and Mommy is going to be working on those days while I'm at camp. Then I'm also going to Fort Worth Zoo Camp for a week. That will really be cool to be hanging out with the animals! I'm really looking forward to that, and staying at Grandma and John Daddy's house that week!

A few weeks ago Mommy and Daddy celebrated their 9th wedding anniversary and for the first time we all three went out to celebrate it together! It was such a fun evening. With me along we went out to dinner early, picked a restaurant with a kids menu and crayons, and were back home in no time at all! I hope they will take me again next year!

Drop me a line this summer and let me know what you are up to, or better yet call Mommy or Daddy and tell them your vacation plans and when I should be packed and ready to go with you! Take care and please keep in touch!

I love you,
MARTY a.k.a. Jean-Martin Garabet Vaneskahian

Check out our latest PHOTO ALBUMS by clicking here

Bike Parade!

2008-05-03T18:26:00.008-05:00

Marty's first school bike parade was April 30th at the Spanish Schoolhouse. The weekend before we decorated his Diego bike with streamers, balloons with his name on them, and a special spinning flag! All the kids in his class decorated their bicycles, tricycles, big wheels and scooters.

It was such a fun day! There were also games, snow cones and crafts. It was also a "no uniforms" week so everyone could wear their favorite outfits. Marty wore one of his favorite airplane shirts...of course!

See a video clip of my parade below.

In training....for Soccer Stardom!

2008-04-29T16:37:00.006-05:00

Watch out 3 year olds...the next soccer star is now in training! Today I began Little Trax Soccer at the Plano Sports Authority. My coach, Miss Allison, is really cool and taught us to kick and stop the ball. I'm going to have to work on my balance, but overall I think I'm off to a good start!

Mommy stayed to watch me practice and take photos of my first lesson to document the milestone. Check out the video below. I'll keep you updated on my progress.....

Big News at the Vaneskahian House!

2008-04-21T23:16:00.021-05:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Daddy says he hasn't seen Mommy this happy since the day I was born! And Mommy certainly has a new "glow" about her. Grandma and John Daddy are sooooo excited, and we've called ALL of the relatives to tell them our big news!... Can you guess?... Yep, that's right! I'm finally PT! (that stands for "potty- trained") Finally, all of the "big boy" underpants with airplanes and Diego on them have paid off! The many potty seats purchased, some with cartoon characters, another with handles on the side for added security, with the fancy step stools to reach the dreaded toilet, and the congratulatory stickers are all worth it!

Mommy's been pulling her hair out for months trying to entice me to get out of my diapers, but I was stubborn. I enjoyed my diaper freedom! She bought all of the books, searched the internet for the potty training secrets, and promised me great toys if I'd just use the bathroom. I was wearing the poor woman down. All of her friends and co-workers told her to quit worrying, that I'd do it when I was good and ready. Well folks, I'M READY!

It certainly was a celebratory weekend! The folks took me on a special trip to Toys R Us on Saturday, then on Sunday we rode the train into Dallas for lunch, all because I'm now "P.T." It was a fun weekend! I spent a lot of time in the bathroom, reading my airplane books! It was a very busy weekend for all of us! (Someday I'll let the folks know how embarrassing the potty photos are, but for now they are so excited that I hate to bring them down!)

Other news on the home front...we just returned from a few fun weekends! First was our Easter Weekend at Uncle Johns's lakehouse. Daddy took Friday off and we headed west to Possum Kingdom Lake to meet Grandma and John Daddy and cousins JD and Carley with Aunt Sandy and Uncle John. What a great time we had. Uncle John let me drive his boat!! Can you believe it? You'll have to see the photos, click on our Photo Album link for these pictures and more.

Best of all, the Easter Bunny made a special trip to the lake! He scattered eggs for us and even left me gifts! Remember that Little Einstein Rocket set that I told you about in my last letter...well the big fuzzy rabbit left it for me after all! I was so surprised, I found it and started yelling for everyone to come look! We also had a big Bunny Pinata that we beat with a stick until candy fell out!

I decorated Easter cookies with Aunt Sandy and Carley, we had a big cookout with lots and lots of food. Grandma had brought books to read us and new toys and puzzles to play with. Aunt Sandy taught me how to row a boat! I had a wonderful time!

Second was our trip to the airshow in Kingsville, Texas to see my beloved Blue Angels fly! This was a bit of a last minute road trip for us, and we pulled out of Mckinney early Friday morning for the long...did I say long?...drive to south Texas. We got in and settled into the hotel before we went looking for the Kingsville night life. There wasn't any! But we had dinner and went to bed early to get a good spot the following morning at the show.

Surprisingly enough we pulled onto the Navy base early as the show was just opening. Daddy was excited about being early for once...usually if Mommy is with us we don't get anywhere early! But to his disappointment the first cars in had to park out the farthest. This did not start his day off well.... It was a smaller show than we expected, so I had a chance to talk to pilots and sit in cockpits of the airplanes and helicopters on display. We even scored the best spectator seats we've ever had for a Blue Angels show, and at the bargain price of $5 for adults, kids free. Daddy's day was picking up...he always likes to save money!

We sat through the Leap Frogs show (that's the Navy parachute team) and all of the stunt plane shows. The day was heating up and I was getting tired and cranky. Then unexpectedly the F-4 and F-16 airplanes took off right over our heads and scared me! I'm sensitive to noise anyway, but this was gut shaking vibrations. I cried...and cried...cried some more all the way to the medic tent with Mommy to get me some earplugs. The ear plugs didn't help. The planes were still zooming directly overhead and I just couldn't calm down. The paramedics came over to ask if they could help, and other kid's parents were stopping to offer Mommy their ear plugs for me. I just kept crying and saying that I wanted to go home. And this was all less than 30 minutes before the Blue Angels show was to begin.

Since we still had a hike back to the car and soon the 6 F-18 jets would going to be taking off for the Blue Angels show, they decided we'd better leave. We had checked out of the hotel because we had planned on spending the night and next day in San Antonio on the Riverwalk. My parents aren't exactly sports fans so they didn't know the final four college basketball playoffs were on that weekend in San Antonio! There were no hotel rooms to be had...so Daddy just kept driving. After a brief stop for some shopping in San Marcos, we pulled back into the driveway in McKinney before midnight that same night! On the 36 hour trip, 16 hours were spent in the car, 6 at the airshow, 2 hours at 2 different McDonalds play areas for me to stretch my legs, and 2 hours at the outlet mall! Not one of our better family vacations!

While Mommy may not be big into impromptu trip planning, she's taking my summer vacation quite seriously! I'm already signed up for soccer which I start next week, swimming lessons begin the week after school is out, and I'm registered for Zoo School at the Fort Worth Zoo in July. She's still debating what to do in August...there's museum school, Spanish camp, martial arts and basketball! But, I may just take a breather and chill by the neighborhood pool in August! I've got to save a little time to just hang-out with my friends! My Tia Lusan and Tio Nelson and cousins Perla and Isabelle are coming to visit in August too.

Speaking of friends...my friend Rebecca and I had a movie and lunch date today. We saw Horton Hears A Woo. It was funny, I'd recommend it. My Mommy and Rebecca's mommy, Patzy were so proud of us for sitting through the entire movie!

I only have 6 weeks left until my first year of preschool is behind me. I've had an exciting year at the Spanish Schoolhouse and I have learned a lot! I understand more Spanish than I can speak at this point, but my repertoire of Spanish words has increased tremendously since last Fall. You'll want to put May 22nd on your calendar to come to my "End of the Year" Show at school. We are practicing our songs and dances at school now for the big show. I just know that you will want to come!

We're planning a big Mother's Day weekend at Lake Texoma with the family. Aunt Mary and Uncle Vic are throwing a big shindig to christen their big boat and celebrate retirement. They're roasting a pig! We're going to stay at the Lodge at the lake and have Mother's Day brunch on Sunday with everyone. I'm looking forward to catching up with Cousin Grace! That's about all I have to report at this time...the folks are staying busy. Daddy's working very hard at his new position at Alcatel-Lucent. Mommy's still working a few days a week at Allen Community Outreach during the time that I'm in preschool. She recently returned from ANOTHER Bon Jovi concert, you know she just loves those guys- she says Jon Bon Jovi is her boyfriend! Her other boyfriend is coming in town next month, but she hasn't told Daddy yet about that concert...she also loves Tim McGraw!!

Happy Spring! Love ya~

MARTY a.k.a. Jean-Martin G. Vaneskahian

Don't forget to see our latest photos! CLICK HERE

Hippity Hoppity Easter's on it's Way!

2008-03-19T22:06:00.000-05:00

Hola everyone! First let me apologize for the time it's taken for me to send my first email of 2008. Time has zoomed by me. I hope that as Spring approaches you and your family are doing well. Mine is super!! And, as you'll see in the photos below I've had my Easter and Spring photographs taken at the studio...yes, Mommy had more coupons!! Just don't let Uncle John see my Easter suit. As Mommy says, he doesn't appreciate fine children's clothing! Especially if it involves silk shorts and Peter Pan collars!

I am just filled with the excitement of Spring and the coming of Easter. Recently I saw the Easter Bunny. Let me first say what a disappoint he is! What a bummer...Mommy told me I was going to the mall to see him, and have my annual photo taken with the rabbit. I got my list ready! There were a few new toys and airplanes and rockets that I was planning on that bunny bringing me on Easter morning. Then she told me the devastating news. The Easter Bunny is NOT like Santa Claus! I couldn't believe it! Why, he's hardly any good at all...just littering the lawn with some candy and trinkets! I know, I should be grateful...and I do love candy! But I was so looking forward to the new Rocket and Little Einsteins set.

You see, one day Mommy and I were at my favorite store. You may know it- the one with the big red balls in front, it's called Target! I call it the Big Red Ball Store. Anyway, that's where I spotted this HUGE Little Einsteins character set with a big red Rocket! I told Mommy that I REALLY wanted it. She explained to me that it was too expensive and we couldn't buy expensive toys every time we went shopping. But I just couldn't forget that big Rocket! That's where the Easter Bunny came in...I thought, no problem- he'd bring it to me if I asked him!

