Music Appreciation Lesson...2nd Semester

A few months ago, I posted some of the kid's favorite songs. Then, today I heard a song on the radio that I had not heard in probably 20 years. It immediately brought me back to my younger childhood years, and it just made me reflect on the songs that I heard a lot growing up.


My house was always filled with music, many types of music. Some of my earliest musical memories involve a record turntable, a Beethoven record of his 5th symphony, and having it played nearly full volume while we helped (!!) my Mom clean the house. Other records that received heavy rotation at my house were the Pointer Sisters, Michael Jackson, The Moody Blues, Foreigner, The Bee Gees, The Beatles "White Album," and another one that I cannot recall; I can hear the music and the songs, but the name of the artist and record title have escaped me. Even today, when I heard the Pointer Sisters, it made me feel like a six-year-old kid trying to wash windows as well as my Mom could, and trying to make vacuum lines perfectly straight, like she could. Funny, isn't it?


Then, I started thinking about what kinds of music my kids will recall from their childhood when they get older. My house is always full of music, and I'm beginning to think I am actually afraid of silence! Ask any of my poor visiting teachers, or friends and neighbors who have dared drop by- my house has music on at all times, and at a very high volume. If the music is to be played, then it should be played LOUD, in my opinion. Savannah does not agree. Most of the time, she covers her ears and yells at me to turn it down. But try it my way- next time you play Beethoven's 5th, turn it up so loud that the windows rattle and the glasses in your cupboards shake. It's much better that way. There are very few songs that should be played at a quiet, soft volume. Maybe that's why I'm not such a huge fan of "church" type music, it just doesn't sound that great LOUD.


Anyway, I love music, and I hope that my kids always love music too. And I hope that someday, 20 years in the future, they will hear "Shake the Disease" by Depeche Mode on some "classic rock" radio station, and they will instantly feel compelled to turn the volume up so loud that their car windows rattle, and then, they will start to remember random things from their childhood, and maybe even smile as they think of dancing around like maniacs to Duran Duran; and singing along with ABBA at the top of our lungs, and.......


I like that idea.

T-Ball Time!!!

Barrett was finally old enough to play baseball! He was absolutely thrilled!! He played on a PeeWee T-Ball League, and it was so much fun! Barrett's team was the New York Mets. Close call- it could have been the dreaded and scurvy New York Yankees! Colby said that if that was the team Barrett had been assigned to, he would have had to throw a major "interfering-with-the-kids-just-having-fun" type of parent temper tantrum, and have Bear reassigned to another team. He was only joking.....I think!! :0)

We were in Disneyland for Barrett's team picture day, so this is the best we have. The coaches had the kids all line up on the pitcher's mound when the other team was up to bat, and then each kid got a chance to try and field the ball. So cute...a bunch of 3 and 4 year old kids running after the ball in a mass huddle!

Barrett in the dugout, warming up his arm before going out to bat!!

Barrett ripping a ball along the third base line! He was so funny- every time he hit the ball, he would run after it and try to catch it! We tried to teach him that the other team fields the ball when he bats, but he just liked to chase the ball anyway!

YAY! Barrett made it safely to first base without losing his helmet! Honestly, I know these kids are only 3 and 4 years old, and that safety is the number one priority, but the helmets they make them wear are as big as they are!

Barrett showing off his awesome uniform, and demonstrating his baseball stance.

He had so much fun playing, and it was the most adorable thing in the world to watch! I honestly think that PeeWee T-Ball just might be my new favorite sport in the whole entire world!
Oh so cute!

The Awesome Red Devils!

Behold the mighty Red Devils! Savannah ended up deciding to play softball this season instead of soccer. She did really well for her first time! We were in Disneyland on the team's picture day, so this is the best team shot we have. Her team was, obviously, the Red Devils, and they had a blast!

Savannah liked playing second base, which worked out well, since that was the position she was asked to play nearly every game!

I don't know how or why, but there isn't a picture of Savannah batting while facing the camera! Sorry! She was a pretty good hitter! She did like to play during practices better, though. At practices, she hit the ball hard, and hit it far! But she was so nervous at the actual games, she rarely swung the bat. However, she is a very patient batter, I think she drew a walk more than any other girl on her team; Daddy was so proud! Can't you just hear Colby: "Good job, Savannah! Way to make them pitch to you! That's right, wait for a good pitch!"


