Band on the Diaper Run

I watched "Music Intent" on PBS.  Apparently some scientists watched people's brain activity while they exposed them to certain songs.  There was one man whose brain had a tremendous amount of activity (lots of healthy, cranial blood flow) when he heard a song he had a personnal connection to.  His friend happened to be singing it and the song really meant something to him. Which means if we connect to a particular song it feels good to hear it AND it's beneficial to the health of our brain.  Awesome.  It's actually scientific.  We knew all this already, right?

 As all moms do, I found myself relating everything I watched to my kids...

Magnolia had a dance recital last week (I loved it but I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't ever mind sitting though recitals). 

And, ever since she saw Mags perform,  June has been demading the exact song that Maggie danced to whenever she's near the computer or stereo.  The song is ok but after 5 times in a row, "First Sign of Spring" from Bambi starts to bother everyone else.   And just when it comes to an end, June runs to the computer or the stereo and shouts, "Deee" (dance!).  She tantrums if we put any other song on. (did I mention she is throwin full blown fits now?)

  I think her brain is emotionally connected to the song since she has watched her big sister dance to it.  Inside her head there must be some seroius blood flow when it comes on.

So, we hit play again.  Whenever you think twice about letting your kids hear that annoying Wiggles song one more time, think about all that brain activity happening when they get to hear the song they really love.

And, yes! Summer is here.  I know they keep saying t-stoms but we're all fighting it.  We've even been to the beach.  My grandmother and my mom always said the beach is the world's best playground. 

Now I'm going to go put some headphones on and give my brain some blood flow.  Tomorrow, maybe back to the beach. Again.

Have you read this babble article.  I especially love the comment by M about needing legislation for men who sratch themselves in public if we're going to get specific about women breastfeeding in a very vague "as discreet as possible" way.

 I think I'm done btw-with nursing that is.  And now, on another too much information rant...many women, I'm told, get what I'm experiencing once they quit nursing.  It's basiclaly a a huge hormonal imbalance that makes you have headaches, mood swings and other greatness.  Anyone else know much about this secret?  The funniest part is, I don't really drink much but, I've been loving having a few drinks here and there lately.  I was told that a desire for alcohol is a symptom.  (I call it a temporary treatment) Don't worry, I'm not an alcoholic, just a mom.

The hormonal deficiency shows up in bloodwork-I have proof (read:  excuse).

Anyway, all the pregnant ladies and breastfeeding moms out there, enjoy the body bliss while you have it.  Everything changes after that..(for a while, then it all balances out I'm told)

To keep as normal as possible, I'm thinking about the best things the summer brings (or "pretend summer" based on our weather in the northeast)

1.  BBQs

2.  The beach

3.  Fireworks (always going off around here for some reason)

4. Bikerides

5.  Swimming (please listen to "The Swimming Song" by Louden Wainwright after reading this-the version from "The Squid and the Whale")

6.  Watching people go down the Slip and Slide

7.  New York City at dusk

8.  Freckles

9.  Watermelon

10.  Making and eating Strawberry Shortcake

I think I've said this before...I'm horrible with goodbyes.   My family has pointed this out to me since I was 8.   That might be one of the reasons why I like my job.  Touring allows me to see loved ones frequently.  The only way to make goodbyes feel better is learning to say "see ya later" instead of "goodbye."  I've recently taught this to Mags.

The reason being:  My daughter has apparently inherited the heart-wrenching, departure thing I have and it's hard to watch. 

Act 1 

When Julia, our nanny for this past tour, had to leave a few days early (to do the Australian tour of Yo Gabba Gabba),  Mags sobbed and had questions like, "What happens if I miss you??"  How will I get my morning surprises??"  It got to the point that it made me cry saying goodbye to Julia too. 

Act 2

When Jason flew Mags home to Gramma 4 days before the tour ended (so she could get back to school and dance class and a little more normal routine) she was sobbing at 4am having the following hysterically conversation (by hysterical I mean a crying fit)

Mags:   Well, how am I gonna eat breakfast today?? (sobbing)

Me: I packed food for you... Dad will get you food in the airport

Mags: How will I talk to you every day?

me:  You can call me anytime.

Mags: What if you don't answer, like if you are sleeping?
me: I will wake up to talk to you.

Mags: What if you're soundchecking and you can't answer the phone?
me; I will stop the soundcheck and tell everyone that you are calling and I want to talk to my daughter.

Mags: How am I ever going to fly on a plane all day without you. (sobbing still)
me:  you are great at flying and your Dad is going with you, we wouldn't ever send you alone, silly.  You have done this before, remember?