But, now I had to resort to "Plan B." Plan B is whining! Well, Mommy had a different idea...She explained that I could indeed get the $40 Little Einstein and Rocket set, ONCE I saved up enough money! But I'm just a kid- how was I going to get money??? Here's where she thought she could begin teaching me the value of a dollar...ugh! She explained that I could save my money...like the coins I find and put in my piggy bank. Sometimes John Daddy and Uncle Tommy give me a few dollars too. But at this rate I'd NEVER get my new toy!! So, she told me she'd pay me to sort the socks in the laundry basket...that sounded simple enough. I was wrong again! Boy, do I have a lot of socks!

Well, I thought I'd pull one over on Mommy...because we were going to Grandma's house and she was leaving me to spend a few days. All I had to do was mention it to Grandma and it was as good as mine! Wouldn't you know Mommy told Grandma NOT to buy me the toy if I asked for it AND she told me only to pay me for chores if I REALLY worked for it. Seems that Mommy had a few questions about my work ethics when I did a few small jobs for Uncle Tommy and Naynay! But, Grandma just smiled and told me to ask Mommy how she got toys that she wanted when she was my age...Mommy just rolled her eyes at Grandma. I don't think Mommy's grandmother made her work for toys!!

Let me tell you about my fabulous trip! I've just returned from a visit with Mickey Mouse himself! Mommy told me we were going to the happiest place on Earth! She was right because we went to Abuela and Abu's house in Orlando for a surprise visit, but we also went to Disneyworld! (The photo here is the entire Vaneskahian clan, we had this taken while we were there!)

Tia Lusan, Daddy's sister and her husband Tio Nelson, and Daddy and Mommy had been planning a surprise anniversary party for my Vaneskahian grandparents. We flew to Florida for the big party and it was a very big surprise indeed. Tia Ani and my cousin Paolo even came all the way from Uruguay! It was a fun time, and I danced all night- with all of the girls, young and old! See the photos in the photo album for all of my dancing moves- I was cool! I had a new suit to wear and looked very debonair...though I'm not sure what that means!

Then we spent a few days with my cousins and went to Disneyworld. We went to the Magic Kingdom and saw Cinderella and her castle, all of the characters, and rode most all of the rides. I even drove a race car...well with the help of Tia Lusan pushing the gas pedal and Perla helping me steer! By the end of the day everyone was tired and ready to go home...except for Mommy who loves the Magic Kingdom would have never left and me- I could have ridden the Monorail all night!

I had a wonderful time with my Tia and Tio! Tia Lusan asked me what I wanted for breakfast and I said "Cookies!" Next thing I knew we were making chocolate chip cookies for breakfast! Now that's a cool aunt! And Tio Nelson made a late-night run to Krispie Kreme donuts for a bedtime snack! He also played games with me and was lots of fun. I even played in their neighbor's treehouse and had fun with the kids in the neighborhood.

Here we are making cookies!

Now that the weather's getting nice the neighbors are getting a look at my #7 F-18 Blue Angel airplane that Santa brought me. I've been driving it around the neighborhood- it goes about 5 miles an hour, but it doesn't get off of the ground. You know how I love the Blue Angels from the US Navy, and I'm so proud to be one of them! I also spend some time on my John Deere tractor that I got for Christmas from Uncle Tommy and Naynay. I keep it out on their farm and help Uncle Tommy when he needs a little plowing done. I'm a very, very lucky kid to have so many cool toys and people who love me so much!

I've been very busy not only with the trip and anniversary party, but it's been a partying few months! Of course there was Mommy's birthday this month...though she doesn't like to mention numbers anymore! Cousin Grace had a big party at The Little Gym that was lots of fun too! Just last month my friend Ella turned 5 and had a cool party at her house! My cousin Isabelle in Orlando even celebrated her birthday while I was there! Seems as though everyone is having birthdays!

Well, it's almost bedtime so I'll wrap this up. We're spending Easter weekend at Uncle John's lakehouse at Possum Kingdom Lake. I hope that you have a very happy holiday and that the Easter Bunny brings you some good candy and some nice toys. Let me know if he leaves a Little Einstein Character and Rocket set in your yard- I'll trade you candy for it!

Hugs and Kisses,

MARTY

a.k.a. Jean-Martin Garabet Vaneskahian

See our Photo Albums at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaneskahian/sets/

Merry Christmas from Santa and Marty!

2007-12-22T00:47:00.000-06:00

Dear Family and Friends,

On behalf of me, Mommy and Daddy, please accept our warmest wishes this holiday season. I hope that by now all of your presents are wrapped, your cards addressed and mailed, and all of your baking is ready for the big day! If you have all of that done, you are way ahead of Mommy!!

It's been a busy month around the Vaneskahian house! Mommy wasn't so organized this year...I don't know what happened to her. She usually has the house fully engulfed in decorations from front door to back by the day after Thanksgiving. This year we were still looking at pumpkins come December 1st. She didn't even put up all of the Christmas trees- yes, that is plural, we have more than one! There's the favorite gingerbread man tree that's in the family room with my train that goes around the bottom, the fancy living room tree that I'm not allowed to touch, and the Coca-cola ornament tree in the game room. There's usually a smaller one in front of the fireplace in the master bedroom, but she told Daddy just to leave that one in the attic this year! And, there' the toy tree for my room. Right now it's still in it's box, along with the bins of ornaments- all hidden in the guest bathroom bathtub behind the shower curtain. She had good intentions of getting it put up before the parties started...but with any luck it will at least be decorated before Santa gets here.

Last weekend I hosted my 2nd Annual Christmas Cookie Decorating Party with all of my friends! Mommy and I cut out and baked lots and lots of cookies, then everyone came over to decorate, eat and take some home. It was lots of fun!

We are spending Christmas eve at Grandmama and John Daddy's house in Hurst to be close to the rest of the family. So while I know that Santa will leave me presents there, I'm counting on him making a stop at my house even if I'm not home. I'm leaving my stocking at home just to see if he stops by!

Christmas eve we will be with the Bakers, grandparents and Aunt Sandy, Uncle John, and JD and Carley. Uncle John is cooking up the famous chicken and dumplings (Grammie's recipe, my great grandmother), we'll go to church, exchange presents-which there will be lots, and then to bed to wait for Santa! On Christmas Day we're going to the Boltons to celebrate with Aunt Mary and Uncle Vic, cousin Grace and her parents Brian and Jennifer, and Aunt Mary's side of the family! I just know it's going to be my best Christmas ever...especially since I made friends with the big guy in the fuzzy suit.

After having been explained to me in detail the concept behind Santa Claus and the behavioral requirements, I decided to get with the program. It sounded like it would be in my best interest! Last year Mommy and Naynay (Renee) tried to bribe me to sit on Santa's lap and I'd cry and run every time. Naynay even promised to get me a bigger helicopter than Santa could bring if I'd just get on his lap long enough for the camera to flash.

Well...this year Mommy and I got in the long line at the mall to wait our turn. I was quiet and cordial and friendly to the younger children who seemed to fear the unknown that was ahead at the line. I was brave, with my favorite F-18 Blue Angel airplane in my hand. I was taking it with me to show Santa and to tell him I would like a bigger plane this year- one that I can fly! The big man was friendly, seemed to like my airplane and asked if I'd been good. I assured him that I had...if he was leaving this decision up to me then of course my answer would be "YES!"

However, this was early in the month of December and there were numerous times that Mommy threatened to go back to the mall and revisit Santa about my behavior! The true test is only a few nights away now and we'll see just how strong the power of Santa can be...I also asked him to bring the "real" Little Einstein characters from Disney to my house to play with me. I just love Leo, June, Annie, Quincie and Rocket!

We started celebrating the holidays with Thanksgiving! My Abuela came for the long weekend. Cousins JD and Carley and I went to see Frosty the Snowman at Casa Manana. That was my first experience with a big creepy snowman and he scared the bah-geebies out of me!! Mommy and I watched the second half of the show from the wings of the auditorium- far from our front row seats, with my eye on the exit sign in case I had to make a run for it!

Overall it's been a pretty good year for your friend, Marty! We've had a few fun vacations, including a trip to Orlando to see the Vaneskahian family, to the beach and the Kennedy Space Center. Mommy and Daddy took me to two airshows. One was in Houston to see the Canadian Snowbirds fly (they are aerobatic airplanes, not birds!) and we went to the Johnson Space Center in Houston too! I love space and rockets and was an astronaut for Halloween this year! In October I got to see my favorite, US Navy Blue Angels fly!

I also had a visit to see my favorite friends too! We saw Diego Live, and you know I love Diego the Animal Rescuer! We also saw Elmo. I went to my first circus too this year. I had a fun summer and played with all of my cousins, my friends who live close by, and I went to camp! I attended a cool camp for kids who like airplanes and things that fly at the Temple Shalom School in Dallas. It was fun and I learned new songs and traditions about the Jewish faith. Our family isn't Jewish but the camp was open to everyone and it was nice to meet new friends.

Turning three was a big plus this year too. I had a really great party at the Johnson's Corral- Renee and Uncle Tommy's house. Uncle Tommy bought be a real pony, named Tony, for my birthday. I love Tony and go visit him often. I feed him carrots, ride him some and walk him around the pasture. Tony lives close to the airport so when the planes fly over the pasture I tell him what kind they are and what engines they have. He's a good listener!

My big milestone this year was starting school. On Mondays and Wednesdays I go to the Spanish Schoolhouse in Frisco. It's a preschool that has a Spanish immersion program- that means they only speak Spanish and we learn the language much as we learned English, by listening and association. Of course, I have a tutor at home since Daddy is fluent in Spanish and I call Abuelo and Abu in Orlando and talk to them often about the new words and songs I learn at school. It's fun! We just had our Christmas program- and it was all in Spanish. Daddy, Mommy, Grandma and Aunt Mary came to see my program. (Below is my first school picture!)

