Camp Mystic Lake: Taps

 Some evenings, Adam played Taps for us (instead of using a recording from the US Army Corps).  Here's a clip of Adam playing it in honor of Uncle E's birthday:

Family In Concert

It's rare to have our family in concert, but that's (almost) what we did one special weekend.  We went to the Boston's Symphony Hall to see the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra perform Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

The best part was the interactive demo before the show.  The kids got to play real instruments!

Family Gathering

We celebrated Noah's arrival with many family and friends:

That's Not My Name!

Every now and then we like to throw the kids off-guard.  They'll say something like "I'm thirsty." 

So I'll say "Hello Thirsty.  I'm Mommy.  Nice to meet you."

Inevitably the kid will scream: "That's not my name!"

Funny thing is that phrase is the name of a pop song, That's Not My Name by the Ting Tings.  While the meaning of the song is a bit beyond our crew, it's a catchy tune.

We played this joke the other day and Laura didn't know the song.  So we played it for her.  Watch what happens with Adam:

Mr. T's Greatest Hits

Mr. T, backed up by the talented A-Team Duo, sings all of his greatest hits:  5 Little Monkeys, Happy Birthday, and I See the Moon.  What a lucky Mommy I am!  A musical accompaniment to dinner!

Music Man Mariachi

We took a spur of the moment trip to Ixtapa, a local Mexican restaurant.  It was school vacation week and all of the kids needed a change of scenery. Tate had an especially good time once the mariachi music started:

Together in Motion

Tate loves climbing, jumping, and boppin' around to the beat:

Musical Brothers

Adam and Tate are quite the music makers!  The fantastic dog guitar keeps both of them entertained for long stretches.

BDPS: Musical Instruments

Can't get music lessons like these in our home, that's for sure.

Rockin' Duo

I'm telling you, watch out for this duo.  They're coming soon to a radio station near you!

Homeschooling, Lesson #21

Daddy has been teaching the kids how to speak Russian.  First you'll hear a song that he and Ashley sing together.  Then you'll hear Adam's translation.

Ballerina and Music

In this very moving clip, I learned two things:

1.  Ashley is ready to take a dance class.
2.  Adam doesn't mind the dancing, but he cannot abide music without lyrics.

Hugs and more Hugs

Went to The Tinker's Son, an Irish bar, to watch a friend's band jam at the morning brunch.  The citizens had so much fun!

Lowell Music Festival

Around mid-August I took the kids to see Karen K and the Jitterbugs at the Lowell Music Festival.  Below is a clip of them dancing before the concert started.  If you asked Adam and Ashley to share their favorite part of the day, it would undoubtedly be the trolley ride after the show ended.

Music Together

At each Music Together session, Miss Katherine hauls out a large container of instruments.  It's a toddler free-for-all.  Ashley and Adam have always zeroed in on one instrument in particular.  Good thing they have two of them!

"The Triangle Twins"

Drum Roll Please....

... MLM had this notion that non-battery operated toys were quieter and therefore a good idea.  The citizens proved otherwise.

"Uno, dos, tres, catorce!"  With apologies to U2.

I'm going to conduct the orchestra.

Maybe Uncle Eric will teach me to play this djembe.

Hmmm... are these the sege sege?

I have no idea what he's talking about

No problem Ashley!  Here's some information about djembe drums.  Or just ask Uncle Eric. 

Will this make some sound?

Let's play together and make lots of noise.

Take it away, Adam!