Just Keep Singing

I have so much to be thankful for, all the things that I mention on a regular basis. I didn't mean to neglect Thanksgiving (and I really didn't) I just feel very fortunate every day. Normal is very miraculous to me. However, today I was reminded of a belated grateful. I am so thankful for music. Music calmed a rapid heart rate. Music improved a little girl's range of motion. Music quieted amidst noisy monitors. Music inspired weak legs to stand. And music gets us through each and every scary or uncomfortable day. So sing along:

Way up in the sky
the little birds fly
way down in the nest,
the little birds rest.

With a wing on their left
and a wing on their right...



The little birds sleep
All through the night.

Shh, their sleeping.

The bright sun comes up,

the birds are awake.

Good morning, good morning
the little birds say.

More...

Music.

Dance Party

I was out running around, trying to find seventy-two yards of fabric for making capes, when I arrived home to a dance party.

They make me laugh all the time. Of course, I had to join in. Who can turn down dancing with such cute partners?

My Men

Last night, I took a little break from cleaning up after dinner to attend a concert. I was so glad I brought my camera, because the guitar players were so cute! I started snapping pictures from the time the started their sound check until I had to go upstairs and check on other crazy kids.
After plugging in and checking for sound...

A few are-you-going-to-take-pictures-the-whole-time looks...

the music began.

The musicians rocked!

And rested.

Who can resist those lips?

I could watch this little man forever.

And my main man made the guitar, so he pretty much rocks, too! (nice legs, huh)

What guys, see why I love them?

Not many people get a private concert with two guitar players and then get to go home with the man who made their guitars.

Some things are not what they seem

Something happened the other day that, although I should be used to, surprises me and hurts my feelings. It isn't the fault of anyone involved it is just something that occurs because of circumstances.

I was at the store and things had taken longer than I expected, so I had two tired and cranky kids in my cart. The lady behind me, being kind and understanding, began to talk to the kids in a sweet voice while I put my groceries on the belt. Two sets of wide eyes looked up at her from tired toddler faces, hanging on her words. But then she asked Maisy a question, "Are you ready to go home?" To which Maisy replied, "Aaa." I watched as the woman's expression changed, just for a second, but I saw it. She had that look of shock; the look of confusion people get when a toddler can't form words.

Maisy is small for her age, overall she is quiet and a bit wary of strangers, so people don't usually see much beyond appearances. And by all appearances, Maisy looks to be a shy, quiet two-and-a-half-year-old, even though she is almost four. But Maisy is so much more than any of that, two or four doesn't begin to describe her age. Just as her speech doesn't begin to tell what is going on in her head. To sit and spend a few moments with Maisy is a treat. There is more in her smile than just happiness, more in her laugh than just joy; there is something about Maisy that is contagious. She makes you want to be happy, to laugh, to be better.

I don't want to be sad about it and I really am quite over the whole thing. She was a nice lady and she had no idea that the child before her defied all odds to be here. I just want to remember that things are not always what they appear. Sometimes there is so much more to the situation than any of us know. Sometimes, when the words are taken away, we have to look at the heart and know that the true spirit isn't on the outside.

Garage Band in the Making

Yes, that is a drum set Jack is sitting at. He was being a bit possessive, sorry Uncle Pete.
Our neighbor came over today and said, "Is that the best idea?" And, yeah, I think it is...I think. My parents picked it up at a yard sale on Saturday and the kids are so excited. Its very incomplete, but it works and so do wooden spoons for drumsticks. What will not work is taking the handles off of the lids to Mommy's pots to replace the missing cymbals.

Sadie wants them in her room, which will not happen and they won't be staying in the family room either. However, I am perfectly fine with outfitting a band. At least I'll know where they are because I can hear them. Sadie can now fulfill her dream of being Karen Carpenter (just without the eating disorder.)

Block Party

I know I mentioned our block party before, but I was so busy that night that I never took pictures. Tami just emailed me some and I remembered how much fun we had. Thanks to everyone for all your help. bike parade
the Dad's tricycle race
frozen t-shirts
coloring table
water balloon toss

cupcakes
neighborhood musicians (the one in the green is cute, huh.)
the talented Jason
dancing
and more...Evan had to get back to work, so I didn't make it over to the movie, but thank you Gary and Mo for the use of your yard. Chantel and Greg for providing the projector and thank you Miller's for popcorn and snow cones. We're looking forward to the second annual.