Mommy had a pretty good year too! She and Renee are on the "oldies but goodies" tour this year, having seen Rod Stewart, Billy Joel and have tickets to see Barry Manilow soon. Of course you know Mommy- she loves those old guys- especially Bon Jovi! Mommy also went back to work part-time this Fall when I started school. Over the past few years while she's been home with me she's been freelancing- writing and doing some advertising for several clients. But now she's gone back to Allen Community Outreach on the days that I'm in school. That's where she worked before I was born. She loves the human services field and helping people in need. Once a month Mommy and I and our friend, Kathy also deliver Meals-On-Wheels to some very nice people who can't get out and grocery shop or cook their own lunch. They love me!!

Daddy's year started off really good as he met his friends for a "guys weekend" -actually Mommy referred to it as a "geeks weekend"- in Washington DC. They went to the Smithsonian and many of the National monuments. He said it was a great trip and brought me lots of cool stuff! Daddy's stayed busy this year at Alcatel as the merger with Lucent became solid and he was moved into a different group in the IT field. After managing with the group throughout the year, last month he had an opportunity to stay within the company but transfer to a new division with a new product. He's now working in security on what they call IPTV- it has to do with television signals over the internet. It means working with Microsoft and AT&T with this new program and gets him out of the computer support mode. He's excited about the new challenges and focus of his new career!

The only sad spot in our year was the loss of my pets. Both Little Dog, who was 18 years old, and JoeBob, Mommy's beloved cat of 20 years died this year. He was sick for a long time, and finally took his last breaths in her arms. Mommy was very sad and still looks for him when we come home. JoeBob was my constant companion from my first day home. Now Daddy...he's enjoying the extra peace and quiet- but he never was a pet lover anyway!

Well tonight Mommy and Grandmama and I went out to the Gaylord Texan for the evening to see the trains and pretty decorations and give me a chance to plea my case to Santa one more time. That's my picture with him at the top of my letter. He said if I could just stay good a few more days there might be something special coming my way! I took my Blue Angel airplane again to show him in case he forgot what I wanted! I think he'll come through for me...and I bet he leaves a little something at your house too!

Check out our Family Photo Album at http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaneskahian/sets/

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas!
Love, Marty (Jean-Martin Garabet Vaneskahian)

Marty's First Fish

2007-11-12T21:46:00.000-06:00

November 11, 2007

At Lake Texoma with Aunt Mary and Uncle Vic, Marty caught his first fish! Uncle Vic bought the worms which Marty said were "yucky" and he baited the hook. Less than two minutes went by after the pole first went in the water and Marty got a bite- a perch! See the photo above.

The next worm went in and another two minutes went by before the bobber went down quickly and both Daddy and Uncle Vic pulled out a splashing HUGE catfish! But the line couldn't hold him and "the big one" got away. See the photo below to see just how big he was!!

If you are ever fishing in Lake Texoma and catch a catfish with a hook already in his mouth just know that Marty caught him first!

Email from Marty- November 2007 HAPPY FALL Y'ALL

2007-11-09T08:48:00.000-06:00

Dear Family and Friends,

They say that as you get older “times flies.” Now that I’m 3 years old I understand what “they” mean! So much has happened since I’ve last written to you, yet it seems like it was just yesterday…but it’s been a few months and I was only 2!

Since then I’ve had a fabulous birthday party! My pony, “Tony” threw a terrific bash at the Johnson’s Corral for me and 60 of my closest family and friends. Thanks to all of you who came to help me celebrate. A special thanks to Uncle Tommy and Naynay (Renee) for having it at their house, and to my Abuela who flew in from Florida for the party. Grandma and John Daddy helped with the festivities too! Don’t miss the photos in our Album by clicking here and check out the special slide show from the party below in the post about the birthday party.

Just after turning 3, I was off to school for the first time! I began preschool at the Spanish Schoolhouse in September. As I’ve mentioned, it’s an immersion program where they only speak Spanish to the students all day and you learn the language much like we learn English, by hearing it spoken and associating. It’s been a bit of a challenge but I’m catching on! I love my teachers and the kids in my class. We do some fun things too!

Our first “event” was Grandparents Day. Students invited their grandmas and grandpas and there was a breakfast where we all ate together. Grandma and John Daddy were planning to come, but the night before Grandma got really sick and didn’t think that they would be able to come to the special breakfast. She was really disappointed. But Mommy called Rita and Martin, my favorite friends and occasional babysitters and asked them if they could fill in as “honorary” grandparents the following morning. I was sooo excited that they came to the party. I just love Rita and Martin and they did a great job filling in for Grandma and John Daddy!

Last week at school we had our Fall Festival and we got to wear our Halloween costumes to school. I was a Space Shuttle Commander from NASA! I got this really cool suit for my birthday from Mrs. Busby and since I’d been to both the Kennedy and Johnson Space Centers this year I was REALLY excited about being an astronaut for Halloween. In fact, I loved my costume so much I wanted to wear it a lot! I even wanted to sleep in it but Mommy said astronauts didn’t sleep in their suits. I’m not so sure about that, I may have to call NASA to verify that. I did wear my costume to deliver Meals-On-Wheels a few days before Halloween and everyone thought I looked “very cute!” Anyway, we had a party at school and a parade and everything!! Then, the best part was trick or treating that night! I just love begging for candy, and strangers are much nicer about giving me candy than Mommy is!!!

Speaking of the Space Center, I’ve been to two air shows since I last wrote! The first of October we (Mommy, Daddy and I) loaded up the car and went to Houston for a really cool air show at Ellington Field Airforce Base. The Canadian Snowbirds Aerobatic Team were the main attraction and I’d been wanting to see them perform. I have a video of them flying and doing their tricks and I have watched it a million times, in fact I knew their maneuvers as well as they did! While we were there we spent a day at the Johnson Space Center, and I got to see an actual Saturn V rocket just like the ones that took the astronauts to the moon. It was so cool! We had a great time.

A few weeks later we were in Fort Worth for the Alliance Airshow to see my favorite Blue Angels perform. The Clendinnings went with us and Ella and I had such fun! She’s pretty cool about airplanes for a girl, but she doesn’t like the noise. Usually I don’t either so I’ve been wearing Daddy’s ear covers, but Ella needed them more than I did so I braved the loud roars of the turbines.

Ella and Logan and I also went to a really cool Pumpkin Patch and got our faces painted and went on a hayride! It was a lot of fun! On the hayride we stopped and fed the cows and donkeys. They had a playground, a hay house, and lots and lots of pumpkins.

Also since I last wrote my mommy went back to work! Just part-time, while I’m in school she is working at Allen Community Outreach. That’s where she used to work before she had me!! She really likes it there. Sometimes she takes me with her for meetings or to stop in to have lunch with everyone on days when I’m not in school. I’m glad she has something to do while I’m at school. I was worried that she would be lonely and not be able to find anything to do without me by her side!

Rebecca and I have been meeting for lunch a few times lately and playing together at the mall play areas. We’ve been having a good time running around and chasing each other! Our Mommies like it too because it gives them time to talk. Next week Rebecca and I are taking a cooking class together- I’ll let you know how that turns out!
Ethan and I had a playdate at the mall recently too, after we had our portraits taken in our Halloween costumes. You know how our mommies are- they like portrait studios and coupons! When Ethan’s mommy and mine get together you can bet we’re going somewhere for pictures!! Ethan was a rock star for Halloween and he looked very, very cool!

Well, it’s just a few weeks until Thanksgiving and my Abuela is coming to Texas! While she’s here we are going with my Grandma and cousins J.D. and Carley to Casa Manana in Fort Worth to see Frosty The Snow Man! Maybe we’ll see Santa while Abuela is here too! Downtown McKinney has a big Victorian Christmas weekend following Thanksgiving so we’ll probably take Abuela there too. Mommy and I have already had the “Santa Talk.” She told me that I have to talk to Santa personally to tell him what I want for Christmas. She also said that he won’t bring me anything if I’m bad. From your own personal experience, do you know this to be true?? It’s not that I don’t trust Mommy, but she does have some sly parenting skills… Email me and let me know if Santa has ever left you high and dry on Christmas morning for being bad! I may be in big trouble this year….

Check out the latest photos in our PHOTO ALBUM- Click here

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
LOVE YA, MARTY

Jean-Martin (MARTY) Vaneskahian
Email- marty@vaneskahian.com

p.s. FROM MOMMY—
Well it’s not wrapping paper or cookie dough, but Marty’s school fundraiser sells tamales from the Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory! They are pricier than what the Factory sells them for, but hey- it’s a fundraiser! Last year the school made $12,000 profit selling tamales! Funds raised this year will buy picnic tables, classroom materials, gym equipment, books and costumes for the annual school show.

If you’d like to order, let me know before Nov 28th, I’ll pick them up on December 6th and deliver them to you. They are $12 per dozen and you can choose spicy pork, beef, chicken or bean & cheese. If you pay me before Nov. 28th make the check to the Spanish Schoolhouse. If I collect afterwards make it payable to me!! Cash is good too. No pressure on this, but if you’d like tamales delivered to your door it will benefit a good cause! ~~Thanks, Marjorie

Marjorie Baker Vaneskahian
Email- marjorie@vaneskahian.com

First Day of School for Marty

2007-09-10T21:20:00.000-05:00

Marty began his first day of school at the Spanish Schoolhouse in Frisco today!

His teachers are Senorita Ivonne and Seniorita Cristina and he has eleven children in his class. He will attend school on Mondays and Wednesdays. The Spanish Schoolhouse is a special school which immerses students in the Spanish language at an early age. Marty's Vaneskahian side of the family comes from South America and speaks fluent Spanish so it's exciting for him to begin learning the language. He's had quite a head start working with Daddy and talking to Abuela and Abu, but now he'll be learning even more, and maybe teach Mommy some new words too!

It was a rainy Monday for his first day, but it didn't dampen his smile as he walked into his new classroom. Abuela extended her stay so that she could be here for his first day of school and Daddy took the day off too, so with Mommy they all came along to see him off for his big day! He had his new Diego lunchbox packed with his favorites, along with a new nap mat and the supplies he needed!

