Bar Superstar

Christmas in Ohio has found its own unconventional tradition in our family.  Typically we open gifts the Sunday before we leave for Minnesota; usually packages sent by our family in Washington, and other misc. gifts that may be too big to cart back & forth.

However, this year the girls got one of their gifts (and might I add, the very best one!) a little earlier than the norm.  We stumbled upon a great deal on a gymnastics bar, and because keeping them out of the basement is nearly impossible it became an early, early gift.

Geoff was amazed when he saw what Abby can do now on the bars.  I can only imagine what having her own at home now will do to beef up her skill level.

Our bar superstar....

Thank you, Grandma & Papa, for the gym mats.  They make for a softer landing and a tumbling dream!

Lauren Songafies

The unfortunate side affect of finding this catchy G-rated YouTube video is that our impressionable offspring now sing Can't Hug Every Cat.  From time-to-time we catch them recording it on their own digital camera.

Introducing Lauren's version of Can't Hug Every Cat rolled into a whole lotta random....

{The picture is unviewable.  The audio is priceless.}

If you're looking for addtional YouTube favorites by Lauren, check out Double Rainbow Song.



Little Twinkling Star

We have a rising star in our midst....

This little lady loves to sing.  I love the way she missteps with her words.

Lauren's version Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

I'm a Little Teapot

My little songstress is at it again.

I apologize the video is not rotatable {if you know how, please pass suggestions my way!}  But I had to get in her tootsies.  They make the jammies.

Lauren, starring in "I'm a Little Teapot".

My American Girl Doll

This morning my little dollie walked out of her room dressed in her Old Navy Old Glory shirt.  She said she was wearing it because of a song she's learning in school: "I Pledge Unallegiance".

I'm happy to report that by this afternoon it sounded a little more like she was pledging an allegiance.  I'm also glad I got it on a digital recording before she learns how to say it like the rest of America.

[Don't forget to pause the play list in the right column to hear the video's audio.]

Sun Day Slip 'n Slide

Sunday we celebrated Father's Day.  Since the four of us will not be together on the calendar's offical date, we opted to hand-pick our own.  His girls gathered around the family room, Geoff opened up a few priceless goodies.... UMD championship memorabilia!  Then with Geoff off breakfast duty, we took our morning appetites to the Waffle House.

After that it was fun in the sun.  Geoff set up the Slip 'n Slide and the girls spent all day splashing in the yard.

[Remember to pause the play list in the right column to hear video.]

{The Hi-Tootsie Line Up.... My Girls!}

{Slip Slidin' Sisters}

{Knee Board}

{Belly Fly}

Thank You Thursday

1. I'm thankful for a UMD win tonight.  Sure, I was at the gym with the girls and didn't see even a second of the game.  But they won and advanced to the Frozen Four championship game Saturday night in St. Paul.  Oh how I wish I was there.  I won't be, unless by the grace of God someone gifts me with airfare and tickets to the game.  But that's a long shot.  What I do have is one Tiny super-fan who is ready to cheer at her next chance to see the Bulldogs take the ice....

[Be sure to pause the playlist on the right sidebar to hear the audio.]

2. I'm thankful for my little friends at school, and the time to sit with them and just play.  They have great personalities with so much life.  They are definitely an underappreciated culture.

3. I'm thankful for the willpower to follow through with my parental threat.  I hit a mommy-low tonight, but I'm hoping to make a point to my destructive young lady.  It is not a night I am proud of.

4. I'm thankful for college friends, and for having some to hang out with to watch UMD play Saturday night.

5. I'm thankful for having a book I cannot put down.  Okay, so I can put it down to check on the score of the game, but what I'd really like to do is curl up with nothing but a blanket and this book.  And thank you to Jaime for choosing it!

Sailing With Love

It's becoming a hard reality that I only have a few months left to call Lauren my preschooler.  Here are a couple of songs she has been working on with her class for the end of the year program.  Say it isn't so!

[You will need to pause the playlist in the right column of the screen to hear the video's audio uninterrupted.]

 

Chicken Dance

When I heard Lauren learned the Chicken Dance at school I was so excited for her!  She's never stayed awake long enough at any wedding dance to hear the Chicken Dance played and join in on the fun.  But now my young lady knows.