The night before she left I had to give her my bracelet so she could hold it and think of me.  (heartache)

Then I told her I packed her some gum in her backpack and she could have it in the morning for a special treat.  Honestly, I think she was happier at home for 4 days instead of mroe touring.  But of course, guilt attack on my part.

ACT 3  Preschool graduation

Now that we're home and living a somewhat normal life for a while, I realized, this is not tour-induced, it's a more like a Gardner family tradition. She INHERITED this fun trait.  

Mags cried every night this past week because she was so sad to say goodbye to her teachers that she just couldn't handle it any other way.  She doesn't know how she will face the day not seeing them.

 She told me she secretly breaks into tears and hides it from her teachers when she's at school.

(oh, p.s. at the 4 year old, graduation ceremony, I cried-shocker.  On her last day of school, I cried too.  We cried together.)

I swear, I would love not to pass on my emotions to my children but I think it's too late.  At least she can turn it into art...I heard her making up songs about it the other day.  She even cries when I go jogging for 20 minutes.  It's getting a little out of hand. But, I totally understand.  Like I said, I'm horrible at departures too.

We played a show recently and since it was during the day we brough the whole family. (Let's just stick together!)

While we played, I noticed a rousing game of ring around the rosie. Mags loves having other kids at concerts.

Speaking of kids at shows.  I'm loving the fact that more of our friends are having babies,

and bringing them to concerts.

(Mags cried when it was time to go home.)

I have taken 2 trips over the past 2 weeks.  Alone. (no kids, no husband).  

I went to hang with my sister and her two new twins and 3 year old.  I realized, I really love them all.  I also found out (duh) that twins are a lot more work than one.  I have a ton of respect for people with double duty. I fell asleep with a twin in my arms every day that I was there.  She has a 3 year old too.  I'm starting to think she wins in the supermom department.

Then I went to Bermuda with my other sister and some friends. It was insanely beautiful and relaxing.  

 These trips mark the first time I've ever left June, Magnolia and Jason all at once.  I had to call Mags 3 times a day because she's having some pretty heavy separation anxiety.  Every time June heard Mags on the phone with me, in the background, she starting shouting, "Mommy!!"  I have a hard time with goodbyes ( or "see you laters" as I call them)  and I think my daughters have inherited the trait.  Mags was sobbing all night the day before I left. 

The onlly thing she was excited about when I left was getting her glasses. (I'm still in shock over her needing them).   When she first put them on she said, "Wow Dad, your hair has all these little spikes all over it"   He must have had some blurry hair before.  She also said I look taller now.  And, she told me I was pretty.  Glasses for your kids can really give you an ego boost, I recommend it.  She picked blue frames, but she tells everyone they are mood glasses since they seem to change to purple in the sun.

When she found out at the doctor's office that she'd need glasses, her first question was, "Will I need surgery too?"  Happy to report, no surgery necessary, just cute magnified little eyes.

And, if you are in the area, we are playing a free show in Bridgeport on Saturday at 6pm.  Come on down. 

 While in LA, we witnessed Depeche Mode playing in the streets. 

But that wasn't the highlight of our day (even though it was nice to hear Personal Jesus at sunset).

Mags got to meet one of her idols (I'm pretty sure her other ones are Gramma, Cinderella and her dance teacher)

She watched out the window for him and kept saying,   "Are you sure he's real?"

Yes, he's real!  (We informed her he'd be wearing normal clothes-not the Yo Gabba costume.)

She was shy at first. Just staring at him and answering questions quietly.  During lunch she whispered in my ear, "Is this really DJ Lance?"

.

 Finally she must have pinched herself and realized just how amazing it was to be hanging out with him.  She had some great questions...who was his favorite YGG character, why did such and such happen in a particular episode, etc.

(And I have to admit, I thought DJ Lance was pretty awesome too.  We had some great conversations about music)

She gave him a tour of "her" bus.

 And he even came back at dinner time and said goodnight.  

Mags also met Scott, one of the creators of YGG (and dad to a couple of her new friends in California).  She shared a few of her ideas for the show...especially her desire for a treasure hunt episode. 

When we got home, I asked Mags what her favorite part of tour was.  Without hesitation she said, "Meeting DJ Lance."

Mags goes on "treasure hunts" almost daily on tour.  She finds beads, money, any little piece of trash that has a slight sparkle.  She occasionally finds something really cool like a keychain or a necklace.  I swear she has supernatural powers for locating all things shimmery. Oh, also, our amazing nanny, Julia bought a bag of beads before this tour-hoping to up the standards of her normal hunt.  When Mags really can't seem to find the real deal on the walks, Julia tosses a few beads down when no one is looking.  Mags might have caught on by the end of the tour...we heard her saying, "It's so strange.  I keep finding the same kind of beads in Kansas, Minnesota, California..."

