3rd Grade Concert

Today was John's 3rd Grade Concert.  The theme was "Sing and Play Across the USA."  The kids were not only singing but playing the recorder as well.  John was a little nervous when I got him on the bus this morning.  He said "I'm worried about my recorder solos.  One song is really fast and I'm not that good."  I reassured him that he would do fine and to pretend that they were just practicing and not performing in front of a big audience.  He's so logical and he said "Well in practice Mr. Trast talks to us.  And he won't be talking during the concert." 

This was my first concert at Swimming River School so I was a little worried about parking.  I arrived super early and was a little surprised to see that they were letting parents in ahead of schedule.  I quickly ran inside so that I could grab a good seat.  I ended up in the fourth row.  Not too bad.  John saw me in the audience and waved.

The show started with the kids singing the Star Spangled Banner.

Next they sang "Home on the Range."  John's class also played a recorder solo. 

 

They then sang "Old Brass Wagon."  My video wouldn't upload for that song.  But trust me, they did an amazing job.  The next number was "Deep in the Heart of Texas."

 

 

The next song was "Beautiful Dreamer."  Watch this video closely, towards the end of the song John has the biggest yawn.  Seems fitting for the song.

 

The next song was "Simple Gifts."

"Yankee Doodle" was next and the kids in John's class had another recorder solo.  This was the song John was worried about.  But I think he did an awesome job.

The final song was "This Land is Your Land."  Once again, it was an amazing concert.  I'm so proud of John and his classmates.

 

 

2nd Grade Concert

Friday was John's 2nd Grade Concert.  This year the theme was Character Counts.  MFA teaches the kids "Pillars of Character."  The pillars are Responsibility, Respect, Citizenship, Caring, Trustworthiness, and Caring.  They focus on a pillar every month and it was nice to see an entire concert focused on everything they learn throughout the year.

I have videos of all their performances.  The quality isn't the greatest, but you can see John grooving and singing.  He is wearing blue.  

The first song they sang was Respect.  

The next song was Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Next was I'll be there.

Then they did John's favorite, Our Lips are Sealed. 

The finale was Think.

Music

Last night we heard MKTO's "Classic" in the car. Gillian had a couple of questions, "Who's Michael? And why does he wanna kiss a prince?" I explained that Michael Jackson was a singer and Prince sings a song about kisses. Tonight at dinner I told Daddy "We need to include Michael Jackson and Prince in the kids music education." Daddy agreed and he said "Wanna hear some Prince?" John said "No. How about the Go-Go Girls?" Daddy looked very confused and said "Do you mean the Go-Go's?" John said "No. It was the Go-Go Girls." John has the second grade concert coming up next month. It dawned on me that he might be learning a Go-Go's song for the concert. I asked "Are you singing a Go-Go's song?" John smiled and said "Our Lips are Sealed." Daddy found it on YouTube and John sang along. After the Go-Go's, we listened to the Jackson Five and Prince. The kids danced around the kitchen. I love teaching the kids about music. 

Music

After dinner, last night John was working on his homework and Gillian was working on a new picture. Gillian asked Daddy "Turn on the musgik!" Daddy didn't understand what she was saying. It took me awhile to figure it out too. She wanted to listen to music while she worked on her picture. Below is a little video of Gillian saying "Musgik."

 

Harmonica

Friday morning, John came into the bathroom while Daddy and I were getting ready for work. He obviously just woke up and was covering his eyes because the light was so bright. He didn't even say good morning. He simply said "Where's my harmonica?" Yup, first thing in the morning he was worried about his harmonica. I told him that it was in the house somewhere and we could find it later. I asked him why he needed it now. He said "I just want to play music for everyone. It would be nice to play music now. And now I'm never going to find my harmonica."  I thought I knew where it was and I went to look for it. I came back empty handed and that didn't make him happy. He said "Did you look everywhere? I don't think you did. Now I'm never going to play music again!"  We distracted him and he hasn't brought up the harmonica since then. I wonder what he was dreaming about to make him ask about his harmonica first thing. 

Excuse me

At dinner tonight, Daddy and I were talking but Gillian was trying to get Daddy's attention. "Excuse me. Daddy, excuse me.  Daddy.  Daddy.  Daddy.  Excuse me." Finally Daddy stopped to ask Gillian what she needed. She said "I have more broccoli?" You can't say no to that request. Daddy gave her more broccoli and she said "It looks like trees! I a giant. I eat trees!"

Also at dinner tonight, John asked us "Do you want me to sing a song I learned in music class?"  Again, how do you say no to that?

John sang his song.  When he was done, he said "Normally I end it like this."  And he dramatically put his hands out to his side. Then he said "The teacher doesn't complain when I do it."  So Daddy said, "Then keep doing it."  Gillian listened to John sing and then said "I sing ABCs."  And she made me record her singing too.  And for the record, I have no idea what she says at the end of the video.

