A Mighty Wind
Any time I have to go somewhere and leave Pea Daddy in charge, I get scared.
I’m not scared the girls will get hurt, be underfed or even that they will walk around with mismatched clothes and unkempt hair. I’m not here, why should I care?
My main concern now is what I will return home to. It’s happened before:
A new tree. Not a bouquet of flowers in a subtle vase. An entire living, breathing tree that someone paid for with an enormous amount of money and then had to plant in an enormous hole. Good thing Pea Daddy had that shovel handy when he had to explain it to me.
A new easel. Not a drawing pad and a box of crayons. An entire four-feet tall scaffold with dry erase pens, chalk and giant rolls of butcher paper on which to make the biggest picture in the world. Daily.
A new bookshelf. Not a new book or even demure book ends. An entire set of four ominous, black iron shelves now overflowing with real books. And pineapple-shaped Tommy Bahama bookends. And an unopened Kindle.
When I left to go the conference on Saturday, Pea Daddy and the girls were headed out in a wagon to do one of the few things I’d prefer they’d do without me. (Please add, “See The Smurfs” to that list.)
They went garage sale-ing.
I can’t stand garage sales. I have enough of my own crap in my own house that I don’t want (see Tommy Bahama bookends). Why would I pay even a nominal amount of money for someone else’s crap?
Especially someone else’s crap that has had their mouth on it.
Shiver.
For some reason I will never be able to explain, Pea Daddy thought it would be a good idea to let Gigi bring home this little treasure.
And it is her new best friend. Can inanimate objects be best friends?
I know firsthand that they can be sworn enemies.
“I’ll get you, Recorder, if it’s the last thing I do!”
Gigi has been playing the blasted thing non-stop. She knows one note.
It might be “C.” Although, it’d be far more appropriate if it were “F.” Because that’s what comes to mind for me whenever she gets the recorder out.
A lack of notes doesn’t stop her, though, from playing one-note versions of “Happy Birthday,” “Row Row Row Your Boat,” and what she today claimed was “The Mommy Cooking Show Theme Song.” We may have some copyright infringement issues, though because it sounded an awful lot like “Happy Birthday” (and “Row Row Row Your Boat.”) And I do mean an awful lot.
We’ve had to institute some household rules to prevent me from piercing my own eardrops with cake pop sticks.
1. No playing the recorder before anyone else is awake. I’ve told Gigi that sometimes I sleep with my eyes open. Today I worked out, ate breakfast and baked a cake all while being sound asleep. Shhh…don’t wake me up.
2. No playing the recorder while eating. We had eleven snacks before lunch. It must be a growth spurt.
3. No playing the recorder while Mommy or Daddy is driving. I’m planning a road trip tomorrow. I hear Argentina is nice this time of year.
4. Always love each other and encourage our passions and dreams. As Gigi played “Happy Row Your Boat Theme Song” today, Lulu exclaimed, “Gigi! That was BEAUTIFUL!”
Then Gigi turned to serenade a rock, and Lulu showed me how she really felt.
So we had a snack. While sleeping. And driving to Argentina.
Oh my god. Lulu’s face is priceless!!
I am guilty of bringing home useless garage sale goodies. I have a problem.
Oh, heck! This is too darn funny. LOVE the pic of Lulu covering her ears.
hahahaha! that was funny. lulu cracks me up everytime!
That how I feel about recorders too, Lu.
I would just like to say I feel your pain. We had SEVERAL recorders when the kids were younger that magically found new homes ( the garbage). Now, we have to have one as we are learning to “play” the recorder in 4th grade. I shutter at the Fall concert. Next year- strings – I am beginning to think the school hates me
And.. if I might add : Keep the Smurf’s on that list. I suffered through that one too and I would have left had we not been at the drive-in and have children who can tell time … Oh, and Hot Cross Buns also sounds a smidge like the above mentioned menagerie of concert worthy songs.
Chin up Mama Pea- in my house Hot Cross Buns is played with the recorder AND the drum set.. it is a duet!!
Oh we aren’t even telling the girls about percussion instruments. Or Chuck E. Cheese’s. These are Mommy and Daddy secrets we keep locked far, far away.