Anyway, I have found a few "treasures" on this tour too. I must now plug my favorite finds as a traveling mommy.

1.  A friend of mine has a blog called one bored mommy.  She gets to try out new kid products and then gives one away to her readers.   Great inventions by smart moms are usually the product sources.  I won a teething necklace that looks like stone jewelry but is made of teething materia (it's called smart mom jewlery).   June and I love it.  Have I mentioned that June is the slowest teether in the world, she's been cutting incisors for a month now.

2.  SCRAP    When we were bored in Portland we went for a walk.  Sometimes there is nothing nearby the club, so imagine how excited we were when we found "Scrap"  (school and community reuse action project)  just a few blocks away.  It is an open and inviting,  non-profit, warehouse space full of all reusable/recycled materials that people have donated instead of discarded.  By the looks of the place it's made for artists-kids and adults, and teachers too.  Mags sat down and made a purse for over an hour.  The supplies (felt, a zipper, a needle, thread, buttons, a sash, and an "M" patch) came to a total of 85 cents.  And June went shopping too.

3.  Frozen dinners-bad, right?  Not anymore.  We were lucky enough to meet some of the folks from who gave us these frozen, all organic, fingerfood, kid dinners and snacks for our bus freezer.  I don't think you realize how much bad food we weren't forced to feed our kids on this tour because of this company.  Smart mom again...and I think they are getting a national distributor soon.

4.  Aromabar  I got a massage and the woman who gave the massage owns a product line of all natural therapeutic inhalants.  I had a migraine so she gave me one specifically designed for migraines.  You just open the jar and smell it for ten minutes.  

5.  Detachable pockets.  Homemade.  A nice young woman threw these on stage to us while we played-we actually said, "Thanks but what is this?" and she replied, "Detachable Pockets". (King Missile sometimes pops into my head when I say that...sorry bad joke/reference)  It is the perfect addition to Mags' attached pockets because she filled them with rocks and didn't have to have me fill my jacket pockets.  Jason wore his for a while too.  They just snap on.  Etsy site is:  loveling.etsy.com   It's the fanny pack without the lame factor.

6.  Birds in biodomes.  (This one was in Montreal).  I already mentioned the Please Touch Museum in Philly...I might have to write a touring with kids guidebook one of these days.  We scored in so many cities with parks museums, and places like this...

 I will probably remember a million more later.  But, since this is my 100th blog post, I was thinking that people could add thier own "treasures" to the list.  Maybe we can come up with 100.  

 I can't believe we have less than a week left.  At the moment we're at some crazy, party hotel in the middle of nowhere.  They want us to pay 5 bucks to use the pool meanwhile, the pool looks like it's on it's way to looking like that one in Karate Kid when they move into their new California apartment. Oh, and this is the second pool that has had a techno party while we're swimmin with the kids.  

There's this thing we call "tour low."  Everyone on a long tour experiences it once.  It's usually set off by insignificant details after a string of annoying events (aka: the straw that broke the camel's back).  One time my hairdryer broke and I started cring hysterically, on another tour I got an eye infection and turned into a complete lunatic because of my eye patch.  The tour low is making it's rounds through our group of people.  We're all kind of joking about it.  Magnolia hit hers when she threw a screaming fit because she couldn't sit up front with the bus driver one day.  (Try doing a time-out on a moving bus with 8 other people.) 

One way to get out of it is to watch this.

Anyway, we're all coming out of tour low now.  In this trucker town full of Walmart, Subway and hotel pools that replicate 90's hip hop video scenes, the sunset really is beautiful.  I'll still say we've really had the best tour ever.  I have more to discuss after we return home.  I need to write about this amazing group of people-our extended tour family, the best "treasures" found on tour, the best baby products to travel with, Magnolia's special lunch date with her most favorite DJ in the world, playdates with friends across the country and the shows...Stay tuned.

For now, some of my personal tour HIGHS 

Sisters chillin in Mags' bunk. 

FInding eggs on the bus.

 Cousin time.

Mags' crafts for sale-she made a killing and will be donating it to "kids who don't have toys."

Backstage in Toronto.  We played Rock Band (Cheap Trick).

Playgrounds.  (Even dog parks will do because June likes stealing the slobbery tennis balls)

Hanging with Bette Midler (chicken version) and the rest of the Patzners and friends in Oakland.

More to come.

We're back out and loving it.

Although I love me some California, touring the East Coast is easy-there are so many great cities within a few hours of each other.

