Duet

Caught the two boys in a little post breakfast jam session this morning. D on acoustic guitar and N on a cardboard accompaniment.

Walk Like an Egyptian

E and Kaela have been working tirelessly over the last few months with Jen creating and practicing for this evening's Egyptian Feast! The girls learned how to write actual hieroglyphics, they discovered many Ancient Egyptian customs and part of their presentation was a choreographed dance (view at bottom of post) . They did so great! Among many other delicious treats for our feast they served us hand pressed hummus, antelope, and alligator! After our meal they included their dad's in a mummification presentation. Yet another tick on the side of homeschooling, E would never have had such an in depth look at Ancient Egypt in a traditional 1st grade classroom.

N's Favorite Song/Music Video

Electric Car by They Might Be Giants, Here Comes Science

Throw Your Teddy Bear

Here's N in his gymnastics class, you can also see cousin Inger in the pink shirt and piggy tails.

Good Day Sunshine (bathtub version)

We've been listening to a lot of Beatles in the car lately...

Hula

E's teacher is from Hawaii, and their class along with a few others were asked to sing a traditional Hawaiian song for her school's May Day Assembly this morning. She was also asked to read for part of the celebration!

Waah, Waah

You all are probably tired as can be of hearing me whine about my lack of sleep lately. Yes, I was apparently spoiled with a 8 month-old who was sleeping 10 hour stretches at night. So what happened, you ask? A combination of things that when they all came together were insurmountable for that little dolly-boy of mine:

• Ear Infection
• Onset of Separation Anxiety
• Trip to Phoenix
  
• A case of Roseola
• A cold
• Teething
• Another cold
  

Mix 'em up in whichever order you want, what you get is unsettled and uncomfortable. For both mom and babe. Throw in the lovely timing that he's learned to push himself into the sitting position this last month no matter how drowsy he is then cannot for the life of him figure out how to lay back down, the picture becomes a bit clearer doesn't it? He wakes only briefly to cough or whatever, sits up, and then finds it impossible to fall back asleep BECAUSE HE'S SITTING!!!! I've tried all methods to keep this kid sleeping, but each night I'm called to his crib repeatedly to rescue him. I've pinned him in with pillows, I've jolted out of bed the instant I hear him stir to shush him back down, I even closed my door to let him cry, thinking, "Well he'll eventually just fall over," but no, he kept on for 2 hours folks, from 2AM to 4AM, and I can assure you that by 4 I was ready to wheel his crib through the hall, down the stairs and park it out in the driveway.

And where has D been during this whole circus event? Well, doing his job. I don't hold anything against the man for putting food on the table, I just really really cannot wait to see him tomorrow: the changing of he guard. The other day I likened our little man to a vampire; relatively docile during the day, but SUCKING THE LIFE OUTTA ME AT NIGHT!

It hasn't though, just been nighttime sleeping either, oh no. When I need my break during the day, and he actually does fall asleep he'll give me maybe 45 minutes tops, and then we're back at the whole charade. He's overly tired and it's a vicious circle! Until today, when I had the epiphany to lay him down with D's music playing in the background. Do you know what he did? He started singing along! Well, you know baby-babble-droning along, and then he drifted off to sleep. And that was over and hour and a half ago! No tears, no sitting up. I don't even know what to do with myself! I should have taken a shower or folded my mountains of laundry, but I had no clue all this time would have been afforded me, I feel kinda lost.


(sigh)


Would you like some white noise?

Nope.

Classical piano, perhaps?

Pass.

How about driving guitar rifts & loud drum beats with Daddy crooning along?

I'll take it!

* UPDATE 4/10/2010 - N has been sleeping like a champ the last 2 nights and for naps both days!! Hip-Hip!

John Rodrick Look-Alike?

E was watching a little more of the Muppet's this evening, and commented that the lead singer for Musical Meyham reminded her of John Rodrick...She l-o-v-e-s Uncle John, he came to her birthday party and often visits us for dinner. I was dying laughing.

Under the Tree

This Christmas was easier in so many ways. E is into all sorts of typical little girl things; art supplies, books, movies, games and music. She loves music, she sings all day, she can't help but wiggle, twirl and bounce whenever a tune is playing so we thought it was time to get her own music player. An iPod seemed a little over the top for a 5-year-old (however carefully she tries, things get dropped...). So with a little research we settled on the SweetPea3, a very kid friendly player with a decent built-in speaker and headphone jack.


