I didn't forget you, John

When you have as many people as I do in my big, fat, Cuban family, practically every day is a celebration.

Weddings. Engagements. Birthdays. Weddings. Birthdays. Weddings and Birthdays. ad infinitum.

And sadly, there are a few that I've missed or have fallen through the blog-cracks. (I feel bad. *sigh*)

Today is my nephew, John-Paul's birthday.  On March 20th he will marry the lovely Jennifer. 
See?   Birthday. Wedding. here we go again....

So here's a video that shows all these lovely young people growing up and finding each other and celebrating their lives and their futures.

Happy Birthday, John!  And yes, we're looking forward to your wedding too.

(Vegas, Baby!!)  =D

You have my permission...

This is for my niece, Nicole and her new husband, Isaac, who have been BUSY this last month. 

(It's not like she had an old husband or anything, I mean that he is new to her, as in they are newlyweds, or freshly married, or....oh, you know what I mean....)

Here's some wordle word art I made for you:

These two have had an awfully busy month...

Congratulations on your wedding, you two!
Happy Birthday, Isaac!
Happy Birthday, Nikki!
Hope you're enjoying your new apartment.

That is all.

Phew! You guys must be exhausted! 

All the stuff you've been doing rates pretty high up there on the major-life-event-stress-scale, so I'm giving you permission to take the rest of the year off to recover.  (I have no actual power to do this, but that's not important right now.)  =D

Besos,
Aunt Marti

Sapo verde eres tu

I don't know her very well, because, well, she lives in Miami and I'm here in So Cal.

We've a little bit of face-time in the past year, but not enough to where I can say I know everything there is to know about her.

But I do know this.....

Not only did my nephew, Michael, fall in love with her, so has every single person in our big, fat, Cuban family.

Meet Kimberly Verdés.

My niece-in-law. 

If you met her, you'd fall in love with her, too.

She is absolutely as adorable as she appears.

Today's her Happy Birthday.

I have no idea what to get the adorable Kimberly for her birthday, so I am dedicating this post to her and wishing her a Happy Birthday.

(This is the sweetest part about having a blog..... no matter what other fabulous gifts she may get on her birthday (and I know she'll get many!) I'll bet she shows this one to everyone she knows.)   ;-)

Happy Birthday, Kimberly!

Felicidades from your favorite Aunt-in-Law.   =D

Ninety-five.

She still dyes her hair and wears makeup every day.
She only wears her glasses for reading because she's a little vain about her looks.
She remembers everyone's birthday.
If you're sick, she'll call you every day until you report that you are well.
She saves every card from every birthday, Mother's Day and Christmas and works diligently to get them pasted into her latest scrapbook.
She remembers the names of the grandchildren of her next door neighbors from 20 years ago.
She hates missing stuff.
She still wears heels when she dresses up.
She's still very bossy. (the acorn does not fall far...)
She still likes juicy bits of gossip.
She still reads voraciously, sometimes juggling 3 or 4 books at a time.
She has never missed a World Series.
She has voted in every presidential election since she became an American citizen in 1974.
She has an amazing memory.
We got her a fur coat for Christmas because she really wanted one. Now she wants us to take her places where she can wear it so she can show it off.
She thinks all of her sixteen grandchildren are nice looking, but if pressed she'll tell you (with a wink) that her own six children are much better looking.
She knows about blogging and the internets, but refers to Google and Yahoo as "Cuco and Yayo." (Isn't that deliciously Cuban??)
 
Today my mom, Luz Verdés y Perez-Puelles celebrates her 95th birthday.

I am truly grateful and blessed to have been raised by this amazing person. She is the life-force of my big, fat, Cuban family.

(The party is at my house next weekend.  She thinks she might like to try Karaoke.....)

Nothing but style...

A very Happy Birthday wish to my nephew, Mr. Michael Verdés, who has been working diligently since he was a kid to make the Top Ten Best Dressed Cuban Men List. (I don't even know if there is such a thing, but that's not important right now....)

You're not just on the list, you RULE the list, mister!

