Grateful for YouTube

I record a fair amount of videos of the kids, and I save most of them.  I was even making DVDs with compilations of each year's videos for a while, but that just got to be too much work.  I do a lot of things to make sure our days are recorded.  I take tons of photos, write the blog, make the boys' yearly books on Shutterfly, and keep photo albums.  Even with all that documentation, I'm always amazed at how quickly I forget things.

Yesterday, Greg got the laser pointer out to play with the cat.  Andrew proved to be more interested in in than Sam did!  A few moments later, Jake got in on the red-dot-chasing fun!  It was hysterical to see Andrew so perplexed about where that red dot went! Thankfully, Jacob understood that it was a light...hey, you never know about him!  It reminded me that I had a video of the boys chasing the laser from a few years ago.  I got on YouTube, and in less than 5 minutes of searching, I found it (click here to watch it).  How great is it that my videos from 5 years ago are right at my fingertips?  I periodically go back in time, watch the clips, and read old blog entries.  I'm so grateful for the documentation, the good the bad and the ugly.  It's all a part of our lives.  It shows how we all are growing, not just the boys, and I'm so happy to be able to watch it all unfold right before my eyes!

I have about 60 family videos uploaded, and of course I spent a chunk of time watching old "movies."  Greg and Andrew joined in too!  This is one of my favorites:



We still read this book, and he still finishes the sentences, but look how little he was!  Aw...

There were a bunch more.  I love them all, but here are some of my favorites (click the titles to watch):

If You Give A Cat A Balloon - Sam carries a balloon around the house
Bubble Hat - When Andrew was a baby, I used to pile enough soap bubbles on his head that he looked like George Washington.  He was always completely oblivious to the bubbles!
Brotherly Love - No one can make you laugh like your brother!
Andrew Says Grace - A precious little prayer from Andrew.
Brownie Thief - Andrew helped himself to a pan of brownies when I wasn't watching.
Go Back in the Chicken and Hide - Greg and Andrew played "hide and go seek."  Andrew kept ordering Greg to go back into the kitchen, but instead of calling it "kitchen," he said, "chicken."
Learning the ABC's - Jake sings the ABCs to Andrew.
Eating Ketchup - Andrew looks like he's been in a war after licking his bowl clean!
Slip and Hurt - Jacob, so dramatic, calls the Slip and Slide a "Slip and Hurt" after sliding off the edge.

There are so many more, and I love them all.  I fully expect you to go through and watch every single video of mine...or better yet, upload and share some of your own!