Landon's Recorder Concert

Landon had his Christmas Recorder Concert his last week of school before Christmas break. Jaysen and I were able to make it even though the concert was in the middle of the morning on a school day. I love that my son is having fun with music, I just wish those dang recorders weren't so loud and squeaky. Maybe honky is a better word for the noise. I don't know. Oh well! They all played well for Mr. Gibson and it was fun to see Landon play his songs from memory with all of his friends.

Good job Landon!

Christmas Play Part 2

That's right...this is part two. So, keep reading on for Part 1. Although...part 2 is actually really about Landon's Christmas play and not just those of us who got to watch the play. :0)

Last night was Landon's Christmas play. He, along with the rest of the 3rd graders at his school, have been working on this for months. He ended up with a fun part, too. His name was "Bix"...of the rock n roll drumming duo "Bix and Stix". Doesn't he look tough? This was one of the poses he had to do during the performance. :0)He told me that I had to do his hair like this because it was part of his costume. He was very particular too. It HAD to be combed forward into a "V". Apparently all of the band members were supposed to do their hair like that. Interestingly, he was the only one with "rocker" hair. When I asked him about it afterwards he tried to cover up by saying that the other boys were supposed to do other styles with their hair and he was the only one who was supposed to have a "V". Hmmm....convenient.....don't you think? :0) I thought it was hilarious that he was sure he looked just like a rock star. {In his church pants even!}

The name of the play was Elfis and the Sleigh Riders. Obviously...this meant it was a musical. Landon was part of the band that accompanied the Elfis's who sang for Santa Claus. He had a "drum" that he wore around his neck as he sat up front to "play" the drums for the songs the kids sang.

Can I just tell you how impressed I am with my kid? For those of you who have known Landon for a while, you know that he has been a fairly shy child. He still has trouble saying his line in the Primary Programs held each year. He gets embarrased and nervous....sick to his stomach. Like with his piano recitals....he usually just wants to run away. But, Landon surprised me last night. He did start out kind of reserved, but was able to keep with his part nonetheless. Then, as the play progressed....and he started having more fun with it....he really got into it. He was tapping his toes, and bobbing his head to the music. His drumsticks were being used a bit more emphatically. He said his parts loudly and with a smile. I just couldn't believe it. My mom came to see him perform and we were in shock. We had so much fun watching him, too.

His friend, Cole, was one of the narrators and had some seriously long lines! I couldn't believe it! All memorized and no mistakes! Way to go Cole!

Landon has had so much fun having Cole at his school. They get into such mischief! But they both did such a good job at their performance. :0)

Landon even told me that he wants to be in more plays. Who'd have thunk it?

Philadelphia Chickens

Have you ever heard of this book? It's actually a song book with a CD of the songs included. Jaysen's mom bought it several years back for the grandkids. Now that most of them are "old", or at least thinking they are "too old", for singing and dancing through the living room, Grandma Burnham passed on the book to Mackenzee on Sunday.

We popped in the CD while we were there and Mackenzee fell in love with the songs and the pictures in the book. She even got her older cousins to play along with her. I wish I had taken my camera so I had documented footage of the little boys shaking it with Kenzee. :0)

Since bringing home the book, Mackenzee has taken over the CD player downstairs and cranks up the volume while she twirls around the living room.

Obviously, she has taken a liking to this book of silly songs about cows, and puppies, and chickens. So, thanks Grandma! She loves it!

I Want YOU, To Want ME!

My daughters new favorite song is 'I Want You To Want Me' by Cheap Trick. She always says, "Mommy, I want you!" Which then led to me telling her that I want her to want me....because I tend to find song lyrics in most phrases people use. I can't help it. I loves me some music.

Anyway...Kenzee has me play this song ON REPEAT frequently. Just this morning she whined until I put the music on for her. She has little cute actions to the song too. So, I thought I better grab my camera and take a quick video of it for posterity. My video camera battery was dead. So, I grabbed our old digital camera that takes quick videos and used it. I noticed the battery was low and hoped it didn't die on me as I recorded Mackenzee.

The result wasn't quite what I was hoping for. I can't figure out how to turn her upright. So, you'll have to watch with your head tilted to the left. :0) And, she didn't do her actions or get all sassy like she does when it's just me and her boogeying down in the kitchen. But, she's still cute.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of 'Mackenzee sings the hits'. Hopefully next time I'll be able to catch her FOR REAL. :0)

Pink

This is one of my favorite Aerosmith songs. It came out around 1997 and I watched it on MTV in my dorm and thought it was hilarious. Just silly words, and an even wierder video. You can check out the music video on the link here. But, this song has now taken on a whole new meaning for me. I'll tell you why after you read on....

Pink - it's my new obsession
Pink - it's not even a question,...
...Pink - it's the color of passion
Ah, 'cause today it just goes with the fashion
Pink - it was love at first sight
Yeah, Pink - when I turn out the light...
...And I think everything is going to be all right...
...'Cause Pink - it's my favorite crayon

Okay, so now let me explain. Though some of the lyrics of this songhave ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with my point here, I selected those in the song that do. I heard this song again yesterday and just laughed.

This, is Mackenzee and "Pink". Pink is what she's named her blanket. I bought this blanket for her before she was born, and then was given another one just like it as a gift when she was born. So, there are two identical blankets in this house. For a while, this blanket was called "mine". And then about 4 or 5 months ago, it became "Pink". Pink is her favorite color. Everything has to be pink. Her clothes, her milk, her ice cream, her shoes, socks, food, crayons, markers, pens, books...you name it...she'll ask for it in pink. It drives me crazy. So, it made sense anyway that she would rename her special blanket pink. And, even though there are two of the same, only one of them counts as the special one. The other one is "different". Why? I'll tell you.

Do you see this PINK corner of her special blanket held by her cute little hands? This is why PINK matters. The two PINK corners of this blanket are not quite PINK anymore. This is the cleanest I can get it, though the corners have been known to get darker in between washes. Getting the blanket from her to be able to wash it is a whole other story....How did the blanket get this way you ask?

Because of this. Those corners she rubs and rubs and rubs on her cheek and mouth to "comfort" herself. Sometimes the corner gets sucked on. It's truly gross. But it makes her feel better. So, what can I do?

Pink...it's her new obsession, cause today it just goes with the fashion, it was love at first sight, she needs it when she turns out the light, and when she has it everything will be all right. And it's definitely her favorite crayon. :0)
Now do you get it?