Here is a trick in case you get stuck in the everlasting hell that is Chuck E. Cheese. My daughter was invited to a bday party there in pre-school. She was 4 and we had managed to avoid it until then. So, I let her go but also let her know that Chuck E. Cheese is ONLY open when you are invited to a birthday party. It is not open any other time and if you see people there, it is because THEY were invited to a party. My kids are now 9 and 8 and I have managed to only have to go twice. You’re welcome
That is flippin’ brilliant. I think I love you.
We used that trick as well. Somehow it works and we have only suffered once!
hahah! I secretly hope my child never takes music lessons, in fear for trumpet practice every night…Let’s stick with a more quiet talent…Like cooking
There you go. Cooking lessons for everyone!!!
It sounds like you need a “music room.” We have one and if Flora wants to practice her recorder or keyboard or ukulele or percussion instruments or any other loud form of music she has to do it in the music room.
I don’t even have an office! I wrote the entire book on a crappy bar stool (from a garage sale) and my laptop on my kitchen counter. My very small kitchen counter.
ewwww gross! I am so glad someone else in the world is freaked out by other people’s creepy crap! I do not go to garage sales and hubby and my 2 girls love them.. I die when stuffed animals are brought home (the bugs? the mold? oh my gawd!) I can’t even sleep thinking that a hair on some strangers head might be in my house now, brought in by some random garage sale crap.
OMP–used stuffed animals!!! I’m dry heaving.
I know it’s not right to laugh… but your post had me rolling!
It’s okay to laugh–we did. We read this post together as a family and Lulu then asked, “Can tomorrow’s post be about me and my rock?” (holding up a pebble)
And I feel the same way about the booger filled library books my kids bring home by the 30 pound bag full. But I still let them. JUST NO BOOGER BOOKS IN YOUR BED!!
I love that you call them booger books. We always go to the “New Books” shelf first. Less boogers.
Tricky. I don’t know where our “new books” section is. That is genius.
…and, here, when I read the title to this post on FB, I thought you were going to write about a “flock of geese” visiting or something. LOL
My son has a thing for whistles. He loves them…and, anytime he sees one, he HAS to have it. We have a similar set of rules in our house related to his whistles. 
I thought people would think this post was about Hurricane Irene, but no, just Hurricane Gigi.
I feel your pain. I’ve been a lot of places where recorders or other whistle-type instruments are being sold, and heard way too many children wandering around playing one (screeching) note versions of their favorite tunes.
I don’t know how much she’d be interested in it, but perhaps Gigi might like this – http://www.musick8kids.com/html/recorder_training.php . It’s an interactive game to teach her which holes make which notes. Of course, children under 7 or 8 can often have trouble fully covering the holes and using the small amount of breath pressure it takes to properly play the recorder, but she might be able to learn at least a few more notes to add to the one she’s got currently. *grin*
Thank you so much! We were actually looking at the bookstore for guidebooks, but I’ll sit down with her and we’ll play that game tomorrow!
We definitely have outside toys- that are played when I am not outside! That is one. We went to a Celtic fair and all my kids got one for free. That was fun!!!
Your poor neighbors!
OMG!! I laughed so hard when I read this. We did tell Pea Daddy to wash it in the dish washer first. So that one is on him. I take full responsibility for the rest. Look at the bright side. It could have been a puppy.
I do the dishes. It’d been fully broken in by the time I got home.
It still might be a puppy…and it might be yours, if Lulu has her say.
Hi, just wondering if you know where I can buy your book from in Australia? I’ve been hunting but haven’t spotted it yet.
We haven’t sold the international rights yet, but I’m working on it! I do know some other Aussies have been able to order it online…maybe they’ll chime in here and let you know how.
I bought mine ( South Africa) from one of the local online sites…. and they were able to get it after a LONG 2 week wait. I used http://www.kalahari.net
So try some local online book shops, hopefully yours will be as accomodating as mine
Found these for you
http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Peas-and-Thank-You-Sarah-Matheny/9780373892402?cf=3&rid=549332882&i=2&keywords=peas+and+thank+you
http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/book/peas-and-thank-you-simple-meatless-meals-the-whole-family-will-love/23908403/
Thanks, Debbie, you are the best!!!
If you make your way to Argentina drop by in the mountains in CA and visit ok? I’ll play the flute with Gigi while she plays the recorder.
I hope you know more than one note.
Ooooh…recorders! I remember what the bus ride was like the day the kids got recorders in school! Poor bus drivers!
