Rig-a-Jig-Jig

It's incredible how many verses you can make up to the tune of children's songs. For weeks now we have been listening to Music Together's version of Rig-a-Jig-Jig on repeat in the car (amazing what you learn tune out, I don't even hear it anymore) and I made the mistake of forgetting to pack the CD when we ventured down to the States on Friday for a little shopping with my friend Devon. Although I'm sure listening to children's music on our two hour drive was not what Devon wanted, listening to me improvise more verses to Rig-a-Jig-Jig probably wasn't what she imagined either. By the time we reached Blaine Eloise was obviously bored of my improvisations and said, "Debon's turn. Debon sing too." It was Devon's birthday, she's a very good sport.

"As we were driving to the States, to the States, to the States,
as we were driving to the States, hi-ho, hi-ho, hi-ho.
Rig-a-jig-jig and away we go, away we go, away we go,
rig-a-jig-jig and away we go, hi-ho, hi-ho, hi-ho!

As we were eating our muffins, our muffins, our muffins,
as we were eating our muffins, hi-ho, hi-ho, hi-ho.
Rig-a-jig-jig and away we go, away we go, away we go,
rig-a-jig-jig and away we go, hi-ho, hi-ho, hi-ho.

As we were finding a parking spot, parking spot, parking spot,
as we were finding a parking spot, hi-ho, hi-ho, hi-ho.
Rig-a-jig-jig and away we go, away we go, away we go,
rig-a-jig-jig and away we go, hi-ho, hi-ho, hi-ho."

Think of me the next time you're trying to think of another thing that happens when those wheels on the bus go round and round.

Music Together

{music together}

Once a week for the past year Eloise and I have been going to Music Together, an international music program for little ones age birth through seven. I started taking Eloise with a friend not knowing anything about the program and now we are hooked. I can't even tell you how happy it makes me to see Eloise's face light up when I tell her we're going to music and even more when we arrive and she runs in to play with instruments. Music class is 45 minutes of pure joy and our instructor Katie is the best.

I don't consider myself to be particularly musical - even though I was in the Treble Choir in high school (ha ha) - but since starting Music Together Eloise and I definitely do a lot more singing. Every course includes a new 'collection' of songs and a CD which has become our saving grace on car rides and at home we bring out all of Eloise's instruments - xylophone, bells, harmonica and shaker eggs - to sing and dance all sorts of music.

I have watched Eloise's musicality develop and am always impressed when she picks up a beat and moves to music. Unfortunately Eloise doesn't share my affinity for hip hop. Yet.

Car Dance

The only time I get all to myself during the day is spent driving to and from meetings or school pick-up. It's not much, but I love the opportunity to listen to the music I want without worrying about Eloise or Molly copycatting any 'questionable' language of my favourite genre, hip hop. I especially love driving alone at night when the darkness makes my car-dancing moves infinitely cooler and completely invisible to passing vehicles (right?).

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But that's where the coolness ends. Because if anyone was actually in the car with me they'd see that I keep one of Eloise's egg shakers in the centre console for really rocking out. Looks like I'm learning as much at Music Together as she is!

I Love

I love Frank Ocean's newest album, channel ORANGE and I have been listening to it on repeat. His voice is smooth, the beats are chill and it is the perfect background music when I'm working on the computer or cooking dinner. But only when Eloise isn't rocking out to Music Together: Fiddle, of course ...

Check out Frank Ocean's recent performance on the Saturday Night Live season premiere a few weeks ago.