When school was over, he was all smiles again when it was time to go. But when Marty got home he took a long afternoon nap. Guess that first day ready pooped him out!!

See more photos of his first day in our photo album by clicking here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaneskahian/sets/

Marty turns 3 Years Old!!

2007-09-10T10:47:00.000-05:00

Wow, what a September we've had as we celebrated Marty's 3rd birthday beginning Labor Day weekend as Abuela Vaneskahian arrived just in time! Abuela flew in from Montevideo, Uruguay where she had attended cousin Gustavo's wedding.

Mommy and Daddy kicked off the celebration on September 3rd with a shopping trip to purchase a Diego bicycle. Unfortunately it took three stops at different stores before we found the bicycle we were looking for. With each stop Marty looked even sadder as we left empty-handed. But he was all grins when we left Target with the bike in the back of Daddy's car! As soon as we got home Daddy and Marty put it together so Marty could take it for a test-drive!

September 4th, Marty's actually birthday, Marty and Abuela had a great day learning to ride his bike and playing at home while Daddy went to work and Mommy ran some errands preparing for the big party ahead. When Mommy and Daddy got home it was time to open presents from Mommy and Daddy, along with gifts that came in the mail and that Abuela brought with her. From there we went out for Marty's birthday dinner then came home for cake!

The following Saturday on September 8th everyone came to the Johnson's house in Southlake for the BIG PARTY with Tony, the Pony! We had hot dogs, cake and lots of ice cream, rides with Tony and Handsome, the big horse! There were lots and lots of presents too!

It was a great day and a great week for Marty. Renee and Tommy Johnson hosted a terrific party at their house, Grandma and John Daddy had the dogs cooking, Charley and her friends were giving the kids pony rides, and everyone pitched in to make it a perfect day. Thanks to everyone for making Marty's 3rd birthday so wonderful!

See all of the photos from Marty's week of birthday festivies by clicking here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaneskahian/sets/ and see the video slideshow below that Grandma Kay Baker made.

Here is a video slideshow of pictures taken at the party!

Here is a video of the day of his birthday September 4th, 2007

Email From Marty - August 2007

2007-08-13T21:17:00.001-05:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Only 23 days until I turn 3 and a mere 27 days until the biggest celebration of the year, and I’m not talkin’ about Christmas! My pony, Tony, is throwing me a big birthday party at his corral on September 8th and I hope everyone will come!! He says he’ll give rides to all of my family and friends!! There will be hot dogs and ice cream and cake and all of the good party stuff too. Tony, the Pony lives with my Uncle Tommy and NayNay (Renee) and ChaCha (Charley) at the Johnson’s home in Southlake. If you need directions just call my Mommy. Saddle up and come on over about 11am on September 8th, I hope to see you there!

I’ve been busy, busy, busy! On top of my usual tight schedule of parties and playdates, I’ve been squeezing in lots of pool time with Mommy and in the evenings with Daddy too. I’m able to swim laps across the big community pool just around the corner from our house. Of course, I use the word “swim” a bit loosely. I’m not sure the American Red Cross would certify me as a swimmer, but with the help of my Nemo fins and floaties that Tia Lusan and Tio Nelson got for me I am a very independent dog paddler! I can also put my face under water, blow bubbles, float on my back and jump in from the side of the pool. Heck, who needs swim lessons-- I’m ready for the high dive!

Recently I had front row, center seats for Diego Live at the Nokia Live Theater and WOW, what a great show it was. You know, Diego is one of my favorite cartoon characters and I was very excited about meeting the “real” Diego. Mommy shopped for weeks looking for the perfect Diego outfit. (She doesn’t usually let me wear character clothes, but she found one she thought wasn’t too cheesy looking! Grandma even embroidered my name on the hat.) I was definitely the best dressed kid there and several Moms asked where Mommy had found my outfit. She smiled and was beaming with pride when she answered them! I couldn’t have been any closer to Diego unless I had climbed on stage…and if Mommy hadn’t been sitting right next to me you know I would have! Instead, I was able to get up and dance on the floor right in front of the stage. Some dancing palm tree people came down and danced with me! It was sooo cool!! NayNay and ChaCha came along too and I came home with most ALL of the souvenirs they sold, thanks to NayNay!

I’m also now an official Meals-On-Wheels deliverer with Mommy and her friend, Kathy! I even have my own “MOW” badge with my picture on it! We go to the Allen Community Outreach and pick up food to deliver to some very nice people who can’t get out and shop for groceries or prepare food for themselves. My job is to carry the milk or juice to the door. I really like it when they let me come in their house and take a look around for anything cool to play with. Everyone thinks I’m very cute and most all say I’m a “big helper.” It makes me feel really good to be helping others! Mommy thinks volunteering and learning to give your time to help others in need is very important and that I should be learning this at an early age.

And, speaking of Allen Community Outreach…this agency is especially important to Mommy because this is where she worked at the Volunteer Services Director for 4 years before she had me! Now that I’m going to be in school 2 days a week beginning next month, Mommy is going back to work 2 days a week at the Outreach Center to help them with their Capital Campaign and fund raising efforts. She’s very excited to be “back in the groove!” She can work with the friends she has there and with the mission she feels is so important to the community, yet still be able to be home with me when I’m not in school.

And, speaking even more about school…I’m getting to be a big boy now!! (Except for the potty training stuff…which is something I’m not the least bit interested in and it’s driving Mommy CRAZY! But hey- why should I waste time at the potty when this diaper thing is so easy!!) Anyway, they won’t know what hit them when I come through those doors on the first day of school! I’m so excited to be starting at the Spanish Schoolhouse in Frisco! School begins September 10th. Daddy has been holding summer school, you know, getting me ready for the entrance exams I guess. I’m well prepared for the basics of numbers, colors, body parts, etc. in Spanish. Daddy’s also gone a little overboard with the Science stuff- I’m really progressing on the Periodic Table of Elements Chart. So much so, that Daddy’s friends at work are giving him a hard time about me just memorizing the colored squares on the chart and not the letters that correspond to the element. So, back in front of the video camera I went the other day so Daddy could show me off again!

Just last week I went to my first Circus!! Mommy, Renee (NayNay) and Charley (ChaCha) accompanied me. We began with the preview of the animals 90 minutes before the show...in the parking garage which was about 110 degrees and no breeze! But we got to see the elephants and white tigers and horses up close. From there we spent the next hour on the floor of the arena chasing clowns to autograph my program (that would be Mommy and Renee who were doing the chasing!) and they got a few Kodak moments of me and Charley in clown noses and circus costumes. Just before the show began we choked down $23 chicken nuggets and $8 hot dogs. While Renee and Charley stopped at the potty, Mommy and I went on to make our way in the down the MANY steps in the dark. I was scared and wanted Mommy to carry me. But she was already carrying her purse filled with left over fries and chicken (in case I got hungry during the show), a coke, and the HUGE inflatable booster seat that Renee bought so I could see better in my seat! Once we got to our row, Mommy had to figure out how to get me in the blow-up seat, in the flip-down chair. She had her own clown show going on as she tried to hold the chair down with one knee, put the blow up seat on top of it, and pick me up on top of it all, while holding on to her purse and the coke and trying not to obscure the view of the people behind us. Did I mention that I was whining throughout this process that I wanted to “get d-o-w-n!”

Then the show began...and there were elephants, tigers, horses, acrobats, motorcycles and clowns in little cars, a few loud noises that scared me and confetti shooting up in the air...then Renee came back from intermission with a BIG light-up spinner with a red elephant on top, a plastic cell phone that orders "cotton candy please," a big stuffed monkey in a Jester's hat, and a light-up red clown's nose...and 2 1/2 hours later and we are all exhausted and heading back to the car...but I got my second wind once we got in the car! So I talked to Bobby the elephant on my new cell phone and played with my bright spinner all the way home! And, I’ve slept with the monkey in my bed every night since! Video from the circus is also here on our blog if you want to check it out, scroll down below to the circus entry.

Mommy and Daddy are trying to catch up with the current techies and become bloggers. The most recent info will now be on our blog website at http://vaneskahian.blogspot.com/ and our regular website will become a more static web page with little changes. My emails, both current and past letters will also be available on the blog site. You can also access our photo album and video gallery from the blog site so bookmark this site for access to all of our latest “stuff.”

As always, thanks for you interest in my life, trials and tribulations. It still amazes Mommy and Daddy how many people ask to be added to my email mailing list. And, if you ever want to be removed from my list for any reason, please say so. Just email me at marty@vaneskahian.com and put “unsubscribe” in the subject line and we’ll take you off of the list ASAP!

Stay cool as the dog days of summer are here. I hope to see you at my party next month! Please keep in touch!

I love ya,
MARTY a.k.a. Jean-Martin G. Vaneskahian

Back By Popular Demand, Daddy Showing Off Marty 2

2007-08-12T22:12:00.000-05:00

After the last video of Daddy Showing Off Marty, there were many questions raised as to whether Marty know the symbols of the chemical elements based on the position and color in the large periodic table. Well, to answer those concerns we also use chemical element Flash Cards that I made myself before Marty was born, just waiting until he was old enough to begin using them.

I have also attached a video of me asking Marty more general science questions as well as questions of rockets, helicopters and airplanes.

Video Of General Science Questions

Video Of Periodic Table Flash Cards

We're off to the Circus!

2007-08-09T00:50:00.000-05:00

Marty's first trip to the circus was the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey show at American Airlines Center in Dallas tonight! Mommy, Renee and Charley accompanied him, beginning with the preview of the animals 90 minutes before the show...in the parking garage which was about 110 degrees and no breeze!

From there we spent the next hour on the floor of the arena chasing clowns to autograph our program (that would be Mommy and Renee who were doing the chasing!) and we got a few Kodak moments of Marty and Charley in clown noses and circus costumes.

Just before the show began we choked down the $23 chicken nuggets and $8 hot dogs, only to make our way in the down the MANY steps in the dark...carrying the HUGE inflatable booster seat that Renee thought was such a great purchase so Marty could see better in his seat!