 

16 hour trip

Today we went to Lorenzo's birthday party. Lorenzo is Daddy's cousin's son and today was his fourth birthday. They live in south Jersey about an hour and half from our house. We told the kids that we would be in the car for a long time and to pick some toys for the trip. They were good in the car for awhile, then John got antsy. "Are we there yet? We have been in the car for like 16 hours!"

The kids had a great time at the party. John made friends with the other kids while Gillian stuck to Mommy's side. There was a couple of musicians that came and played music for the kids. They played freeze dance. John came in second. He was so disappointed that he didn't win. It was so close. He also answered a question for the musician and got a guitar pick. He then seemed to think that it would be appropriate to ask the musician "Can I play the guitar?"

It was almost time to leave and I told John "Five more minutes and then we are going home." He replied "But I didn't even get a party bag!" And then he went back to play with the kids. Don't worry. The kids both got goodie bags. The bags were a great distraction on the car ride home. Daddy carried Gillian in the house and took off her coat. As he pulled off her shoes, he noticed that she had something stuck in her leggings. It was a box of crayons from her goodie bag. She said "I have no pockets." She had no pockets so it seemed logical for her to stick her new crayons in her leggings.

Blaster

We were asking the kids what they want for Christmas. Gillian said "Baby doll. And Mickey Mouse!" John said "I want something to play music. A blaster!" I looked at Daddy and we both were confused. We had no idea what he was talking about. So Daddy says why don't you draw it for me? John got a piece of paper and started drawing. He drew what looked like an old school boom box. Daddy kept asking him questions, like where have you seen this and where can we buy one. Finally John said "I saw it on your iPad. You know! Watching Transformers!" It all made sense. There is a Transformer called Blaster that transforms into a boom box.

Christmas music

This morning on the way to school I put Christmas music on the radio. John and Gillian loved it. The first song that came on was "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." John said "Mommy, I have never seen a reindeer. Can I see a reindeer?" I told him that I had never seen a reindeer and that maybe one day we could see one. He thought about that for a minute and then said "What happens when you touch a reindeer? When you touch Buddy he loses his magic. Reindeer have magic. That's how they fly! Do reindeer loose their magic if you touch them?" He never ceases to amaze me. I never thought about that, but I did agree with him. You shouldn't pet a reindeer or he might lose his magic.

The next song that came on was "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." I started singing and John quickly scolded me. "Mommy how about you stop singing and let me and Gilly hear the music. Make it louder please!" I was very disappointed Christmas music is the best kind of music to sing. But I stopped and turned up the radio. John listened to the music then he said "Why did they say 'You better not cry'? Cause maybe you are crying because someone else was mean to you! Santa should still come even if you only cry one time."

1 year anniversary

One year ago today I posted my first blog entry.  I have to say that I am very happy that I stuck with it, and continue to post.  Over the past year, I have posted 286 times and the kids have been on many adventures.

Here are some of my favorite adventures:


The Turtle Back Zoo



iPlay America

Gillian's First Haircut



Zzzz and not sleeping little lady

First Cooking Class



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And let's not forget one of my favorite adventures: Wheeeee!

 

 

Over the past year, my little blog has been viewed almost 8,000 times.  And my top five most viewed posts are these:

Home From Work

The Wedding

 

 

Betty's Clues

 

 

Check-Ups

 

 

The Circus

 

I hope you have enjoyed all my rambling as much as I have enjoyed writing and living it.  Looking forward to another year of John & Gillian's adventures!

 

Singing Songs

My kids are much like any other kids.  They find a song or two that they love and they only want to hear that song.  I think everyone can guess what is John's favorite song.  If you guessed "The Moves Like Jagger," then clearly you read my blog.  Anyway, another one of John's favorites is the "Gummy Bear Song."  One of the teachers at school found this song and played it for the kids a couple of times.  The first time he was telling us about the video, I thought he was crazy.  I was trying to figure out what movie or TV show he was talking about.  I finally just put gummy bear in the search on YouTube and I found it. 

I really don't understand the allure of watching a green bear dance around in his underwear, but the kids love it.  And both of them know the words.  Well, Gilly just says "gummy, gummy, gummy."  And then she will pop like the song.   

My current guilty pleasure song right now is "Call Me Maybe."  Driving around yesterday, we heard John singing along with the radio.  I thought I heard him say "Hey I just met you, and this is crazy.  So call me lazy."  So I corrected him.  Now if he sings it, he says "Hey I just met you, and this is crazy.  So call me Mazy."  Close enough.  Gillian on the other hand, when she calls the song "crazy!"  So if she wants to hear the song, she just says "crazy."