And that photo of Lulu is adorable!
The thing is, I NEVER had my own recorder. I used the community class recorders with their nasty teeth marks on the mouthpiece and the distinct dish soap flavor.
Awww, that’s a very expressive recorder player you’ve got there! Keep those photos for when she’s a world renowned concert recorderist and you’ll be able to blackmail her for millions
She’s going to be the next Kenny G. Maybe Kenny Pea?
and they can do a duet on the next Rebecca Black video!
Oh goodness, I remember my recorder. Thankfully, mine wasn’t used, but it was still incredibly annoying. Looking back, my parents were saints. Recorders make such whiny sounds. I don’t know why anyone ever thinks they’re a good idea. BUT if it encourages Gigi to develop some latent musical abilities, maybe it’s a good thing? Kids are supposed to be creative and explore their talents, right?
Oh yes. This is all in good fun. I, of course, adore that she wants to try new things and learn new skills. I just cover my ears when she’s not looking.
Mama Pea, I feel your garage sale pain! My husband had a colleague buy us a “new” dishwasher at a garage sale. I’m not sure whom I should loathe more. His response to my incredulity: “It’s a Bosch!” THEN he got me a “new” bike to replace the one I had to say goodbye to. It’s made for someone about 5’2″, while I am 5’7″, yet he wonders why I don’t go riding… sigh.
But if you’d like to have a concert, HRH will gladly offer her vuvuzela as a duet piece with Gigi’s recorder!
Gigi and Lulu both have amazing hair. Just the last two pics, reminds me of just how fabulous little girl hair is. Skylar’s is the same way…butt length, not a split end in sight, shiny…same with Gigi & Lulu and bravo to you for that sideswept french braid in Lulu’s. Nice!
Ok recorders. I had one. Even I KNEW how bad and awful it sounded. It was a mandatory thing we had to learn to play in like 3-4th grade so that by the time 5th grade came around some of us would be ready to move on up to the lovely, and peaceful sounding…clarinet. Or French Horn. I chose tenor sax. My poor parents in those early days
Lolol lolol I am dieing laughing over here!!! Ahh what a great post, I should have saved it till morning, would have been a great start to my day …. I just can’t get the sound of a stupid recorder out of my head…
Gigi wanted to make a video. Be grateful I spared you.
How about letting Gigi choreograph and play the theme song to the wacky Wednesday videos???
You don’t want to hear that. Trust me.
Ahhh, the recorder. We had to learn to play it when we were in grade 3. Whoever decided teaching a large group of 8 year olds how to play the recorder was a good idea was obviously high…or at least deaf. Because I’m sure all the parents loved going to our school concerts to listen to 30+ kids up there “in tune”. And I say “in tune” with the utmost sincerity…really.
Haha, I used to be in band in middle school and played clairinet. There was a parent’s concert where the kids had to teach the parents a simple song to play at a concert and all the children would be sitting next to their parents while they played. Looking back at all those concert practices every day, I dont know how my ears didn’t burst. Actually, we were decent, but still; I can imagine
. Obos don’t sound good, at all. Avoid those at all cost 
I played clarinet in middle school too! First chair, baby.
too funny!!
they are so cute.
I still love my recorder and I dare to say that even as a child I played it very well
Confession: I picked up Gigi’s recorder and played it today. But I wasn’t driving or eating at the time.
Love the post title. Haven’t thought about that movie in a long time:)
So I took violin lessons in 4th grade. I thought I was channeling Niccolo Paganini. Come to find out, my mom remembers that year as one of the hardest of her life:) Wah, wah.
Ha ha…your poor mom.
Its actually the end of winter in Argentina right now. I miss living there so much!!!!!! And where is the cake pop recipe?!?!??!?!
I never played the recorder, we had an organ (!!!) so guess what i was playing at 8 yrs old!
Cake pop recipe tonight!!!! Can’t wait to share!
My partner’s niece is taking flute lessons and at times the experience is reminiscent of this
I tend to go with Lulu’s approach though, and offer almost an over-abundance of praise! After all, in that instance, she’s not based in our house…
You are so sweet.
Momma Pea,
That which doesn’t kill you, makes you strong.
