Barking Mad

The Dancing Queen...Who Has NO Rhythm!

 

Gaby is, without a doubt, a HUGE fan of movies and in particular, musicals.  So it didn't come as any surprise to me that she fell in love with "Mama Mia" which we picked up last weekend.   I thought it was going to rank pretty high on the "Cheese Meter" but I found myself singing along and actually, dare I say, enjoying it! 

We've watched it no less than 10 times since last Saturday.  Well, let me rephrase that.  Gaby and I have watched it no less than 10 times since last Saturday!  Gareth has been fortunate enough to escape the daily reincarnation of ABBA, to his office.   Is it any wonder I'm walking around singing, "Money Money Money" at the top of my lungs...all damned day long?

I've also made the discovery that Gaby inherited my total and complete lack of eye/hand/mouth coordination and unfortunately has no rhythm, just like her mama!  But that doesn't stop her!  Oh no! 

Have a look for yourselves...

When she started kicking her feet forward I wasn't quite sure if she was dancing or trying to shake a wayward ball of cat hair off her feet.   She asked me to replay the "Dancing Queen" chapter about 7 times.  She's now working on the scene from "Money Money Money" and looks strikingly like Shirley temple...of course, sans that rhythm and coordination. 

This is going to be one of those videos that I replay over and over and over again...for all of her friends and future boyfriends!

**************

I'm still working on my follow-up to my post from the other day about Christianity.  I'm hoping to have it up by tomorrow. Until then, feel free to continue the discussion...which has been really enlightening and intelligent and most of all, civil!  I appreciate all the feedback in the way of thoughts and opinions on the subject. 

 

Death by "Sound of Music"

I'm certain that this post is not going to earn me Mother of the Year!

It wasn't all that long ago that I loved the musical, The Sound of Music.  LOVED IT!  I knew all the songs by heart and enjoyed singing them to my little ones over the years.  As a matter of fact, I grew up with my musically talented Mommily singing the songs around the house.  Mommily has a beautiful voice and I loved hearing her sing. 

That was then.

This my luvlies, is NOW...

As far as I am concerned, Julie Andrews and all her tiny little musical minions in the film are evil. The spawn of Satan!

How is it that I have come to hate hearing those first few notes of "The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music" ?  How can I not fall over in love whilst the little ones sing "The Lonely Goatherd"? Why do my ears bleed when Captain Von Trapp sings "Edelweiss", and dread the droning of "Do Re Mi"?

It's simple really; over the last few weeks I have sat through The Sound of Music no less than 972 times.  You see, the Little Imp is so completely and totally enamored of the film and the songs, that we must start and end each day watching The Sound of Music.  We must watch it before naps.  Before we pee or poop, before we play with Play Doh, and we must certainly sing every bloody song before bed.

I used to think there was no worse ear worm (songs that get horribly, terribly, infinitely stuck in your head) than "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", or the stinkin theme from Barney.  I was wrong.  So so very wrong. I have come to the conclusion that there is no worse ear worm than "Do Re Mi."  At this very moment I am singing the song and considering how tempted I am to stick a knitting needle in my ear.

Is it wrong that I keep praying that the DVD player chokes on the movie sometime soon? Is it so very terrible that I want to fling the DVD from the back deck and shout with glee as it slams into a tree and smashes into a million silvery pieces?  Am I a horrible mother because I want to tell the Little Imp that if we watch the movie again the house will blow up...or at the very least, my head will explode, oozing gray matter everywhere?

What I find most ironic are two things...The Little Imp does not call the movie, "The Sound of Music", rather, she refers to it as "Maria."  She wants to watch Maria!  "Mommy it's time to watch Maria." "I'm singing like Maria, Mommy, watch me!"  "Mommy, I can dance like Maria."  Maria Maria Maria!  You're killin' me!  So what do you think the Little Imp's favourite song from the film is?  You got it!  "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?"  As I sit here, I have some pretty definite ideas of my own, as far as how to solve a problem like Maria!

I am doomed.

Oh, and don't even get me started on this guy!  He's been on the Little Imp's radar lately and I'll have none of it!

 

Venison anyone?

 

Marmite Bites and Curry Cusses

Last week, right before the new year, the hubby and I hosted a "British Night" at our home and Megawatt invited some of her friends over...well, who am I kidding?  These kids are here all the time and at this point, I could probably declare them as dependents on our tax return.  Anyhow Megawatt had been asking me to make curry again and I decided I'd plan an entire menu around common food you'd find around the table in England.

And yes, I planned on making a fairly HOT curry.  A Vindaloo.  I also had the hubby go down to the local British shoppe and get some other little odds and ends to complete the evening...like British candies, biscuits (cookies) and some Ribena which I promptly forgot about.  Oh well.  At least the little packages of Minstrels made it to the table.

I made little place cards for each setting and even put something else on the table which I thought was kind of funny!

Yes m'dears, that is a fire extinguisher in the background.

The evening wouldn't have been complete without appetizers consisting of this stuff on toast points...

I made sure we had plenty of this stuff as well!

In the interest of full disclosure I think I should mention that I abhor both curries and marmite.  But far be it from me to enjoy watching others eat it.  And enjoy it I did!

Here's the video of the kids trying the Marmite.  Please excuse the shakiness of the video.  I was laughing so hard that it made it damn near impossible to keep my hands still.  And the laughing...good Lord I had no idea what a horrible sound that is...COMING FROM ME!   Just the same, it's pretty hilarious!

Zack post-marmite

Abby - trying to be brave post-marmite

Megawatt about to barf, post-marmite

Paul was trying to man-up after eating the toast point! Yeah, I know what you REALLY thought!

Sadly, all I have as far as the curry goes is this lovely picture of it bubbling away on the stove.  I don't know what I did to the video I uploaded, but I managed to screw it up.  You're not surpised are you?

Surpisingly, the kids loved it.  I broke out some chocolate milk and pineapple to cool off burning tongues but whether they were being nice or not, they all said they'd come over and eat if I made it again. 

Desert consisted of a fresh raspberry crumble that I threw together at the last minute, served with hot English custard (another British shoppe fav of ours that we always have tons of, in the house!) that the kids devoured!

For the most part, I pulled this recipe out of my ass and it turned out awesome!  Nothing more to it than three bags of frozen raspberries covered in 4 tablespoons of sugar with 2 teaspoons of cornstarch.  The topping is 1 cup flour, 2 cups oatmeal, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 sticks of butter and 1 tablespoon white sugar.  Bake at 400 for 45 minutes.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy!