Email from Marty- November 2007 HAPPY FALL Y'ALL

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

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!!

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

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

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!

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!

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

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!

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

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