AUGUST 2005 - SESAME PLACE - JOLI AGE 2



AUGUST 2006 - SESAME PLACE - JOLI AGE 3


AUGUST 2007 - SESAME PLACE - JOLI AGE 4

TWO YEARS AGO....

This time, two years ago, on August 17, 2005, we were tossing and turning, crying and praying. It was 2 years ago today that we found out Joli had cancer, and that in less than a few hours, we would be wheeling her into surgery to save her life.

We thank God that Joli is here with us today. Each year, we visit Sesame Place -- for us, that is the last "family vacation" before our lives changed forever. As a special treat this year, we arranged to have Joli's life celebrated at Sesame Place - and thankfully, they agreed!

Over the course of 2 days, we took almost 200 pictures of Joli and Jada. Here are some of the highlights! "August 17" is a very humbling day for our family. We are Blessed to have the family and friends that we have in our lives, and everyday we thank God for all of you.

Congratulations, Joli! We love you so much!

Miss Jada - all sassy


We arranged for Joli to have a private meet-n-greet with the Sesame Friends!





Jada kept yelling "Eh-mooo! Eh-mooo!!"



We also arranged for Joli to be a guest of honor at the parade! She got another private meet-n-greet on Day 2 and rode on the coveted Elmo float! Joli rocked it!



Our girl rockin' it out on the parade route!


Joli also got a special treat from Grammy! Grammy took her to a very fancy hair salon to get her hair texturized, cut, and blow-dried! Check out "Your Majesty - JOLI!"





WHO IS THIS GIRL???


Our little sweethearts


The gals with Abby Caddaby

HUH, JADA? what are you saying??

ACTUALLY, JADA REVEALED TO ME WHAT SHE WAS SAYING..

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRAMMY!!" Sorry this birthday wish was late -- it took a while for me to translate "Jada talk." Happy birthday, Grammy! We LOVE YOU!!




FUN WITH COUSIN LILY.. again, I have no idea what they are saying...

WAIT!! Cousin Lily just called me to say, "Aunt Liza, I was trying to say 'Hey, Jada, do you know it's our Grammy's birthday' and Jada was saying 'Yes, let's get down from these high chairs and drive to New York.. I'll get the keys.'" HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRAMMY EVA!!

This weekend was action packed in the friends department for the girls. On Saturday, we met up at Sheep Pasture with my friend from work who has a little girl just 1 month older than Jada. On Sunday, we drove to Mystic Aquarium to see our friends Tina and Scott and their little cuties. Seriously, from the moment Joli and Cady met, the didn't let go of each other's hands for 4 hours. I'm sure Jada and Sophia would have hit it off beautifully if we could let them run around, too! But, they were content in their little strollers.

Hmm... are these future Connecticut College camels, too???


Fun with new friends!

Jorge is back!!!

Seriously.. go and vote at www.attblueroom.com/hollywood and go to the Comic Book Challege!!! VOTE FOR JORGE!

also, hilarious --- so, lots of people think that Jorge resembles Donald Faison. Just 2 months ago, I ran into Donald Faison in NYC Times Square - TWICE! Got his autograph for Jorge. Turns out Donald Faison was also one of the judges at the Comic Book Challenge!

Check out this... tell us if YOU think he looks like D. Faison!

We both "Made the Cut!"

Great news! Jorge made the TOP 10 in the Platinum Studios comic book competition. Be sure to vote for him every day at http://www.attblueroom.com/hollywood

Also, I made the cut -- 13 inches to be exact! All that hair is going to Pantene's Beautiful Length Program which makes wigs for women with cancer... free of charge.

BEFORE....


AFTER...!



:)

*Jada on the stoop -- protecting her zone!




*Joli in the crawl tube - July 20, 2007 (age 4)


*Joli in the crawl tube - April 2005 (age 1 .. almost 2)



*"This here is MY playground... keep on walkin'...."


*Miss Tinkerbell (aka Joli) - thanks Aunt Marie, Uncle Andy and Lil'!

A Big Birthday week!

It's been a few days of birthday celebrations here at our house! Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate Jo's birthday! We can't believe she is FOUR! Egads!

Thanks to Grammy and Pop who also made the trip up to see us. Here's an awesome clip of the "Vega Birthday Song" -- she looks forward to this EVERY year!



This one is called "Only Aunt Jenny can make Jada laugh...."

"Happy Birthday, Miss Joli!!"

Oh yes!! She's officially FOUR YEARS OLD!
Miss Joli started her day with her birthday balloons. We then had custom blueberry pancakes (thanks Tita Elma!) and went to the beach with Mia, Uncle Jon and TeeTah Grace. It was so much fun! We got to feed the seagulls, play in the sand, and jump the waves. Then, Joli went to pick out her own celebration cake -- Elmo cupcakes, chocolate cupcakes, and a raspberry layer cake! YUM! Thanks to Lola and Tita Elma who brought over food to our house (with the lovely new windows!).