My daughter started violin lessons at age 3 and is now 6 1/2. She is really good at violin, plays songs she “figures out” on piano (just like I did as a child taking piano lessons) and will have a future in band whether she wants to or not (so says her band director daddy). But, alas, recorder. . . . . .there is no hope. Harmonica? Slightly less annoying, for sure. Electronic drum set? Yeah, its ok (thank you Uncle @&$%*). And random other percussive “instruments” like triangle, jingle bells, tambourine and maracas. . . . ay yay yay!
We close our ears to recorder too.
Wow, that’s amazing she plays the violin at 6! Good for you for helping her pursue that. We’ve mostly stuck to ballet and soccer…both are much quieter.
Hilarious!!!! Makes me feel not quite so bad about having a screaming toddler;-)
I have that too. She’s just screaming for her sister to stop!
Haha! As a music teacher I know the horrible sounds that can come from the recorder! Remember Gigi, slow air for lower notes
Please come help. I will bake cookies. (not to be eaten while playing)
Hahaha, at least he didn’t get her a drum set.
she is getting in good practice before she has to take the recorder karate belt test in 4th grade
and on the bright side school starts soon. Then the house will be so quiet you’ll miss the recorder 
my hubby wanted to buy me a apple tree for my birthday last year. I like apples but they aren’t my favorite bananas are. I told him but then we can’t go to the apple farm (what my 5 year old calls it) and pick apples. he was like but you can pick them in your own back yard. Yep not as fun as spending a few hours picking apples and talking to farm animals.So no apple tree! Yippee but we are getting ready to go apple picking in a few weeks !!!!
I’m still freaking out that it’s used. Call me a germaphobe, I won’t be hurt! Someone gave my son a whole kit of instruments for his birthday one year, complete with recorder, triangle, tambourine, maracas and a big drum. He also plays a mean “c” but that’s about all. It’s usually what is used to wake me up on the weekends when I’m trying to sleep in. Funny thing is when he does it and I come down my son always says “did you hear the song I was playing for you Mommy?” and he’s beaming with pride so I can’t do anything but smile and give him a big hug. Who needs sleep, right?
I love the pictures of her playing by the way, you can really see her commitment to her craft!
She’s an artist.
hahaha oh man – seriously, men are too funny. Why Pea Daddy thought that would be a good idea is beyond me.. or he didn’t care because he figured you would be home all day. Hilarious.
I don’t think there was a lot of “thinking” involved at all.
Ha ha ha! Lulu cracks me up! Will you come over here and teach me how to french braid??? I suck!
Sure!
I have a feeling Lulu is going to make that recorder disappear , lol!
So funny! Love lulus hair too, very cute with the braid!
When does Gigi start school? Soon right?
Have a great day!
xoxo <3
Next week
And Lulu the week after that. And then I will stay home and teach myself to play the recorder.
It should come as no surprise really that a recorder is making the rounds here too… except they are playing MY old recorder from 4th grade that I dug out of my dad’s attic. (Yes, it’s true. I have no one to blame but myself.)
Mom’s germs from 23 years ago better than a stranger’s germs? Debatable.
And don’t forget Rule #5 – no using the recorder as a drum stick on your sister’s head
(or maybe that’s just my children who do that…)
I also forgot Rule #6–no sticking the recorder in bubble solution and trying to blow bubbles. Although that would save me the hassle of cleaning it.
hehehe i remember learning my recorder! i so thought i was a musical genius…turns out i was neither musical nor genius…
LOL! Too funny. I’m with you on the whole garage sale thing. I know that some people find “bargains” there that really are quite useful in some cases (although I still don’t believe one of my friends who told me she found a Vitamix at a garage sale for $50…. lies. Must be lies) but I’d far rather just go buy a new x, y, or z – especially if it’s anything that might have been close to another person’s mouth!! How many times have you sterilized the recorder?
I’d have to pry it out of her hands first!
Recorders might produce the worst sound in all of history..
They hand out harps in heaven. They hand out recorders in hell.
Those pictures are amazing. Mommy’s Cooking Show is in danger of becoming Gigi’s Talent Show
Glad I’m not the only one who hates garage sales. I always feel guilty when friends gush about them and then ask where I got my dress. Um, at least it was on the clearance rack at H+M! I’d rather buy one good thing then a trunk full of someone else’s junk…that’s my story anyway, and I’m sticking to it!
