Jazz Man

A couple of months ago, I noticed that Biscuit's piano teacher was keeping him longer than his usual 30 minutes.

One lesson lasted about 35 minutes. The next one was about 40. Then he finally did two lessons in a row that were 45 minutes.

I thought it was odd because we only pay for 30 minutes, but hey, I wasn't going to complain.

Then a few weeks ago, he said that he thought Biscuit was ready for 45-minute lessons. The cost isn't that much more, and they're going to use the extra time for theory, something I never got when I was a student. So Biscuit will be learning about how songs are put together and why composers do things the way they do them.

So far, Biscuit seems to be taking to the 45-minute lessons. His teacher makes sure to keep things active. He plays some, then they do written work, then he plays some more. I think switching things up like that will help keep him interested.

One of Biscuit's first assignments was to take a song that he's been playing straight and change it up to more of a jazzy timing. It's funny to watch him play it because you can see a difference in his body movements for each style.

Check him out:

Straight -

Jazz -

Mom time

I went on my annual girls' trip last weekend, and it took too long to arrive and went by way to quickly!

There are three of us. Two of us live about 45 minutes apart, and the other one lives three states away. So we meet at a beach that's almost halfway between us.

There was good food, good talks, good shopping and good beach lounging. And I wish it could've lasted about four more days!

A cool place we like to eat breakfast. And of course, they play 1980s music!

Cute little sago palm tree.

Just remember, it is illegal to mess with the Spanish moss.

I took this from the backseat. I asked my friend what caused the smears on the rear windows. Yeah, it's dog snot!

We went to a good little pizza place, and I got us a cheesecake stromboli for dessert.

This is interesting. Do you see the white water in front of the lighthouse?

And the white water is still there.

And the white water is STILL there.

And then it's gone. I also took these from the backseat, and I didn't see the weird water until I got home and looked more closely at the picture. I took it with my phone. I wish I could've shot it with my good camera so we could see what it is!

We were not the only ones enjoying the beach.

I enjoyed the time I could just sit and stare at the ocean.

This guy looked like he was having fun. I just lived vicariously.

Sunset over the dunes.

Cute little candy shop we visited. She had all kinds of candy from our childhood - candy cigarettes, Pop Rocks and more.

At high tide, these marshes are soaked in water. But when the tide goes down, you just see mud.

More Spanish moss. 

It was a really good trip. Now, I just have to (im)patiently wait 'til next year.

Happy Father's Day

Let's talk for a minute about parental sacrifice. 

I know that Red Sox hat was burning his Yankee-loving head, but did that stop him from wearing it? Nope. He wore it at every practice and at every game. Jeff has never shied away from whatever it takes to be an active part of Griffin's life. I admire him as a man and a father, and I know Griffin does, too.

Out of the mouth of my babe

A few things Biscuit has said recently: 


Ah, Grasshopper: Biscuit's class learned how to order food in Spanish, so he was trying out his new words with our server one evening at dinner.

I don't remember what word he used, but Jeff said, "What did you say?"

Biscuit repeated it, and Jeff said, "I don't know that word."

And Biscuit replied, "Aha! The child has become the parent."

I think he meant the student has become the master, but he got his point across anyway.


Know the names: Biscuit started summer camp this week. On the ride home after his first day, I asked him the names of his group leaders.

"Um, I know one of them, but I don't know the others," he said.

"You need to find out and use their names when you talk to them," I told him. "It's important and respectful."

"I guess you're right," Biscuit said. "I mean, like at times when I experience harshness."

"What do you mean 'experience harshness,'" I asked him.

He said, "Well, you know, like if I fall down and get hurt, it wouldn't be that nice to yell out, 'Hey you! I need some help!' But if I knew their names, I could say, 'Excuse me, John, can you help me?'"

"Yes," I said, "it would be nice to call them by name if you should happen to 'experience harshness.'"


It ain't me: Biscuit, Jeff and I were in the car yesterday, and I was fussing at Jeff for something he had done or had not done - I don't really remember. But I had a headache and a thousand things to do, and everything was jumping up and down on my last nerve.

I felt this little hand pat my shoulder a couple of times, then Biscuit said, "Mom, I just want you to remember that I'm not the one annoying you. It's Dad. He's the one annoying you. I just want you to remember that I'm not in it."

"I know, baby," I said, "and I appreciate it."

Catching up with Biscuit

Here's what's been going on with Biscuit:

School festival: Biscuit's school had a spring festival a few weeks ago. They had a DJ for music and dancing, food, games, bounce houses, and of course, facepainting.

When Biscuit was little, he wouldn't ever get his face painted. I finally asked him why he never wanted to do it.

"Because I like my face the way it is, Mom," he told me. He thought that once you got your face painted, it stayed that way. 

I wanted to ask him, "How many kids have you seen walking around with Spider-Man or butterfly faces?!"

Since his favorite animal is a tiger, that's what he asked for at the facepainting table. They had college kids doing the painting, so I've definitely seen better designs, but the kids loved it, and that's what mattered.

Lack of seating: You know how those building block kits come with diagrams about how to put them together? Well, I LOVE to put them together.

And Biscuit loves to tear them apart!

He has taken a bunch of the kits and put them together with other kits, and he has epic battles on the couch. Always on the couch.

It's kind of funny because you might see Harry Potter fighting with Indiana Jones and Luke Skywalker against storm troopers and random unnamed characters. But in Biscuit's battle, they're all good guys against bad guys. None of them are who they're supposed to be. And then he has these elaborate back stories and battle strategies, and he wants me to play with him.

Of course I like to play with him, but I swear, the characters and storylines are so dang confusing, I can't seem to keep up.

But just know that if you come to our house, unless you want to get stuck in the middle of a war, you can't sit on the couch!

Improve your handwriting: I'm constantly getting on to Biscuit about writing neatly. He would rather be done with his work than make sure it looks nice and neat.

Last week, he brought home a memory book from his afterschool program. They listed their favorite activities of the year, what they played outside, what they liked about their group leaders, etc.

And then there's a space to list friends' names. And here's where the bad handwriting comes in. Biscuit's best friend's name is Dennis.