Happy Birthday, Michael!

Lots of Love,
Aunt Marti

The Man Child

I have some well-chosen adjectives that describe my kids. 

What I happen to love about the following list of adjectives is that they were used by other people: Aunts, cousins, teachers, friends, grandparents, neighbors, tween-girls - to describe my son, Jonathan.

I know this because I have been "collecting" them for the past few months.  I take my parenting task very seriously so I listen carefully when someone describes them in a complimentary way.

1) Smart.
2) Funny.
3) Creative.
4) Talented.
5) Popular.
6) Original.
7) Resourceful.
8) Entertaining.
9)  Clever.
10) Quick-witted.
11) Adorable.
12) Inventive.
13) Crazy-making.

Okay, so number 13 was mine.  =D 
Carrie called him a muñecon.... does that count?

My man-child is 13 years old today.

Half-Cuban, Half-Alien (I'm convinced) with Super Powers.  Brace yourself, World!

Happy Birthday to my Man-child, Jonathan.  =D

Contrast & compare

There are people who, when you see pictures of them as kids, you go, "Hmmm.... I just can't see it."
You know what I'm talking about.  

I always think this when I see some child actors who have grown up and I think to myself,
"Really?? They were so adorable once... but I just can't see it anymore."

And then there are those privileged few who were adorable as kids and they manage to keep their adorableness as adults and you know who you are, Desi. =D.

Exhibit A:
(I'm still obviously in courtroom mode, but that's not important right now.)

Exhibit B:

In one of these photos, Kelley (my still adorable niece) is a child and in the other she's an adult.

I know. Sooo not fair.  ;-)

Happy Birthday, Kel!

Happy Birthday to You! And you!

The following is a "dual-post." Meaning simply that Kikita did the first half while Marta did the second half. A lovely example of mother-daughter teamwork. ;-)

Kikita: Today is a very special day. I want to tell you about my favorite Tia, Carmen. She is the Quintessential Cuban Woman. She does it all and does it with class.

It's kind of a bummer for me that she lives all the way out in Texas, but what can I do?

I can text. She is one of my regular texting buddies. I love it. We catch up on family news, Cuba news, or no news at all. She is the one who likes to hear about my adventures in dancing and with my Cuban friends.

And today is her birthday. So instead of sending her a text, I thought I'd write about her . . .

But what can you say about someone is beyond words?

I know! Te quiero mucho, Tia! Felicidades!

Marta: My nephew, Rafa, has three adorable kids.  His first-born, The Adorable Alex is 5 today - I think it's so cool that he shares a birthday with my beautiful sister-in-law, (Happy Birthday, Carmen! Love you!!) but that's not important right now.

Five! What a magical birthday...

Do you know what I love the most about this age?
Umm... EVERYTHING.

But I especially love that I'm not just "Auntie M" anymore - I'm Great Aunt Marti.  =D

Happy Birthday, Alex! 

Gratuitous picture of my beautiful sisters

 
L to R:  Me, Miriam, Ofie, Alina, & Helen.

These are the women with whom I have shared rooms, clothes, makeup, and secrets.
They are all who I wanted to be when I grew up.

In this configuration, no matter how old I get, I will always be The Baby. (sigh)

Fashion Icon

August, 1960. Varadero Beach in Cuba. My beautiful sister, Miriam.

According to the stamp on the back of the photo, it was just a few days after her birthday in 1960.

She was so proud to be photographed on the beach in her gorgeous new Catalina Swimsuit  - "Styled for the Stars of Hollywood."

Catalina was the brand that supplied suits to the bathing beauties of the world and all the hot Hollywood starlets of the 30's, 40's and 50's.  The traditional swimsuit competition of the Miss America and Miss Universe pageants featured iconic Catalina Swimsuits. Catalina was synonymous with beautifully classic style.

And here is my big sister, standing proudly in her Catalina, frozen in time in all her lovely bathing beauty glory.

Beautiful. Classic. Iconic. Just like that Catalina suit.

Happy Birthday, Manana! I love you.