And it was a great purchase...once you figured out how to get a little inflatable chair in the stadium seat which wouldn't stay folded down long enough to plop Marty in it without a 3rd hand to hold it down. Moms are resourceful though, and the one knee that wasn't balancing the coke held the seat down long enough to get him situated.

Then the show began...and elephants, tigers, horses, acrobats, motorcycles and clowns in little cars, a few loud noises that Marty didn't like...a BIG light-up spinner with a red elephant on top, a plastic cell phone that orders "cotten candy please," a big stuffed monkey in a Jester's hat, and a light-up red clown's nose...and 2 1/2 hours later and we are all exhausted...except for Marty! He's still talking to Bobby the elephant on his cell phone!

Charley's going to kill me for putting this photo in! I couldn't resist!! Thanks Renee, Charley and Tommy (who gave us all lots of spending $$) for making Marty's first circus experience a memorable one!!

See more photos in our album from the circus- CLICK HERE!

Here are some small video clips of what the circus looked like from our seats

Video #1

Video #2

Marty and Ethan play at Gatti Land!

2007-07-30T18:29:00.000-05:00

The boys needed a day out of the house so we met Ethan and mom, Jessica in Frisco for lunch and play at Gatti Land!

The carousel was a big hit!

Ethan preferred driving the race cars, while Marty was glued to the cockpit of the fighter jet!

Daddy Showing Off Marty's Skills

2007-07-28T14:01:00.000-05:00

Daddy has been working with Marty everyday on learning new elements from the Periodic Table of the Element. We also work on astrononmy, physics, airplanes, and lots of Spanish. Watch the video below for a tiny sample of Marty's knowledge.

Marty Goes To Diego LIVE!

2007-07-28T02:36:00.000-05:00

Here’s a few pics prior to the much awaited event tonight! Marty, Mommy, Renee and Charley went to see the big show at Nokia Theatre! Marty was the best dressed kid there and we had “VIP” front row, center seats- and of course Renee made sure he came home with ALL of the souvenirs they sold! They wouldn’t let us take photos inside, but Marty can tell you that it was THE REAL Diego, Baby Jaguar and even Dora made a surprise visit! He didn’t want to leave…. What a night for all of us!!! Whew.

Here are the pictures

Email From Marty- July 2007

2007-07-20T13:04:00.000-05:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Shalom everyone! I’m just back from summer camp at the Shalom Temple in Dallas and I had a great time! It was a 2-week day camp for kids my age who like “things that fly!” We made kites, played with airplanes and helicopters, read books about things that fly, did art projects, had splash days and sang songs! I was really welcomed by everyone there and the best part of all was I didn’t do anything to embarrass Mommy!! She just knew I was going to do, say or sing something inappropriate.

Just before camp we took a vacation to Florida to visit the Vaneskahian family. Wow, what a great time we had!! First we flew in a big jet to Orlando. I’ve been putting in quite a few hours on the computer flight simulator and I wanted to offer to co-pilot the plane but Mommy made me stay in my seat! Instead Daddy and I just talked about the moving parts on the wings and tail- you know, the flaps, ailerons, elevators, the rudders, pitot tubes and such. I know all of them! Daddy likes to show me off and quiz me in front of the pilots to impress them.

Daddy and I also spend weekends hanging around the hangers at local regional airports, until we get run-off that is. They’ve only asked us to leave the Mckinney Airport once! I just love to walk around and look at all of the different kinds of aircraft. The pilots of the medic helicopter in Collin County all know me and wave as they land and I’ve impressed more than one pilot as they’ve come into the FBO (that’s Flight Based-Operations, for you novices out there) after landing their planes. They can’t believe a 2 year old can know so much about flying. I have to admit though we do look a bit like stalkers!

Anyway, back to our trip…. Then we went to Cape Canaveral and to the Kennedy Space Center. The Space Shuttle was supposed to touch down there that afternoon so we were excited that we’d be there when it arrived, but an hour before it’s arrival time the weather was too risky and it diverted to California. It didn’t damper my day though! My cousins, Perla and Isabelle and I had a great time seeing the rockets and astronauts and stuff. We spent the whole day there with my Abuela and Abu, and my Tia Lusan and Tio Nelson.

Next we headed to the beach and spent a few days at Cocoa Beach. Cousins Dianne and Sabino arrived to kick up the party a notch and we spent most of the next day poolside! I tried the beach but I just didn’t like all of that sand. Mommy was disappointed because ya know, she could live on the beach if you give her a towel and a margarita! Daddy and I prefer the more civilized lifestyle of the pool! Finally we spent our last day back in Orlando and went to the water park for another party!! It was a busy trip, best part was we were so busy that most days I missed my naptime!

There is a little black cloud hanging over the Vaneskahian house, and it’s not due to all of the rain we’ve had. Mommy, Daddy and I are in a state of mourning since the Clendinnings moved to Colleyville last month!! Daddy’s been pouting since they first announced they were moving, and I told Mommy that I wanted Ella to move back home but she said that Ella had a new home and it just wasn’t as close to us as her old home. But she said that we’d still see her and get to play together!!! Mommy was the only one in the house being an adult about the situation and realizing that the Clendinnings were just a few miles farther down the road….that is until the weekend the new swing set arrived in a box!!! Where is Ben when you need him??? Every project, every chore that Daddy would put off would finally get done when Ben would come over! (Ben, Jill, Ella and Logan lived just down the street and around the corner.) Now my swing set was out of it’s box and in a million pieces on the grass in the backyard and both Mommy and Daddy were staring at it. For some reason Daddy was just taking pictures of the pieces. That’s when Mommy said “I can’t believe the Clendinnings went off and left us!”

It was a long weekend for the 3 of us. I kept offering to help them but they seemed frustrated every time I’d pick up some parts they didn’t need, or when I’d ask for the 100th time if I could swing yet! I have to give the folks some credit though, by Sunday night the swing set was finished! I think they might have finished earlier but they kept taking it apart and moving pieces around. I’m not sure but I think they were building it wrong. Daddy said to Mommy that she had helped him screw it up enough that he wouldn’t ask her to help him next time. Mommy had a big smile when he said that so I think that was her plan all along. I have a very smart Mommy!

SAVE THE DATE!! Plans are underway for my 3rd birthday bash on September 8th! Word on the streets is that “Tony the Pony” is hosting the bash this year at The Johnson Ranch in Southlake! There will be, of course, pony rides, as well as games and fun and lots and lots of ice cream to keep us cool!! Put it on your calendars for Saturday, September 8th. You wouldn’t want to miss my birthday party, would you?

I start my new school on September 10th! I’ll go on Mondays and Wednesdays to the Spanish Schoolhouse Preschool. I’m really excited about it. It’s a Spanish immersion school so I plan to be fluent in Spanish by the end of the first semester! Daddy is giving me a head start and has been teaching me lots of new things this summer…he’s teaching me not only to count in Spanish (from 1 to 50) and to know the alphabet but I also know the colors, most of the body parts, and a few new words each day all in Spanish. And if that isn’t enough, since I’ve already memorized the planets, now he has me memorizing the Periodic Table of Elements. I know…don’t laugh, I’m serious!! He uses both flash cards and the actual Periodic Table! He really quizzes me on it! Don’t call Child Protective Services yet, he makes it a game and we actually have fun! And I have learned most of the Elements between Hydrogen and Silicon. I’m going to have to play it cool when I get to preschool or they’ll throw me out the first week for knowing too much Spanish and too much weird science trivia for a 3 year old!! I don’t want to be labeled a “geek” before I hit Kindergarten!

Have a great summer! Adios and Shalom!!
LOVE,
MARTY a.k.a Jean-Martin Garabet Vaneskahian

Email From Marty- May 2007

2007-05-29T15:28:00.000-05:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Hi guys! I hope you had a safe and dry Memorial Day weekend. Sure doesn’t seems like Summer is on it’s way with all of this wet and gloomy weather, but it hasn’t slowed me down much!!!

I’ve been super busy the past 2 weeks. Mommy and I took a mini-vacation to Aunt Mary and Uncle Vic’s house in North Richland Hills. We had a great time, only thing was that they weren’t home while we were there! We were “house-sitting” and taking care of “Precious,” their Westie and “Kitty Hope,” their cat while they went on an airplane and then a boat with some of their friends. Mommy and I stayed up late and played, slept late in the mornings and had a nice relaxing time!

Grandma and John Daddy live only 10 minutes from Aunt Mary and Uncle Vic’s house so we saw them a lot during our mini-vacation. I spent a few nights with them and there was a present at their house for me every time I came over! We also spent a lot of time with Uncle Tommy and Renee and Charley. They have a new swing with a special car swing just for me and lots of room for me to ride my trike. I had a few crashes with boo-boos to prove it!

Best of all was a surprise new pony that Uncle Tommy got for me to ride! “Tony, the Pony” lives at their house but he’s mine to play with and ride anytime. He’s really cute, check out the photos on our website photo album to see him. Mommy says I was a little spoiled on our mini-vacation…but she was a little too!

The only bad thing about our mini-vacation was my sudden illness. One afternoon I was playing in the Johnson’s backyard and all of the sudden it felt like a bug flew in my ear! It really hurt. I told Mommy and NayNay (Renee) but they couldn’t see the bug. I kept on playing but holding my ear. Mommy took me to Grandma’s house because she was going out with friends that night. John Daddy looked in my ear and said it looked OK to him. I rode my tricycle at their house, holding my ear, which Grandma thought was strange, but I didn’t complain. I just kept saying that there was a bug in my ear! Later I climbed in Grandma’s lap and curled up, now holding both ears. Grandma decided she’d better call Mommy, since I was not acting like my usual jovial self. She called just as Mommy was leaving to meet her friends. I always have had good timing when Mommy has made other plans!!

