Kyla sings!

Surprise, surprise, our 2nd girl sings!!  She blew us out of the water with her singing abilities....I never even KNEW she could sing this many verses, or so "off key!" LOL

Enjoy her "This is Me" version!

Turkey Fest, 2013 (Kyla's Preschool Party!)

Kyla LOVES going to preschool!

She loved it last year, with my friend Ms. Jeni in the district I work in.

 This year, we are attending our school district's preschool program, and taking advantage of the before and after class "daycare" option they have. It's in a classroom, and they are fully staffed and Kyla ADORES it! Talk about a social girl! She talks so animatedly after I pick her up, and during the first month or so, she passed out cold, sleeping, within minutes! LOL

We are so lucky to be able to let our girl attend these programs!

A few weeks back, she was the "star of the week", and she's still trying to use this card to be able to do special things around the house! Ha!

A few weeks ago, the class had a "Turkey Fest" instead of Halloween or Harvest party.  Kyla was so excited when I arrived; she giggled for about 10 minutes straight and when all the parents got to dance with their children to "Mother Gooney Bird", I thought she would fall over with the laughs!

We had a good time, circling stations and playing and reading together, and I got to know one of her girlfriends (or, as she calls them, "one of my girls") when we made a turkey centerpiece and colored on the easel. 

Mmm, Pumpkin Pie smelling Playdoh!

The teacher had a movie of pictures with each child holding up what THEY would say to their mom or dad if they could thank them for anything:

Kyla? She chose "balloons".  *scratching my head, unsure where that came from, but um, OK!*

Ahoy, Matey....Princess?

Last month, I took the girls to the Jake and Sofia Disney Jr Live show in St Paul- to say we were ALL excited is an understatement! I purchased tickets last Spring, and we had 4th row!

K2 had two costumes to wear: First up, was Sofia the First, as she has loved her from the minute she laid eyes on her. She looked adorable in her dress, and thanks to Keifer's overpriced cotton candy, K2 also got a tiara to wear! (came in handy on Halloween, as well!)

My phone pictures aren't the best, but you get the idea that we were OH SO excited!  K1 used her own $$ to buy cotton candy, and Kyla used hers to buy that overpriced Sofia cup with shaved ice in it (which ended up half on the floor).

I bought some popcorn and we were set!

We were ALL tickled pink when Sofia came out dancing and singing! I, of course, got tears in my eyes watching Kyla's eyes light up!!!!!!

Next, it was intermission and time for JAKE and his Neverland friends to chase that Hook and save the treasure (or something like that!) Kyla did a costume change, and the people around us were laughing and clapping for our little "Izzy"!!  This was her costume from Halloween last year!  What a ball we had putting this on!! And, the best parts? Two of the female "extra" pirates from the show came through the audience and Kyla got some great pics with them, and our neighbors were there watching the show, as well! Kayla is the same age as Kyla and her and her mom Jenni came on down to visit us. What fun we had again!

 Can you tell Keifer is a little Pirate? What a ham this girl is! LOL

Once the lights dimmed, it was time for some rocking and rolling! I LOVED the music and it was SO fun to watch the escapades on stage!

I think the best part for ME, as mom, was when Peter Pan came flying in.....Kyla gasped audibly, put her little hands over her mouth, and said, "OH MY GOD! It's the REAL PETER PAN!"

I about peed my pants laughing at her (and tears again, springing from my eyes, at her pure joy!)

 

So yeah, we are huge fans of Disney, can you tell!?  Hope you are able to do something as fun as we did with your own kiddos!!!  And yes, I AM that dorky mom who gets all excited about things like this! What memories we have now!

K1 "raps" - get ready for a giggle

Ahh, my silly girl!
Found this on my phone the other night, long after she had "rapped" into it, as I was pumping gas!
Ahhh, K1, you make me so happy with your talent and humor!

*and guess what? I didn't even KNOW she knew HOW to beat box! *

Three reasons I love Jimmy.....

....Fallon.  Just three for TODAY. I adore this boy, and love his hysterical sense of humor. He and JT need to get on the road together. As a friend of mine said: "I'd love to just sit and shoot the shit with the two of them in a bar, and watch them play off each other".

First up, the Hash Tag video: I was crying I laughed so hard at this. It's so silly! And TRUE!

