Music Man

Easton has always loved music.  When he was a baby he would hum or sing ahhhhh at bedtime when I would sing him a song.  Although it was nearly impossible to carry the tune with the off note ahhhhhhhhhs, it was pretty adorable.  The first song he sang was Twinkle Twinkle - like many other kids I'm sure.  He also likes the Clean Up song that they sing at daycare.  Unfortunately this song takes up all of his concentration, so the cleaning up really doesn't happen.  Mostly because he has to play his guitar while singing!  I'll try to post a short video...

But now if you ask him to sing a song it is the new version of Twinkle Twinkle:  Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Light.  Until recently he really didn't know all the words, but no one is allowed to sing with him unless invited and definitely no one can correct the words.  He will stop singing, complain loudly until you stop and then start over again.  This is very hard for Cassia who knows the right words - as she really likes to correct people (I mean, teach Easton things).  These are the words:

Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Light
Standing On The Corner Bright
Red Means Stop
Green Light Go
Yellow Means Slow Down
Don't You Know
Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Light
Standing On the Corner Bright

This is how Easton sings it:

Twinkle Traffic Light
Standing On The Corner Bright
Red Means Stop
Green Light Go
Yellow Means Slow
Blue Means....I don't know what blue means...
(Repeat)

Then he gets mad at the song and it turns into a heavy metal kind of Twinkle Twinkle.  You don't have to imagine - I have a video.  He now sings the right words, mostly, and the guitar just adds flavor. 

Transformed by a Dog

My family went on the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Walk yesterday in support of my friend's daughter who has juvenile diabetes.  It was a wonderful day in Winnipeg - warm, sunny and breezy to keep the bugs away.  I was emailing and calling around before the walk to see if I could borrow someone's Chariot (a stroller that fits two kids and can be attached to a bike).  Luckily I was able to borrow one.  I knew Easton would need a stroller and I KNEW that 10 minutes into the walk Cassia would all the sudden declare that she was too tired to walk and absolutely could not take another step (and drop to the ground with a lot of sighs and drama).  So, a double stroller seemed like a good solution. 

Now, backtracking a bit, Cassia has always loved animals - especially dogs.  Before she could speak, she would squeal with delight whenever there was a dog that caught her eye.  Some people thought that she was crying in fear, but then saw the look on her face and realized that it was just an overly excited laugh/squeal.  It has been her mission in the last year to hold a dog's leash.  Anytime she can touch one, she does.  A stranger's dog?  Doesn't matter - the sole objective is to touch the leash. 

So imagine her delight when another friend of mine shows up to the walk with their family's dog.  Cassia did not leave that dog's side until they had to go home.  I mean, she got to co-hold the leash - a whole year's worth of excitment in 1.5 hours.  She walked 5K without a single peep.  Never a complaint, never a whine, never a break.  She kept the pace and chatted with my friend the entire way.  I had to coax her to drink a juice box and walk along side her with some raspberries so that she would eat something and not fall over from the exhaustion she usually claims.  I. Could. Not. Believe it. 

This dog transformed my spirited daughter.  People were saying she was so responsible, that she was such a trooper and that they couldn't believe she was keeping up.  I was so shocked, impressed and proud of her. 

It has actually had me thinking that we should get a dog!  I love dogs, but I also have two young kids and we travel to Indiana a few times a year.  Not a great time to get one - as I have said every other day to Cassia in the last year.  But she now has me seriously considering it.  That is the positive outcome for her.

The negative outcome for her is that I now know that she can walk 5K without whining, complaining or falling down in exhaustion.  So the three blocks to the grocery store or to the park should be cake.  I'm on to you, kid.

I'm a Blogger?

I've been feeling so badly lately since I haven't been keeping up with family and friends. And I think of all the cute things my kids do that I don't record anywhere. So, here I am blogging. This way, I can do both at once and maximize my time! I'm still not sure how this all works, but here it goes...

Dawn