E has taken an extra special interest in marine animals within the last year, especially dolphins. And has hopes of opening an oceanarium here in our small town when she grows up. So when I came across the nearly 4 foot stuffed dolphin on Melissa & Doug's online store I just knew she'd freak out! She lugs this thing from room to room with her talking to it (she's it's trainer, of course), and requests to snuggle up next to it in bed, which makes for fairly tight sleeping quarters as you can imagine.



N hasn't been able to demonstrate any real affection for any of his gifts, but there are a few things that repeatedly catch his eye:

I found a few reissued Fisher Price toys down at our local shop and couldn't resist the Chatter Phone! And this clever little guy; he has a crank on the bottom instead of using batteries and plays 3 songs that correspond with the 3 blinky push-buttons!
This sweet little picnic basket is full of friendly faces on soft food items that jingle, rattle and crinkle as well!

Another little ingenious guy I found, is this nightlight for his room. It projects a starry sky on his ceiling. E's jealous of this one and often asks to have my put it in her room after N's fallen asleep for the night.

*again shaky camera work as I'm lugging the baby too, sorry.

Winter Concert

E had her first Winter Concert today at school. Her music instructor chose a teddy bear theme for the two songs the Preschool and Jr. Kindergarten performed. E's in the red sweater in the front row...yeah, the distract-o who's giggling with her best friend practically the entire time.



Sorry the camera work is a bit shaky, N was strapped to my chest and he's a bit of a wiggle worm...

Pink Glove Dance

The employees of Providence St. Vincent in Portland Oregon "put together this video to generate breast cancer awareness throughout the hospital system."



*Thanks Christi for showing me

Dick Van Dyke is AMAZING!

Willie

Lately lovin' this record

All Smiles

D will have him playing in the band before he walks...

First Show

N's first show just so happened to be Death Cab's last for a while...it was a beautifully warm night for an outdoor show in Marymoor Park, and really nice to hang out with our dear friends before their set.


*Tania: You can't tell but he's wearing the lil' legwarmers you knit for him!

It's Just Kick Ya in The Shins Cute

A few weeks back E and D went on a Daddy-Daughter Date for a nice dinner and on to see The Shins. Ever since Ella's had the first part of New Slang stuck in her head. She wakes up singing it, sings it in the bathtub, on the swing set, in the car, everywhere. Last week I overheard her telling a classmate from her swimming lessons that her dad had brought her to see The Shins and the kid responded with "What's a Shins?" and this afternoon I caught her telling a 70 year old woman at Trader Joe's about the band and their song...

Concert In Utero

E's been very interested in making sure the baby will recognize her voice when he decides to make his way out. She regularly sings to him a handful of lullaby's. The camera was a little distracting and she's really tired and ready to climb into bed, so these versions are a little choppy but you get the idea.

This is about 5 minutes long...

Triple Door Date

Last night may well have been our last date night out before the baby comes. My sister agreed to have E overnight, and our dear friends Jeff and Rosie invited us out to see Sam Beam (Iron and Wine) at the Triple Door. It's really the only way I can enjoy shows these days; comfy seating, good food, clean bathrooms, music that doesn't require ear plugs and bodies of complete strangers packed in like sardines on all sides.


Thank you for dinner Shoops, the night was perfect!

Lullaby's

We've been preparing our new little one early with a handful of our favorite lullaby's. Most evenings D or I run through the three or four we love for E before she nods off, and she steals the spotlight in the mornings; gently singing her brother awake in utero with her mouth pressed close to my ballooning abdomen.

Baby mine, don't you cry
Baby mine, dry your eyes
Rest your head close to my heart
Never to part, baby of mine

Little one when you play
Don't you mind what they say
Let those eyes sparkle and shine
Never a tear, baby of mine

If they knew sweet little you
They'd end up loving you too
All those same people who scold you
What they'd give just for
The right to hold you

From your head to your toes
You're not much, goodness knows
But you're so precious to me
Cute as can be, baby of mine

Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high.
There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue.
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops, Away above the chimney tops.
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere, over the rainbow, bluebirds fly. Birds fly over the rainbow,
Why then - oh, why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow,

Why, oh, why can't I?

Bye, baby bunting
Daddy's gone a hunting
To get a rabbit skin
To wrap his baby bunting in

Unofficial Trader Joes Commercial

*Thanks for sending that to me Tania!