I won’t tell! I can never find anything I like at H&M, though
This sounds like the kind of fun I have when my daughter decides to play one of her characters. I can’t get anything done until I acknowledge that she is one version of Larry( ie – hanga Larry, super rescue Larry, etc) from “Veggie Tales” or like last night when she was Dr. Jack from “Lost.” She also loves to play Elliot and Livie from “Law & Order SVU.” She is a girl after my own heart and is obsessed with my favorite shows that she knows she is not allowed to watch because they are too scary. Unfortunately, she knows how to work the Wii and Netflix streaming.
Ha ha, that is a riot!
OH NO … so just to confirm – you’re telling me that things get worse when you have kids? Because when I leave on business trips Brad has had some doozies already. The first time I left he ate chocolate cookies for 48 hours straight. Another time the fridge broke but he didn’t notice and he gave himself food poisoning. And another time I came home to find a bacterial rash covering his entire body which he claims he got from the shower at the yoga studio. I sent him to get some medicated cream but thought “oh heck at least he went to yoga”
Your SO does yoga when your out of town?! I guess he has to work off that 48-hour cookie binge somehow…
Oh. My. Peas!
I just made “lasagna” with crumbled mediterranean lentil “meatballs” (from your cookbook) and tofu ricotta (from another vegan cookbook) and it is all kinds of deliciousness! Thank you for the wonderful recipes; I have made more than 10 things from your cookbook in the last 3 weeks and they are all AMAZING! (I have given books to 3 of my friends so far and am looking for more friends who would appreciate it!)
Jenny
PS. I am a Portland (Oregon) girl living in Bangkok, Thailand. Visiting your site is a little like visiting home each day.
Thanks for sharing the love, Jenny! I appreciate it! (yay Portland!)
haha this is so cute. I remember recorders being the coolest thing when we entered second grade. Except no one really knew how to play them. And whenever my dad is left in charge, my little siblings usually do march around the house mix-matched. But they don’t seem to mind!
This just made my morning, I love the picture of Lulu
Maybe the recorder just gets “lost” all of a sudden… how sad would that be?
She’s been sleeping with it. I’m not sure I can pry it from her hands!
Wow, she must know that you’d make it disappear… Pea daddy must’ve warned her.
Hahah oh no! I feel your pain, one day I had to substitute teach and ended up in THREE different music classes that involved the recorder. I thought my ears were bleeding when I left. I hear kids get better at the recorder though….
Let’s hope so.
Haha my nieces are so adorable like that too – always encouraging each other and telling one another they’re beautiful or their drawing is great. It’s too cute.
I love that picture of Lulu after the concert turned rock. HAHAHA. All it takes is a little rock on a recorder to make sisterly love go flying right out the window!
It really was precious and *almost* made me feel guilty for secretly hating the recorder so much. But then I started to worry that Lulu might have hearing problems.
Again, you made me laugh out loud. This reminds me of my sister’s harmonica, a wood and metal nnumber that she got from the dentist’s “treasure chest” (read, chest of junk meant to drive all parents and siblings crazy). She would walk around the house playing that thing endlessly.
Oh we have one of those too…I just don’t think it has the volume capacity that this recorder does. Thank God.
I know that sound, Mama Pea, and I feel for you. What sick son-of-a-gun invented the recorder in the first place? My husband thought that my four-year old should inherit the one that belonged to my older stepson. You can imagine my appreciation. Let’s just say that the recorder comes up missing…a lot.
Where does it eventually turn up? Because I’d love to know where it gets lost to.
I’ve buried it under toys, lodged it behind the bookshelf. That way it looks like an accident. Just practice your innocent-face in the mirror and you’ll be fine.
Actually, I’m lucky, my son’s interest in this has been short-lived and he now only gets it out once in a great while. But the first day, whew!
Your girls are too precious!
I remember having a recorder as a kid, but WOW I haven’t thought of that in years. I’m fairly sure that I drove my parents crazy with that sound. If I remember correctly, it’s not the most pleasant noise (even if I had been good at it….which I wasn’t). Good luck with that!
Thanks for your sympathy.
We had a recorder that sat on top of the piano. I was always encouraged to practice piano (“but not while I’m on the phone!”) but that recorder was far more tempting. I liked to belt out the highest notes possible. I even knew fingerings for an entire octave, so I could’ve played nice songs, but no. It was more fun to just blast into it. Mom says she hopes my kids are equally as loud. I guess you can wish that on Gigi!
