Fin-Tastic Piano Recital

Okay, so another recital is in the books. I'm not gonna lie. I crushed it, and rightfully so as I practiced probably 15-20 hours per week, in total.

Here's me in my office, just working it.

My first song was a little bit of an awkward song from a timing standpoint, but that didn't really bother me.

If that video didn't play for you, you can go to the video by CLICKING HERE.

The second song was a duet with Miss Victoria. This one is called Tennessee Traveler and although I rushed one note and was a beat ahead of her near the end, she caught up seamlessly and I don't think anyone really noticed. I had so much fun up there playing, it was fantastic.

Back-up video for Tennessee Traveler duet can also be seen by CLICKING HERE.

Oh, and then we did this, which was really fun. We took a picture with Nadia after she and I got done with the recital... and then I had my photo editor go back and pull a few photos from previous years of us so you can see how much we've grown. Kinda fun.

Then...

Now...

Whew! Okay, well, that was a lot of fun. Four more days of school and I'll no longer be a second grader!

Father's Day... My Day

Well, if you've been following lately you know Fin is in Disney World and she left me - "Ralph" - in charge of the blog while she's gone.

So since I have the floor here I'd just like to take a few moments because, well, it's Father's Day, so rumor has it I can do what I want today. And what I want to do is spend some time honoring all three of my dogs (and this is the part where the girls go "whoof whoof!")

Each one, such an individual.

There's Finley Ames, for whom this blog was birthed. Smart as a whip, often a full blown adult emotionally and a wonderfully sensitive soul. The bond forged from years of "midnight parties" (nights wide awake due to ear infections) with Fin will forever go unbroken. She's well aware that wherever she goes in this life, and no matter who she meets, she will never know anyone who loves her more than her Dad (sorry, dude who has the task of marrying this one, you're forever in second place). Fin knows me inside and out - often offering me her last bite of chocolate donut or pizza, or asking if I need a back scratch - and it's kinda nice to have a little person always looking out for me, literally caring for me when five year olds are supposed to be thinking only of themselves. Constantly proud of her, this kid and I are as thick as thieves.

Ahhh, Mabel Jane, no matter the room I'm in it immediately gets brighter when this breath of fresh air enters. It wasn't til she was two years old that I learned the name "Mabel" means "Loveable." Unfathomably appropriate. This one spends 94% of her time kissing and hugging people, and her ability at a young age to put other people's happiness before her own has always made me smile. The comedian of our crew, her theatrics keep us in stitches, and her love of music (you can't drive one block without her screaming "turn up the music!") reminds me of someone else I know. This one is a chip off the old block and there is not a person on earth I enjoy being around more.

Little Pax - the man with the mohawk came in with a bang and though we're just getting to know each other he has already reintroduced to our world a wonderful and important gift - perspective. He gave us a run for our money back on May 11, but he now knows how tough a bird his momma is, so he's been on his best behavior since. Looking so forward to watching him grow into a little dude and thankful that him coming out as a boy will give Dad a little break from the estrogen jungle as the years go by.

And there'd be no Father's Day without, simply put, the love of my life. Appropriately standing in the middle of these two, she is the glue in this family that keeps us going. For who she is, this day is as much hers as mine.

My three amigos, my three blind mice, the three little pigs... whatever you want to call them, they bless me not just this Father's Day, but every day. Now Finley, GET BACK HOME FROM DISNEY WORLD - YOUR DAD MISSES YOU!!!