Footage of Me Grams

The puppet challenged Grandma to a staring contest. She was so cute about it! She definitely hasn't lost her sense of humor. I couldn't believe how quick her wit was (once she was able to HEAR and process what we were teasing her about). What a charmer!


It's hard to hear, but what Grandma says there at the end is, "that's not fair, you don't blink!" So, so funny!

Full Circle

Seelos Family Reunion in Idaho, August 1987-ish

I was an awkward kid. I was taller than most and it seemed even my clothes couldn't keep up. My pants were always too short and my shoes too big in order to keep myself from growing out of them too quick. At age 12 I got glasses and I don't think we could have found a bigger pair. But, I could change their color to coordinate with any hideous outfit I was wearing that week!

Anyway, that awkward kid hasn't been seen at our great Seelos Family Reunion since... well, since she was still an awkward pre-teen. Not many recognized the hot mama I've become!!! :) Really, though, I was having conversations with people that I grew up with or spent my summer's with and they wouldn't even realize who they were talking to until good ol' mom walked up and put her arm around me. That's funny shit!

It's funny how events and traditions like this never seem to mean much until you have a family of your own. I loved the reunions as a kid, but as a teenager I was so uncomfortable with myself and where I fit in that going to a family reunion was a kind of salt in the wound when even your own blood-relatives seemingly shunned you as well. Me no likey the snobby! I have come to realize, though, that I may have been just as big a snob as I accused everyone else of being. Hmmmmm...... Nope, it was them! Anyway, now I am taking my own sweet girls to the reunions and I find it incredible that we've come full circle. My grandma took my mom, my mom took me, and now I take Phoenix and Gracie.

This year was an especially important year to be there for my family. My grandma, Edna, the witty and loveable triplet that she is, was the only remaining child living and present at this year's festivities. We honored her and laughed with her and in a way said our goodbyes, for we know that this year is likely to be her last. Thanks to her sister's family, who was in charge of this year's reunion, she can now leave this world and go knocking on heaven's doors crying, "What's the big idea watching your kids humiliate me this year with a clown turned ventriliquist?!? Damn, you Elsie! Why I oughta..."

"Arghhhh, Matey!"

Funny story. Phoenix wanted to go to the aquarium with her cousins, but I was exhausted from nursing round the clock with Gracie and Dave wanted some beach time, so we sent her off with her Aunts. She was so excited to see the sharks and turtles and fish that she couldn't stop talking about it to her Auntie Heidi all the way to the aquarium. She was singing and squealing the whole way there. The first room they walk into is the "Pirate Room". That was it! Phoenix FLIPS out, starts crying, and refuses to go any further. "There's bad guys! There's bad guys in there! I want my mommy and daddy!" Auntie Millie had to carry her the remainder of the day. Awwww! Uncle Ross and Auntie Millie saved the day by taking her to the kiddie ride amusement park so the trip wasn't a total wash. It's not easy being a kid!

This is my beautfiul family. Dave is so gorgeous with our two girls and I cannot get over how great this picture captures his excellence as a daddy and family man. Maybe you just had to be there, but this was a picture that I felt captured the moment and I will never forget.