Anyway, she had so much fun, and it will be kind of interesting to see if she chooses softball next season, or if she goes back to playing soccer. Either way, she will have a good time, and we will love and support her, and yell and cheer so loud that she gets embarrassed!!

Lucky Us

So, hello there. We are currently in the throes of a nasty bout with....are you ready....wait for it......

The Swine Flu.

Yes, it's true! Aren't you jealous!

Well, you should be.

I mean, you too, could have 5 solid days of being a zombie, chills so severe they actually make the bed or couch shake, fevers so high that you could cook eggs on your forehead, and an absolute zero appetite. Not to mention the general feeling of what it's like to be run over by a truck hauling 37 tons of concrete at full speed ahead.

I know that all of you are secretly jealous!

For the record, we have 3 confirmed cases of this ridiculous piggy flu virus. My dear sweet Charlotte started things off, then Colby joined in the fun, and then Barrett jumped in as well.

So far, Savannah and I have remained immune. Everyone, please knock on wood!!

Anyway, poor Colby has definitely had the worst time of it. He was the zombie I mentioned earlier. Poor guy. You know Colby is feeling REALLY, REALLY, REALLY bad when he can't stay awake during a Red Sox game, and when he doesn't show the slightest bit of rage or anger that the Red Sox totally blew it and got blanked by the Angels.

Other than the lovely sickness, we are still around and doing okay.

I will try to get the pictures from Disneyland posted soon, it seems that I am pretty busy with demanding patients around here for the next little while!

;o)

This is for you, Savannah!

Poor Savannah is always telling me that she thinks Sneezy loves me more than her. I keep telling her that he does not, it's just that she is in school all day, and I am home with him all day, so he is just around me more, that's all. Then she tells me that even when she is home, he always comes to me, and jumps on my bed to catnap, and he always snuggles by me, and loves me more. Sometimes that is true, but I keep trying to help her understand that Sneezy is a cat, and therefore, he is fickle, disloyal, and completely impossible to understand!

But, here you go Savannah.............

Here is my bed....completely Sneezy-free. Nowhere in sight. He is somewhere else in the house, working on becoming even more lazy and fat, which is just the way I prefer cats to be! Fat cats rock!! But, I wonder where he could be.......

How about curled up on Savannah's bed, sleeping on her Tinker Bell pillow!

See Savannah- he does love you, and he does miss you! And, he is here almost every single day. Not on my bed, but on yours!!!

Like mother...like daughter

As many of you already know, our dear little Charlotte is a little bit like her mom. Okay, okay, maybe she is A WHOLE LOT like me! Below are some proof-positive photos that the likeness extends beyond just looking like my Mini-Me. :o)

This is Charlotte with her little treats, a bag of Skittles candy. Well, they started out as a bag, then ended up inside the little pink princess bowl, for a few moments, anyway...

and this is how they ended up: yep, in little color-coordinated piles! Charlotte even eats her food just like me- in carefully separated little portions. Although, Charlotte ate all the yellows first, and I eat the oranges first, so, maybe she isn't a total clone of me!!

Charlotte's first day of school

Charlotte waiting to go inside....

Waiting patiently while Mommy gets one more picture.....

And now, not so patiently while Mommy takes yet another picture!!

She was just so happy to be back in school, and she was so proud that she is a big kid in the Pre-K class! Also, Barrett tried to convince her that their preschool is really the Batman school...Charlotte was not the least bit impressed!

Barrett's first day of school

In front of the doors...ready to go and play.

In his very own seat in his classroom.

Barrett was excited to go to school, although we did have to explain to him, many times, that he would not be:

1- Riding on the bus to school. (why are all kids so flippin' fascinated with riding the bus?)

2- In Miss Jesika's class (Miss Jesika is one of the teachers at the school, in fact, she was one of Savannah's pre-k teachers! But, alas, she is not his classroom teacher. He was very sad about that, she is his very favorite teacher!)

and

3- Going to the Batman Preschool. (We really don't know where he came up with the notion that he is going to Batman Preschool, but he did have his adorable three-year-old heart quite set on it. I think he will settle in nicely, and even come to like preschool, despite the lack of Batman!)

