BIRTHDAYS ROCK!!!

Today is my birthday!!! Woohoo!!!!

I have this grandma. Her name is Nan, or Nanny or Nana. And she is one of my very best friends. We talk a couple times a week, usually for an hour or so at a time. When I was little, I would go over and spend the night at her house, sometimes several times a month, even though I lived 45 minutes from her house at the time. Once, we were at her house for dinner and my sister kept taking the t.v. remote and changing the channel. So when she wasn’t looking, I took the remote and hid it in the sleeve of my coat. Naturally, my 7 year old self forgot about it and when it was time to go, I put on my coat to leave. I remember noticing that my sleeve felt funny, but got in the car anyway and we left. When we got home, Nan called and asked if we knew where the remote was. Sheepishly, I gave the remote to my mom and she drove it all the way back to Sunnyside. That has nothing to do with it being my birthday, but it’s a fun memory that I have of her.

Every year, my Nan calls me on my birthday, usually between the hours of 5 and 6 a.m. It’s her “thing.” And I love it. Last night, I even called her to ask if she was still going to call me at her usually time (jokingly, of course). And then we ended up talking for over an hour. I love her so much! This morning, her phone call came at 6:15 and was the best one I’ve ever received. It went like this and was said in a low, sultry, late-night-radio-show voice:

“This is radio station N-A-N in Washington. I have a song request for a little girl in Wyoming so I’m going to sing the song. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday sweet little angel. Happy Birthday to you. Now go back to sleep, Roo (my nickname from her).”

Isn’t she the greatest?? I never want to forget this.

Christmas Program 2012

The kids had their Christmas program last week, on the 5th, and it was AWESOME! Well… except for one thing. Their music teacher, Mrs. Held is INCREDIBLE. Like… out of this world. I don’t know how she gets a bajillion kids to sing, in sync, without stepping out of line or goofing off! However, this year, they added an additional music teacher, who took over half of the program. He was AWFUL. I know that sounds mean, but it’s true. He’s very talented and seems nice, but he is way more concerned with putting on his own little performance on the piano while the kids sort of sing together. Connor had him while Haylie had Mrs. Held. It doesn’t help either, that Haylie is a TOTAL PERFORMER (like I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if she ended up on Broadway someday) while Connor couldn’t care less. Here’s a little clip of one of the songs Haylie got to sing:

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a video of any of Connor’s songs. Not like I really needed it. I think this picture says it all. 

He lost the scowl after the first song, but not the blank stare. He was thoroughly unimpressed. Like, barely moved his mouth to sing, kept his hands in his pockets while all the other kids did hand gestures to different songs, and gave the girl next to him dirty looks for twirling in her dress. The boy is just not cute out for the limelight.

Here’s a few more from the night.
Cousin Naomi and Maggie – Sometimes best friends! And sometimes best enemies. ;)

I think this was the only time he smiled all night.

On our way down a very long hallway to take this picture, Haylie decided to test her high heel athletic abilities and rolled her ankle. She fell on the floor and her face immediately turned purple from silent screaming. First thing she says to me, “Is my mascara messed up (I put a tad on each eye for the occasion)?” Her foot ended up being OK, although pretty sore for the rest of the night and next day.

Cousins: Haylie, Naomi, Maggie, Connor and Lucy.

Such a fun night!