#Ididitallforthecookie! *(crying*)

And then the Lip Sync Battle! Oh My!! Another instant classic!




I can't get enough of JF and JT doing their sleepaway Camp......the one with "Africa" is way funnier than their "Hootie" one....

Wordless Wednesday: I'm still so sad about him leaving us too soon

**I found this on my desk when I returned to work. I have a bunch of these magnets from the first season the show came out**

I Wanna ROCK (rock!)

So if you haven't heard (in our real life or Facebook), K1 started guitar. Yep, she loves it. 
We initially started with some Little Wing classes at the SOR, but after half a year, her instructor told us she is "more than ready" for lessons.  When she asked K1, "when you see yourself on stage, you are playing the ....." and immediately, Keifer said, "GUITAR!"
So guitar it is!

We were able to start with a trial lesson, as she is only 6 and who knew if she' d really like it.
Well, she loved it. The below picture is of her leaving her first lesson with her cool-as-heck teacher, Mike. I do think he was a tich impressed that she knew the name of every part of her instrument (Thanks to the Little Wing classes!). The girl has rhythm, tone, and an innate ability to "just get it". She was plucking away at a song within 10 minutes, and after 30 minutes, she had 2 songs and one chord down.  So we set up her lessons!

This was her, going into her first official lesson (paying, that is).  We found her a mini-Squier electric guitar at Music-Go-Round, along with a small used amp and chord, and we are set.  We do need a tuner, now!! LOL

 

So far, we have been practicing (oh yes, we, as in her and I, as I feel like her coach!), 3 chords and the 2 songs. She complains that her fingers get "so sore" after pushing them on the strings but I told her to "buck up" and get used to it. Then I sing her Bryan Adams, but I know she doesn't get it!

So here's hoping she continues to love it! She certainly has picked up on her strumming and reading music along with strumming!  Who knows where she's going to be making her rock debut someday?

All the singing shows

Well, if you know anything about me and my girls, you know we all love love love our music, and Glee, and musical shows. We didn't even attempt to watch the Idol this season, and I never got into The X Factor.  I think they need to retire the Idol, but that's just me. And who am I? LOL

The Voice? Well, I liked the previous seasons, "so so", but then this season, Usher and Shakira came on. And me and my girls were HOOKED!  If you ask Kyla who her favorite judge is, she'll put her hand on her right hip, cock it to the side, and very seriously tell you, "Shakira. Because she's a girl!"

The simple changing of the judges was all it took to grab our attention. We all love Shakira- myself, because she seems so open, emotional, fun, and passionate.  I didn't think much of Usher, but now watching him do his coaching sessions, I feel like he really is a very hard worker and cares about his team.  I already loved Blake and Adam, and this season only makes me fall more in love with them. What fun it is to watch.

This season, I'm loving Michelle Chamuel. Not sure if it's the special education teacher in me, but I always root for the underdog. Michelle stood out to me in auditions because of her energy and passion, and watching her the other night sing "Just Give Me a Reason" (in which Kyla exclaimed, "Mom, we listen to this one in the car!"; yes, because every radio and satellite station I turn it to has this playing, oye),) watching her sing gave me goosebumps. Adam summed it up best by saying that when all the judges watch Michelle, they forget its a competition; it's just entertainment to watch her perform.Well, he actually said, "you take the competition away from us, because we're all beaming with pride".
Anyhow, I love when she performs, either ballad (moving me to tears) or high energy (in which she kicks, squats, and makes stretching motions).



I also am so -so about Sasha Allen -- had a good night the other night. She sang, "Next to Me", which is a song I enjoy popping my body around to in the car.  I also loved it when Rachel and Shelby sang it on Glee (yep, still plugging along watching that show, although I'm not loving it, I always look forward to the music part of it). 





Back to The Voice, Keifer and CJ like Danielle Bradbery, and we all like Amber Carrington.  Overall, it's a fun year to watch. CJ likes to compare them all to Wedding Singers, but what are they to do? They have to sing familiar songs so that they audience likes them, right?

So what singing shows do you like to watch?

K1's Solo on Mother's Day

I was moved to tears when Keifer did her very first "official" solo on Mother's Day, with our worship band.