Oh, such a cute boy! And how is it possible that he is old enough to be in school, anyway?

DEPECHE MODE!!

So, Colby and I went to the Depeche Mode concert last night!! It was so awesome, even if it was the 5th or 6th time we've seen them live. They just get better every time! Now, before anyone says anything negative or lame about the fact that we've not only seen such an "80s" band in concert, several times, just stop!! I've already heard enough of that from my darling sister Steph, who continually reminds me that I am hopelessly, and yet happily, stuck in 1985! Know what I say to that? "You're right!! And what a great time and place to be stuck in!"

Dani and Colby...literally a stone's throw from the stage!!! Isn't Colby just the most hot and handsome man you've ever seen??!! You don't have to answer that, I already know he is!! :)

The perfectly adorable and marvelous Martin Gore....he is Dani's secret
(or not-so-secret!) celebrity crush, ever since about 1985!!! Don't worry, Colby knows!! :) He even downloads pictures of Martin for me, and teases me about what would happen should Martin ever show up at my house!

Martin and Dave Gahan...they put on such a fun and rockin' show!

This is a picture of Martin from the last concert a few years ago...isn't he just delicious?!?!

So, I know you are all jealous that we got to see them in concert...again!! Anyway, it was soooo much fun, and we can't wait until they come to town again!!!

And, a big thank-you to my Dad, who watched the kids overnight so we could have a fun date night! Thanks Dad, you're the best!

Little Miss Sassy!

So, Charlotte has a funny little sassy and fiery attitude to her personality. I have no idea where she gets it. I mean, Colby is so mellow and easygoing, and I am most certainly not sassy and fiery!!! So, where did it come from? Hmmm...it must be one of those unexplained mysteries of life.

Anyway, Charlotte has this new thing she says lately if she gets asked to stop doing something that is naughty...or if she gets asked to do something that she just doesn't have any interest in doing.

She will say "I know!" with a fair dose of attitude and sass. When the inevitable happens, and I ask her a second time, she usually says "Stop telling me!"

When the third time comes around, which I am always hoping is the last time, you know...the whole "third time's the charm" thing? She now says "Mom, just turn around and stop looking at me."

Hmmm....so if I turn around and stop looking, you'll suddenly feel this incredible newfound desire to be obedient? And to think, all this time I thought it was a clever ploy!

So today, Charlotte and Barrett wanted a granola bar with their lunch. I said okay, and proceeded to give them a granola bar. Charlotte says "Are these chocolate granola bars?"

I tell her those are all gone, and she can just eat the honey nut flavor and be happy.

She then tells me "When it is your payday and you go to Harmon's, I will tell you to get me some chocolate granola bars, and you can say 'Okay, Char' and you can't say 'Not today, Honey.' Okay, Mom? Just do that."

Honestly, the fire and sass in this girl! I love it!!!!!

Come on, pull yourself together!

So, my little Savannah is not so little anymore. I realize this is old news, and that she hasn't been my "little girl" for a while now, but it hit me quite badly this morning.

Today is Savannah's first day of school, and she is now officially a big, grown-up third-grader.

Third Grade!

Sigh.

What in the world is happening? Someone please, oh pretty please, stop pressing the super-duper-ultra-fast-forward button on my kid's growing-up years.

Before I know what's what, Savannah will be in high school, driving a car, and thinking that we'll let her date! :o)

I need to go now. My eyes are drippy and Charlotte and Barrett are wondering what my problem is.

I'm sure they are thinking something like "Come on Mom, get it together! We're still home, we don't start school for two more weeks!!"

Aaaaarrrggghhh!

My babies start school in two weeks?!?!?!?

Maybe a lot more Kleenex.......