Higlights so far include:

Philly- The Please Touch Museum

Cruisin city streets.

 Locating playgrounds in Boston.

Catching up with old friends in DC (and cute kids)

A stop back home to attend Magnolia's field trip to the garbage museum

(Our favorite was the composting section)

 Fun at the merch table with Mike and his roll of tape

(not to mention the inside venue scooter ride which resulted in a collision with a chair)

And after traveling North, Magnolia wants to move to Canada because of one thing...Kindereggs. 

Coming back from Canada, in the middle of the night, the border patrol decided to, at random, pick one person to wake up and get off the bus.  They pulled Jason's passport.  When they came on the bus to check if he was there, they couldn't wake him up.  So, finally, they just gave up and said, go ahead, we believe you and we can't get him out of bed. (He is the world's heaviest sleeper)

Coincidentally I was already awake in the back lounge with June because whenever the bus stops moving, she wakes up.  Luckily we have a nanny who lets me nap basically all day if I want to.

Anyway, we are having a great tour.  The kids have been troupers and the shows have been amazing. 

Next up, bus Easter Egg hunts, cousins, candy for breakfast, our amazing bus driver and the midwest.

To sum it all up...here is our new cover song. Gotta love Tom Waits and a tour-relevant song.

Quick warm-up type show tonight!  If you live in CT, come see us and Asobi Seksu from Brookyn at Daniel Street Cafe in Milford.

We'll pllay 40 minutes at around 10pm

Oh, and we signed up for the Montessori school.  And, I think I got a job teaching music there.  They said they's be flexible with our tour schedule, etc.  What do you know, we both are going to be at the school.  I'm totally psyched. 

If you really want to know what is going on inside young brains, I suggest recording one of their stream of consciousness songs.

(This was one out of 4 that Magnolia did the other night)

I'm trying not to overanalyze this but it's kind of fun to interpret.  I realize she would like to visit "Unicorn Island" but apparently there are bad things there too.

Could Unicorn Island be Kindergarten? 

I  wonder what a psychologist would tell us that her lyrics say about our parenting.   Either way, her next song called "Cinderella Bingerella" included the lovely lyric, "Hannah Montana is my friend."  What?  No.

We're gearing up for tour.  Practicing some old songs, some new.  Mags and June go to bed and we wait until they are asleep, then go down to the basement and play and..they sleep through it. It's amazing.  That means after tour, now that June is sleeping as well as Mags, we will be able to play music every night and that is so magic.  You have no idea how long it's been since we have been able to do that.  

Anyway, I think Unicorn Island is a great band name.  It sounds like an art/noise band.  Unicorns are way better than wolves, btw.

Forget about education.  Monster trucks, ice cream and more ice cream...that's what what Mags and Jason did this weekend. 

Also we found this from their Dad/daughter outing last weekend. I'm starting to get jealous.

 In other at-home news, June threw her first tantrum.  We kind of thought it was funny (after the fact).

I hope she doesn't get frustrated with bunk beds and small living spaces because pretty soon, it'll be bus living for a month.

Check out Jason's DJ sets at SXSW.  I'm not going to DJ (but I'm sure he'll play the same jams I would-maybe even a little Yellow Submarine.  It's all in time with our upcomming re-mix records.  Re-mixes are sometimes better than the original.  

School news-Mags has an "interview" at the Montessori school.  I hope I get to listen in.  I'm imagining a job-type interview for some reason. I can hear the teacher  saying "So, what are your best traits, Magnolia?"  And Mags answering,   "I loove eating sugary things, pretending I'm a fairy and Yo Gabba Gabba"

Coming soon, a decision on school.

I just realized today that I'm guilty of thinking my child's pronounciation of words is too cute to correct.  She wanted to play the "Fanking" game (try to tag each other by spanking and then running away-totally in fun of course-no real spanking at our house)  Then I heard myself saying "prenzel" when she wanted to eat a pretzel.

 And my favorite, "I want the flower girl dress with Farkles on it!"  (that's sparkles-in case you can't translate)

I remember thinking it was annoying when Mags was a baby and people would do baby talk words to her when she was old enough to say the real word-or adding on an additional repeating word to make them, I don't know, more comprehensibe to a one year old?  (ie.  Do you want your "dink-dink" for "drink")

I guess I'm guilty of not educating her to the fullest...Sometimes, I just don't want her to grow up.  But, this week she learned how to finger knit and sew.   In some cases, I'm so proud to see her to grow up and become independent and at other times, I want her to keep talking like a little girl so I can savor her preschool years. I'm sure eventually I will start working with her slight lisp and her consonant blends but for today, nope.

