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Yes, 6 years is traditionally the “candy anniversary.” So we celebrated with chocolate from Cacao and cupcakes from St. Cupcake. We decided to enjoy the cupcakes together. At the same time. Now you can enjoy us enjoying our cupcakes.

Neela is a Beyoncé fan. We showed her Beyoncé’s “All The Single Ladies” video over a year ago and she became sucked in, singing “I’m a single lettuce, I’m a single lettuce…” over and over. Wiggleing her hips and waving her hands, she lives in her imagination. For just a few minutes, shes one of those talented woman with trained moves and ability. And we, the family audience cheer her on.

The boys wanted to be filmed too.

I couldn’t have been older than 11. A bunch of us cousins were outside at night during some Cribbage Tournament. It was late, the babies had already gone to sleep, and the adults were still playing cards (and were otherwise distracted), so we had the freedom to say pretty much anything we wanted. We cracked ourselves up telling crude stories and terrible jokes. Josh was a true teenager by this time, so he was mischievous, rebellious, vulgar, and hilarious. When he unloaded with his best (and worst), we all laughed until we were in pain. He was our shepherd into the dark and wondrous world of adult humor and we worshiped him like a god.

Joshua Robert Smith is my oldest cousin. The eldest son of the eldest son on my dad’s side. He was the natural hero of every cousin who came after him (and there are a lot of us). His family (Uncle Bob, Aunt Reney, and his little brothers Garrett and Chris) moved to the northern California coast while we were living in Redding. It was a short (albeit very winding) three-hour drive to their house, so we spent more time with them than any of our other cousins. As Josh grew into an adult, he only became funnier, more exceptional, and more genuinely nice. I literally cannot picture him not smiling.

Josh eventually became the first of the cousins to actually play in the Cribbage Tournament. He celebrated this accomplishment by coming in absolute last place. Never one to step away from a challenge, he played the next year… and placed last again. The following year, he managed an unthinkable third-in-a-row Suckling Award.

But through it all, he had a smile. It would never have occurred to him to be upset or depressed about losing again and again and again. Instead, he laughed. He made himself the butt of his own jokes. During the award ceremony for his Suckling Award 3-peat, he called himself “the Michael Jordan of shitty cribbage players.”

And as if to add a punchline to his own joke, the next year he played, he came in first.

Earlier today, while shopping, Josh complained about feeling dizzy. Others around him asked if he needed any help and he told them, no, he’d be fine. A few minutes later, he was gone.

It is unfair that my uncle Bobby has to say goodbye to his son. Parents aren’t supposed to bury their children. There is a dark hole in the universe where Josh’s laughter should be. I take comfort, though, in knowing that Joshua was and remains a true success.

Josh, you laughed often and much;
You won the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
You earned the appreciation of honest critics and endured the betrayal of false friends;
You left the world a better place and I have breathed easier because you have lived.

I love you. I miss you. I look forward to seeing you again.

And I hope you’re making Peter laugh so hard he cries.

The music this time is by Menomena, Passion Pit, and Grizzly Bear (links go to the iTunes store).

UPDATE: I increased the quality of the video fairly dramatically. SHould look better and load faster now. If it’s still loading too slowly, you can turn off HD.

Kennedy here. I was just noticing that there haven’t been many posts here for a while. I can’t blame Ethan or Carol — they’re extremely busy with school and house hunting and all.

But I CAN blame Elliott, Neela and Roli. Come on, guys. Get it together.

As for me, I’ve written one post. That was a long time ago. I still look like that only with short hair.

Anyway, I thought I’d share an important thing that happened today.

Elliott and I chatted online for the first time. It was amazing. I love that kid. Here are some snippets of our conversation:

Kennedy: Hi Elliott

Elliott: i love ,u

Kennedy: I love you too

Elliott: pig

Kennedy: horse

Carol: **hes laughing** “this is funny – she will be cracked up…”

Elliott: blah

Kennedy: I am cracking up!

Elliott: JHSGFHGWURHHSTUUFSJHSSSYSEGSFDYAARE

Kennedy: you are a good typist.

Carol: well that was fun

Kennedy: was he having fun?

Carol: oh my goodness. yes. he would get soooooo excited every time you came back especially if he could read it and before you’d type back he’d squeal and say “I think shes gonna say….”

Kennedy: I’ll remember that for next time. I’ll say things that he can read.

… 12 minutes later…

Carol: e wants to type to you again. is that ok?

Kennedy: ok

Elliott: uusiiissssy suiutafta

Kennedy: dog

Elliott: hfgvafffdyffd fqwdywiuffuuuuty

ok u go

Kennedy: go dog go

Elliott: 28 elliott

Kennedy: cat in the hat

Elliott: neela elliott

Kennedy: A
B
C
D
E

Elliott: f

Kennedy: good
1
2
3
4
5

Elliott: 6 789 01

Kennedy: good

Elliott: go

Kennedy: i love you

Elliott: thank u

Kennedy: you are welcome

Carol: “I never had this much fun on the computer” – Elliott

Kennedy: awesome

… a couple minutes later…

Kennedy: is this carol?

Elliott: elliott no

Kennedy: do you like neela?

Elliott: yes

Kennedy: do you like mom?

