 As I continue to weave the family tree, allow me to introduce my grandchildren. There are five of them and they each have given me so much pleasure and a reason for being. As I gaze into their upturned faces, I see innocence, trust and faith As they run to me with open arms loudly proclaiming "Mama Jeanie", my heart bursts with pride and longing to hold them closely and let them know how much I love and care for each of them.
 September 16, 1988
We call her "NiNi". She named herself by not being able to pronounce her given name. NiNi was the smallest of the children, but was very strong and a figher. She is fair of skin and hair with hazel eyes and possessed a very soft voice and still remains soft spoken and respectful. NiNi is an excellent student, quiet and serious about her studies. A lover of books, she reads constantly, and is a little bit of an introvert. The eldest of five, she has learned to assist with the care of her younger brothers and sisters. Physically she and the two boys have much the same features and mannerisms. Her new found joy is the computer. Her favorites are intriguing games that require analytical thinking and she also enjoys the ability to do research on school projects. NiNi went to Bermuda when she was two years old and stayed for six months. Even now she has certain memories of her stay there although young at the time, she remembers the sand and the sea.
June 29, 1991
When Mia was first held by her father, my son Monte, he snuggled her up to him and breathed the words" My Little Darling". He proceeded to search for an appropriate name - Mia (My) Lorelle (Little) Darlene (Darling). She had the same silky black hair and sparkling black eyes of her father, the exact coloring and she also held her hands in tight fists. She cried a lot as a baby, and still remains respectful and intuitive. She is a wonderful little sister to NiNi, always looking to her for support and is the "mother hen" over her two younger brothers and baby sister. Mia loves sports and art. She has an excellent eye for free-hand drawing. She will use the computer only after everyone else has taken a turn, and much prefers to watch television during her leisure time and reads when she can be quiet corner. Mia went to Bermuda when she was six months and again when she was 2 years and 10 months. She was inquisitive and asked many questions about the island. She loved the "blue" water, swimming, the flowers, and especially was amazed to see bananas growing on trees. We made a scrapbook of her month there and as she looks at it from time to time, fond memories flood her mind of my beloved island homeland.
January 9, 1993
Although Anthony was the biggest of the babies, he was long, delicate and slender and has not grow as quickly as his siblings. He was fair in complexion, with blonde curly hair and soft brown eyes. His father nicknamed him "Little Man". Anthony did not easily go to school as NiNi and Mia did. He would not ready himself in the morning saying he was "tired", and had to be taken to school most of the time. He soon got over his fear, graduated from a pre-school and went on to elementary school. Anthony loves dancing and television as his leisure pleasures, and is the true guru of the computer. He will stay on the computer for hours, using analytical thinking and logic to figure out the answers of his games. He will not slip over and go on to the next step. He will methodically figure out how and why he has to get there, and loudly states his victory. Anthony is beginning to get a little taller and gaining a little weight, although still small in stature, he is lively and energetic, and loves modeling, swimming and telling jokes.
April 7, 1994
Marcus was the second largest of the five children. He is fair, blonde with big blue eyes. Quite a handsome little guy. He and Anthony look a lot alike. They are wonderful brothers. Marcus is sweet and loving towards his siblings. He is inquisitive and the love of his life is dinosaurs. He walks, breathes and talks dinosaurs. Marcus has all sizes and all kinds and know them all by classification. His can pronounce their names without flaw. Even at the dinner table, he will have a small dinosaur hidden in his hand, he bathes with them, sleeps with them and takes them to school in his book bag. Marcus is in his second year of pre-school and is doing quite well. He, too, has developed an affinity for computers and will say "it's my turn" many times after he has had his turn, and sits on the sidelines watching for a clue to jump back in. Marcus was initially afraid of the water, but this past summer, he learned to swim almost as strongly as NiNi, Mia and Anthony. I have taught all of my grandchildren to first observe water safety and then to swim and to respect the power of water.
March 5, 1996
Here is Nalani, number five. This little girl is young, gifted and beautiful. She does not know this yet, but she possesses a brilliant mind for detail. When gazing at a picture, it is the detail in the background or foreground that she comments about. She started doing this when she was about one year old. She, too, was a wee little one when she arrived on this earth. Looking just like Mia and Monte - the same black shiny hair and brilliant black eyes. She loves all kinds of animals and will look at a movie over and over until she knows the entire story, the names of the characters and the sequence of events. The love of her life now is Blues Clues and Elmo. Chills of anticipation shakes her body when she sees pictures of them, and she walks around with her "handy dandy" note book with pencil in hand, pretending to write down clues. She has too has discovered the Internet and because she naps in the afternoon, will stay up late at night playing with them on the computer. Malina has learned hand, and eye coordination very quickly. She knows numbers and the alphabet. When Marcus was being taken to school, Nalani would not leave, she would take off her coat too. The teacher said she could stay so she had starred learning at the age of two. Her memory is impeccable. Nalani has overcome the fear of water and will dive in head first even though she cannot swim as her, but she is learning fast. NALANI'S ELMO PAGE
These are my precious little jewels, strands of gold thread. They are important elements in the design of our Family Tree. Each have structure and a firm foundation and are learning the importance of family values. They move as one, and they protect each other. Each has a different personality, but they love each other and their family unit. They are respectful of others and it is my strong prayer that they will succeed in life. They are my butterflies, they are my ballerinas, they are my lions, they are my tigers, they are my life. And miles to go before I sleep.
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