Here she is in the first one, singing her solo. She belted it out at home, and in the car, but was shy at the actual production.

 

The bottom one, here, I added just because she is letting loose a bit more, and you get to see the girl I SEE at home on the mic! Enjoy and hope your Mother's Day was blessed!

 

Not so Wordless Wednesday: Church Singers

Keifer and I have been a part of the Worship band at church for over a year; yes, my singer girl loves to belt it out during church. Of course, she gets nervous during performances, and doesn't do as well as say, in the CAR, but she does a great job.

Last Sunday, the Sunday school performed, and she was 1 /2 kids that showed. Kyla practiced with her, but decided not to be in the big debut during the actual service.

Steve accompanied the girls on guitar, and led them.

Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday: In the Circle: Little Drummer Girl

(at church)

Under a Shady Tree (or not)....with Laurie.....

I forgot to post that this past Summer, we got to attend the Laurie Berkner  concert, right here in Minnesota. It was on a HOT and muggy Sunday, July 8, at the Basilica in Minneapolis.
We started out under a shady tree, but that quickly moved to the hot, hot sun, where Keifer wanted to hang out, practically onstage, and dance and sing.  Kyla really didn't care too much, but Keifer and her buddy Mazzy, along with me monitoring, we went down as close to the front as possible.
Keifer even made it to Laurie's home Face Book page -on the cover- little arms raised in the air!
Aftewards, we waited patiently, my K1 and myself, to meet Laurie. Keifer never made a peep, and we were one of the last families to be able to meet Laurie, as she had a plane to catch!
Kyla snuck in, and we were able to smile and chat with Laurie. What a blast we had! A great summer memory (now as I publish this in March!) LOL.

Can you tell how hot it was by our flushed faces and sweaty hair?

Here is the picture that appeared on Laurie's home page on Facebook.

Look smack dab in the middle of the page. You see the girl with HER left arm up, with a fist pump, and she's wearing a colorful dress (see picture above for dress). That's our Keifer girl- partially hidden by some man's arm. How cool!

Future ballad singer?

This was Kyla's birthday gift from Mama and Daddy -but Keifer quickly took it over!  While Kyla played happily with her new Barbies.......Keifer made mama cry. Here she is singing one of her favorite Ballads from the first season of Glee:   Defying Gravity-from the Wicked Soundtrack, but sung by Kurt and Rachel! Yep, she wants to be just like Rachel!





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Practicing for the stage

This video clip is from the dog days of winter, when Friday nights are spent playing with new neighborhood friends, their parents, and musical instruments. This is K1 and one of her best friends, playing our guitars (surprisingly well, with their strumming!)....and it's a hoot to watch, as Kyla gets in on the action. Don't be fooled when that tricky K2 runs off screen: she comes back, ready for her show, and notice the little "bent leg" action she gets in. And notice how K1 and friend move backward slightly, to give the show girl her space. Enjoy: smile, it's Friday!

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Jordis has the VOICE!

Lovelovelovelovelove LOVE JORDIS on The Voice!!!

She's a MN girl, whom I blogged about when I first started blogging years ago- I loved her on Rock Star: INXS! And CJ and we got to meet her! It was Keifer's First Rock Star experience! LOL

I am hopin' and prayin' she makes it to the end! She's gorgeous, experienced and has a voice that makes me break out in goosebumps!

GO, Jordis!!

Friends- give friends- a hand!

Well, at least that's what the Fresh Beat Band sings about! And what a night we had in the beginning of March-going to see the Fresh Beat Band LIVE- on stage!!!

It was good we (Keifer and I) even made it there, as we both had the FLU BUG (aka vomit bug) earlier in the week. I had it Tuesday and Wednesday, Keifer had it Wednesday, and Kyla had it late Wed/early Thursday night. CJ had stayed home with Kyla that Thursday, and she "seemed" OK to go. Oops. Not really. She vomited on the way to pick sissy up at school-so we frantically played "WHO CAN GO TO THE SHOW WITH US?" games until the last minute - and being it was a 5PM concert, that was pretty tricky (stressful, in my opinion!)

Luckily, our new and dear neighbor friends made it at the last second and K1 was able to rock out to the band with her buddy, A. from across the yard.