We registered for Kindergarten (even though she still might go to a private school-we have to register just in case) Sitting there with my health forms and paperwork waiting to be a part of the system (maybe),  I realized that in less than 2 months we will be returning from tour to see our little girl graduate from preschool. And, yes, I'm pretty sure we will be crying behind our video camera.  After her preschool conference we were even more confident that we are proud and fragile parents-just like all those parents that hover on the playground or worry about their kid crying the second they leave them the first day of school...the kind that the non-parent people make fun of...that's us.  

My little sister, who coincidentally is the best baby talking impersonator I know, is having twins on Thursday.  I can't even imagine how that would feel.  It's exciting and I'm sure very exhausting.  Any twin advice out there?  She will have three boys total this time on Thursday.  She's a boy maker and I'm the girl maker.   I can't wait to see her with 3 kids.

 Good luck!!

Since so many people replied to my post on the school dilemma thing, Im assuimg you don't mind my continuous obsession with figuring it out.

We have to decide by the time we leave for our April tour. 

In the meantime, Magnolia is so excited for tour, but not because of the shows and the music. She is looking forward to selling her crafts at the shows (at least the early ones.)  She's gonna give the money to a charity. Any suggestions?   So far she's got rock people (there was an old post on her rock people) and dolphins.

As I write this, she is talking to them and naming them.  I heard her say, "What would it be like if we were the same age, little one?" to the blue dolphin.

School Update:

Fell in love with the closest Waldorf school but its a 40 minute drive for a half day of kindergarten.  Mags was into the school and the people were amazing.  But, 80 minutes of driving twice a day?

Public Arts Magnet: Liked it, the kindergarteners were learing about Frida Kahlo.  But it's public-same issues with our lifestyle.  The principal said it didn't matter for Kindergarten which leads to...

Got an email back from the superindendent of schools and she said that it would adversely affect my child if I took her out 7+ days at a time from school-even a couple times a year. But, I could talk to the principal and see if I wanted to anyway.   Mags could do a year of kindergarten public (because most people think kindergarten doesn't matter.) But, we'll be probably putting out a record the following year, so-more touring, when it does "start to matter," and then we might have to consider moving schools.  That might be hard on Mags if she has a bunch of new friends in public school.

Still thinking strongly about Montessori but there seems to be very little art and music at this particular school (yes she gets that from home but I'm an advocate of learning socially even with the arts)  The director said bringing outside art teachers for group art projects would be against the Montessori model.  And, I'm not sure I have that strong gut feeling that my little creative, imaginative child would be happy there...former Montessori kids could help chime in on this one. Did everyone seeem happy, esp the creative ones, at your Montessori schools?   I'd have to get her in some outside arts things, and I could always pull her out if she hated it.  On the flip side, Jason is sold.  He is a science/math kid at heart even with all the music stuff.  He probably would have loved Montessori school.  Anyway, Jason and I have vowed to enhance the Montessori school with art and music if she goes there, in a Montessori way, and if they let us.

Looked at that half home/half school model that would fit our lifestyle-none in our state.

And in conclusion, Mags keeps saying. "I already know where I want to go.  I liked knitting and having indoor shoes."  (result of visiting the Montessori school-the only one that had her visit without parents)

I'm very close to being finished talking about this, I promise.

We've been experiencing some cabin fever and some decision-making stress.  So we filled up our weekend calendar with a child-centered visit to the Met, an Elizabeth Mitchell concert, and then to a hockey game.

Trying to find the right school environment for Mags has our minds in a blur.

Thanks to art, music and entertainment we don't drive ourselves crazy.

 Madonna and child.

 Gettin ready to pound it out in the Sound Tigers' locker room at half time.

 You can't even see Mags because she, like her parents (at least at our first 500 concerts), weaseled her way up to front and center.

Oh, the school thing...People have been asking me for years what I'm going to do once school starts.  And, I just put off thinking about it. Until now.  Maybe you all can offer advice instead of my frantic google searches.  Anyone start their kids at Montessori at age 5 (after traditional preschool)?  

And, any public school official out there know if I can take Mags on tour and still make her teacher and school happy?  Decisions have to be made based on Mags but also based on our crazy lifestyle. I know there are attendance policies in public school.  I really just want her to be happy and have the school accept our traveling.  Jason and I went to public school-and we turned out ok.

Mags visited the Montessori school and at first she cried, then she learned to knit and was happy, then she cried because she was afraid she wouldn't have time to make something else the other kids got to do, then she pointed out Finland on a globe to me at home with pride.  I just want her to be happy really.  I hope the tears are just because it's a new place and that she'd get through the transition and love it.  Anyway, I'm obsessed with thinking about it. So, advice is welcomed from parents who have been there.

