The Song

It all started at PRISM.

For any of you who don't know what that is...I'll explain. PRISM is a vocal music program held at El Dorado High School (where my kids went to high school). It is held in the spring, and is anticipated the whole year. If you are lucky enough to audition and make it, you have "arrived". It's called PRISM because it encompasses every kind of music, sort of like all the colors found in a crystal prism shining in the sunshine. The kids are free to choose any song, practice it, and audition for a place in the program. On this particular year, my two daughters put a group of four girls together and decided to sing "Breaking Up is Hard To Do" by Neil Sedaka. They practiced and practiced and auditioned singing acappella. Most songs are done with an accompanist, but Mr. Peterson actually preferred it acappella. So acappella it was. With their little poodle skirts and scarves in their hair, they made their debut at PRISM. What a hit! The audience loved it! They had made it! Life was good.

Later that year, the group was reunited to perform again. This time the words were changed to fit the occasion. Devon had cleverly asked Kimberly to Prom by sprinkling chocolate kisses all over her bedroom floor with a poster that read...."Now that I've kissed the ground you walk on, Will you go to Prom with me?" She wanted her answer to be just as clever. So...the words were changed, the song was practiced, and a cute group of teenage girls showed up at Devon's house to perform their newest rendition called..."Yes, I'll go to Prom with you."

Years passed, daughters got married, and the father of the bride turned 50. They wanted to do something at his party that would make him smile, so they resurrected "the song", changed the lyrics, recruited their friend Stephanie, and sang to their Dad at his big surprise birthday party. They didn't fit into their cute little poodle skirts for obvious reasons...

Recently,another occasion called for yet new lyrics to "the song".... Grandpa's 80th birthday party. This time there was no time for practice, not much time to plan, and just a few minutes (literally)for Robyn to write some new words, recruit her brother, and wait for her sister to arrive from San Diego. After a quick once over in the bathroom, they were ready to perform "the song".


Here's the latest rendition of "the song":

Do do do down doobee do down down,
Coma coma down doobee do down down
Coma coma down doobee do down down
Happy happy birthday to you!

You just turned 80 two days ago,
So today we want you to know
We think that you're the best,
Grandpa who's been put to the test.

You like to wear your special white hat,
And dig for rocks way out west;
Go on road trips and play basketball,
You've served six missions, you can do it all!

They say cayenne pepper makes a great drink,
A new health concoction every week.
You like to tickle with your Donald Duck voice.
Selling books, singing songs, yard work, what's your choice.

We love you Grandpa
Just the way you are.
You should be a super star.
80 years, still going strong,
We hope you'll be around for long!

Do do do down doobee do down down,
coma coma down doobee do down down,
coma coma down doobee do down down,
Happy happy birthday to you!

Who knows when it will be resurrected again!

The Blakester Turns Two

Look out world....Blake is two years old!!

Blake made his entry into this world two weeks early, and since that time, has been in a hurry to grow up. As a matter of fact, we think he believes he is much older than two. He's very social! He's a happy, sweet little boy who always has a smile on his face. Two years old, and already the life of the party! Happy Birthday Blakey! We love you!

Better By the Dozen

What do you get when you add together one dad, one mom, two daughters, one son, two sons-in-law, three grandsons, and two granddaughters? You get a dozen reasons to smile. I just realized our family now numbers an even dozen. Who knew our little family of five would grow to twelve so quickly. Good things are always better by the dozen....not cheaper....but better! So, In honor of this momentous realization, I thought I'd share with you some pictures of our twelve pack taken Memorial Day weekend while we were in Utah for my Dad's 80th birthday party celebration.

Our Big Carbon Footprint

I'm trying to go "green"...I really am! I've purchased two items...yes two items... that are very eco friendly...or so they say they are! I believe labels! One is a liquid laundry soap and the other is a multipurpose household cleaner. I will admit that the fact that they smell good probably sold me. I'll tell you right now, that if it doesn't have a great smell, I'm not buying it...no matter how earth friendly it is. So, I'm well on my way to "going green", doncha think?

So it has been brought to my attention that many of us are guilty of the disgrace of making bad choices for the environment. We are encouraged to change our light bulbs, turn off the air conditioner, turn down the heat, recycle, buy reusable grocery bags, and use eco friendly products. Most recently, a good friend of mine told me about an experience she had when she had her son at the pediatrician's office. The pediatrician asked her son what his family's plans were for their family vacation this year. He willingly told him their plans to fly across the country to California, drive to Utah, fly back to California, and then fly back home. The pediatrician's response was a look of disgust at my friend as he responded. His response went something like this..."Well, aren't you just going to leave a big carbon footprint" this summer!

Memorial Day weekend found us, once again, traveling the friendly skies. Did I say "friendly"...my mistake! You'd think after all the traveling we've done in the past year, we would get some perk like possibly a parking place near the terminal, or if that's asking too much, maybe just a free snack during the flight. You'd think by now, the airlines would recognize how much we've contributed to their job security and thank us when we check our bags, or maybe just overlook that eighth of an ounce our bag is over the weight limit. You'd think by now they would realize that my husband is NOT a terrorist and let him check in like everyone else. But NO...there are no perks, no thanks when we pass through security, and yes my DH still has to show his face when he checks in. I have decided, however, that I think TSA at the Nashville airport recognizes me. We play this little game that goes something like this....I try to hide the makeup bag containing all the expensive face products, and they try to find it, open it, and UNSCREW THE LIDS on each and every one of them. Seriously, do lids unscrew themselves?

Now on top of everything else, the tree huggers of America are accusing those who fly frequently of leaving a BIG CARBON FOOTPRINT behind. So, if you happen to see a BIG carbon footprint on some TSA workers backside, you'll know where it came from.