despite not being musically gifted, we are a singing sort of family.

in the early days, singing was a way for me to express love and tenderness to the babies i couldn't touch and hold. it was a way for me to tease a smile out of my so serious sebastian.

in the later days, singing was a way for me to repeat the same thing many many many (i am singing as i write this!) times without going completely loco. "i like the way you're cleaning up, i like the way you're cleaning up, you're cleaning up so well..."

other top 10 hits:

tissue not the finger, please

first time i ask, please

when a door is shut, you should do what?

shh shh shh! good night my loves, i hope you are well, good night good night, miss clavell!

you get the picture.

most recently, in fact, as of yesterday, music has become a way of determining how integrated the kids are becoming into modern ways of the world.

Christmas carols do tell us quite a bit. i think we know that Rudolph the red nosed raindeer has those additional second hand lines, that we ourselves used when we were in mary janes, thank you very much. the song has morphed somewhat, as i don't recall singing lustily like my dear sebastian does, "you'll go down in history...like shakespeare!" but we did mention that rudolph never got to play any games...like monopoly!

we went to a birthday party yesterday. the birthday boy is a classmate of jasper's, and thursday jasper woke up and said, "ith cameron'th party today!"

i replied, "and you are going!"

and from across the room sela came running toward me, grabbing carys' hand so that the two of them were running together. they screeched to a halt infront of me.

"mummy" sela started, and touched her chest with one hand and her sister's with the other, "what about the girls? are they going to the party?"

"yes, cameron's mummy did invite you"

"ooh hurray!" shouted the social convenor and raced to her room to select a dress. (note: she wore chartreuse pants and a pink top).

on the way back from the party, the tired trio began singing.

"jingle bells, jingle bells,!

oh how nice i thought, what a lovely spontaneous song.

and then it continued, and my smile froze

robin flew away!

mr silly lost his willy

on his way to bal-let!

from my three year olds, thank you very much!

oh, my! i said, and where did you learn this song? like i didn't KNOW!

sebastian and adam! replied my three, who launched into it again. and then again. little rotters.

so now, music is a temperature gage of determining what they know and the context they're using them in. it's funny (not ha ha) that they start using the context the minute older brother does.

good tidings they did not bring, to one of their kin.

but what could i say to sebastian? really?

Comments

[Charles]

So much for Robin's egg but at least Batman doesnt smell any more!

[Dad aka Granddad Blake]

Sounds like the ladies got into the adults only figgy pudding.
Love to all....Dad

[Auntie Pammie]

I think it is great that the trips are learning the more important versions of these childhood classics :-)~
xo

[Louise M]

Ahhh, the morphing of Rudolph...

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose (like a light bulb)
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names (like pinocchio)
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games (like monopoly)
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say (ho ho ho)
"Rudolph with your nose so bright
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight"
Then all the other reindeer
shouted out with glee (yipee!)
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer
you'll go down in history (like Columbus did)

Learnt from my kids and about 50 other 10-12 year olds at a Navy League Cadet dinner in the early 90's. Love how kids continue to change the lyrics to songs...