So Mommy cancelled her plans and took me to Cook’s Children’s emergency clinic. She was now worried too because I was acting like I was very sick and she was afraid I would be worse if she waited until the next morning. She got us checked in at the clinic and we waited our turn. In triage I explained to the nurse that I had a bug in my ear while she took my vital signs. She seemed sympathetic to my problem. We went back to the waiting room to wait again. We waited and waited. I was beginning to get bored and my ears were feeling a little better. I was watching a video on the big TV screen and got down out of Mommy’s lap to dance to the music on the video. I think Mommy was embarrassed that I was dancing and didn’t look sick like the other kids in the waiting room. But you know me, I love to dance!! Just as I was really getting into the groove, the double doors opened and “JEAN MARTIN” was called. Boy did the nurse lower her brow at Mommy as she dragged me –still dancing- thru those doors and into the examining area. Mommy was a little pale herself…but her color came back, even got redder when I stood up and announced to the doctor when she came in that I had a bug in my ear!! 5 minutes later, we were out of there with a prescription for antibiotics to cure my ear infection…and I was dancing and singing all the way to the car!!

Since I last wrote I have been exploring the different modes of transportation. One evening Ella, Ethan and I took our mommies to a carnival in Frisco and had lots of fun. We rode in teacups, on a train, inside a huge teddy bear, and my personal favorite was the helicopter! Our mommies were a little hesitant about putting us in the helicopter because some of the helicopters on the ride went up very high and they couldn’t figure out which ones went high and which ones stayed lower to the ground as they went around. But us kids insisted that we ride! So they buckled us in tight, put Ella, the oldest, on the outside and told her to hold the bar in tight to her chest because it was a little loose. The ride began and around and around we went. All of the other helicopters went up and down, but ours stayed low to the ground. Our mommies were relieved but we were disappointed that we got the bum helicopter that couldn’t fly! Just as the ride was about over we all figured out that the bar that Ella was holding in tight was the lever to push out and make the helicopter fly up! Oh well, we had a really fun time that night!

Then Cousin Grace and I decided to try out the train at Forest Park in Fort Worth. Her grandparents (Aunt Mary and Uncle Vic) and my Grandma took us for a fun day. Later in the month we decided to try the Tarantula Train in Grapevine with Grace’s parents and Mommy. Wow is that train big! It was a fun ride until we had a train robbery, and a masked gunman got on the train! There was a shooting that Grace and I weren’t expecting and it was a little scary. I almost cried but wanted to look brave for Grace! Thank goodness there was a sheriff on the train and all was well in the end!

Good news! I’m all signed up for summer camp beginning in July! There’s a really cool two- week camp for kids my age that teaches all about “Things That Fly” so Mommy and Daddy thought it would be perfect for me since I love airplanes, helicopters, balloons, kites, etc. ! It would also be an opportunity for me to expand my religious culture awareness. The camp is at the Temple Shalom of Dallas. Daddy liked it because the curriculum was science based. Mommy and I went over to the synagogue and met the Preschool Director and toured the school. Mommy liked it because it offered other fun things like art and splash days and stuff I’d like, as well as learning more about the Jewish customs. I think it will be fun!

I’m getting my sunglasses and sun-block packed because we are heading to the beach! In a few weeks we are flying to Orlando to visit the Vaneskahians and then we’re off to Cape Canaveral to see all of the space stuff that Daddy tells me about! After that we are all going to the beach for a few days with my cousins Perla and Isabelle! Before we leave Orlando, we are going to a party at the waterpark! It’s going to be a fun trip and I’ve missed seeing my Abuela and Abu so I’m excited about spending time with them.

Have a great Summer and send me a postcard if you get out of town!!

Love ya,
MARTY aka Jean-Martín Garabet Vaneskahian

Email From Marty- Spring 2007

2007-04-10T15:44:00.000-05:00

Dear Family and Friends,

A Belated Happy Easter to you!! I’m still working my way through the candy filled-eggs. It may be the 4th of July before I eat all of my candy!! That cool Easter Bunny laid a big bunch of eggs in my backyard this year. If it hadn’t been for cousins J.D. and Carley being in on the hunt and quite faster than me, I would have had enough candy to last through Halloween!!

I am a big boy now, as I no longer fear the fuzzy fellow. I even had my picture taken with him! Our neighborhood party had an egg hunt and the Easter Bunny came early to see us kids. Then he showed up again when Ella and Logan and I had lunch with him at the City of Allen and got our pictures taken. Mommy said he came during the night to our house and left my basket full of toys and laid all of those eggs in the backyard.

For those of you who read my last letter and have been patiently waiting to hear the news…I did get accepted into the Spanish Schoolhouse in Frisco!! Mommy beat out the other parents in time to get me enrolled, so I’ll start school two days a week in September! Even thought they’ll teach us Spanish in school, Daddy already has begun my Spanish “immersion” and I can count, I know the colors, some body parts, and of course I know that “avion” is airplane in Spanish!

Speaking of airplanes, you won’t believe where I’m going this weekend!!! The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels team of precision show planes will be performing at the air show at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi and my fabulous parents are taking me to see them and all of the airplanes and helicopters at the show! I have a metal replica Blue Angel airplane that goes most everywhere I go. Mommy calls it my teddy bear, even though I don’t think it looks like one! I ask Daddy all the time if he’ll please take me to the Navy, but he just says I’m too young. I can imagine what a cool place the Navy must be…a playground filled with airplanes to play with and climb in, and no mommies to call you in for naptime!

I’ve had a busy time these past few months. Ella had a really cool birthday party at a place filled with bounce houses and toys. I think I’d like to live there! I’ve been afraid of those bounce houses, but Jill coaxed me in and jumped with me and made it fun. Then Daddy climbed in and started jumping too!!

Cousin Grace and I took the folks to see Elmo Live at Nokia Theatre. I think they had a good time. We certainly enjoyed it! All of the characters from Sesame Street were there!!

For Mommy’s birthday, Daddy took the day off and we took the train from Plano to Dallas and had lunch on top of Reunion Tower at Antares Restaurant. I could watch the airplanes and helicopters fly right by at eye level. It was fun and so was the train ride. It was my first train trip. Thank goodness I came along with Mommy and Daddy or they may have never made it home!! I like to read letters on signs and ask what they say. We took the RED line train to Dallas, hence the “RED” would be important to get back on that color line to come home. On the trip to Dallas I asked what the red sign said, along with other signs inside the train car. After lunch we hopped back on the train to go home. A while into the ride I started looking around at signs again. I asked Mommy what the BLUE sign said, she looked and casually read, “Downtown Garland.” A few seconds later it registered to Daddy and he jumped up and yelled “Blue Sign?” Yes, they had put me on the wrong train!! Good thing I was there…I think they are becoming a little absent-minded!

My next train ride came just days later when Ethan and I hopped aboard the train at the Fort Worth Zoo. We rode it twice!! Our Mom’s took us to see all of the animals at the zoo. We had a great time! It was our first time to visit a zoo and we know the animals were really excited to finally meet us.

Ethan and I also had the pleasure of that annual Texan tradition- pictures in the bluebonnets! Our mommy’s met in Grapevine and took us out in the field of flowers and took a million photos. Of course we tried to make it as challenging as possible for them by not standing still or posing!!!

Big news- Uncle Tommy has new baby cows! I got to see the new baby cows and they are so cute. I climbed the gate to try to get a look because all of the longhorns were way out in the pasture. But as soon as they saw me they started coming in. When they got a little too close I got nervous and got down until Renee and ChaCha came back over with me.

You can see the longhorns if you look in the photo albums, along with our day at the zoo, in the Bluebonnets, Easter and more! JUST CLICK HERE!!

I hope you are having a wonderful Spring! Please keep in touch!!

Love ya,
MARTY aka Jean-Martin Garabet Vaneskahian

Email From Marty- Happy Valentines Day 2007

2007-02-12T22:19:00.000-06:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy Valentine’s Day! Wow, February is already here and I’m still breaking in my Christmas toys!! I hope you are having a terrific 2007! I know I sure am…

We had a late holiday celebration with my Bolton side of the family in mid January when we could all finally get together. It was really a great idea to extend Christmas by a few extra weeks and I got to open EVEN MORE presents! And, let me tell ya my Aunt Mary and Uncle Vic did me up good with the gifts this year!! In fact, Daddy and I kinda got two-for-one gifts because I wanted to play with his present and he wanted to play with mine!

Daddy got a really cool indoor flying helicopter that is remote controlled. At first he was very cautious about flying it around the house, at least while Mommy was watching. But it didn’t take long before he was flying it up the staircase and zooming through the house. Unfortunately during one flight Mommy walked through the kitchen just as it crashed into the chandelier above the kitchen table- boy was that cool! From the look on her face she didn’t agree. Daddy let me fly it after a few lessons, but we didn’t let her know. I think those eyes in the back of her head spotted me at the controls one time because she came running to protect her big crystal bowl in the entryway and yelling at Daddy not to let me hit the crystal sconce from Uncle Martín on the wall. Mommy just doesn’t appreciate cool toys. That’s what Daddy always says.

My toy that they gave me is called an AIR HOG! It’s an airplane that you pump full of air, then let it go OUTSIDE and it flies. On our first flight out we went across the street from our house to the park area where there’s more open space. Mommy came along with the video camera. Daddy pumped the air into the plane, disconnected the pump, started the propeller and launched the plane. It flew about 30 feet and took a dive into the creek. Mommy and I looked at each other unimpressed as Daddy went to get it out of the water. Second try- it only made it about 10 feet and it went down prop first into the grass. Third try was a charm though! It took off, made a loop and headed straight for our house (the second story windows to be exact) but it side-swiped our house, did the same for the next door neighbor’s house, looked like it was headed for the back window of a Lexus parked on the street but suddenly took a sharp left turn and headed straight for me and Mommy!!! We screamed, ducked and it missed us by a hair- but guess who was standing right behind us… yep, Daddy! It was headed full throttle right for his head! He made an attempt to catch it and stopped it before it went for a second loop. What a stunt plane! I was jumping up and down yelling, “Cool Daddy!!” Mommy was yelling too, but I’m not allowed to say the kind of words that she was saying! She got it all on video but she says we can’t show it to anyone until Daddy edits out the audio.

