Jam Session with "Boyz in da Basement"

Neither Beau nor myself are very musical people.  Beau played the violin for a short time in elementary school but never learned to read music.  I played the clarinet all through junior high and high school, but I had to practice a lot.  Beau loves to listen to music, but the most you will see him dance is the tapping of his big toe.  Although when we are being silly, Beau can definitely shake his booty.  Just ask him to do the Gangnam dance.  Hahaha.  But, he can sing mostly in tune and usually within key.  I love to dance, in the privacy of my own home, but I can't carry a tune to save my life.  I always rocked my babies while singing lullabies.  None of them ever complained, except for Carter.  When he got old enough to start having opinions, but still young enough to be held and sang to, he would take is little index finger and gently press it against my lips saying, "Stop".  Carter didn't appreciate my terribly off key "You are my Sunshine".  I am so thankful for the verse, Psalm 98:4 that states, "Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!"  I believe that God certainly had this verse in mind when he made me.  My singing can ONLY be summed up as NOISE. 

Music plays a large role in our home.  We are always playing music extending from children's songs, christian music, to some contemporary stuff.  From the moment Carter could formulate words, he sang.  He has always found music soothing (as long as I'm not the one singing it).  He wakes up early in the morning singing and goes to bed singing.  All during the day, he sings.  Anyone that has spent any time with me on the phone can attest to that.  They always ask, "Is that Carter singing.....again?" 

Oliver loves to dance and sings fairly well too.  He has great rhythm.  William has the dance moves, but he still believes the louder he sings the prettier it sounds.  When he is truly trying though, he can sing nicely.  Zander is in chorus and we hear him singing around the house too.  So, in short, we love to play around the house dancing and singing. 

Last week, I was working in the kitchen and the little guys were playing in their playroom.  I was listening to a CD pretty loudly and the next thing I knew, my 3 little ones were in the living room playing their "instruments" and dancing and singing.  It was just a sweet and fun time, I had to take a picture.  These moments won't last forever, so I am trying harder to document them now. 

Carter on vocals, Ollie on keyboard and/or drums, and Will is our dancer

Carter is singing into the mic aka vacuum cleaner

This is Oliver's drum solo

The two musicians are collaborating

Will is really getting into his dance moves

Carter refers to his brothers as "the boys."  One day, I asked him where his brothers were.  His reply was "the boys in the basement".  That has unofficially become their band name. 

 

Zander had his 8th grade Christmas chorus concert last week.  I think he cleans up pretty nicely.  He has been invited to audition for the county honor chorus.  If he is selected, his group will be recording a CD in a music studio. 

Until next time......

It only took 61 tries to get a good Christmas picture....

Last night, I finally convinced Beau to photograph our children for our annual Christmas picture.  This is supposed to be a time of fun and enjoyment and a time of new memories.  But, being a family with 4 spunky boys where 3 of them are close in age and all 5 years and under and 1 is a teenager and hardly wants to be in photos right now, fun would not be the word to describe last evening. 

When we were just a family of 3, it was so much easier to capture that 1 perfect picture that was worthy of sending to all of our closest friends and family.  Now, we simply settle for the least bad picture to send.  It's all about priority.  Which leads me into a part of my blog that I need to get off my chest for my own peace.

Last weeks events in Connecticut, although tragic, life-changing, and forever memorable, changes people and their priorities.  I am not going to even try to understand or explain what happened in that small elementary school.  People way smarter than myself will never truly comprehend last weeks events.  Do we need tougher gun control?  How about less?  Should Government have more involvement in public schools?  Perhaps more religion in the classroom would fix everything?  I can debate every side of those questions and still not have any solution.  People around our nation have very strong opinions about these topics.  This is just a little blog that a gal living in a very small town in New England writes.  She has 4 boys and her life can be summed up very quickly:  Taxi-Cab Driver, Soccer Mom, Boy Scout Mom, Homework motivator, Domestic Engineer, Sibling Referee, Teacher, Nurturer, Wife.  None of these descriptions qualify me to offer much to the solution. 

Even though I have very passionate opinions about the above questions, this is not the forum in which I wish to present them.  There are only a few things that I know for sure.  I am called to love, forgive, not judge, and treat others as I would have them treat me.  But I believe the ONE thing that most people can agree on despite their beliefs and backgrounds is our priorities.  The loss of those sweet babies and committed teachers last week will forever resinate in our hearts and minds.  We will all hug and love on our own children just a little longer and tighter.   If nothing else, that is the one thing that brings us all together. 

Priorities.  Watching my children underneath the Christmas Tree while Beau tried to capture that perfect picture would normally irritate me after the 10th, 20th, or even 30th attempt.  Zander took a needle from a tree branch to the eye which caused a huge delay and I am pretty sure it hurt.  Will and Ollie fought over who got to be next to Zander.  Carter insisted that the picture would be cuter if he laid on his back rather than his belly.  Oliver would never look at the camera at the right time.  Will thought it would be better to make funny faces for the camera.  Carter kept running off because he lost interest after the 40th take.  Tears were involved at some point with each child during the session.  But remember priorities.  I remained calm and even found a little humor in our chaos.  I am thankful that I have my 4 babies to hold, hug, and tuck into bed each night.  Or in Zander's case, tell him good night (because goodness knows, you don't tuck in a teenager).  I am lucky if I am even allowed in his room anymore. 

So, if you are receiving a Christmas card from us, I apologize in advance.  Trust me, I sent you the least worst one. 

Nope

Nope

Definitely Not

Oliver looks cute

No again!

No one is even looking at the camera and I am missing my youngest!

Nope

Don't think so

Kind of close..... maybe?

No Way!!!

Here we have an unhappy and crying Carter

Finally, I present the least worst one!  Woo Hoo. 

 

And it only took 61 pictures to get our least worst one.  Success.  Maybe we can get it in under 50 attempts next year.  Gotta have goals.......and priorities. 

 

Hope you enjoyed the pictures at my childrens' expense. 

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Bennetts.