In the meantime.  Music, art, games...that's what's getting us through.

Valentine's Day is one of those small. less pressure holidays. But, I actually enjoy it.  I got a new pair of pajamas and Jason got some chocolate.  But, to a 4 year old, it seems just as big as the big holidays for some reason. So we celebrated, a little. 

In honor of our hearts, we went out for a big, greasy, diner breakfast. 

June ate the most but I have to say, it's been a while since I ate that poorly and I feel like one large french fry (hours later). 

But, we indulged and had a great Saturday.  Also, it was Jason's b-day this month.  Mags made him breakfast in bed on the special day (a sandwhich, and a cupcake..then she ate the cupcake)

 We've been writing a ton of music so being home is really starting to get us motivated and excited with all the extra time.  On the way, new sounds, new songs, maybe even a mother/daughter duet about rainbows and unicorns (Mags is writing her own lyrics for one verse and aside from the randomness, it's pretty, dare I say, Mary Timony-esque...lots of winged horse and fairy imagery).

The girls got some (cheap) gifts for V-day.  Mags named her new Valentine's stuffed animal "Lover."   Since she sleeps with all of her stuffed animals and then told me today that Dad is really my stuffed animal since I sleep with him every night, we think calling one of her fluffy friends "Lover" is totally and innocently appropriate and, cute.

We recently went to Vegas with the kids to play at a party and then flew to Los Angeles (and couldn't get enough of it.)   

Rooftop pool, no winter coats, giant leaves to collect...Mags has been saying she wants to live in California ever since we returned. 

I noticed that we were stopping to smell the flowers (literally) while everyone else In LA just cruised by not realizing how amazing warm sunshine feels when you've been deprived of it for too long.

 And now, we're back home.  I think it's suppossed to be 56 degrees on Sunday.

Also, in music news, we're going to see Elizabeth Mitchell in a couple weeks.  She's playing at Joes Pub and then in North Hampton.  Take your kids.

Recently in the car Mags and I have been listening to songs with her name in them (ie. "Maggie's Farm", "Hold On Magnolia" by Songs: Ohio and some other old folk songs) Then she asked why there wasn't a song with "Kori" in it, and wanted to know if that made me feel bad.  She went on to assure me that when she's in a band which "she probably will be some day" she will definitely make a song with my name in it.  I will remind her of that when she starts a band with her cool 16 year old friends, "Don't forget the song you promised to sing...about me, your mom..." 

 On the first of many snowfalls over the past 2 weeks, we went for a familly walk.  It was extremely quiet and beautiful.  And, it cleared our minds.  Mags didn't have school so we had to get out of the house and let her move around before bed or else everyone in our house might have lost it.

Today, just a delayed opening-so we all sat on the couch and watched the inauguration.  Mags looked at me and said, "If I was running for president, would you vote for me?"  Of course.  Wouldn't that make me the First Gramma or something?  Mostly she loved seeing Malia and Sasha on TV.  

We have been looking around at schools for next year (kindergarten).  The public schools around here seem decent but if we can offer something exceptional for our kids, we might.  But, not sure how to measure that (and if we can afford it).  We looked at a new Montessori school.  I used to work in one. I'm a little obsessed with googling about kids who transition from Montessori to public schools now.  Not sure that's the best choice although it's an inviting philosophy. Hard choices. Need to go for another walk I guess.

 All in all I love being home. Decisions about kindergarten and the need for bigger snowpants instead of trying to find a place to buy diapers in between drives from Nowhere, Colorado and Nowhere, Utah, are much more rewarding.  But, it will be just enough time off to get excited to tour again in April-with the whole family for a whole month.

At first I accidentally titled this post as "Raw Food Die"  which I find funny right now even though I've grown to love things like raw parsnips and ginger.

I do think I'm done being militant about the detox diet though.  Here's what I will keep doing (a definite lifestyle change):

1.  Eat fruit in the morning on an empty stomach.( I did this years ago after reading Fit For Life but didn't stick to it)

2.  Keep making green lemonage (really good, green, kale-based drink)

3.  Eat raw food throughout day with other stuff and eat raw until after lunch-maybe until dinner if I'm really good.

4.  Eat a lot more fruit and vegetables than I did before.

I feel better, lighter but I got a cold-possibly because I compromised my immune system by putting my normally pig-appetite into shock with the new diet.  Or maybe my cold would be worse if I hadn't gone on this, I don't know.  All I know today is that I had chicken noodle soup and I felt better.

Also, as a family we will be purchasing little or no white flour-based grains, less sugar and less animal products-and eat more veggies-at every meal.