There are octaves?! Oh no.
Hysterical! I wish I had an -nth of your witty-ness! (I tried typing “wittiness,” as that is the correct spelling, but it looked to much like witness and I didnt want to confuse you!).
Gotcha! The “-nth” threw me more.
But thanks!
I have no idea how my parents made it through 9 years of violin…especially during my “fiddling” stage. Oy.
My heart goes out to you…hopefully it is just a phase. Unless she becomes a recorder virtuoso, of course.
bahaha omg I remember my recorder days…my poor mom…poor you!
I’m sure my pay back is coming some day…
Hilarious!!! Your girls are sooo adorable. Oh, I remember the days with the glorious recorder.. especially recorder class…..so noisy and awful!!
Pea Daddy sounds like my dad. He loves garage sales. Blech. I totally agree about not wanting anyone elses junk!
At least Gigi will be experienced when the time for recorders in school comes. Right…? 
Or maybe my eardrums will be calloused.
Oh man – I remember my first recorder (and I say first because I somehow talked my parents into buying MULTIPLE recorders back in the day…in various colors and sizes). Hot Cross Buns was a favorite…can you teach her that one maybe?
I shall try.
You haven’t lived until you’ve attended a fourth grade recorder concert. That’s right, an hour of listening to 120 fourth grade little people playing all the patriotic standards and best-loved nursery rhymes. It was a thing of beauty I will never, ever forget.
Oh man. I can harldy wait.
When I was in elementary school, all the third graders were taught how to play the recorder. The best part is that we each got our own (thankfully), and we were allowed to take them home to practice! Oh, how my mom loooved the year I was in third grade. And she loved it even more when a few years later, my little brother was in third grade! You’ve never heard “Hot Cross Buns” sound so beautiful. Why do recorders sound so great to the person playing, and ONLY the person playing?
By the way, I made your Better Than Ever Black Bean Burgers for my fiance last night! He’s a meat-lover, so I was surprised the other day when he told me that he loves veggie burgers. I went straight to your cookbook, of course. He thought the burgers were amazing, and told me I could make them anytime!
That’s awesome to hear! (the part about the bean burgers) Thanks, Jen!
Oh no!! It is kinda like when the grandparents give the kids a toy to lights up and says the same thing over, and over and over again. Don’t worry Mama, she will grow tiered of it soon enough. Unless they make them learn recorder in music class in school. I will tell you a secret. “three blind mice” and “Hot crossed buns” are the same song.
We leave those toys at the grandparents’ house. Maybe we can take this one there too.
Ah Mama, you are wise.
P.S, I love the movie a Mighty Wind, SO FUNNY
Oh the memories! While the recorder could be horrifying, I’m pretty sure I’d be more upset by the pineapple-shaped bookends! You’re a trooper for putting up with those!
hahahahahahahahahah this reminds me of when i was little and my sister had one…my mom stole it and hid it and told her my sister must have lost it ! it just sounds like a dying bird…hopefully she’ll get over her obsession soon! til then, earplugs!
Hehehe, this is too funny. Even though kids are known to eat their own boogers, dirt, and just generally be dirty; the thought of a used recorder still totally skeeves me out!
My mom told us that all of our musical instruments need sleep in order to sound so good. I`m pretty sure our instruments were cats, getting a good 23 hours of sleep per day.
You know kids that eat their boogers?! Never!
BAhahahaa..hilarious. I can’t believe he bought her a recorder….let alone a USED recorder. Ohhh that P. Daddy… My recorder days didn’t start til 3rd grade. I remember Hot Cross Buns like the back of my hand. Keep rocking out G!
Thanks, Aunt Ashley. I think she needs to come vist you.
This is too cute!! That last picture, in particular.
I have lost count at the number of musical instruments my dad has bought my kids (that I’ve had to hide). All because when I was pregnant with my oldest I told him “I couldn’t wait for him to introduce music into their lives.” What the heck was I thinking? I love that they have taken an interest (they’ve definitely inherited it from him), but I should have specific “I can’t wait for you to introduce music into their lives AT YOUR HOUSE.”
My dad plays the accordian. They can jam together.
Haha. That’s too cute. I thought at first you were going to say that they went to get an iPad when you were gone…
Don’t give him any ideas!
