Well, I guess I've been away long enough and now I am going to have to give a huge update..... I guess we will start with the beginning of the madness.... My sister put her kids in karate and since Melody was hanging out with them everyday while I went to work my sister put her in the karate class with them. When the kids received their first belt (white) their instructor had them break a board. Watching the kids line up and each take their turn was so exciting. All of them asked if they could keep their boards so, yes, I have a broken board in my house. You usually toss broken boards or burn them in the fire but I have a very good feeling no more harm shall come to this poor defenseless board.
I dropped Melody off for a day of hanging out with her cousins and karate lessons with a full mouth of teeth, when I picked her up after karate class a tooth was missing. Michelle informed me that she didn't know when it fell out but thought that I knew about it and just forgot to mention it to her..... nope, never did find the tooth.... Melody was so upset that the Tooth Fairy doesn't come unless you put your tooth under the pillow and she didn't have a tooth to put under her pillow but she knew she deserved a visit from the Tooth Fairy. She asked me if she could stay up all night so that she could talk to the Tooth Fairy and let her know what happened so that she could still get paid for the missing tooth. It took a bit of convincing but eventually we wrote a letter to the Tooth Fairy that said "I can't find my tooth. Can I still have $1" The Tooth Fairy luckily obliged and Melody got over the missing tooth. I, however, have not. I feel like I missed out on a life experience with my daughter.
A few days later, we lost Grandpa to his battle with cancer. Melody, being Melody, made it a bit more difficult on us. I was asked to play the music for Grandpa's funeral but knowing that Melody would most likely act up and that I can't guarantee that my hand and wrist would hold up, I asked one of my sisters to come and help. I played a bit of the prelude music, then tended to family matters. As mourners, we sang a song together and I got up to lead the music and promptly had Melody wrapped around my leg. As I began to lead the music, Melody tackled me and became upset with me because she didn't want me to help others to sing a song. Joe was able to pry her off of me and take her into the hall to which all of the mourners heard a very loud "I HATE YOU!"..... Why is it that children learn the word "hate" and the "f" bomb from birth even if they aren't used around them (at least that most parents are aware of).
Melody has prepared and practiced for her dance recital since January and I must say, I know I'm a bit prejudiced and all being her mother, but she was the best tap dancing chicken on the stage. Her dance recital was one week ago tonight. They danced to "The Wizard of Oz". Her whole dance school did a wonderful job, but, of course, my kid was the best!
The photo that I've attached to this posting was taken on June 12th at Melody's Aunt Alessia's wedding. Joe recently updated my laptop and I backed everything to an external hard drive that I have promptly missplaced. As soon as it is located, I will post more pictures.