Let's see -- fun Joli things to remember when we look back on this year:

1. Camp Sunshine - that was a year highlight!

2. Joli loves to ask people, "What was your favorite part?" after doing something fun

3. She makes us say, "Yes your Majesty" a lot.

4. She loves referring to Jada as "the Muskrat"

5. She got her hair done for the first time with Grammy a few months ago - and she loves wearing puffs and a "single puff"

6. She was a flower girl in Aunt Jenny and Uncle Jon's wedding!!

7. With the addition of our laptop, Joli LOVES when we film her and she gets to see herself on the laptop

8. Guitar Hero - her favorite way to bond with Daddy

9. Each morning, Joli races me from the car to Lola's house. At first, she always wanted to win, but now, she wants "everyone to win"

10. Joli was never into stuffed animals, but this year seemed to be the year of the "stuffed animal" needs. She has Sparkle (a whale), Duck (the dog), Ella (the dog), Dusty (the horse), Jessa (another dog), Bunny (the rabbit), Gorts (dog), Hoot (the white owl.. not to be confused with a BARN owl), and many many others

11. "I don't have enough years yet to go to school. I need FIVE YEARS."

12. Joli (and Mia) are absolutely obsessed with "wave to me in the window." If you don't wave, they cry. A lot.

13. Joli still likes to snuggle either me or Jorge before she falls asleep.

14. She's the master at "sneaking" - she always sneaks out of bed and tries to scare us

15. She finally got out of her big clunky car seat and into her booster seat -- and now she can buckle her own seatbelt!! Joli loves to "trick" me and ask me to unbuckle her... but she's already unbuckled! That silly bugger!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MISS JO JO!! We love you!

I stole these from my brother's blog....

cute pics of us at the wedding!

Oh, and COUNTDOWN TO JOLI'S BIRTHDAY!!! HURRAY!!!

Because it freaks out Mari, here is another one of Jada (see... it's for real!)

"My mom and dad say that I can't hold hands with boys, Gavin. So, here's my toes instead."

"Four kids? We're so happy because we get to give TWO of them back to their parents..."

SWIM CLASS AND EARLY VOICE LESSONS....

Okay, the swim class is real - Joli is now taking swimming and Jorge is there to accompany her.


Jada... girl doesn't need no voice lessons - check out this natural talent! (can you name that tune? hint: a big purple dinosaur is her muse)

Per Grammy's request, here are some pictures of Jada from Oregon! Enjoy!




Jada latest:
Jada's newest trick is singing the "Barney Song" - it's hilarious! She called Grammy today and totally rocked it!



We're now trying some much needed discipline on Jada. She is having trouble with her little toddler independence, so now we're having Jorge put Jada to bed each night. Two nights so far of screaming and crying, but eventually she falls asleep. After 15 months of nursing, we are also starting to wean Jada. She's not a big fan of being told "No, Jada" and has instead turned to screaming and hitting... oh great.

Wish us luck! I'm sure she'll get over it quickly!

Jada -- the Mama's girl

It's almost Joli's 4th birthday, and I was feeling a little nostalgic. So, here are Joli's 4 pictures from when she was born, her 1st birthday, her 2nd birthday and her 3rd birthday. Awww..... we've come so far! We love you, Joli!


Joli 2 weeks old. She was only 5 lbs when she was born.


Joli's 1st birthday


Joli's 2nd birthday (just a few weeks before diagnosis)


Joli's 3rd birthday (3 months after finishing chemotherapy)


Joli's 4th birthday... COMING SOON!

HURRAY FOR JENNY, JON AND MIA!

Aunt Katie and Uncle Dusty at the wedding


"The 1 year Newlyweds and the Newlywedded!"


Yes, Joli with a very pointy stick... we were supervising carefully (and she now rocks her glasses quite regularly!)


"Tech Support" just before the great slide show



Jenny, Mia and Jon Talusan


Jada at the rehearsal dinner


Miss Jada "Louie" being reunited with Gavietron


Jenny Talusan, Mia Talusan and Joli Vega

CONGRATULATIONS JON AND JENNY!

We had so much fun in Oregon and are recovering well from jet lag! Congrats to Jenny and Jon who finally tied the knot! the wedding was so beautiful and was a true reflection of the two of them. Joli, Mia and Jada were the flower "fairies" and Gavin was the ring bearer. They were too cute! It was so nice to see Gavin again. He kept pinching Jada's cheeks and saying "Louie.. cute. Louie. Cute." He also loved being able to chase Joli and Mia around the hotel! We also got to finally meet lots of the Matthews side of the family!

Jada.. the Feminist.. with her new quilt (she's standing on it)


"JADA! Stop stepping on the quilts, you little muskrat!!"


Joli treasuring her awesome quilt!

Thanks, Olivia!!

Our former student, Olivia, made Joli her very first quilt before Joli was even born. Well, Jada completely took over Joli's quilt, so Olivia made Joli a new one and even a brand new one for Jada! Liv also is getting Joli started on quilt making -- she included her make-your-own-quilt set in the package! Thanks Olivia!! The girls LOVE their quilts!