Oh man, what was Pea Daddy thinking!? haha You’re supposed to enjoy the few peaceful years before they get to pick instruments out at school and then proceed to blast your eardrums from then on, not encourage musical instruments before their time! haha
Seriously. Talk to him, Gina.
Invest in a book called Recorder Karate. It is a simple book that schools are using now to teach children to play those dang recorders….it will teach them new tunes that actually sound like the song they are suppose to be playing….:)
so did you by chance boil that thing in HOT WATER and soap??? (shiver)
I will look for that book, thanks, Tracie!
Yikes….the recorder! Totally off subject but hurricane Irene gave me lots of stuck in the house time, I think I made (and ate) half of the recipes in the book! I love the tofu breakfast muffins…so good!!
Oh, I’m so glad! (and glad you are safe!)
Haha, the recorder. I taught 3rd grade for 3 years (that’s the year kiddos learn to play the recorder in Colorado schools) and I had to have a “recorder oath” at the beginning of the year. It said things like “I will not play the recorder in earshot of Mrs. Unger” or “I will not touch my recorder while Mrs. Unger is trying to teach me about math”…
If they broke any of the rules – I confiscated the ‘blasted thing’ for a week. I confiscated a lot of recorders. That high pitched squeak they make when blown into with full force is (literally) music to an eight-year-old’s ears.
Can you come confiscate this one?
No way. I quit my job just to get away from those dang things. Oh, and to raise a daughter. But mostly to get away from recorders.
I burst out laughing at that last picture of Lulu. My cat used to hate when we played any kind of wind instruments. And the recorder? Seriously the most annoying instrument ever invented. I don’t know what they were thinking.
You had me at CAKE POP sticks. Are you getting ready to give us a CAKE POP recipea?? Oh, I hope that wasn’t just another one of Gigi’s notes I was hearing instead of CAKE POPS!!! ha ha.
Yup! Cake pop recipe coming at you tonight!!!
You are hilarious!!! And it is amazing what you can do while you’re asleep
Hysterical! Good luck on the drive to Argentina!
Also, I’m super ticked those Pony shirts don’t come bigger than like a size 3 – what’s up with that? I’ve got an MLP hoarder and I need a pony shirt!
Gigi’s ticked about that too. She tried to squeeze into a 5T (they have them here!) and looked like she was one of the Jersey Shore guys.
5T! Livi could prolly squeeze into that for the next few weeks w/o looking like a Situation.
I completely agree about garage sales! I have enough of my own stuff, I don’t need someone else’s disregarded junk!
Oh my gosh, I totally had my own recorder for forever (before finally parting with it) that I had since 4th grade. In its own special case and everything. Such an obnoxious instrument. Lulu’s face explains it all!
One of the funniest posts ever! I hate garage sales too. So glad I’m not the only one.
my hubby has a habit of bringing things home… and lately he is out of town M-F, so amazon is his best friend. Imagine my surprise to coming home to almost daily boxes from UPS. the 8 foot tall box scared me (it was a japanese folding screen. sometimes I just have no words). I can only imagine in 5 more months when we have a little one!
and I had a recorder once, a long time ago… which I seem to remember mysteriously “disappearing” in a military move, lol
Admit it, though, you kind of like the screen…
Grant Butler has inspired me. The month of September is going to be my 30 days of veganism. And after that, who knows. Maybe I will be like Grant and decide to keep on going. Who wants to join me??
I’m sorry Mama Pea. Didn’t mean to leave you out! YOU inspire me too, each and every day. I just meant he inspired me to do the 30 day challenge.
Oh yes, he is inspiring! You can do it!!! Let me know if you need any suggestions or help!
Oh boy. Brings me back to the days when we were required to buy those blasted things for music class. I thought I knew more than one note. Mine was brown, now my cousins have cool neon ones. I’m hoping for you that GiGi doesn’t get a hold of one of those, she may never put it down.
Oh goodness, please don’t let there be pink versions…
I won’t tell you. That doesn’t stop them from existing.
I played the clarinet from fourth grade all the way through high school. My mom bought me a clarinet in eighth or ninth grade, so I had to continue (I probably would’ve anyway, easy grade). Before that, I borrowed one from school. Blech. And I think she bought the clarinet at a garage sale! Double blech! Or should I say double bleach? I’m sure she had the good sense to clean it up before she gave it to me. I still have it, although it needs to be fixed up; it has some masking tape in place of cork and the register key sticks, making it sound suspiciously like one little girl’s new recorder.