Well I started off my year with a trip to the Rodeo and the Fat Stock Show in Fort Worth. Even though I live east of the “line” (Tarrant County line that is), I think I’m now an official cowboy. My Uncle Tommy took me, along with Renee, Charley and Mommy. We had a fun day, I rode a bull (see the picture- don’t tell anyone that the bull wasn’t moving, or even breathing!), and saw lots of horses and cowboys, I ate a FOOT LONG corn dog all by myself, had fries, funnel cake, coke, a stomach ache and saw a LOT of pigs and cows! Then we went for Mexican Food!! Fort Worth just can’t get any better than that!!

Daddy and his friends went on a trip last month to Washington DC. It was his Christmas present from Mommy. She coordinated with his friends from Miami to plan the trip. It was something they had been talking about doing for years but had never done. They all wanted to tour the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, see DC and just have a “guys weekend.” He was really surprised when he found out! He was even more surprised on the morning of the trip when he was leaving the house at 4:30am to go to the airport to catch a flight and Ben showed up at the front door with his suitcase to go along too! Mommy and Ben had kept that part a surprise too. It made Daddy’s trip really special. He came home with lots of great toys for me, as you can imagine. It’s a good thing I’m too little to understand where he was going or I would have had one big tantrum and made him take me along too! Of course, next time I will HAVE TO GO!!

Mommy and Daddy recently took me to visit a prospective preschool they would like for me to attend in the Fall. It’s a really neat school, called the Spanish Schoolhouse. It’s what they call a “Spanish immersion” school where the teachers speak only Spanish all day except for one English class. Mommy and Daddy really liked the concept, and since my Vaneskahian side of the family all speak Spanish it makes since that I should be bilingual! Mommy thought she was really ahead of schedule by checking into schools this early- 8 months early! But nooooo, registration for school beginning in the Fall is actually this month! Mommy was surprised it was so early. She was even more surprised to learn that there is such a demand for placement in the school that they now only have online registration. It’s like getting concert tickets on the internet at Ticketmaster!!! You log onto your computer at a certain day and time, along with all of the other parents and the fastest typers get accepted and the others are put on a waiting list! I think Mommy was ready to camp-out at the school the night before to be first in line at the door for registration. She says that’s what they used to do for concert tickets “in the old days!” She also says she didn’t have this much trouble getting registered for college! I guess her college wasn’t as fancy as a Spanish immersion school for toddlers!! (I’ll let you know in my next letter if Mommy typed fast enough to get me enrolled in school!)

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

See our all of our latest photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaneskahian/sets/.

And, visit our website at http://www.vaneskahian.com/.

Luv Ya!
MARTY a.k.a. Jean-Martín Garabet Vaneskahian

Jean-Marie's New Tiny R/C Helicopter

2007-01-24T18:00:00.000-06:00

Jean-Marie and Marty both got some very cool presents from Uncle Vic and Aunt Mary. Jean got a tiny R/C Helicopter and Marty got an Hir Hog compressed air powered Airplane.

Here is some video of the R/C Helicopter flying.

Ella Clendinning's Christmas Recital - 2006

2006-12-26T14:00:00.000-06:00

Here is video of the dance recital of our good friends The Clendinning's daughter, Ella.

Email From Marty- Merry Christmas To All! 2006

2006-12-25T22:36:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas to my favorite family and friends!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, or holiday celebration of choice! As you can see by the photo, I made friends with the big guy in the red suit just in the “nick” of time- no pun intended! Hohoho!

I’ve feared the old man for the past 6 weeks, since he first entered the malls before Thanksgiving. Mommy dragged me kicking and screaming, but I wouldn’t get close to him! Our next attempt she brought Renee and Charley (my Aunt NayNay and ChaCha) who promised me she’d buy me a bigger helicopter than Santa could bring if I’d just sit on his lap long enough for a picture. I thought long and hard about that bribe, but in the end I just high-tailed it back to the stroller! Well, I knew I was running out of time…so I finally braved the big lap of fur and fuzz. You know, he wasn’t so bad! He had a nice voice and we talked about airplanes and helicopters. He was hardly scary at all! I told him I’d been good- hoping he couldn’t see through that stretch of the truth and he said he’d leave me some presents after I was asleep on Christmas Eve!

He did it! Santa Claus even remembered that I was at Grandmama and John Daddy’s house in Hurst! I got just what I wanted plus a few extras too. We all had a very nice Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve at church and then at my Aunt Sandy and Uncle John’s for dinner and then Mommy and Grandmama and I went to visit some family at a Christmas party in Fort Worth while Daddy and the guys stayed home and got ready for Santa, whatever that means! Today we all had lunch at Grandmama and John Daddy’s and opened even more presents! I also talked to my Vaneskahian grandparents in Florida who were having a nice Christmas too. Abuela had just been to visit me last week and brought lots of presents too. You just won’t believe all of the presents I have! I’m a very lucky boy, and very loved, and of course very deserving too!

I hope you all got everything you wished for and a few extras too! Have a wonderful holiday and a very happy and safe New Year!

Love ya lots!
Marty a.k.a. Jean-Martin Garabet Vaneskahian

Christmas Video 2006

2006-12-25T08:30:00.000-06:00

Here is video of Marty opening his presents from Florida in Christmas 2006

Email From Marty- Happy Thanksgiving 2006

2006-11-27T22:45:00.000-06:00

Dear Family and Friends,

“Obble, Obble, Gobble”….that’s what the turkey says! Happy Thanksgiving! We had a great Turkey Day at my cousins J.D. and Carley’s new house. We had lots of food and cousin Grace came too so I had someone my age to get in trouble with! It was a typical day with too much yummy food thanks to Grandma, John Daddy and Aunt Mary. Uncle John and the guys were in front of the TV watching football, Mommy and Aunt Sandy were digging thru the sale flyers in the newspaper, and there were a few naps for some of us. Mommy and Daddy went to a movie between lunch and dinner, and after we got home late that night and Mommy tucked Daddy and I into bed she went off to join all of the other women in Collin County at the Midnight Madness Sale at the Allen Outlet Mall! You know Mommy, she can’t miss a sale!

I know it has been a long time since I’ve written and I apologize for the delay. My parents have me on a tight schedule and I’m afraid that I’m on the verge of toddler burn-out!

I try to be a good boy! I really do. I want them to be proud of me and I try to show off when they want me to recite the alphabet or my numbers. Yes, I’ve learned the colors to make Mommy happy, and I’m trying my darnedest to learn to count objects to get Daddy off of my back! BUT…they’re taking this TOO FAR! Daddy’s driving me nuts with his science stuff! Wouldn’t ya know I’d get a Dad with a science major! We go outside every night and say goodnight to the moon. That’s ok, but now he’s got me memorizing the planets! He’s even got the ENTIRE DVD collection of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos Series which we watch every night! To combat this influence, Mommy is fighting back with her love of art!! But I’m afraid she’s not fighting on the same level. To keep up with Daddy she should have me studying the master’s works at the Louvre in Paris, but instead we’re taking a “Mommy & Me” class called Abrakadoodle at the Rec Center for 2 year olds that’s lots of fun! Every Monday we get to paint and get all messy! I come home with my own framed masterpiece to show Daddy. Though, I think he’d be more impressed if I was painting a picture of the solar system!

My true passion is airplanes and helicopters. I live and breathe them! I wake up to them, make engine noises and pretend I’m flying. I can name most all of the parts from the tail rotors and skids to the ailerons and rudders, and even the pittot tubes. I love to hang out at the McKinney Airport with Daddy. We do that at least once a week! Usually on Sunday mornings we get up early and let Mommy sleep, go get some breakfast at McD’s and then head out to see who’s flying! They all know us pretty well out there and the regulars recognize me. I’d stay there all day just to watch planes take off and land if Daddy would let me, but eventually we have to leave. But as soon as we come home I play with my toy planes and helicopters! I have lots of them!! I have some really cool books too. Just the other day while we were shopping at Half Price Books, Mommy found a book in the children’s section about airplanes with cute drawings and cartoons that she thought I’d like. But I’d already found the book I wanted- the 1995 International Directory of Civil Aircraft!! It’s got photos of all kinds of airplanes and helicopters. Yes, most kids might like the cute, juvenile books, but this catalog is really cool and I spend hours looking at the pictures in it every day! I can even pick out the photos of the piper cub and the DC-3. You don’t think that’s weird for a two year-old, do you???

I got to attend my first real Air Show at Alliance Airport! It was a little overwhelming. Especially when the simulated air bomb attack started over head that no one had warned me about! Ella and Logan and their parents came along and we had a fun day, though it was really hot. We saw all kinds of airplanes and helicopters. I think Daddy had a good time too. He really likes all of that stuff too. He’s the one that got me interested in aviation. Just last weekend he and Mommy took me to an airplane museum that was really fun too. I walked up to an engine on display and told Daddy that it was a piston engine. Now how many two year-olds know what a piston engine looks like, huh?

I’ve been busy with some other fun stuff too. Mommy decided I needed a little exposure to my heritage so she and Daddy took me to the annual Armeniafest. I think she went just for the Baklava! All of the people there looked like Daddy and his side of the family. I sure didn’t look like an Armenian kid! But it was cool to watch them dance, though I think I could teach them a few dance steps myself. I liked the food too.

We also went to Grace’s house for a Halloween party that was really cool. I was dressed as…you guessed it, a pilot!! We decorated cupcakes (I ate all of the decorations off of the table while no one was looking!), we jumped in the bounce house and even hit a piñata until candy came out! Then a few nights later we went door to door begging for candy. Now this is something new that I really liked!!! Mommy says we can only do it one night a year but I really like the concept. We went over to Aunt Sandy and Uncle John’s neighborhood and to Grandma’s house. However next year I’m not riding home with Daddy…my candy dwindled on the ride home!

