elsagrace.com

Blog

  • Climb Every Mountain

    Monti started to learn the songs from “The Sound of Music”. Out of all the songs her favorite one is the song the Mother nun sings to inspire Maria to follow her dreams. “Climb Every Mountain” is not a song made for a 6 year old to sing. It is pretty tough to sing. I tried to talk her out of it but she loved the lyrics so she was set on it. Her teacher Nedra worked with her so she could switch from a chest voice to a head voice for the higher parts of the song.

    Video unavailable (Google Video, discontinued 2012).

  • Dites-Moi from the musical South Pacific

    Monti had her singing recital on Sunday. She was pretty nervous. When we arrived she talked to her teacher about moving her performance later in the recital. When it was her turn she wanted to have the books with the music and lyrics up in the front with her. She knows the words but it made her feel more secure knowing they were close by if she needed them. She did a great job but she was very critical of herself. Monti was the youngest singer there and in our opinion one of the best. The first song she sang was called “Dites-moi (Tell me why)” from the musical South Pacific.

    Video unavailable (Google Video, discontinued 2012).

  • Money dress

    Money dress

    Godzilla book (used) – 50 cents
    Red, white, and blue sparkle headband – $3
    Homemade dress from Mom – priceless

  • Dahlia’s preschool performance

    Dahlia’s preschool performance

    Video unavailable (Google Video, discontinued 2012).

    The lyrics are “Mommy says I’m a real live dolly. Daddy says I’m sweet as honey. A real live dolly as sweet as honey. I’m so glad I’m me.”

  • Namasté and cupcake meditation

    Namasté and cupcake meditation

    Monti brings her sock monkey named Namasté to every yoga class. Namasté is used in yoga as a greeting, blessing and a thank-you. It has a variety of meanings but literally it means "bow to you" . In her last yoga class the teacher brought in cupcakes for the kids to eat at the end of class. She had each one of them pick out a cupcake and put it in front of them. Then they closed their eyes and did a meditation involving the cupcake. The teacher started asking them to think about who made the cupcake, who made the frosting, who made the milk for the frosting. The questions ventured deeper and deeper into the birth of the cupcake. Monti said the whole meditation process was torture because she just wanted that cupcake.

  • Dahlia with straight hair

    Dahlia with straight hair

  • Zoo trip with Monti’s class

    Zoo trip with Monti’s class

    We had a great time at the zoo. We started the day serenading a couple Kookaburra birds (not in picture) who in turn responded with a 2 minute cackling session. They truly do sound like they are laughing. Most of our day was spent with the kids “monkeying” around in various areas of the zoo. I don’t think they would have missed the animals much if we had just gone to a park. I remember school field trips. It really did not matter where you went you were just thrilled to be with your friends out of the classroom.

  • Bus Ride

    Video unavailable — originally hosted on Google Video (discontinued 2012). Blogger id b8beadceec4287da.

    This movie is for those of us who might have forgotten what a school bus ride is like. Imagine this song phrase repeated over 100 times with more shouting kids joining in every phrase and you can experience what I did going on Monti’s field trip to the zoo.

  • Joe playing

    Joe playing

    Kids seem to develop the appreciation for physical comedy very early
    in life. The girls love it when Joe casually walks in front of their
    swings pretending he has no clue that he soon will be whacked by them.
    Once they kick him with their feet they just laugh and laugh. Notice
    how Joe whistles to himself as he takes a little stroll down danger
    alley.

  • Father’s Day

    Father’s Day

    For Father’s Day we headed to the driving range to hit some balls. The kids thought it was great especially the second floor of the driving range. I was a nervous wreck up on the top level because I kept picturing Dahlia chasing a mishit ball right off the edge. The bubble wrap finally came off the clubs Joe bought me back in 2000. I enjoyed having my own clubs. Joe ended the day with a great shot that hit the back fence… it might just get him back there.