We've Got a Groovy Kind of Love

Okay, Wubster, you want pretzels or veggie straws with your PB&J?
Veggie Straws, veggie straws, veggie straws all the way.
Uh, was that Jingle Bells?
I think it was.
Alright...veggie straws it is.

Music's a big part of the Noisy Little Adventures household and it's been that way since Mini-Me discovered my ukulele when he was 18-months-old. Ever since then we've had concerts throughout the house, at relatives' houses, in hotels...pretty much anywhere we go there's a good chance a concert will break out. It wouldn't be a stretch to say we love music.

Many of our family dance parties over the past four years have centered around the music of Dan Zanes, Ralph's World, or 'Oh Yeah' (aka Vampire Weekend's 'A Punk'), but lately we've spent just as much time cranking a kid's music channel I made on Pandora and dancing away at shower time.

Mini-Me has also been good at making up his own songs as he plays the variety of instruments we've collected. He 'plays' keyboards, guitars, drums (thanks Grandma Abby and Papa Boyd!) harmonicas, and the aforementioned ukulele, but his current favorite instrument is my Fender electric guitar. I'm amazed he can hold the thing for as long as he does. A couple weeks ago he cranked the amp up to 11 (during Mickey's (TKNTD) nap time, of course) and shredded so hard he broke a string.

Hey! You're gonna need to buy me some strings for Christmas.
But I don't want strings. I want a Batman watch.
I know, bud, you'll buy me the strings.
But I don't want strings, daddy.
No, Mini-Me, you can get me some strings.
I don't think so daddy, I want a Batman watch.

The Wubster's jumping right in with us as part of the family band. He's happiest when he has a microphone in his hand, but lately has shown talent with the harmonica and keyboard, too. He's also a great dancer, but his moves are often limited to spinning in circles or jumping and tucking his legs so he lands on his butt. I hate to admit it, but he can beat me at Just Dance with those two moves.

The original songs Mini-Me performs tend to center around superheroes and Jesus. Yep, you read that right: Superheroes...and Jesus. [It might help to note he attends a Lutheran preschool...that at least explains the superhero part.] Tonight, the song sampled the tune of 'Away in a Manger' and described how Jesus made superheroes to help him save us from bad guys. Not only was it an interesting take on the superhero mythology, but it had a great hook!

And then the Wubster breaks out his rendition of Jingle Bells at dinner tonight to ask for veggie straws!?!

I tell ya, it's groovy, man!