 I need some good music now after just thinking about food for 10 days. So, this weekend we will be seeing the Rosebuds and Frightened Rabbit.

 At our house The Rainbow Connection (and the Muppet Movie we borrowed from the library) has been on repeat.  It really is a touching song and great movie.  Aside from Kermit in the swamp, my favorite version of the song might be  Debbie Harry and Kermit's duet. There are so many great covers of it though.

 And our new tour dates have been posted.  Hope to see you all when the snow melts!

I was walking upstairs the other night and a bird flew right by my head and into my bedroom. I trapped it in my room, and then I thought about it and realized, it was not a bird.  It was a bat.  I know bats eat insects and they are made out to be such good creatures but they are creepy if they are in your house.  They fly in swooping patterns and they carry diseases.  And a lot of times, there are more if there is one, especially in winter. 

I screamed and ran downstairs to hear Magnolia desparately wanting to know why I freaked out. Just as I was telling her I trapped a bat in my room, the bat escaped (turns out they can squeeze under doors), and flew around the living room and kitchen while we sat on the couch and screamed.  I opened the back door and Mags and I trapped ourselves in another room and watched until the bat flew out the back door. 

When Jason got home, he and my brother-in-law, after inspecting the entire house, found the bat inside our screened-in porch.  Then we watched from inside.  Don't worry, we didn't kill the poor thing.  Did you know bats can bite you without you even knowing it in your sleep?  We didn't get rabies shots but if you wake up and one is flying around your bedroom, you are suppossed to call the doctor.  Also, we had a bat specialist come, no more bats.  Just the one, looking for a warm home.  I'm not obbsessing anymore but everytime I get up in the middle of the night I get spooked. 

So, along with discarding our tree the day after Christmas, having some friends over for a New Years Party while June slept upstairs in Maggie's closet (so she wouldn't hear the noise), June's first birthday (I can hardly believe that one) and finally, Mags going back at school (she was losing it without her peers)...we are making some changes.

We are doing a raw food detox diet at our house (the kid version is not a diet, just no white flour, no dairy, no white sugar).  Mags tried Hickory Smoked goat cheese (she normally loves goat cheese) and she spit it all over the floor and told me that she didn't like "cigarette flavored" cheese.  I think she got the wrong meaning from "smoke" flavor. I hope she doesn't go to school and tell them she's on a diet and we made her eat cigarette cheese.

On all this rabbit food, Jason and I are one minute crazy and the next doing cartwheels.  It's pretty amazing and also difficult.  But, I was able to do my first headstand (ok, halfway up) in yoga and I attribute it to the raw foods.

Maybe I will finally lose that baby belly (can't use that "I just had a baby" excuse much longer) but more than that, we are trying to change our recent, holiday eating habits- basically eating desert after every snack and meal and zero vegetables for 2-3 weeks straight. So I guess eating healthy is our resolution for 2009.

I got a camera.  Most of the pictures on it are centered around gifts since I got it 2 weeks ago. The next batch will probably include vegetables since that's what I'm looking at 12 hours a day.

We had an art themed holiday. June made her first collaborative painting.

 She's one in case it wasn't obvious.

 Kids always seem to resemble their stuffed animals.

 Off to have a green smoothie...

We played in the snow in CT before we left for Minnesota.  Enough to make a baby snowman.

Then, while having a great time with the extended family, we played in over 2 feet of snow (and even 20 below weather on some days)

 Mags had the time of her life playing outside with her cousins.

The night before we left Mags sang "Rudolph" to me at bedtime. She's been learning all the shout-outs and responses.  When she got to the end, "..you'll go down in his-tor-y" she shouted, "Like George Bush!"  It was one of those kid-funny AND adult-funny moments.  We both laughed hard.  Then I'd wished I hadn't thought it was so funny because now she does it the correct way, inserting the first president's name.  I think Rudolph might have a more beloved place in history than W anyway.

June sings now.  All "La-la's" and so cute.  She makes me a happier person every day. They both do. And I'm pshyched to be home for a while.

Got the best gifts of course, a happy and healthy family.  (Sugary, yes, but 'tis the season)

Oh, and you can follow MOS, a.k.a- me and Jason, on Twitter (well, mostly Jason).  Sign up at:  twitter.com/jyzon

Happy Holidays! 

Dance recitals, holiday shopping, even getting those JCPenny photos of my kids (yep, matching outfits), wrapping things, seeking out schools for next year-Kindergarten already?, cooking (although I will say Jason has become "Little Miss Crockpot")  It's all making me feel like no matter what you do as a mom, it is always chaotic.  The road busy but so is this.  I've said it before, you just have to embrace the chaos.  Mags had a couple major time outs yesterday to add to everything.  After the first one, she told me I just wasn't the right mommie for her. But, today she was the best kid in the world. I guess it happens to parents all the time.

