Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Annie

I'm a stay at home mom. I love it. Before that I was an elementary music teacher. I loved that too. Well, most of it. But if you'd have asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up, I probably would have said something more along the lines of "starring on Broadway!" Yes, although the reality of that life does not appeal to me in the least now, as a kid I liked the idea of singing and dancing for a living. Or maybe it was just that I wanted real life to be more like a musical! Come on, haven't you wished at least once that everybody would burst into the same choreography in the grocery store? Or we could just belt out a melody whenever we felt it coming on? 

I love and always have loved a good musical. Phantom. Les Mis (my favorite). Miss Saigon. The Music Man. West Side Story. Guys and Dolls. My Fair Lady. And the one that got me hooked: Annie. I remember going to see it at Fair Park in Dallas Summer Musicals with Weezie (a family friend.) I wore my Annie dress and carried my Annie doll. And I knew every word to every song. Still do. :)  So it's been especially fun for me now that Lily has taken to Annie the same way I did. We've been watching it pretty much everyday (sometimes more than once) and listening to it in the car too! Lily is singing along, and it's so cute to hear her make up her own words when she doesn't quite understand what's being said! She even uses the soap dispenser in her bathroom as her microphone! The other day she was singing "Tomorrow" and instead of "clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow" she sang her own version, "There's a wave that's coming here tomorrow". Josh and I just laugh. Her favorite song in the car is "Hard Knock Life." She's pretty good at that one also, but she insists on yelling it rather than singing. And Josh is picking it up too. Next time you see him, ask him to bust out a little Annie. 

The other night I put Lily to bed and assumed she was asleep until I heard her belting "Tomorrow" from behind her closed doors. She kept singing the same phrase for probably 20 minutes so Josh and I finally got out the video camera to document this unusual occasion. I'm not kidding she kept going for so long that I finally went in there with the night vision on to see what she was doing. And she was just lying in her bed singing away. This is the first bit of video I got- I'm just standing right outside her doors filming. I'm trying to get her to sing on camera for me but so far she hasn't wanted to cooperate. We'll see! 

15 comments:

Corby and Lauren said...

Oh how precious!!!! Lily is just so adorable! I can't wait to capture moments like that with Harper!

The Hunters said...

that is just the cutest thing. you'll be SO glad you have that taped when she gets bigger.

Anonymous said...

Cute! Luke only points at items and grunts, but I look forward to days of him singing in the future! =)

Tigpan said...

This brought me so much joy today! :) I adore that little girl! It was good to see you on Saturday night!

Kristyn said...

soooo precious!!!

Finally an Abrigg..... said...

That made my day!!!!!!

Elizabeth said...

That's too precious. Reminds me when Perryn sang Twinkle Little Star to Teagan when we put Christmas lights up on the balconey!!

John and Natalee Warren said...

I was just writing to say how stinking cute that is! Then, in pops John.."that is really good melody recognition for a kid that is 2"- so there you are...2 different perspectives from the Warren's!

Sunni at The Flying Mum said...

Ava loves Annie too!

Nat & Annie said...

I know! I was Annie too and Jen was Grace Farrell. My grandfather recounds me singing
"Tomorrow" all the time.....that's why we're close;)
So cute of Lily. I can't wait to see you all.

Amber said...

This is SO great! Andrea told us this story the other night, so i just HAD to come watch the video! SOO CUTE! oh man. love it.

Aina Carruth said...

Ok...that was awesome. I see Broadway in her future. Love that you and Lily love that movie. We need to introduce Ella to it!!!

Anonymous said...

That may be the cutest thing I have ever heard since you, Natalie, sang that same phrase over and over, 25 years ago.

It makes me even more proud to be a father to Natalie, and a Papa Neal to Lily and Luke, and I guess, a father-in-law to Josh.

Love you all, Dad

alison said...

hey natalie- this is alison luna. i met you at culture and theology on friday night. just wanted to say hello and that this video was absolutely amazing!! hope all is well with you!!

the corsos said...

Precious, Nat!! Sweet Lily is too cute!