Patron of the Arts

Thursday night was Johan's nursery school Spring Program. All four (4) of my parents were in the back of the auditorium (eh...sanctuary...the school is housed in a church) because they had other engagements after Johan's performance. As it happened, Johan was not happy that he was expected to walk down the aisle and sing songs after seeing his beloved grandparents. The only way to get him down the aisle was if my step mom carried him.

So there they were.

A group of toddlers dressed in yellow shirts with black tape on them looking like the most delicious little bumble bees on the stage...together with Johan's Grandma. It was very sweet. And makes me think that my boy may not be like his momma in her love for performance and being on stage (now manifested as the courtroom with juries and judges my audience.)

That's OK. He's a lot better at tee-ball than I am. We all have our strengths and weaknesses.

Then, last night we went to the Apple Valley Middle School Spring play, "Annie." My niece had a small role but threw her all into it and she loves being on stage. Before the show started my sister in law asked if I brought books or toys for Johan to play with during the show. I hadn't really thought of that. I mean, we're here to see a show!

I was right that I wouldn't need toys to engage Johan. He was absolutely enthralled from beginning to end. Clapping at the right times; laughing when the audience would laugh; point out each time Samantha would come on stage and asking where she went when her part was over. I had thought we would leave at intermission but this upset Johan who shouted "More show!" and so I let him have a later bedtime in order to see the show to its conclusion. It makes me happy that, even if Johan is not destined to be a stage performer, he nevertheless loves music, dancing, and theater. It makes me excited for all the shows we can go to together in the next several years.

One more thing about Apple Valley- when Daddy Warbucks was making digs at Democrats (remember how FDR is part of Annie?), the laughter was a bit too genuine for for my comfort zone. This was no SW Minneapolis crowd. In my head, I was all "Dudes! FDR is the reason you have Medicare and Social Security! Not to mention that Democrats are the ones that support arts curricula in schools for your kids so they can put on performances of Annie and then go to Perkins for a cast party of pancakes and Sprite afterward to celebrate the joy of being middle schoolers!"

But that's beside the point. So I didn't say that. And when Johan and I got home, he asked me to sing him a song so I started one of our old favorites, and he said "no, not that one!" until I started singing "Tomorrow."

In the Car with Ramire

I haven't written about Ramire in a long time, and sadly, until today I hadn't seen him for almost a year. He has always been one of my favorite kids, and I think it's fair to say that until Johan was born, he was my #1. He's still right up there. He's a cool 9 year old now, but I was pleased to find that he is just as kind,thoughtful, affectionate, and insightful as he's always been.

My cousins and I took our kids to a great park this afternoon and Ramire rode with me. He's big enough to be in the front seat now. We decided to crank some Black Eyed Peas on the way to French Regional Park (where you can only speak French, and a beret is required).

We both really like "Imma be" (or, in the alternative, "I'm a bee"- awesome visual, right?) and Ramire asked me who my favorite Pea is.

I said Will.i.am. Of course.

He said Fergie. I asked him why.

And he said, "because her voice sounds different in every song and she looks different in every video. She's really got a wide spectrum of talent."

And in my head, I'm all "wow, I thought you were going to say because she's cute."

Out loud I said "That's a fair point."

Then he said, "Remember a long time ago when we would drive around honking at John Kerry signs?"

And I said, "We did that once on Election Day in 2004."

And he said: "Oh, well it seemed like we did that a lot. Do you ever do that with Johan?"

I replied "Nobody has John Kerry signs anymore, babe."

And he said: "Fair point."

When Dalasie Comes to Town...

...this is what happens.

Bark

Johan, (groggily, and half awake as his nap is disrupted by the neighbor's yappy dog): "What's that? A dinosaur?"

Here We Go...

Johan is entering that fabulous stage of childhood of awesome unedited funny things to say. If memory from my Montessori days serves me, this stage lasts from about age 2.5 to 4.5 with the best material usually landing at just about age 3.5. My friends, let the hilarity ensue:

Johan: What's this, Mommy?

Me: That's my leg, Johan.

Johan: No, that's grass.

Me: Huh. Well, I guess it's also time to shave my legs.

Johan: Yep. It's grass.