Aug 27 2011
Last weekend L decided to put on a show for grandma. The weather was warm, the sun was low in the sky, and the backyard seemed perfect.
L set up the chairs and invited the guests out to the stage area. Once everyone was seated the show could begin.
She sang and danced, with a few of her favorite invisible friends to help her out.
She ended the show with her usual bows and “Thank you, thank you, everyone.”
Jun 21 2011
“Mommy, where’s my goggles?” – Lucy preparing to cook
The youngest member and I were invited to a party at Filoli, an after hours stroll for members.
Madame handled her first garden party with aplomb. She enjoyed the hors d’oeuvres, particularly the crackers.
She waited patiently to go in the house, listening to the barbershop quartet.
She was excited to go upstairs (usually not allowed, but open on this special occasion) and see the rooms up there.
In the ballroom she entertained the guests with some impromptu ballet to accompany the piano player.
She enjoyed herself so much, she didn’t want to leave…even when her tuckered mom was ready to go.
Jul 22 2010
“Wubie crushed my wand — no magic show for him!”
— Lucy’s response after she waved her ‘magic wand’ (stick with a ribbon) in front of Wubie one too many times (he destroyed it).
We went to the SJ Obon with friends recently and had loads of fun, especially Lucy…she got to dance in her first Bon Odori.
Lucy went to her first Obon fest way back in 2008, when she was still a baby. Grandmommy had suggested we go, she had cut out a clipping from the newspaper for us, and urged us to go that very day (it was a Sunday and we had been visiting her in the hospital). We went and had a lovely time. Shortly thereafter Grandmommy got out of the hospital, so we all went together to the Palo Alto Obon fest. That was about a month before she passed away in September, and it was our last big outing together.
The Obon festival is held to remember ancestors and loved ones who are gone…so it seems appropriate that we keep going in memory of Grandmommy. (Posts from last year’s visits here and here.) If she were still here, she would surely be dancing with us!
Jul 15 2010
“Nice hairdo, Daddy!”
— Lucy smiling (after I’d made an effort to look less unkempt). When I asked if she was making fun of me, she said without hesitation: “Yes!”
Last weekend we met some good friends at the San Jose Obon Festival.
Lucy’s been to a few Obons in her time (she’s 3 and a half, ya know) so she’s an old pro now. (She even has her own yukata.)
In addition to seeing the sites, playing games, having her parents chase her to and fro, and chowing down, Lucy participated in her first Bon Odori dance. She was very excited about it.
The San Jose Bon Odori was huge, with hundreds of people. Lucy had a blast attempting to duplicate the movements of all the dancers. I think she did an admirable job, though her concentration may have wavered a bit in parts.
Pics:
The kid will be busting her yukata out again this weekend for another festival. Actually, I think she also has a birthday party to attend, so her dance card will be full for the next couple of days. I’ll make sure to bring along my trusty camcorder.
Video:
SJ Obon Festival from Mike C on Vimeo.
May 31 2010
Our little girl went to her first ballet this weekend. I loved ballet when I was a kid, so this was a special moment for me. I was a bit teary-eyed when it started. It just hit me…I am with my baby…at her first ballet!
Lucy has recently started liking ballet, dancing around wearing her tutu, pretending she is Angelina Ballerina. So when the chance came to see a kid-centered ballet we took it.
The ballet we saw was the Ugly Duckling, featuring as many students as possible from the local ballet school, costumed as ducks, swans, flowers, cats, dogs, and chickens. The baby swan stole the show.
Madame behaved very well, applauding in all the right places, staying in her seat the whole time, and watching enraptured for much of it. Not bad for a 3 year old.
When I was a little girl I was obsessed with ballet, and remember asking my mom for ballet lessons…and her saying, ‘not ’til you’re 5′ (or was it 7? either way it seemed a long ways away.) And boy I held her to it!
I remember changing into my ballet clothes in the station wagon as my mom drove me to ballet from school. I remember watching the older girls in the advanced class taking pointe lessons, and dreaming of the day that would be me. I remember the wonder of seeing some of those same girls performing in the LA Ballet’s Nutcracker.
I don’t want or hope for madame to become a professional ballerina, that would be a hard life (low pay, constant aches and bruises and little time for anything else).
But I am happy that she likes ballet, and will be happy to see her studying it, and to take her to many more performances. And I can’t wait for the day when she will be the student up on stage for the first time taking her bows.
Jun 6 2009
Dancing (and Falling Down) to Green Day from Mike C on Vimeo.
Yep, Lucy is full of energy. Her mom and I can’t keep up with her—even when we “tag team” and take turns! Here’s some footage of the kid running, dancing, hopping, (and falling down) to a couple of Green Day tunes.
Camera Used: Flip Video Ultra 60. Soundtrack:
Mar 23 2009
Father/Daughter Dance from Mike C on Vimeo.
The kid loves to dance. Luckily, she doesn’t take after her parents, who have four left feet between them when it comes to hoofing it up. In this video, the kid drags me to the “dance floor” (ie, our tiny kitchen) and we manage to have a quick two-step while also making sure not to disturb Lord Wubleroy.
As you’ll see in the video, Lucy improvises a lot and is pretty creative in her dance moves. On the other hand, her dad plays it conservative and sticks with his tried and true “stiff-legged goober” routine.
Camera Used: Flip Video Ultra 60. Soundtrack:
Recent Comments