Memories, old and new

Jake played a new song for Kennedy and Macy the other night after we got home from dinner at "The Club", Anne Murray's "Hey Daddy." They were singing and dancing together in the office, watching it on YouTube. I've never heard this one before, and Kennedy was amazed that there are actually things moms don't know.

The next day, Kennedy asked Grandma Sue if she knows the song that goes, "Hey daddy there's a dragon in the driveway, Mamma there's a grizzly on the lawn. You better come quick 'cause there's a hippo in the bathtub and it's going down the drain, oh no it's gone!" No surprise, she pretty much remembered all the words to the chorus (the girl has an amazing memory!) I think Grandma Sue was amazed, but she said, "Yes, I know that song. Would you like to listen to it? I have it on cd." This song was one that was played for Jake and his brother and sisters when they were little. When I picked up the girls, Kennedy and Grandpa Brent were singing, while Macy stood right in front and danced. Grandpa Brent said that Macy is exactly like Jake was at this age. He's always loved music, and so does she - singing and dancing to anything she hears. My favorite is when she claps and stomps along with "If You're Happy and You Know It." I think it made their day to get a little reminder of their own son, and to see his daughters sharing the same excitement for "Hey Daddy." Jake fondly remembers the record "concerts" that his dad would put on for the kids, so now he's continuing the tradition with his computer concerts.

As we ate dinner that night, Jake asked Kennedy if she wanted to run through the sprinklers. She was quite certain that she did not. He reminded her that when she was little, she used to love running through the sprinklers with him. He'd hold her in his arms, and she would laugh and laugh. (I don't remember this, but that's why I'm trying to write these things down now.) Finally, he resorted to a bribe - how about for an otter pop? I thought she'd turn that down for sure, but even though she wouldn't commit, there was interest. I washed the dishes and then here comes Kennedy, calling for daddy and wearing only her pirate boots. He was in the front yard, so she made a quick dash into the water - barely enough to tell that it was cold and wet, but enough for that otter pop!