A Day at the Museum

Way back before my vacation I shared some of the details of my slumber party with my niece, but because I'm an equal opportunity aunt, I decided I also needed some one-on-one time with my nephew. Since I don't think he's quite ready for a sleepover, we went to the dinosaur/natural history museum instead.

The second we were through the door he started telling me all the things he want to do - first up, ride the elevator. I've never been to this museum before - but he has so I thought we'd be taking the elevator up to some of the displays. Turns out it is just an elevator to classrooms and he just wanted to ride it for the sheer joy of riding an elevator.

Next up he started talking about the computers - it didn't take long until we found one and he settled in and tried to make the games and learning activities work, I think he'll do better when he can read. But man, has he mastered that mouse.

Pretty early in our exploration he started talking about finding the big shark, I was a bit worried that he had mixed up the museum with the aquarium and was afraid he'd be disappointed when he didn't get to see the shark. Turns out he knows his stuff - we soon found the shark - and he wasn't joking with he said it was big!

We had a tiny disagreement when we got to the water/sand table. I wanted him to wear the apron so I'd take him home to his mom somewhat clean - he didn't like the apron. Somehow I won the argument (I think it may have something to do with promising him ice cream after we finished....) I figure I'm the aunt which makes bribery an acceptable form of persuasion.

All in all, it was a great way to spend the morning and I can't wait to spend more one-on-one time with both of my favorite little ones.

I liked Jakob Dylan as part of the Wallflowers back in the day, but I really love his current solo work, including this one: "Nothing but the Whole Wide World to Gain."


Pin It

Best of 2010 - Lady Gaga to Miranda Lambert

I'm sharing my favorite songs discovered in 2010 - 6 songs a day - I'll post the entire set in a YouTube playlist on December 31.

Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
"I want your everything as long as it's free."

This spring I decided I needed to figure out who Lady Gaga was and see if she was worth the fuss.  I ended up loving this song, but she's probably not going to end up on my must buy list.

Little Big Town - Lean Into It
"If there's a way to fight, I know I'm going to find it."

Little Big Town reminds of Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles - great harmonies.

Mary Chapin Carpenter - I Have a Need for Solitude
"I like the sound of silence coming on."

I finally saw Mary Chapin Carpenter in concert this year - it was well worth the heat.  I've said before that she writes and records the songs that define my life - this song is no different.

Melody Gardot - Who Will Comfort Me
"My soul is wearying"

I actually heard this song at Jazzercise one week.  It was the perfect cool down song and it stayed in my head for days until I finally tracked a copy down.

Mindy Gledhill - Whole Wide World
"I'm gonna live a crazy dream, as impossible as it seems."

An artist from my home state, such a beautiful voice.  This song has a wonderful message.

Miranda Lambert - The House That Built Me
"These handprints on the front step are mine"

The first time I heard this song I cried - serious tears.  After listing to it a lot I still find myself tearing up with each listen. Pin It

Best of 2010 - Gregory Alan Isakov to Jason Aldean

I'm sharing my favorite songs discovered in 2010 - 6 songs a day - I'll post the entire set in a YouTube playlist on December 31.

Gregory Alan Isakov - Unwritable Girl
"Wanna write one for you
The unwritable girl."

I've always wanted someone to write a song for me, it sounds like the most romantic thing in the world.  But being unwritable sounds intriguing too.

Griffin House - Waiting for the Rain to Come Down
"I wonder every day
Am I still on your mind?"

A prayer of forgiveness in the form of a song.  Pure beauty.

The Head and the Heart - Down in the Valley
"I am on my way back to where I started."

A band out of Seattle I discovered thanks to blogging friends.  One of those songs I want to listen to with the lights out, the way I listened to music as a teenager.  It gets richer with each listen.

Jakob Dylan - Nothing But the Whole Wide World
"I'm here for adventure whichever way it comes"

The voice of a Dylan - but not so raw you can't understand the lyrics.  I love the concept behind this song - focus on what you have to gain not what you have to lose.

Jamey Johnson - That's Why I Write Songs
"I remember all the times I felt
Like somebody knows me all too well
'Cause it was my life's story I was listening to"

If I were ranking my top songs, this one would make the top 10 and maybe the top 5.  I have a reverence for songwriters, I can't imagine having the kind of talent it takes to put thoughts, hopes and dreams to music.  Through their work, songwriters give us the songs we use to deal with emotions, songs we use to celebrate and songs we use to mourn.  Jamey Johnson's tribute to some of the best is simply beautiful.

Jason Aldean - The Truth
"Have some mercy on me."

Gotta be honest, I love a good heartbreak song every once in a while, and mostly I love that this one comes from the guys point of view.

Halfway through!  And to think, I thought this would be less stressful than writing normal blog posts.

I hope you have an amazing Christmas! Pin It