I played a used clarinet too! As long as the reeds are fresh, right?
Haha, this is a great post! This was how my mom felt when me and my sister had a recorder, and only now that I am a mom I get what she meant, too funny! Thankfully Matheus (my son) hasn’t decided to get one yet
Ana
I spoke too soon, Matheus got home from school yesterday and announced that they are going to learn how to play the recorder this year in 4th grade… lovely!!
I immediately thought of you Mama Pea, especially when he mentioned that we actually don’t need to buy one, they will use the ones they have at the school… eew! (would it be too bad if I e-mail the teacher and see if my kid can bring his own??)
Ana
Ha ha ha!!! (I have one I can sell you…or pay you to take–either way)
OMG, this post KILLED me because I have no less than 4 recorders in my house right now. In addition to:
- 2 sets of electronic drums
- a Paper Jams electric guitar WITH amp (because it’s not loud enough without the amplifier…)
- Two other toy electric guitars
- 2 harmonicas
- two keyboards (why do we have two of everything??? I have one child)
- 3 gajillion whistles
- A bag of party favors that whistle
- A giant “zoo animal” whistle that is supposed to sound like 10 different types of jungle animals depending on where you set the knob. The day he came up behind me and made the leopard sound I about grew spots I was so scared
All of which make me ABSOLUTELY INSANE, but he loves them all. My favorite was when we were driving to daycare and my son suddenly pulled out a party favor whistle and blew it as hard as he could right in my ear. I screamed bloody murder and almost slammed into the car in front of me.
If I had a useable basement I would make him go down there and play his instruments like my mother used to do to me. My squealing clarinet (first chair too baby!) was much easier to tolerate in the basement with the door shut!
I love the noisy toy inventory. Thank you for making my recorder problem seem very small indeed.
Ha, that last picture is hilarious. This reminds me so much of my brother and I when we were little. I was always doing things that annoyed him. Guess that comes with being the little sister, lol.
Mama Pea, I just love you & how you tell stories!!
You always make me laugh, even on a rough day, I know I can count on Peas & Thank You to cheer me right up!
Thanks, Holly. Glad to do it!
funniest thing ever….
because I’m not there.
jk.
It’s a right of passage, right?, in parenthood. Surviving the recorder.
Those pictures are perfection.
My dad still likes to tell the story of when I started playing the violin (and I use the term “playing” quite loosely). Apparently, my parents and brother used to run for cover until I was done. I lasted about six months.
; )
Oh my gosh, quite possibly the funniest post ever written.
It might be “C.” Although, it’d be far more appropriate if it were “F.” HAHAHA!
laughing so hard tears are literally streaming down my face. Catharsis much?
PS. Love Lu’s braid. Good job MamaPea!
This is one of my favorite posts ever! Priceless!!
Thanks!
Haha you are absolutely hilarious! And whoever decided all grade schoolers should learn to play the recorder clearly did not have a child because they are the most annoying things ever.
Oh recorders, I remember my younger brother/sister inflicting major eardrum pain with these! And I’m sure I inflicted my fair share before them, recorders seem kind of like a rite of passage…we’re already plotting buying one for our niece
Hahaha. Too funny!
Thank you Mamapea! I needed a great belly laugh
Oh man, I’m just catching up on your posts and this one had me laughing for quite some time. “No playing the recorder while eating.” Yeah, that would end pretty bad. I hope Pea Daddy gave that thing a good scrubby scrub before Geeg put her lips on it. Recorders just remind me of grade school when we had to play them and learn songs. What a terrible noise!
Was reading the interesting posts but Oooh. Yeah. those recorders. Had to comment. My DD just came home friday with one she exchanged with her classmate! it was all full of teethmarks (on both ends by the way!) She valued this handme down (which has both her class mate’s and sister’s name) written on it vs. her brand new shiny yamaha! And because it was her friend’s, the need for playing it over the whole weekend was a must!! She played it, stopped and have snacks and continued! Yikes and not to mention she never did wash it plus the drool she left inside it with food bits and all! eeeew. Love your rules!
Oh my gosh, too funny! Hope you are able to survive Thanksgiving break