Singing A Song

I was reading a random blog one day with a short video clip that had a Dad ask his daughter to sing a song from Annie. She wasn't auditioning for the play or anything, he just wanted to hear it. She agreed and sang most the lyrics correctly and did have a cute pitch. Maybe its just me, but hearing little kids sing is just one of the top ten cute things they could do so long as it isn't screaming the song. I've heard my friends daughter and my son sing (well he more babbles) and I just love it. It always makes me smile. So I got to thinking, what cute things would I love for my son to sing someday besides the A,B,C's and Twinkle Twinkle (even though both are quite awesome)?

Those that know me know I have an obsession with the movie An American Tale. I always loved it as a kid. Heck, last Halloween I made a Fievel costume (okay my Mom made it because she is a lot more crafty then I am)for my son. He looked adorable in his over sized hat and mouse ears. So what would any American Tale fan love for her child to sing? Somewhere Out There. I would love to hear him sing that song someday. I know if he ever does, this Mama will be crying her eyes out from the pure cuteness of it all.

I know this is a silly post, but I seriously dream of the day ya'll.

I also remember as a child watching a little girl during a Hungarian Festival sing some sort of Hungarian folk song. I envied her ability to do this because I thought it would be so cool if I could. I remember seeing my Nagypapa's face (my Hungarian Grandfather) when I told him "I love you" in Hungarian. His eyes lit up...and how I wished I had some thought back then to learn a song that I could sing for him or my Nagmama instead of just being envious. They would of been thrilled. I am not really wanting my son to know a Hungarian folk song though. Would it be awesome/cool? Absolutely! There is just no one to teach him though, which brings me to my next thought...

What I would love is for my son is to sing a Russian song. I don't care what it is, although a song from Lubeh would be pretty awesome. Even a Russian folk song like Katyusha would be the cutest thing ever. How cute are the little girls in the link below?



What songs would you love to hear your child sing?

Monday Madness

My post won't be about basketball. I honestly could care less about the sport. This week my boss is out doing some sort of training class, so I am holding the reigns for her, which is fine. I like the challenge. Its scary because I highly dislike hosting meetings, but it feels rewarding at the end of the day knowing that things went right or I could make them right by helping out my team. What I didn't anticipate was a brief conversation I had with another co-worker.

I like talking to different co-workers. I love hearing the laughter from the suite behind me as they are all friendly people (seriously they are my favorite group and wish I belonged if it wasn't for their odd work hours). Who could not like a group that sang "Like A Virgin" during a Christmas Party? I like talking to the Ukrainian guy about anything Russian, such as Baba Yaga, Lubeh or yummy Russian foods. I think I am a pretty social and think a pretty nice person, so why do I keep running into the most awkward conversations ever? More worse, get accused of something I am not?

The conversation started friendly enough. We started talking about work and the status of such and such item. Then it got to politics. Something I don't talk about in the work place because it is just inappropriate. I tried swaying the conversation to something else quickly as I knew it wasn't going anywhere quick. However it got to, "Republicans are just racist. They don't like Obama because he's black and they don't like Pelosi because they are sexist." Um what? I wanted out of that conversation immediately. I was down right offended. So I replied quietly and bluntly, "No I'm not." and walked away. There was nothing more to say to that. I wasn't going to start a debate on what issues I agree or disagree with. I just didn't like accusations made to a group, even more so when I affiliate myself with it.

I don't agree with so many thing that Obama stands for. I don't like his politics, but I am not going to get into all of that. I honestly don't have the energy tonight for it. However, do I think he would be probably a fun person to hang with politics aside? Probably. Do I agree with him? Hell no. I don't care what color he is. I care about his choices, his beliefs, his antics for running our country. It isn't a race thing and I am so sick of those that try to pull the race card. Would I hang with Pelosi? I don't know her. She could be one rocking gal (again politics aside), but I'd probably say "no thanks" if someone asked if I wanted to meet her in any setting.

I hope the person I spoke so bluntly to realized her statement was too wide spread. It is a hope, not a probability. Are there racist/sexist Republicans? Probably. Are there racist/sexist Democrats? Probably. I just think when you generalize a group, you sound ignorant. Unless you're talking about the KKK here, then you can generalize that they are all racist. I am just in disbelief of what comes out of some peoples mouth and mostly how in the hell I keep running into the weirdest/oddest/uncomfortable situations. I hope Tuesday will go smoother. I hope.

Story Time Revisited

There is a new little nightly ritual sweeping through my household. It isn't a "we can't do it because its too late" or "we'll do this before we get into bed", this new nightly ritual has to be (as mandated by the two year old Czar living in our house) when my son is laying in his crib. This new nightly ritual is, the night time story telling. It is not just any story, it is the story of The Three Little Pigs told by Mama exclusively. No book about The Three Little Pigs, no Dada telling it or song will do. My son ADORES and loves this story by Mama's words only. What can I say? To a two year old, I make a great story teller.

I am amused by my son's love of this story. Partly because I tell it the same way my Mom used to tell me the story. The three little pigs all have names. My son is obviously the little pig who builds his house with bricks and the two other pigs are typically his cousin (who he adores and can name) and another one of his little friends. When my Mom told me the story as a child, I was always the pig with the brick house and my sister and a cousin was always played the role of the other pigs. As I tell the story you can sense his anticipation about the Big Bad Wolf knocking on each of the pigs doors. When we come to the part of the story where the wolf "huffs, and he puffs and he blows the house down", I always pair it up with blowing out lots of air as if I was the wolf. My son smiles and does his little best to mimic the wolf as well by pretending to blow the houses down. I have memories of my Mom and I curled up in my small twin bed blowing air in each others faces. It sounds silly I know, but I remembered this being so hilarious and laughing so hard my Mom usually got some spit mixed in with that air because I couldn't contain the laughter and blowing at the same time (sorry Mom). Thankfully I have not yet been spit upon. By the end of the story my son is smiling a sweet tired smile and happy as he is the piggy that saves the day.

There is nothing more thrilling then passing down a piece of childhood that made me so happy as a kid. It is a simple memory, but a long lasting and happy one. I am sure my Mom never guessed I would remember her telling me that story so vividly, but it stuck with me. I am thankful for that. Perhaps someday when my son is a Dad and has kids of his own he may tell that same story in the way his Mom him and his Nagymama told her. That would be kind of special don't you think?

Easter

I can't believe that Easter will be right around the corner. Does it seem to anyone else that Christmas was just yesterday? Our family will celebrate Easter for is true meaning, the resurrection of Christ three days after his death by crucifixion. However, there will be an Easter egg hunt or two and my son will receive a basket on Easter morning before church.

Just like in Easters past when I was a child, the Easter basket will be simple presents with a few sweet treats thrown in here and there. This year I made out during a trip to Target to find some incredible fun presents for very cheap. How I love the dollar section in that store!

This is what will be in my son's Easter basket:

Sidewalk Chalk Eggs ($1 Target) ~ How cute is this?


Bubbles (Target find) (a toddler necessity)


Egg Wand (similar but more eggish)


Sticker Book ($1 Target)


Easter Eggs with Cars Inside (I got a three pack)



Finally I'll be pairing all this (with some extra goodies to eat) with this adorable dog Easter basket. Isn't this cute?