Keifer, having her sensory issues, of course, acted like she wasn't too into the band and didn't want me to TOUCH HER, as she was taking all the sensations in (and I admit, I enjoyed the show myself!). However, in the car on the ride home, her and A. giggled in the back seat about how that was the best show they'd ever seen!

Here are some VIDEO CLIPS of our concert experience

Excited!!

Not only is April 10 our K1's 5th Birthday, it's also the return of our beloved Glee- and here's a sneak peek of it that has me SQUEALING like a little girl- HOT HOT HOT Matt Bomer, HOT HOT HOT Darren Criss, and they are taking on a current favorite song of ours:

Somebody I Used To Know!

EEK!

Cannot wait!

Keifer and I are, as always, on our Glee kick. I've been somewhat disappointed by the episodes this year, with the exception of a few of them. One of the major subplots was the character of Santana, going through trying times with her coming out as a lesbian. Of course, Keifer has no idea what is being talked about, but it's interesting to hear her comments on some of the things that happen: case in point after this performance, when Santana goes up to Finn and slaps his face.

However, as always in TV Land, the Glee group makes up and sing this song: We Are Young by the group FUN.:

Now, I will tell you, I loved this song the minute I heard it. I immediately looked up who sang it and how to get my hands on it. I ended up downloading the original version, but I actually prefer the Glee cast's version. We are some of the thousands of people who enjoy listening to their songs and soundtracks as we drive along. Keifer loves it, I love it...what more can I ask for.

On another note, though, I downloaded the song the weekend that a very good childhood friend passed away. My buddy Ryan and I had been friends since I can't even remember, having gone to Elementary school and on together *up through college as well*. He was my first REAL boyfriend: the one you have a crush on and he likes you back. We were in 5th grade, and it was the most memorable year of my young life. It was the year strong friendships were born, and many memories of becoming WHO I AM as a person are lodged in the memories of that year.

Ryan and I used to joke, as we aged, that were were each others' "5th grade lover" and we had inside lingo and a funny little "dance" that we did that made no sense to anyone but us. The infamous "Johnny" dance was what we called it, having gotten the cue from the movie Short Circuit, who had Number 5 in it ("Number 5 is alive") and the song Who's Johnny by El DeBarge (tell me that doesn't take some of you back!). Ahh, the memories.

So when Ryan died, I was in a state of total shock. Lots to say about that, but I'll spare you. I drove up alone for the night, to attend his funeral on President's Day Monday. The song We Are Young had recently been uploaded to my IPod, and as I was flipping around songs, it popped up. The minute the chorus started in, I thought of Ryan, and the tears just poured. The part of the song about "when the bar closes and you feel like falling down, I'll carry you home"....well, being young and kids, Ryan and I used to have drinks at parties together (yes, we did). And on one occasion, I went out with Ryan and another friend of ours during finals week at college, and I ended up having one too many Long Island Teas (oh, how I used to love Grandma's Saloon's teas). The night had started out with a few beers watching comedy, and then moved on to Teas. Oh boy. I ended up vomiting on the rocks near the Lake front (Lake Superior), but Ryan and our other friend took care of me, and ended up driving my car home and making sure I was safe at home that night. It may not have meant alot at the time, to any of us, but looking back, it did. Stupid things we did, they WERE stupid, but I look back and I treasure the little things that we had together. Fun nights out, inside jokes, and so forth.

When Ryan died, I hadn't seen him in I can't remember how long. But his funeral DID bring together SO MANY people, and we all had a chance to reconnect. I had the pleasure of spending most of that day with my bestest friend ever in the world-whom is like my sister, Jess. Jess and I became best friends in that 5th grade class that I wrote of, so it was especially nice to have her sitting and holding my arm as we cried together, saying goodbye to our Ryan. Our Uncle "Ry Ry".

Now and then, I hear this song We Are Young on the radio, I immediately choke up, and know that Ryan is watching out over his friends and laughing at us. I hope he is, because then I know I have an angel watching over me. RIP, Ryan.

Mary, Don't You Weep

This past Sunday, Keifer and Mama took part of our church's Worship Band's rendition of "Mary Don't You Weep". Keifer adored it, and Kyla came along for the sway factor.

Wordless Wednesday: Serious "Beaver" Fever