Well folks, it’s Christmastime again. Last year it was still new to me, but this year I think I know how to work the system! I know it all starts when the scary fat man in the red suit hits town. I realize that I MUST brave the mall and the line to sit in the creepy guy’s lap long enough for the dreaded photo and to appear that I AM a “good boy.” After all it IS all about appearances! Then I come home, email him my list of wants and sit back and wait for Christmas morning! In the meantime, I must endure being pranced around in silly little holiday outfits that Mommy thinks are “just adorable” to wear to Christmas parties. I must be tempted with a million plastic ornaments hung on a fake tree in the family room that look good enough to eat but really taste terrible. Then there’s the living room tree. It’s in the “no-touch zone.” It has china ornaments than any other time I would never be interested in. But just because I know I’m not supposed to touch them, I just CAN’T resist. The urge is more powerful than I am!!

I’m having a little party of my own and you are invited! On Saturday afternoon, December 16th please come on over to my house for my 1st Annual Christmas Cookie Party. We’re going to be decorating cookies to eat and to take home for Santa! (I’m going to need a good bribe when he gets to my house to make sure he leaves me some gifts!) It’s from 2-4 p.m. at 5028 Avery Lane in McKinney. We’d love to have you stop by so please come! RSVP to my email at marty@vaneskahian.com or call Mommy at 972-540-0884. I hope to see you there!

LOVE,
MARTY (Jean-Martin G. Vaneskahian)

Email From Marty- August 2006

2006-08-23T23:14:00.000-05:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy Heat Wave! Hope you are all staying cool this summer. I’m not! After a HUGE electric bill last month, Daddy put Mommy and me on a spending diet starting with the air conditioning. Now we just get in the car during the 100+ degree days and spend $3 a gallon driving around to keep cool instead of staying home and sweating in the 78 degree house! Or worse, go to the mall where it’s really cool! Mommy says not to tell Daddy though, it’s our little secret.

Part of our “diet” also includes cut backs in other areas including this newsletter. You may have noticed that it’s not fancy, no headlines enlarged and in color, and no extra software expense to mass mail to you all at once. I’m also having to use Mommy’s email address to send you this letter. That was all cut from our budget! Sorry…..

We had a nice summer vacation to Florida to visit the Vaneskahian side of the family. Daddy’s sister, my Tia Ani that lives in Uruguay brought her new baby boy, Paolo to meet his American cousins. I also got to play with my cousins Perla and Isabelle that live in Orlando. Then we all got in a big van and went to the beach for a few days. We had a great time!! We played in the sand and hung out by the pool. It was nice to spend time with my grandparents too! My Abuelo, (I just call him Abu) just came to visit me last week! He came to celebrate Daddy’s birthday and spend time with me! We had lots of fun. He even went to The Little Gym class with me! He did pretty good for an old guy! Then my Abuela will be here in a few weeks for my birthday party!

Good news! Aunt Mary and Uncle Vicky are all moved to Texas now from Memphis, yeah!! Cousin Grace and I went over to help them unpack. Once they are settled in Grace and I are going to vacation for a week or two at their house. I know they will want us to stay longer but I’m sure Mommy and Daddy will start missing me by the second week. Since Grace is their granddaughter she might stay longer. I bet Uncle Vicky will take us to Six Flags and the water parks. I think the zoo might be nice this time of year too. I’m sure that he and Aunt Mary will do anything that Grace and I want to do!

Grace and I have been seeing a lot of each other lately. Our parents took us to a new place to play called “Kid Muse.” It’s kind of an indoor play place. If you look at the pictures taken that day, it looks like our parents were having more fun that we were. Daddy was hogging the air hockey table and Brian took a nap in the bean bag chairs!

I’ve developed quite a collection of airplanes and helicopters! Sometimes I spend all day just flying them around the house. Mommy really likes it when I do! What she likes most though is when I leave them on the carpet. They are metal and she finds them with her bare feet! Everytime!! I always know when she’s found one because I can hear her. Daddy’s teaching me all the body parts and I can identify each one’s cockpits, wings, propellers or turbines, rotors, etc. Mommy works with me to teach me the letters of the alphabet and the numbers and Daddy comes home and it’s all about airplanes and helicopters!! Daddy even lets me read his Air and Space Magazines! (When he’s finished with them, of course!)

Another milestone was reached this last month. I went to my first cinema. Mommy and Daddy planned a whole Saturday around my first trip to the movies. We got up early and went to the new Cinemark to see the movie, Cars. Daddy had the camera, Mommy got the popcorn, cokes, and forbidden candy and we got the best seats in the house in plenty of time before the previews began. I had time to run up and down the row, eat some popcorn, dig in Mommy’s purse, check out the seat mechanism to fold it up then down, pull the straw out of Mommy’s coke and drop it on the floor, run up and down the row again and climb on the hand rail. Then the previews began…about 20 minutes of them. By the time the real movie started I didn’t care anything about sitting in a seat watching anything, I’d had all of the popcorn and candy I’d wanted, and I was ready to begin my decent on the stairs in the dark. After the first 15 minutes of the movie Mommy was tired from wrestling to keep me in her lap and Daddy was embarrassed because we were being so loud so they scooped me up, popcorn bag and all and out we went. Daddy had a disgusted look on his face. I felt bad that I had disappointed him but he just had to understand that Barney himself could have been there dancing in the row in front of us, but after 30 minutes I’ve hit my max and I’m ready to go!

Speaking of disappointing parents, I think Mommy has given up her dream of me being a concert violinist. She’s finally faced facts that the best she can hope for is a drummer in a rock and roll band! I’m sure it would be ok with her if I could get a job with Bon Jovi!! I got a set of drums for my birthday last year and she and Daddy kept putting off taking them out of the box. They said I wasn’t old enough, but I know they just didn’t want to hear me practice. (She said I’d already been ruined with the Leap Frog Drum from Old Uncle Dave that I got last year!) Well, I began playing Uncle Tommy’s drums in his garage at he and NayNay’s (Renee) house in Southlake. Tommy said when I get older he’ll really teach me how to play! Mommy started feeling guilty so she told Daddy to get out the drums and put them together for me. Boy, can I really rock!! I’m much better than I even thought I would be. Anytime you want to hear me just ask me to play my “bum bums.”

I think I disappointed the old man too. He’s in a big hurry to have a little scientist in the family…and well, Mommy tried to tell him it wasn’t a good idea…. Anyway, Daddy had a rocket that he and J.D. had launched a couple of years back and he decided that I would think it was really cool. I’m not even 2 yet (but only 12 shopping days left!!) and J.D. was about 5, but Daddy thought I would like a loud blast and a fast shooting rocket. So he drags me and Mommy out in the 120 degree heat in a field and gets it all set up. Did I mention he forgot something and had to go back home and left us standing in the blazing sun!!? Anyway, finally he’s all ready and he gives Mommy the blast-off button to push so he can hold me and all of the sudden there’s a shotgun sound and I think I’ve been shot!! I’m screaming and can’t be still long enough to see where blood is coming from. Daddy’s trying to get me to watch where the rocket is going up and I’m just trying to run for cover before the sniper hits again. For some reason Mommy is laughing hysterically. All is happening in a matter of seconds and just as I realize I haven’t been shot, out of the sky comes the rocket falling directly overhead so I make a run for it! Daddy just shook his head and through the pieces of the rocket back in the box and headed for the car. Me and Mommy were already inside with the car running and the A/C on high!

I had a little road trip this summer and did my first crusin’ 6th Street in Austin on a Saturday night at midnight! Mommy and Renee have been on many, MANY, road trips over the years, but never with a toddler in tow. We dropped Charley (Renee’s daughter) at a volleyball camp at UT in Austin and headed south for a weekend of outlet shopping and visiting Carolyn (Renee’s mom) and Grandmama Smith who just moved to Boerne. Our last night back into Austin late to get a hotel room so we could be there early to pick up Charley the next morning somehow Mommy got us in the 6th Street traffic. Mommy and Renee laughed about how many times they’d been in the crowds there before (20 years before), but not in a Suburban, and not with a toddler in the back!

I shouldn’t have to mention this, because I know it’s on everyone’s calendars….but my 2nd birthday is coming up in just days!!! Yes, I know it’s hard to believe that I’m growing up so fast but I’ll be 2 on September 4th! Unfortunately Mommy made a promise to Daddy last year at a weak moment that this year’s party would be scaled down from the blow-out we had for my first birthday party. That promise added to our “spending diet” and this budget birthday may not be one for the scrapbooks!! But, come on over anyway and help me celebrate. I think we can afford a cake and some ice cream! We’re going to party this year at home on Saturday, September 9th starting about 6:30pm. (Maybe Daddy will be in a good mood and we can turn the air conditioner down a few degrees for the party!) Hope to see you then!!

CLICK HERE FOR OUR MOST CURRENT PHOTO ALBUMS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaneskahian/sets/
July-August 2006, Kid Muze, and June Trip to Orlando

Love,
Jean- Martin (Marty) G. Vaneskahian

p.s. from Mommy
I apologize for the many red eyes in the photos. Our camera is terrible about red eye and I used to go in and adjust the color on each of the photos, but I seem to be running out of time these days!! Sorry!! ~Marjorie

November 2005 - Marty Videos

2005-11-30T21:00:00.000-06:00

Here is a video collage of Marty getting into trouble during November 2005

Part #1

Part #2

Marty's First Steps

2005-09-03T16:00:00.000-05:00

Here is video we captured of Marty's first steps ever

August 2005 - Marty Videos

2005-08-25T21:00:00.000-05:00

Here is a video collage of Marty getting into trouble during August 2005

July 2005 - Marty Videos

2005-07-30T21:00:00.000-05:00

Here is a video collage of Marty getting into trouble during July 2005

Part #1

Part #2

Marty's Life From September 2004 - April 2005

2005-04-27T21:00:00.000-05:00

Here are videos of Marty's life from September 2004 - April 2005

Part #1

Part #2

Part #3

Welcome To The World Jean-Martin Garabet Vaneskahian

2004-09-06T21:00:00.000-05:00

Here are videos of our son's birth. Jean-Martin Garabet Vaneskahian (Marty) born September 4th, 2004 at 11:00 pm.

Part #1

Part #2

Part #3

Part #4