Who Knew?

As a youngster, Bruder detested music lessons.  Be it piano or clarinet, it was painful for all involved.  Then he took up the guitar and suddenly the stars aligned.   For Christmas, Santa gave him some recording software and today we listened to one of his original songs.  Lyle and I just sat in front of the computer with our mouths hanging open in total shock.  He can sing?  He can harmonize?  He can write music and lyrics?

How and where did he acquire these skills?

It's a mystery.

Take a listen:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSRS4oCfDTE

Four Years Ago Today

This little girl came into our lives.

Our precious Gold Autumn Chrysanthemum.

She was so brave that day, shedding very few tears.  

Her baby hair stood up all soft and fluffy and she wore an outfit that was about 3 sizes too big.

It was so big in fact....

....that she can still wear it today!

We loved her completely from our very first moment together

and now we can't imagine our lives without her.

Hasn't our Chrysanthemum bloomed?

Go, Go, Joe!

It was closing night for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

It was a fantastic production and my girls are in mourning.

It was Lucy's first "adult" role, cast as Benjamin's wife.

This particular actor was actually Lucy's second husband.

The first husband was a deadbeat and well, it takes two to make a marriage work.

This play has a smattering of almost every genre of music.  There's the western number.

(And no, that's not Madeline's arm.  It's her husband's arm, trying to grab his hat.)

And the '60's number.

It's a little known fact that the Becks can seriously boogie.

Lucy's boots were three sizes too big.  She had to stuff the toes with paper towels.

And there was Cholita's favorite, the calypso number, with Lucy on the limbo stick.

Rose was in the children's choir and is unfortunately one of the only kids looking away in this picture.

She was wonderful though and gave us a huge grin whenever we met her eye.

Here is Lucy in the finale, the "megamix" number.

Our little actresses after the show.

And pictured with Joseph, one very star-struck Cholita.

Bye Bye Birdie

No, my girls aren't in a musical.  Actually, they are, but not that particular musical.

The four babies in our rose garden bird's nest have flown the coop.

Each sat for a long time on the edge of the nest,

as we stood on chairs to get a better look,

which I'm sure didn't help.

Their mama and their papa watched the babies

and watched us.

And tweeted encouraging things.

Until each one made a clumsy leap,

flopping down onto our front porch.

This one landing right between Olaf and Cholita,

the monster dog and the toddler.

I can't imagine that's what he intended.

But they all made it down safe and sound.

Four babies out of the nest,

snug and secure in our euphorbia bush.

Well done, family.