Sing a Song

Sadie sneaked down from bed and asked me to sing her a song. I had a lot I needed to get done, so, reluctantly, I sang Sing by the Carpenters. She didn't believe me that it was a real song, so we looked it up on You Tube. We had a nice twenty-minutes or so looking up Sesame Street and Karen Carpenter, two of my favorite memories of being her age. So if you too were born in the seventies, this is for you.

Sing, sing a song
Sing out loud
Sing out strong
Sing of good things, not bad
Sing of happy, not sad

Sing, sing a song
Make it simple
To last your whole life long
Don't worry that it's not good enough
For anyone else to hear
Sing, sing a song

La la la la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la

La la la la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la

Sing, sing a song
Let the world sing along
Sing of love there could be
Sing for you and for me

Sing, sing a song

Make it simple

To last your whole life long

Don't worry that it's not good enough

For anyone else to hear

Just sing, sing a song
Just sing, sing a song

Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?

Guitar Crazed

Evan recently made an electric guitar. (Here is Jack nicely modeling it for me.) I am so proud of his new found skill. He has made two acoustic guitars, but this was his first electric. Jack also had his first guitar lesson.
He found a pick in a guitar case and brought it to Evan, so they had an impromptu lesson. Evan is pretty proud of his boy; and I know he is thrilled that Jack loves guitars as much as his dad.
Aren't my men cute!

Grumpy

Today is a bit of a grumpy day. So, because some days are just like that - the Grumpy song by David Weinstone.
If you wanna be a grump that's okay
But could you be a grumpy
Kinda further away.
It's not that I don't love you
'Cause you know I do
Sometimes I'm grumpy too!
And if you wanna be an udge that's okay
But could you be an udgie
Kinda further away
It's not that I don't love you
'Cause you know I do
Sometimes I'm udgie too!I think I understand
Exactly what it is you're going through
Oh when your oatmeal's lumpy
and your socks are all bumpy
What's a poor kid to do.If you wanna be a pesk that's okay
But could you be a pesky
Kinda further away
It's not that I don't love you
'Cause you know I do
Sometimes I'm pesky too!
I think I understand
Exactly what it is you're going through
Oh when your oatmeal's lumpy
and your socks are all bumpy
What's a poor kid to do.
So, if you wanna be a grump that's okay

But could you be a grumpy

Kinda further away.

It's not that I don't love you

'Cause you know I do

Sometimes I'm grumpy too!

http://www.noggin.com/games/jacks/clubhouse/index.php?activity=videoplayer then click on box containing the guy with the grumpy face.

A Rare Treat

I have a confession to make. I don't really like Country Music. Okay, there I said it. To put it not so mildly: when I hear someone say 'honky tonk' its like nails on a blackboard, I don't let my kids sing the word 'ain't', and when I come to a Country station on the radio I don't even wait for the scan to move on before I change the station. So when Evan asked me for tickets to a concert for his birthday, I was hoping for something different than this. He said that not only was it Restless Heart, but Little Texas and Blackhawk too. Oh wow!

I didn't know who they were but I didn't like the sound of it. But since it was for his belated birthday I went with him. We invited Sadie and Ella to come along but Sadie opted to stay with the babysitter. So Ella and I hung out on a blanket, in near freezing temperatures (no, seriously it was low 40's), Evan of course was down by the stage. By the second bag of cotton candy I realized why Ella came along. She was on a total sugar high until she crashed. But then something happened that I seldom get the pleasure of these days, at least not from my second born. Ella curled up on my lap and went to sleep. She looked up at me just before she drifted off and said, "Wake me up for the fireworks." So I did.
While I still don't like Country, and I now remember why, it was a very nice night indeed. (Sorry, I took the pictures with my cell phone, I didn't bring my camera. I guess I didn't think I would want photos.)

Mini-Evan

For six months I had what I had always wanted, a mama's boy. He was my wonder, my crush, my joy. And then one day he discovered Daddy.



Daddy has power tools, guitars, stethoscopes, pens, and hammers. Daddy is so cool. My mama's boy is now Daddy's little man.