Still around

So, it has been a while since the last post, hasn't it? Well, to bring you up to speed, we have been up to.... not much of anything, really. We stayed home for the 24th of July this year. It was really nice. We had some barbecued steak, corn-on-the-cob and various salads for dinner; we had our dear friends Judy and Shirley over; and we had some small fireworks. It was fun. Other than that, not much happening. Charlotte is excessively excited and counting down the days until August 12th, when her dance classes begin again. Barrett is excited for his first season of Tee-ball coming up in September. He is finally old enough to play! And Savannah is in the middle of trying to make up her mind about what she wants to do. She really loves soccer, but she has expressed an interest in dance classes and softball. We'll see. Personally, I think she should try softball, and not only because I really love baseball. On the 24th, Colby was outside playing with Savannah, and she can really hit! She has quite a good eye, and a good batting arm. I think she'd enjoy playing softball. But, we'll see what she chooses.

The kids are also eager for school to start. Savannah is going to be our big third-grader. Where has the time gone? She is old enough to be learning long divison and fractions? Sigh. Charlotte will start her final year of pre-school in September. She is pretty excited to be in "the big Pre-K class" this year. And, my Barrett starts pre-school this year as well. Really, why does time keep speeding up? How can my baby possibly be old enough to start pre-school? He is quite excited to "go to school just like Charlotte." What am I going to do with a couple hours a week with no kids at home? Hmmm......naptime!!! :)

Not much else happening. Colby is still in school, and Dani is still a walking zombie half the time!! I really look forward to the day when my work schedule will not include any graveyard hours. But until then, I will try to function in Mommy-Zombie-mode!

Music Appreciation Lessons

So, we all know that Colby and I love music. All kinds, all eras, all types. And, probably everyone knows that I almost always have my IPod, a CD, the radio, or something playing at my house. Maybe I am secretly afraid of silence!!! Anyway, so the kids are constantly exposed to many different kinds of music. I thought I might share with you what their favorites currently are. It is kind of funny, or, in my darling sister Steph's opinion, downright sad!!



So, Savannah's Top 5 Songs are:
1- "Hoedown Throwdown" from the Hannah Montana soundtrack
2- "Dancing Queen" by ABBA
3- "Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo
4- "Need You Tonight" by INXS
5- "Funny Man" by KT Tunstall



Charlotte's Top 5 Songs are:
1- "Secret" by OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)
2- "Need You Tonight" by INXS
3- "Upside Down" from the Curious George soundtrack
4- "It's a Sin" by The Pet Shop Boys
5- "Surfer Girl" by The Beach Boys



Barrett's Top 5 Songs are:
1- "Knights of Cydonia" by Muse
2- "Superman" by R.E.M.
3- "Lips Like Sugar" by Echo & the Bunnymen
4- "Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence
5- "Lazy Eye" by the Silversun Pickups



Well, there you have it. The most current favorite songs from my little music lovers. And, just in case anybody wondered, every one of their favorite songs can be found on my IPod, with the exception of the Hannah Montana song. Try as I might, I just can't get into Hannah Montana. Sounds a little too country for my taste!!

Pretty, Lovely, and Handsome

As you know, my girls are blessed (or cursed) with very straight hair. And, they both decided that they wanted curlers in their hair to make it curly instead. Well, here is how it turned out!

Charlotte was soooo excited when we took out the curlers and she saw lovely little ringlet curls. "Mom, I look just like a princess!" Yep, Charlotte is a fan of curlers. She has asked for curlers in her hair nearly every single night since then. What have I started?!

Savannah loved her curls too. She was especially excited for the little curl in front of her face. She thought it made her look so cool, like a "diva." Okay, then. It's a hit!

And here's my Barrett. Obviously, we had no curlers in his hair, but he is also a devastatingly handsome little man, in spite of his blond, shorter hair!!

Family Reunion

At a family reunion in Oak City, Utah. I know, I know... "Where??" Oak City. In the middle of Utah, between nothing and more nothing!!!

Charlotte playing on the playground.

Barrett smirking around on the playground.

Savannah trying to decide what she wants to do next.

Happy to be on the swings, Bear??!!

Charlotte wanting to go "faster, faster!!"

Charlotte giving Barrett a helping hand on the swings. See, most of the time, they really do like each other and get along!!

Barrett thinking, "This is awesome!"

Is there anything more fun and exciting than a tractor??!!

The kids had so much fun, and the 2 hour drive was less traumatic than I thought it might be. So, driving to Disneyland in September may work out. Ha ha ha.