Or so I thought.  Here is the Chicken Dance as she knows it.  Goofy, and totally Lauren.

{Remember to pause the play list in the right column to hear the video before you push play.}

To access the Chicken Dance for your own jumping pleasure, or to wear out a little one of your own: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8eC377h4A4&feature=related

Flashback Friday

This week's flashback is a collection of short films of the girls this Fall.  Due to technical difficulties I didn't get them uploaded in time for Halloween, so this seemed like the perfect platform to pull them out.

Fall, 2010

[pause the playlist in the right column to properly observe the audio]

{Halloween Surprise}

{Big Pussy Cat}

{Days of the Week}

{Lauren's Medley}

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Our little Lauren is quite a performer.  We had our Christmas concert at preschool both yesterday and today (some of the children come every other day, so two concerts are held--one for each group).  Lauren sang her little heart out and just loves to gather an audience.

While she refused to wear the special Santa hat she made at school, she is donning the lovely mismatched outfit she chose especially for today's performance.  In case you are wondering, yesterday's outfit is equally as bad.

Lauren Sings

"Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

[Don't forget to mute the playlist in the right column.]

Hurry, Hurry

Lauren was hamming it up last night at the dinner table singing her preschool songs.

*Remember to pause the play list in the right column.

Old Lady Leary

Hurry, Hurry



Old McDonald on Speed

This makes me wonder....

What kind of farms do they have here in Ohio?!

*Remember to pause the play list in the right column to hear the video.

Stop, Drop and Roll

Our resident junior fire fighter would like to remind the masses it is Fire Prevention Week.

Please view the following public service announcement, created by Lauren herself, as a gentle reminder of what to do if you are caught on fire.

{Don't forget to pause the play list in the right column so you do not compromise the audio in the instructional video.}

Lauren's Letter Name

Okay, so she's got the ABCs down pat. Sounding out words.... well, let's just say we've got some work to do.

*Remember to pause the play list at the right side of the page to hear the video.

Puzzled

There's nothing exceptional about this video, just a capsule in time of the girls doing what they do.

Geoff had been putting puzzles together last night with his little ladies.  Abby is especially fond of the states, and worked on this one by herself.  Lauren had her own puzzling experience, and of course she involved herself in Abby's; typical Lauren!

*Remember to pause the playlist in the right column to hear the video!

{Abby Works on Her United States Puzzle}

Lauren's Butterfly Song

Honestly, this girl.... I couldn't help but catch this on a moving picture. Here she is, Lauren singing her butterfly song from preschool.

"Look, I'm a Butterfly"

{Per usual, pause the play list in the right column to hear the video without the musical interruption.}

Songs from School

The girls show off songs they learned at school....

{Remember to pause the play list in the right column.}

Lauren sings

"A Friend is Someone Who is Kind"

Abby sings

"What's the Weather Like Today?"

Flashback Friday

Judging by the abundance of these videos on file, Abby spent a healthy portion of one evening dancing in circles reciting ABBA tracks. Did I not realize how tired my children were? I am honestly not sure. I know that for five years we spent many nights enjoying their company in our family room (in whichever house we happened to be living in).... Now that it's lights out early on school nights, I treasure our snuggle time on the couch even more. And I can always make room for a little ABBA.

{October, 2008}

{Pause the play list on the right side of the screen before playing the video.}

I apologize for two things: one the video on here is much darker than the version on our computer.... funny. And the ridiculously high volume of the O'Reilly Factor in the background. But make no mistake, you can hear ABBA Abby loud & clear!

Lauren's Song

I've mentioned it on a couple of occasions that Lauren enjoys breaking out into song. Her own songs. Unique compositions, often changing lyrics to suit her mood. This is a video I downloaded off of her camera. She laid this track down tonight. It is just one of many. The latest of which she is carrying on about the boys she loves. But for now she is still devoting her love to her Lizzie Doggie & Rocket Blanket, at least on this video.

The video is grainy; mostly of her mouth, and ironically a bit of her neck. But her voice is priceless!

(Pause the play list on the right column of the page before playing video.)