If I hear "Beat It" one more time...

Laney's all-time favorite song is "Beat It" by Michael Jackson.  I introduced Laney to it about a year ago and I have now listened to it at least 104 times (that is what my iPod says, but I have changed iPods in the last year too!).  I played it for her one day in the car after telling my mom in a joking manner to "beat it" when I dropped her off after running some errands with us.  Ever since then Laney demands to hear "Beat It" nearly every time we get in the car.  Recently she has even been singing along with the song from the middle row of the car.  This morning she came to tell me that there was water on her stool, and then said "It doesn't matter, just like "Beat It"."  After I sang a few bars of the song under my breath, I realized that she was quoting from the chorus:

Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it /No one wants to be defeated /Show 'em how funky and strong is your fight /It doesn't matter who's wrong or right /Just beat it, beat it 

I had to laugh because it was such a smart thing to say, even though it was completely random.  Perhaps I will come to regret introducing her to Luke Bryan's "Country Girl (Shake it for Me)" today.  I wonder how she will work that one into conversation.

The Dog and Pony Show AKA Hammond Dance Recital

 Avery, Autumn and Laney at dress rehearsal

While Patrick was off hiking, Laney danced in her very first dance recital.  As the tradition goes, all of the Hammond School of Dance students tapped their way down to the Mandeville Auditorium for a review of the past year's hard work.  Laney is in the 2-4 year old class, and they performed a tap dance to "The Bunny Jamboree" by Kimbo.   Don't bother looking up the song because it will sink into your brain and you will have an earworm for the next few days.  One of my best friends, Amanda, has her daughters enrolled in the class and we  were (thankfully) able to conquer this mountain together.  There was a mandatory full-costume/hair/makeup dress rehearsal Friday night at 6pm  which is such a fun hour to be out and about with a 3 year old.  The girls looked adorable in their costumes, but we skipped the hair and makeup routine for the rehearsal.

Doing makeup and hair backstage

Lip gloss kiss face

Nervous smile before the performance.

Saturday night was the big performance, so we made a day of it.  Amanda and her daughters met Laney and I at the nail salon for mani/pedis.  Then I hit Target to snap up 3 ballerina Barbies to award our little dancers after their big performance.  I put pin curls in Laney's hair and did some makeup, which was so exciting for her.  She proudly displayed her kiss face over and over in the mirror.  When it came time for the dancing, Laney was definitely nervous.  She came out on stage with her friend Avery, escorted by the teacher's son Nate.  Laney participated in about 30% of the dance until she noticed the girl next to her on stage.  The girl standing to her left was trying to catch a little bitty feather from her costume that was flying around in the air.  After watching the girl try to grab the feather, Laney decided to join in instead of dancing.  As the dance went on she forgot the steps and squatted down and played with her shoes.  My favorite part was was when she clapped for herself at the end of the performance.  Laney was precious and precocious, and I loved every laughable minute of it. Worth every penny of the $20 per seat we paid to sit in the seats less than 10 minutes.

Big happy smiles after the performance

I was especially thrilled to share the experience with my sister since we are both Hammond Studio alums.  The dog-and-pony-show was one of our favorite times of year, and I have to say that the dressing room at Mandeville still smells the way it did 30 years ago.  That smell makes me think of glitter, sequins, feathers, and hairspray, and it took me back to very happy times in my life.  So glad that my daughter gets to have those memories too.

Odds and Ends

1.  I finally finished the thank you notes for Laney's birthday, and I have to say that I love the way they turned out.  I have been dreaming (yes dreaming) about buying a circular paper punch, but they are expensive and I haven't had a *valid* reason to until now.  As luck would have it, Michaels had the punches for 30% off, so I went hog-wild and got 2 circle sizes, a ruffled edge circle, and a square punch to boot!  Feeling some creative juices flowing again after making all those cards.

Here is a sample of my work (and thanks to Martha for creating the adorable elephant punch that came in sooooo handy for Laney's elephant party!)

2.  We have a pair of doves living in our yard somewhere.  We haven't identified the actual place yet, but they are big fans of our pergola by the barbecue.  We see them out there all day long, and hear them cooing to each other frequently.  Laney has decided to name the pair Helen and Thomas, although I think they look like a Harold and Maude to me.  

Helen and Thomas of Shadetree Drive...although I couldn't tell you which is which

4.  Patrick and Gavin made it to the top of Mt. Shasta and back, and all in one piece.  They ended up summiting a day early due to weather, and only got about 2 hours of sleep during their first night camping on the mountain.  I am so proud of them for accomplishing their goal, but mainly for not ending up in the E.R. and still being on speaking terms after traveling together!

 Learning how to camp in the snow, use crampons and ice axes

Their hike to the summit began on day two, at 1 am.

Each of the boys at the summit of Mt. Shasta

At the summit, amidst the haze and weather!  14,000 + feet.  Wooo hoooo!

5.  Laney went to the Fair for the first time yesterday.  She went with her Oma and Kiersten (her cousin).  Laney reports that "I went on the swings with Kiersten and did all the rides.  I played a fishing game and I winned a orange doggy toy.  I saw goats, some rabbits, some sheep, some chickens, and a rooster in a special gate.  My favorite part was the orange bus and the double decker one with stairs.  I ate chicken nuggies and french fries.  My legs were tired and I just watched the kids on the slide."

I asked her if she would like mommy to take her another time (feeling guilty that I don't enjoy the fair and have dreaded taking her as soon as she was born.)  She said she wants Oma to take her again, not mommy.  How lucky am I?

My gorgeous baby is getting so big!

6.  Liam is ALMOST crawling, and I feel like my life as I know it will soon cease to exist.  He can get up on his hands and knees, or hands and toes, or some combination of both.  He tries to rock forward but ends up falling over most of the time.  Liam really likes standing up and holding onto the sofa or the coffee table.  He is so brazen that he will turn around from the coffee table and lunge toward the sofa.  He still has wobbly legs as he is learning to stand, but will pick up his feet and move them as if to walk if you hold onto both of his hands.  I think he is desperate to be mobile and it won't be long before the child safety gates get re-installed in our house.  Liam is also starting to give kisses on demand (mostly only to mommy, but we are working on that).  He loves to plant an open mouthed slobber kiss on me, especially when I get him out of his crib after his nap. He also likes to check himself out in the mirrored wardrobe doors in his room after getting up from a nap, and smiles brightly at his own reflection as he pats the mirrror and greets his adorable smiling face.  He is such a flirt and a goofball all rolled up in one.  Heaven help us, I think we might be raising the class of  2028's Official Class Clown.

Hunky Monkey

Today was a very fussy day for Liam.  He is getting over an ear infection and sore throat, and the screaming all day doesn't help.  His antibiotics are giving him diarrhea, so he is not a real happy camper right now. Thankfully a trip to the backyard cured his 3 o'clock blues.

It appears that he is not thrilled with Laney who was screaming "mommy" at the top of her lungs for attention.  Kinda looks like he is about to get up and smack her....lucky for Laney he can't walk yet!

Happy again after a few minutes of mutual fussing.