Peas and Yogurt

Elliot is more fun than a barrel of monkeys, and so are his mom and auntie.  We made up this silly song tonight trying to get him to eat his peas, and we sang it a bunch of times, and then decided to record it just for fun.  I kind of can't believe I am even posting this, but we think it's really funny, and figured we might as well share it.  So, if you want to listen to our goofiness, click on the RSS feed icon in the sidebar and you can download it or play it.  Please laugh. What's the point of life if you can't laugh at yourself.  "If you like Bobby McFarren and Billy Joel, you'll love this hot new single, Peas and Yogurt." - Rolling Stone  (ha, ha)

Elliot has pretty good taste in music, I think.  He has certain favorites, which I made into a playlist for him on my ipod.  And he has his own names for him.  I think the one that's gotten the most overall play is Tom Petty's "American Girl", which he has named "Turtleneck Girl".  The others include:  The Cranberries', "Dreams" (The Choo-choo Train Song), R.E.M.'s "Night Swimming" (The Water Bus Song), and Joanna Newsom's "Peach Plumb Pear" (The Girl Song - and as a side note, he thinks she is a little tiny elephant that sings).

On the way to the 99 cent store tonight, we listened to Elliot's current favorite song, Devotchka's "How it Ends", which he calls The Running Song.  When we got there, we sat in the car listening to Nickel Creek's "Out of the Woods" - the song now known to Elliot as The Rainbow Song, and while we were listening to it, Elliot looked out the window of the car and said, "Hey, look at that tree saying hi to me!"  There was a tree in the parking lot in front of us, and one of the branches was swaying in the wind as if it was waving.  Elliot started laughing, and waved back at the tree.  Then he said, "He's being funny! (about the tree) He has a lot of fingers on his hand, and his other arm is so long!"  It was so cute.  I think he really thought the tree was waving at him.  Paired with the beautiful song and a windy clear night, it just seemed like one of those moments you will look back on, and remember as a time when you were perfectly happy.

And while we are on the subject of silliness, I might mention a few more of Elliot's favorite sayings of late.  For goodness sake!  Good grief!  You've got to be kidding me!  Obviously.... Actually.... Absolutely.... Manicott!   Spaghett!  Gol-ly!  And if you want to know how good his imagination is, he threw a fit the other day because his Lightning McQueen rain boots wouldn't stop looking at him.  Seriously.

All Aboard!

This morning Elliot played with his train stencils (from Auntie Erin) and some brand new markers from his Nana and Papa.  I think it was the most "into" coloring he has ever been in his life.  Normally he has a pretty short attention span for it, and ends up asking me to make things for him.  But the combination of the stencils and new markers was really exciting!  And he felt like he could actually make what he wanted to, which is always trains.  So, he took his time and made this awesome train!  I was so glad that he was into it, because I was starting to think it was past time that he got used to holding a pen the right way and getting better control over it, but he has never had the patience.... until now!  Yay!  It was his idea to tape two pieces of paper together to make a long, big train.  He was so proud of what he made, and he helped me hang it up in his room.  Quite a special event, and hopefully the first of many trains to come!

The Rain

The rain is raining all around.

It falls on field and tree.

It rains on the umbrellas here

And on the ships at sea.

-Robert Louis Stevenson

This morning has been fun.  It's raining for real outside, not the half-baked kind we usually get.  We had to get up early this morning to take Chewie to the vet.  He is getting some masses removed, poor guy.  But Elliot looked cute in his raincoat, with his pajamas still on underneath, and his Lightning McQueen rain boots.  Then we came home and made a fire, and put on "The Muppet Movie", which is my fave of the muppet films.  It's the one about how they all meet up and go to Hollywood to follow their dreams.  I like the songs, and find them inspiring, sadly enough.  Plus I love Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, and how they play at an old church.  

Elliot was laying down by the fire getting cozy with is blanket over him, and was really cute. but of course started moving all around when I tried to take pictures.  Then I took a little video of us doing some super-high singing, which we have been doing lately.  We both think it's really funny. Sometimes we talk in super high voices, too.  I think this runs in the family, because my sister and I think it's really funny, too.

So, yesterday we went to San Luis, and bought some fruit trees!  I'm so excited because it's something I've been wanting to do ever since we bought the house.  We got a Fuji Apple tree, and another tree that has four different things:  Blenhiem Apricot, Elberta Peach, July Babcock Peach, and Fantasia Nectarine.  It's not magic, it just has different branches grafted on.  Anyway, the funny thing is that Elliot has been looking forward to getting the apple tree, except he somehow decided that it's an "apple pie tree", which will grow apples, and apple pies.  I don't know where he comes up with this stuff!  Since it is such a cozy-in-the-house day, I am contemplating making some apple pie just to fulfill his dream.  Does he even like apple pie?  We'll see...  maybe apple dumplings?

On a Sunday Night

Tonight, I drank a glass of wine, photocopied ONE THOUSAND worship songs from church (the ones I don't know how to play, but want to), and made a playlist.  So many of the songs made me cry.  People have told me that I like really sad songs.  But in my opinion, I like beautiful songs.  Sometimes I say to myself, "If a song doesn't move something inside you, what's the point?"  That's basically what I think.  There should be an emotional, or thoughtful response to hearing a good piece of music.  Even if it doesn't have words.  Otherwise, it's just noise.  I loved making a playlist.  It was so fun.  I will be adding to it when I discover new things.  I hope all you in blogland enjoy it.  If you think of some music that you think I would like, comment about it.  I am always looking for new favorites, and sometimes it's difficult to be "in-the-know" about new music that comes out.  Tell me all your thoughts.  Music is so powerful.