letter

Dear AJ an Vivy,

you probably won't have any memories of the time you spent living in southern california when you're older, but i will remember it FOREVER!!! what a blessing you've been in my life these past few years (only this past year for you, vivy)!! i remember when aj was vivy's age now and i was bragging to people that my occupation was a "stay at home aunt." it would take them a minute to figure it out, but i was so proud to tell people i enjoyed spending time with you, watching you grow, explore, laugh...soooooooo many memories. i was asked by my counselor earlier this year what comes easy for me right now, and with the biggest smile on my face, i said, "BEING AN AUNT!" and i still hope it will come easy to me with you in colorado or wherever you end up.

Sweet Vivyann- i will treasure the day i got to spend with you before you moved away...just me and you. although, i felt like i fed you ALL THE TIME, it was still so fun to see you play, walk holding onto my fingers, try and talk in your cute little voice, and reach for me and say "Up-Pa." i don't think i've ever heard the word "up" more in one day then the day i spent with you. whenever you smile, your entire face lights up...i tried so hard to take as many pictures as i could in the last week you were here, to capture your smile and your little personality, so i could hold onto it. thank you for bringing joy into my life...especially these past few months i was able to live with you (we'll just forget about all the screaming and crying, just for now).

AJ- what a ball of energy you are! i can't wait to show you ALL the video clips i have of you...all the way from when you first moved here and you were laughing at a football to the last night you were here and i gave you your "seaworld surprises." i'm going to miss taking you on ocean exploring adventures to seaworld...hopefully, you can come and visit and see zana and tobey and natasha and crunch. you make me so proud with your love and knowledge of the ocean...i loved playing "trainer and dolphin/shamu" with you. there's soooo many creative games you've come up with, and your imagination just lets all the other pieces come together. thank you for praying for me at dinner time, thank you for letting me read you stories at bed time, and for giving me hugs and kisses, and for saying "hi" with such enthusiasm whenever i walked in your door. thank you for liking disney music and listening to it with me. and thank you for all your love...you will probably have no idea how much light you have brought into my life during the darkest time.

be sure to give pap pap and nina LOTS of hugs and kisses and i can't wait to come visit you in your new home!!

love,

aunt Lisa