Elliott: i m 4

Kennedy: i am 31

Elliott: pizza face

Kennedy: I cracked up

Wednesday

Berbati’s Pan
Fences, Portland Cello Project, Damien Jurado, Will Sheff (of Okkervil River)

Thursday

Wonder Ballroom
Dr. Dog, The Helio Sequence
Crystal Ballroom
Eluvium, Explosions in the Sky
Dante’s
The Twilight Sad, Frightened Rabbit

Friday

Wonder Ballroom
The Like, Arctic Monkeys
Crystal Ballroom
The Jealous Sound, Sunny Day Real Estate
Someday Lounge
BOAT, The Shaky Hands

Saturday

Wonder Ballroom
Mariachi El Bronx, The Bronx, F**ked Up
Roseland Theater
Youth Group, Portugal. The Man, The Get Up Kids
Crystal Ballroom
The Builders and The Butchers, Blind Pilot

Sunday

Crystal Ballroom
Morning Teleportation, Mimicking Birds, Love As Laughter, Modest Mouse

Artists we may decide to catch (depending on our mood or time allowed): Mudhoney, Black Francis, and John Vanderslice.

Also, my aunt Reney is in town to watch the kids while we frolic. We love Aunt Reney!

I spent Saturday in the park with all three kids. They are in love with the slides. Our new camera films in HD, so if it takes too long to load, you can turn HD off. If you leave it on, though, it will look great at full screen. And mom, you can click here to download a version for your new iPod.

A few months ago I found Lisa Marie aka: CurlsNSwirls on Etsy and fell in love with her Classic Hoops.

They are so not hippy-ish, and all the same color. LOVE them. So I bought a few pairs. One for each size of gauge till I got to my desired size. Now I am at a 2 gauge (Easily fits a Q-tip, but not big enough for a pencil) and turns out its the perfect size for more adorable earrings!! Like these…

and

CurlsNSwirls is closing her shop (look for her clearance items here) But she does have another shop started – JahKahBees. She has some gauge jewelry, but also has regular gauge (22 gauge?) and some very pretty other things. I am excited to see how her new shop builds.

With my last order from Lisa, I gave her a few ideas, told her about myself a little more and said “ok, let-er-roll” And she replied with “I have a great idea and I’m not going to let you see them before I send them.” Let me tell you, every day for that whole week was like Christmas. “Is my package here yet? Is my package here yet?” As I speed walk to my mailbox. Then the day I was sure they were being delivered, my day went like this:

11:00am – go to the mailbox. Wasn’t there yet.
Noon – go to the mailbox. Wasn’t there yet.
1:00pm – go to the mailbox… and you guessed it – wasn’t there yet.
4:00 – Ethan walked in and I asked “did you get the mail yet?” He answered with a grin “Yup.” (He knew why I was asking)
4:02 – I ripped open the package with my name on it. Before I even get them out of the packaging all the way, I squeal. With a HUGE grin and excited laughter I say (probably to loudly) “I LOVE HER!!!” (Meaning Lisa of course)

Here is what I pulled out:

Aren’t they incredible? She is so amazing!!! She is now selling these in JahKahBees – just in case you want a pair too. After I thanked her for them she asked me to model the earrings for her – so here are some Pics from that “shoot” (With photographer Ethan)

And whats a photo shoot without kids?

Lisa and I have been in communication I think once a week since I first found her on Etsy in the beginning of June. I am not quite sure if she would feel the same, but I have this desire to go to her Washington studio (just a few hours from me) and grab her for a hot chocolate, or bring her to lunch or something. This is one reason I LOVE Etsy. I get to know the person who I am buying from. I am much more likely to buy repeatedly from someone I know. Not just because I know them, but because I trust them.

The only down fall? Because I know her, and like her stuff so much, I want to give her my money all the time. Meaning of course, I am addicted.

Our baby girl turned 3 yesterday. When I start to get sad at how time is speeding up to a sprint, instead of a jog, I go into her as she is “Sleeping”…

Which actually means closing her eyes tight as she smiles and often peeks to watch me. Tonight, she lay on the floor in the toy room, allowing the boys enough time to fall asleep before crawling into her own bed. As I left her in the room, telling her the usual, “I love you, I will see you in the morning” I closed the door returning to the living room. Only a minute or two passes before I think “Its her birthday!! It wont be spoiling her to snuggle so late on her birthday!!” So I went back in, as she pretended to sleep. I lay on the floor next to her, almost nose to nose. She giggled with her eyes still closed and I melted.

Our baby girl is 3.

The time I have wasted, the things I have looked past, I internally make a promise to her. “I will not let you feel like a forgotten child.” Like so many middle children do. “I know this time of innocence is short, I promise to teach you, as well as I can, to be proud you are a girl and relish in it. I promise to be a good friend. A good mother. I promise to try my hardest.” I tell her plain and clear. “I am so proud of you Neela Bug. I am so proud of you.” again a giggle. Only this time her eyes are open looking into mine. “I love you so much, and I thank Heavenly Father every day for letting you come be part of our family. Thank you for wanting to be a part of me.” Then she says in a shy way “Momma, you wanna snuggle?” to which I reply “OF COURSE!!” and scoot in closer to her whispering “Happy Birthday Neela Marie”.

Our baby Girl is 3.

I lay there next to her, my Neela Bug. I realize I have made these promises to her before. 3 years ago. I think a lot about that day. She was so gentle to me even then. I did most the laboring outside the hospital. Once she decided to debut, I was walking only minutes later. She was quiet and warm. She filled an emptiness in my heart. She was good.

She is still gentle. And caring. And observant. And beautiful. Boy Howdy is she beautiful. If it wasnt for her “Mom, are you happy?” check-ins with me multiple times during the day, accompanied with a good long stare into my eyes, I would probably forget to smile as much. I love all three of our kids, but I am grateful I got to have at least one girl. A girl who is now having tea parties and dressing up as a princess, and doing well in her ballet class…. I cant wait to see what else is in store for this girl. This amazing girl.

And a few others: