July 22, 1971


My Dear Debbie

Today you are four years old. What a happy day it must be for you. I will miss being with you for this birthday, the first one I have missed by it is probably the beginning of many I will miss. But I will think of you on your day.

Honey, I will always remember when I lived with you and how you "took care of me" for Grandpa. Remember you always got me my stool- sat in my chair with me and watched our programs. How we always took a nap together and when I called Grnadpa you always said- "Grandma just tell him the good things". Honey, all I knew were good things to tell him about you.

Now you are a big girl - 4 years old. You are growing up so fast pretty soon maybe you can get on an airplane alone and come and take care of me some more.

I love you very much and hope y our birthday is happy. I miss you too.

Be a good girl.

Love
Grandma

William lost his second tooth day before yesterday.  I came home from work and he greeted me with all the gory details about the twisting and turning and bloodiness.  He pulled it out himself, which is brave of him since neither Marc nor I have the intention of ever pulling out teeth.  Regardless of how "hangy" they are.  Shiver.  Tooth Fairy came and brought him $1.50.

William finished his 4-week golf class and did great.  He sort of surprised me in how well he listened and follwed directions and stayed focused.  Now that we know he can, there will be more of that expected of him!  I will have video of his golf at some point.  It's not posted quite yet.

Signa started her weekend with a 4-H Dog Field Day where she decided at the last minute to enter the Junior Showmanship competition.  And she won 2nd place!  We were both happy (and surprised).

Then on Sunday, Signa entered her first karate competition in the Forms category.  Here is the video for that:

Dear William,


Tomorrow is Easter and you also turn five years old. The next time you have a birthday on Easter will be when you turn 89 years old and although it’s silly, it makes me sad to know that I won’t be there with you to celebrate that birthday. Tomorrow is my last celebration of your birthday on Easter. And today is last day for me to have a four-year-old.

To say that four has been easy would not be truthful. To say that it’s been equally challenging and wonderful would be. You are an adorable little boy, full of life and energy. You are polite, saying please and thank you, and you are curious, trying out all kinds of things. Even the not-so-smart ones.

You love to be with your friends, but still do a lot of parallel play. You loved our trip to Disneyland and you love our trips to the park. Sometimes I’m not sure which you like more. This year, you played soccer and did very well. You wanted to do it again, so we just finished sign-ups. You also wanted golf, so that starts next week and you are doing a couple of camps this summer. One is a drop off day came and you are a bit nervous, as you haven’t been dropped off before. But I know that you will do very well, as you are mature and capable of listening and following directions. For the most part.

You still think Signa is the bee’s knees and try to emulate her in everything you do. You love to play with her and be with her and when she is apart from you, you just aren’t yourself. This year you lost your Aunt Gin and I think that was harder on you than we yet know. But we love you so much that we are going to love that hurt right out of you.

You are still my cuddly little man and I hope that doesn’t change any time soon. I love getting my morning snuggles and hugs and my afternoon Big Hug greeting. You make my day every day with your joy and energy and silliness.

Thank you for being my delightful big stink.  Who just told me that you are taller today and your feet are longer because you are now five.

I love you.
-Momma

I normally don't really post genealogy here, but I really liked this Civil War study that I did on our family, so I'd like to share it!

http://mmgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/04/civil-war.html

William just lost his first tooth, so the sound of the letter F is going to make more of an appearance at Mascot Manor, I'm sure.

Now that my dad has his copy, I can share my first ever book! You may recall the presentation I shared. Well, that was actually part of a book that I was working on. Actually, part of a book that I’m still working on, but I decided to do one part as its own separate book.


I gave a copy to my parents for their birthdays and then sent a copy to my grandfather and a copy to my brother. I also sent a copy to the man I know that is (or was- not sure now) the home owner’s association president for Blue Oaks, the site of the former Mariani Ranch.

I’m actually really proud of it! Here is the link to its very own site. The Mariani Ranch.

http://www.lulu.com/product/hardcover/the-mariani-ranch/14959926

WOO HOO! Since the next book is the history of the Mariani family itself, I think I'll use the same exact style and cover. Make it a 2-book set.