Also, I've been trying to compile a top ten list for the Barsuk site.  All I have come up with is a few funny you tube videos that friends have sent or showed me throughout the year. I have a feeling everyone has already seen them but,  I guess you could say I'm either bored with finding music or just don't like to make music top ten lists.  In fact, I kind of think it's annoying when music magazines rank the best records of the year (but that could be because I am too proud to not be on those lists.) Anyway, here are a few.

I've always loved Beaker...

When my sister was little she used to say she wanted to be a bus driver when she grew up.  Our schoolbus driver was a sweet old man and I think she just really liked him.  Mags used to say she wanted to be Santa Claus when she grew up (understandable).  I always wanted to be a teacher (which I tried for a few years) or in a band (with brief pipedreams of being a professional hip-hop dancer)

Then, on Good Morning America yesterday, and as news to me, Mags shared that she'll be a photographer when she grows up.  Score.  I was so happy she didn't accept the "do you want to be a rock star" question as her destiny.  She took about 200 pictures later on with my mom's nice camera. 

Mags and June were great at GMA.  (minus the few almost-meltdowns backstage)

June even did her best to trash the hotel room before the show.

I had some mixed emotions about family press on the way home.  I don't think we will be subjecting our kids to cameras and interviews very often.  This was a special event for us and for the girls.  And everyone at ABC was very welcoming and accomodating.  It's just that it's too weird worrying if my kids are going to be good for a TV viewing audience-or worrying if she's getting attention for the wrong reasons-or whatever you worry about when your kids faces are on TV. 

I do understand that there is a story, we are doing something different and I'm totally greatful for the exposure-for our band.  The fact that our lifestyle could encourage other parents makes me think ia TV family interview is o.k. to do as long as it's occasional and the kids are still happy. I would love to run into some more families on tour and if us being out there promoting this kind of lifestyle leads to that, then great.  In the mean time, Mags has been telling everyone she got to wear a tiny little microphone.  If that is what she got from all of this, I don't think we did any damage at all.

And, we got to hang out in the very festive time square and ride the toys r us ferris wheel 

At the end of the day I'm just glad my kids are happy.  If they freaked out during the news segment, I'd be saying, NEVER again.  Instead I'm saying, maybe once in a while.

 We're gonna bring the family to Good Morning America on Saturday morning. They will be doing an slightly extended version of the piece that World News did a couple weeks ago.  I don't know what to wear.  

And a few more unimportant dilemmas in my life at home...

I'm on antibiotics for my arm, they mess me up, I hate taking antibiotics but the burn got infected (although it looks much better). 

I'm, as always around vaccine time, worried about June's doctor visit tomorrow.

Back to the clothes for TV thing, should we just wear our dirty tour clothes or do we go for something more presentable.  I don't really care now but when I watch it I will inevitably be critical and shallow and only care about how I should have cared more. Plus my mom said, "Are you just gonna wear your hair in a pony tail?"  I asked her if she has seen me do anything else in the past 6 months.

Tonight, I was prepping Mags about going into NYC to "get to see how they make a tv show and they might talk to me and Dad."  She started crying saying, "No, everytime you talk to people, I am not allowed to talk to you."  OK, this is a result of us trying to teach her about not interrupting.  It has nothing to do with interviews or whatever we do with the band. We've been practicing not being rude while people are talking to each other. I assured her she will be free to be part of my discussions with everyone and then I decided that she needs an earier bedtime.

Oh, June started walking.  For a day, all over the place.  Then she decided to go back to crawling (totally not a dilemma, just a piece of information)

But here is something cute.

Mags at a year and a half.

June at almost a year. 

Hand-me-downs are awesome. I need to find those sunglasses Mags used to wear every day.

Whenever we go to restaurants on tour (frequent) we order warm water to mix up the baby cereal to feed June.

A few days ago, I ordered the warm water.  I waited.  I asked again.  He brought it finally and I grabbed the glass off of his tray.  He didn't say, "this is really hot" or anything.

Then, a few minutes later, it somehow got dumped on me.  It was not warm.  It was not hot.  It was scalding.

Here's my arm burn. I will spare you the leg picture. I mooed like a cow (my version of screaming when I'm in pain-I did that during childbirth too) and then I ran to the bathroom and decided that it hurt so bad I couldn't eat (unusual).

From now on, if we are out, June might have to eat cold baby cereal because I now have a fear of hot things on tables.